ROH news and video thread

[________ has left the building]

Roderick Strong with the ROH title would bring back bad memories of the Clone Wars. Won't deny dude got mad skills in the ring but he's as interesting and fresh like a week old bologna and mayo sandwich.

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

Dec 29, 2014 9:53:05 GMT -5 ________ has left the building said:

Roderick Strong with the ROH title would bring back bad memories of the Clone Wars. Won't deny dude got mad skills in the ring but he's as interesting and fresh like a week old bologna and mayo sandwich.

Yep. I like Roddy a lot but he does not have what I want in a World Champion. I thought his world title run a few years ago was boring as f***. I didn't even like Eddie Edwards all that much but I popped when he won it because it meant Strong lost it. 

In PWG, he's a perfectly acceptable world champion because he has more than enough in-ring charisma to get by and make up for him not being a great promo guy. ROH is a different animal.

[________ has left the building]

Dec 29, 2014 10:04:16 GMT -5 Magic knows Black Lives Matter said:

Dec 29, 2014 9:53:05 GMT -5 ________ has left the building said:

Roderick Strong with the ROH title would bring back bad memories of the Clone Wars. Won't deny dude got mad skills in the ring but he's as interesting and fresh like a week old bologna and mayo sandwich.

Yep. I like Roddy a lot but he does not have what I want in a World Champion. I thought his world title run a few years ago was boring as f***. I didn't even like Eddie Edwards all that much but I popped when he won it because it meant Strong lost it. 

In PWG, he's a perfectly acceptable world champion because he has more than enough in-ring charisma to get by and make up for him not being a great promo guy. ROH is a different animal.

It helps that the current PWG format is more telling the story in the ring instead of depending on promos to sell the match. The Clone Wars was terrible because you had 3 of the most blandest looking, promo giving wrestlers in a main event level feud. That shit nearly killed ROH because even the most diehard ROHbot got tired of that almost neverending feud.

[Feargus McReddit]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}PUSH.

MARK.

BRISCOE!

I'LL KEEP SAYING IT UNTIL SOMEONE LISTENS!

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

"GET THE RINGS, BABY!"

Mark Briscoe is an amazing man.

[________ has left the building]

Dec 29, 2014 13:14:27 GMT -5 Magic knows Black Lives Matter said:

"GET THE RINGS, BABY!"

Mark Briscoe is an amazing man.

Mark, in my own opinion, is the better Briscoe.

[Mondai Rogue]

Man, ROH pushed the wrong Briscoe brother.

[mcmahonfan85]

THIS SATURDAY NIGHT ROH RETURNS TO NASHVILLE
Sat, JAN 3RD - THE FAIRGROUNDS - NASHVILLE, TN



We are less than one week away from the first ROH TV taping of 2015! This entire night is STACKED, including the debut of Alberto El Patron and the first round of the TOP PROSPECT TOURNAMENT. January 3rd in Nashville hosts this stop on the WINTER WARRIORS TOUR. Plus - just announced - Hanson and "Unbreakable" Michael Elgin will face each other in a heated rematch after the no contest result to their latest encounter on ROH TV. These two want a clear winner once and for all, and on January 3rd Nigel McGuinness is letting them battle it out once again!

Our television cameras will be rolling in Nashville - but there's nothing quite like seeing Ring of Honor LIVE! To be there in person on January 3rd, click HERE! In addition to the huge lineup already announced, we can now confirm even MORE matches signed for Nashville:

- SIX MAN TAG action for The Decade

Following Adam Page's "promotion," The Decade is apparently in search of a new young boy. We aren't exactly sure what goes into the "audition process" for such an alleged honor, but so far we've seen them vet some potential candidates through ROH pre-show matches. As evidenced by the subsequent beatdowns, so far no one has proven satisfactory.

But in Nashville, Whitmer, Jacobs, and Page will be in six man tag team action! We don't yet know their opponents - might they include some potential recruits? Or will The Decade already have a line-up of new candidates ready to carry their bags in Tennessee? The Decade is renewed and refocused for 2015, so don't miss your chance to see them in action!

- ROH World Champion Jay Briscoe vs. A Member of The Kingdom

This match has a question mark hanging over it because we don't know who *exactly* will face Jay Briscoe. Either Matt Taven OR Michael Bennett must step into the ring with the champion. However, we can confirm this will be a non-title match per the request of Jay Briscoe. It seems that even though neither member of The Kingdom has EARNED a World Championship opportunity, Briscoe would be more than happy to brutalize either one of them in a non-title situation!

But even without the championship on the line, this promises to be a heated match thanks to the long, contentious history between The Kingdom and Jay Briscoe. Plus - as we are about to see, Nigel McGuinness has yet to name a new number one contender to the World Championship following Adam Cole's defeat at FINAL BATTLE. A strong showing against Jay Briscoe definitely gives you a good argument for a future title opportunity!

- Adam Cole WILL Be In Nashville!

In the fallout from FINAL BATTLE, information came to light indicating that former champion Adam Cole had suffered a severe shoulder injury. Speculation ran rampant - would he be taking time off? Surgery? Something even more debilitating? Thus far, Cole has remained absolutely silent about his injury. We can confirm that he WILL be in Nashville on January 3rd - and Adam Cole himself promises a full update on his reaction to FINAL BATTLE and his future!

- The State of the World Championship

Finally, ROH Head Matchmaker Nigel McGuinness is headed to Nashville with an update on the World Championship. Now that FINAL BATTLE is over, we know that Jay Briscoe is kicking off 2015 with the title. The question remains, however...WHO is the number one contender? Cole vs. Briscoe was such a brutal, bloody Fight Without Honor that there's whispers BOTH men emerged with major battle scars - not just physically, but mentally.
Nigel has the critical task of determining who on the ROH roster has earned the right to challenge our champion, Jay Briscoe, who proved at FINAL BATTLE that he is the toughest athlete in professional wrestling today!

Plus - Nigel McGuinness also promises to have an update on the status of Tommaso Ciampa. Ciampa's reinstatement into ROH was contingent on a zero tolerance policy: no physical contact with ROH officials. At FINAL BATTLE, Ciampa took out a referee - though the circumstances left everyone asking questions about his intent. Now on January 3rd we will get the full update!

The first ROH event of 2015 just keeps getting bigger! Don't miss your chance to be there LIVE! For tickets to the Nashville stop of the WINTER WARRIORS TOUR, click HERE.

Saturday, January 3rd, 2015
National TV Taping
Tennessee State Fairgrounds/Expo
625 Smith Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203

Matches signed:

First Time Ever
Alberto El Patrón vs "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels

Triple Threat match for the ROH World TV Championship
Jay Lethal (c) w/ Truth Martini vs ACH vs Matt Sydal

ROH World Champion, Jay Briscoe vs A member of the Kingdom

Rematch from ROH TV
"Unbreakable" Michael Elgin vs Hanson

Frankie Kazarian vs Cedric Alexander

Mark Briscoe vs Roderick Strong

The Decade - Jimmy Jacobs, BJ Whitmer & Adam Page will be in Six Man Action

2015 Top Prospect Tournament Round One
J. Diesel w/ Truth Martini vs Will Ferrara

Beer City Bruiser vs Mikey Webb

Ashely Sixx vs Dalton Castle

Donovan Dijak vs Jake Dirden

Signed to Appear
- Moose w/ Veda Scott & Stokely Hathaway
- Caprice Coleman
- Plus More

IT'S A REMATCH IN NASHVILLE WHEN ELGIN TAKES ON HANSON
SAT, JAN 3RD - THE FAIRGROUNDS - NASHVILLE, TN



Even though the calendar might be heralding a brand new year, that doesn't automatically hit the reset button on the raging hostilities in Ring of Honor. While our first show of 2015 will be filled with beginnings - the start of the TOP PROSPECT TOURNAMENT, the debut of Alberto El Patrón - some of the stars of ROH consider their rivalries far from settled!

Months ago, "Unbreakable" Michael Elgin put his personal stamp of approval on War Machine, the dominant new tag team formed by Raymond Rowe and Hanson. Hanson and Rowe battled each other in the finals of last year's TOP PROSPECT TOURNAMENT, and forged a mutual respect. Seeing that Elgin was outnumbered by Adam Cole and his crew, War Machine backed up Elgin whenever he needed. It seemed like an unstoppable trio who were on the way to unprecedented success in ROH.

But things don't always go as planned. First, Raymond Rowe was injured in a horrific motorcycle accident. He remains on the shelf, though he very publically continues to support his friend and partner, Hanson, in his ROH career. The entire tag team division is on notice for when War Machine reunites! For right now, however, Hanson is tearing through Ring of Honor on his own. And, of course, Michael Elgin's championship reign ended at ALL STAR EXTRAVAGANZA. Since that day, we have seen a significant change in the former champion. He's unstable. Paranoid. And he's turning against everyone he used to trust.

That destructive paranoia split the former partnership between Elgin and Hanson right in half! To many, it seems like Elgin has attempted to plant seeds of mistrust and resentment between Hanson and Rowe. Elgin continues to claim that his issues are not personal - that his problems lie with Ring of Honor. But for Hanson, "personal" doesn't even begin to cover it! The growing rivalry between Hanson and the former World Champion is only going to get more intense as we kick of 2015.

On a recent episode of ROH TV, Hanson and Elgin battled one-on-one! This was a war between two of the strongest, most unapologetically hard-hitting athletes in all of ROH. In the end, the ring couldn't contain the brutality, and Elgin put Hanson through a table. The indecisive conclusion of the match - no pinfall, no clear winner - incensed both competitors. Michael Elgin claims it's further evidence of the unfair treatment he receives from ROH. Meanwhile, Hanson wants to lay out Elgin in the center of the ring once and for all!

So when we kick of 2015 in Nashville, we will also witness the continuation of this rivalry. That's right, Head Matchmaker Nigel McGuinness has made the decision and signed the match for January 3rd. When the ROH WINTER WARRIORS TOUR hits Nashville, you will see the rematch between MICHAEL ELGIN and HANSON! This is in addition to everything else we have lined up, including the first round of the 2015 TOP PROSPECT TOURNAMENT. Plus - our television cameras will be there to record all the action when bring the best professional wrestling on the planet back to Nashville!

Get your tickets today right HERE!


ROH WINTER WARRIORS TOUR
Saturday, January 3rd, 2015
National TV Taping
Tennessee State Fairgrounds/Expo
625 Smith Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203

Matches signed:

First Time Ever
Alberto El Patrón vs "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels

Triple Threat match for the ROH World TV Championship
Jay Lethal (c) w/ Truth Martini vs ACH vs Matt Sydal

Rematch
“Unbreakable” Michael Elgin vs Hanson

Frankie Kazarian vs Cedric Alexander

Mark Briscoe vs Roderick Strong

2015 Top Prospect Tournament
Participant #1 - Will Ferrara
Participant #2 - Ashely Sixx
Participant #3 - Mikey Webb
Participant #4 - J. Diesel
Participant #5 - Dalton Castle
Participant #6 - Beer City Bruiser
Participant #7 - Jake Dirden
Participant #8 - Donovan Dijak

Signed to Appear
- ROH World Champion: Jay Briscoe
- Adam Cole
- The Decade (Jimmy Jacobs & BJ Whitmer)
- Adam Page
- Hanson
- Matt Taven
- Michael Bennett W/ Maria Kanellis
- Mark Briscoe
- Tommaso Ciampa
- Moose w/ Veda Scott & Stokely Hathaway
- Caprice Coleman
- Plus More

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Dec 29, 2014 14:09:30 GMT -5 Mondai Rogue said:

Man, ROH pushed the wrong Briscoe brother.

Mark is cool and all, but he's basically a comedy character. If he got more aggressive and serious and straight "country redneck Gangsta" like Jay, I could take him seriously as a world champion. Maybe Mark could be TV Champ though. I Wouldn't mind seeing both Briscoes with singles gold.

[Mondai Rogue]

Dec 29, 2014 14:32:03 GMT -5 CATCH_US IS the Conversation said:

Dec 29, 2014 14:09:30 GMT -5 Mondai Rogue said:

Man, ROH pushed the wrong Briscoe brother.

Mark is cool and all, but he's basically a comedy character. If he got more aggressive and serious and straight "country redneck Gangsta" like Jay, I could take him seriously as a world champion. Maybe Mark could be TV Champ though. I Wouldn't mind seeing both Briscoes with singles gold.

Mark also isn't an idiot on social media like Jay. I'd take him over Jay as a top guy any day of the week.

[Feargus McReddit]

What I love about Mark is that, even though he's a comedy character, he's got such presence and charisma. He's someone you just look at and want him to be given an opportunity to excel because you know he can go do it. Everything he does already he gives 100% to and his timing...like, that Christmas video where he randomly goes from one average object to a machete and says it so casually gets me every time.

Jay is a fantastic worker and is great at what he does but I never find him to have much outside being tough, aggressive and sweary. Mark is someone I just find really refreshing in modern ROH. He's not constantly doing comedy like Colt is, but he's not also going the same direction as Jay.

He's Mark Briscoe.

[Deleted]

Dec 29, 2014 16:27:26 GMT -5 Feargus McReddit said:

What I love about Mark is that, even though he's a comedy character, he's got such presence and charisma. He's someone you just look at and want him to be given an opportunity to excel because you know he can go do it. Everything he does already he gives 100% to and his timing...like, that Christmas video where he randomly goes from one average object to a machete and says it so casually gets me every time.

Jay is a fantastic worker and is great at what he does but I never find him to have much outside being tough, aggressive and sweary. Mark is someone I just find really refreshing in modern ROH. He's not constantly doing comedy like Colt is, but he's not also going the same direction as Jay.

He's Mark Briscoe.

Yeah I don't like putting one over the other because I think that both of the Briscoes come off as larger than life and play their roles to such perfection that you really can't tell if what you're getting are characters or if this is who they really are. Mark's character is brilliant because it really doesn't come off like he's trying to be funny and the comedy doesn't come at the expense of whatever story he's in. I'm sure he'll get his time as Champ and I bet he can adapt to more serious storylines more than people would think, without having to compromise his character.

[Talent Name]

Mark Briscoe did tell us the best history lesson ever, Terry Funk ain't wear no mouth piece

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Dec 29, 2014 12:39:58 GMT -5 Feargus McReddit said:

SPOILER: Click to show

PUSH.

MARK.

BRISCOE!

I'LL KEEP SAYING IT UNTIL SOMEONE LISTENS!

So there's no ring of the 2nd World Title belt that Steen and the "Clones" held? That makes me sad.

[mcmahonfan85]

THE BULLET CLUB VS SYDAL, ALEXANDER & ACH IN PHILLY
Sat, January 24th, 2015 - 2300 (ECW) Arena - South Philly



Ring of Honor's return to Philadelphia is set to make history! We are back in the former ECW Arena - now 2300 Arena - one of the most venerated and legendary venues in all of professional wrestling. When you combine that storied atmosphere with the enthusiasm of Philadelphia fans, we can promise an unforgettable night of the best professional wrestling on the planet! Plus, this is your chance to make your voice heard on an upcoming episode of ROH TV!

January 24th is set to host a first time EVER match that is worth the price of admission all on its own - and you'll only see this go down in Ring of Honor! The Young Bucks AND AJ Styles are both scheduled to appear in Philadelphia. But on this stop of the WINTER WARRIORS TOUR, these 3 international superstars will represent the BULLET CLUB vs. 3 of ROH's most exciting stars...

6-Man Tag Team Match
THE BULLET CLUB (AJ Styles & Young Bucks) vs. Matt Sydal/ACH/Cedric Alexander

Nigel McGuinness wasted no time lining up this elite team to face Styles and the Bucks! Of course, at FINAL BATTLE we saw ACH team with the Young Bucks. But he has history teaming with Matt Sydal as well! Intriguingly, both ACH and Sydal are part of a Triple Threat World Television Title match THIS WEEK in Nashville! Can their amazing cohesiveness survive that encounter and take them to Philly?

Meanwhile, Cedric Alexander played his own integral part in the show-stealing encounter at FINAL BATTLE. So he was absolutely ecstatic at the opportunity to thrill the fans of ROH in another sure to be amazing 6 Man Tag! These are six of the absolute best in the world. It's rare enough to have this much talent converge for one event - and Ring of Honor is giving them to you all in one match!

In ROH, the most talented athletes in professional wrestling do what they do best - night after night! This is the just the first match scheduled for this huge television taping, but as always we will have all the updates right here on ROHwrestling.com. Don't wait to get your tickets for January 24th in Philadelphia! To be there live and in person, click HERE.

Ring Of Honor Wrestling Presents:
WINTER WARRIORS TOUR

Saturday, January 24th, 2015

2300 Arena (formerly known as The ECW Arena)
2300 S. Swanson St.
Philadelphia, PA 19148
Doors open @ 6pm / 7pm Bell Time

Signed to Appear....

- ROH WORLD CHAMPION: JAY BRISCOE
- ROH WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: JAY LETHAL w/ TRUTH MARTINI
- ROH WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: REDRAGON (BOBBY FISH & KYLE OREILLY)
- THE ADDICTION (CHRISTOPHER DANIELS & FRANKIE KAZARIAN)
- THE KINGDOM (MATT TAVEN & MICHAEL BENNETT) w/ MARIA KANELLIS
- "UNBREAKABLE" MICHAEL ELGIN
- RODERICK STRONG
- MARK BRISCOE
- HANSON
- BJ WHITMER
- JIMMY JACOBS
- ADAM PAGE
- CAPRICE COLEMAN
- MOOSE w/ VEDA SCOTT & STOKLEY HATHAWAY
- PLUS MORE

[mcmahonfan85]

2014 ROH YEAR IN REVIEW PART 1
January - May 2014



January

Fresh off of Final Battle 2013, Ring of Honor would start off 2014 off with a bang. With all eyes on the most important championship in the world, the Ring of Honor World Champion Adam Cole would start off the year looking over his shoulder, the list of challengers vast and hungry.

Former Champion Jay Briscoe, having felt robbed of his title in 2013, took to carrying his own “Real World Championship”. Michael Elgin feeling his time had come wanted another chance to prove himself. Former Champion Kevin Steen would be in the hunt for another reign. Former ROH World Tag Team Champion Chris Hero shocked everyone at Final Battle and immediately put Cole on notice that he too wanted what Cole held so dearly. “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles would return and put Cole on notice with a victory over “Mr. ROH” Roderick Strong. With so much world class competition lined up, it was very obvious why 2014 was destined to be the best year in Ring of Honor history.

January would see the devious Cole would pair up with his mentor, “The Icon” Matt Hardy to face Jay & Mark Briscoe and Chris Hero & Michael Elgin in 3 way match up. If Cole was beaten, the person who beat the champ would be awarded a future ROH World Championship opportunity. At the end of this wild match in front of a huge Pittsburgh crowd, Chris Hero electrified the fans by pinning Cole to earn an ROH World Title opportunity at the 12th Anniversary spectacular.

The ROH World Tag Champions Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly, reDRagon rolled into 2014 on fire. Though arguably the best tag team on the planet, both would dip their toes into the deep end of singles competition. Fish would face off with a very angry “Real World Champion” Jay Briscoe. Fish would lose via disqualification after interference by ROH World Champion Adam Cole. At the Wrestling’s Finest event, Kyle O’Reilly would not fare so well in one on one competition with Kevin Steen. With those two big match-ups out of the way, they refocused and set out to make history as a unit in 2014.

New ROH World Television Champion Tommaso Ciampa would show himself to be a fighting champion. He put his title on the line in January against Silas Young and then in a 3 way featuring former champions Matt Taven & Jay Lethal. Facing the best in his first defenses, Ciampa was setting the tone for a big year.

Ring of Honor’s annual Top Prospect Tournament kicked off in January. The Top Prospect Tournament would feature Raymond Rowe, Hanson, Kongo, Corey Hollis, Mike Posey, Andrew Everett, Cheeseburger and The Romantic Touch, all fighting for not just a contract with Ring of Honor, but also a shot at the ROH World Television Championship. The two biggest men, Hanson and Rowe would meet in the finals at “Wrestling’s Finest” to determine a winner. With Michael Elgin watching in the aisle, Hanson would have his hand raised in victory. These two monsters would shake hands out of mutual respect and that respect would come into play as the year moved on.

February

The excitement was building for the much anticipated 12th Anniversary show and the first ever ROH HonorCon! The harsh February cold was thawed by the intense heat in Philadelphia, PA on February 21, 2014. ROH World Champion Adam Cole would successfully defend his championship against Chris Hero. Kevin Steen would defeat Cliff Compton in a very intense Philadelphia. “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles would get past Jay Lethal. ROH Tag Champs reDRagon would retain their titles in a classic battle with ACH & Tadarius Thomas and Jay Briscoe would defeat a growing antagonist in Michael Bennett.

The HonorCon weekend was something the fans will never forget after an announcement that set the wrestling world on its ear, Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling would come together to put on joint shows in May titled Global Wars and War of The Worlds. Ring of Honor was clearly setting a new standard in its effort to be professional wrestling’s true alternative.

The Decade consisting of Ring of Honor veterans Jimmy Jacobs, BJ Whitmer and “Mr. ROH” Roderick Strong were starting to make their impact felt. The mission of gaining and teaching respect was in full force. First looking to dull the impact of stars they deemed left ROH and returned as conquering heroes, The Decade would start a campaign to add a “Young Boy”. Their initial efforts were focused on Adam Page & Tadarius Thomas. Cedric Alexander would start his rise as a future star and be the first of many to stand up to the Decade!

March

There was an uprising coming. ROH World Champion Adam Cole clearly aligned with “The Icon” Matt Hardy, Michael Bennett and Maria Kanellis. This treacherous group had set out on a mission to rid Ring of Honor of “The Real World Champion” Jay Briscoe. Jay would not sit back and wait for the attacked to come. He would pair up with his brother Mark and turn their sights on getting revenge.

The Midwest saw the aptly-titled, Raising the Bar Nights 1 and 2, which set the tone for a very exciting spring. Matt Taven, mired in getting revenge on Truth Martini, received an opportunity at Adam Cole’s ROH World Championship in Milwaukee, WI. Taven was a breath away from upsetting Cole for the championship, before the ever-opportunistic champion pulled victory from the jaws of defeat.

Night 2 saw the first major title change of 2014, The Young Bucks defeated reDRagon to become the new Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champions. The Bucks’ victory appeared to be the start of a storybook rivalry between two of the greatest teams on the planet.

April

Violence was the theme heading into Supercard of Honor VIII, as the issue between ROH World Champion and “Real World Champion” Jay Briscoe had reach critical levels. Nigel McGuinness had agreed that these two would face off to determine one champion, signing Ladder War V to settle it.

“Mr. ROH” Roderick Strong was starting to feel the pressure of Cedric Alexander, who was looking to break through to the next level and most felt that a victory over Strong would propel him. They would meet at Supercard with Strong coming out on top, but this was not the end of this budding rivalry.

Supercard of Honor VIII took place on one of the biggest weekends of the year in front of likely the most diverse crowds in ROH history. The boisterous RD Evans with the smart, seductive Veda Scott kept “The Streak” rolling with a big victory over “The Last Real Man” Silas Young by disqualification.

After some very close calls, it was set that ROH World Television champion Tommaso Ciampa would defend again former champion Jay Lethal in a personally significant 2 out of 3 falls match. Lethal would win but with help from his new manager, the despicable Truth Martini. Lethal was now the first two-time ROH World Television Champion and the newest member of the House of Truth.

“Unbreakable” Michael Elgin would defeat former ROH World Champion Kevin Steen to win a chance at the prestigious IWGP Heavyweight Title. reDRagon, with a chip on their shoulders due to being former champions would defeat Forever Hooligans and the destructive War Machine. Fish & O’Reilly would publicly call for their title rematch against The Young Bucks at War of The Worlds in New York City.

The Cole/Briscoe rivalry was blazing hot. It had now grown to include more than just the two dominant personalities. Mark Briscoe would go down to defeat to Cole’s running mate Michael Bennett in a wild No DQ match early in the night but the main event Ladder War was brutal, intense, physical, chaotic and violent. In the end, a bloody Jay Briscoe was looking up at a victorious Adam Cole holding both the “Real World Title” and the Ring of Honor World Championship. This battle was won by Cole, but the war was far from over.

May

With Ring of Honor long known for being the standard bearer for the best in-ring action in the US, New Japan Pro Wrestling would start a major resurgence with fresh faces like Hiroshi Tanahashi, “Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada and Shinsuke Nakamura and a troop of bandits known as “Bullet Club” as ROH rolled into a sold out Toronto, Canada and the raucous crowd saw an amazing event.

Cedric Alexander would prove a lot of doubters wrong by scoring a big win over “Mr. ROH” Roderick Strong. The Briscoe Brothers would defeat The Decade’s, Jimmy Jacobs & BJ Whitmer and reDRagon to maintain momentum heading into an IWGP Tag Team Title match up at War of The Worlds. In a match that left many with their jaw on the floor, ROH World Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks would defeat fellow NJPW tag teams, Forever Hooligans and The Time Splitters in an outstanding spectacle. The legendary Jushin “Thunder” Liger returned to ROH to team with Hiroshi Tanahashi in a winning effort against Shinsuke Nakamura & Jado. ROH World Television Champion Jay Lethal would stand in victory once again beating Matt Taven, Silas Young and Tommaso Ciampa in an outstanding 4 way contest.

The Bullet Club, IWGP Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles & Karl Anderson defeated CHAOS’ Okada & Gedo. “Unbreakable “Michael Elgin would step in to face off with both men he would be facing the following week in New York City. The ROH World Champion Adam Cole would successfully defend his championship against Kevin Steen. The fans of Toronto got a night of very special action but New York City would see a true War of the Worlds!

Headed into the Big Apple, The ROH World Championship, World Tag Team titles and World Television Championship would all be on the line. New Japan Pro Wrestling brought the biggest prize in Japan, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to be defended in front of the fans of Ring of Honor. The greatest fan base in the world was getting a chance to see a once in a life time card.

War of the Worlds was a night of classics. It started with Matt Taven, ACH & Tommaso Ciampa defeating Forever Hooligans & Takaaki Watanbe, The Decade defeated The World Class Tag Team, Gedo & Jado. ROH World Television Champion Jay Lethal defeated the young upstart Kushida to retain his title.

IWGP Tag Team Champions The Bullet Club, Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows defeated The Briscoe Brothers. Fans saw Shinsuke Nakamura battle Kevin Steen, with Nakamura coming out on top. Steen wanted to make a special announcement in front of the NYC faithful, but was interrupted by “The Last Real Man” Silas Young. Young proceeded to ruin a special moment for Steen and insulted his family, enraging Steen. Hiroshi Tanahashi, one of the biggest stars in the world, would take on Michael Bennett, with Maria Kanellis. But the lovely Maria showed she would do anything to lead her man to victory and while Bennett had chances to win, ultimately Tanahashi proved to be just too much on this day.

reDRagon would prove to be the very best on this day as they reclaimed the Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship. This victory set the tone for a record setting year for the cavalier duo that had UFC’s “Filthy” Tom Lawlor train with Fish & O’Reilly to prepare them for their successful rematch against The Young Bucks

The final two matches of the night saw ROH World Champion Adam Cole retain his championship with a win over a true legend in Jushin “Thunder” Liger. Cole showed why he is one of the best in the world with this victory. The show closed out with IWGP Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles defeating Kazuchika Okada and “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin in a fantastic match up that saw Elgin separate himself from the pack. He might not have won this match, but he did not skip a beat heading into the biggest match of his life at June’s Best in The World Pay per View.

[543Y2J]

Dec 30, 2014 11:24:43 GMT -5 mcmahonfan85 said:

THE BULLET CLUB VS SYDAL, ALEXANDER & ACH IN PHILLY
Sat, January 24th, 2015 - 2300 (ECW) Arena - South Philly

That will be spectacular!

[mcmahonfan85]

Dec 30, 2014 19:55:21 GMT -5 543Y2J said:

Dec 30, 2014 11:24:43 GMT -5 mcmahonfan85 said:

That will be spectacular!

what's next, Mick Foley running around flipping people off?

[mcmahonfan85]

2014 ROH YEAR IN REVIEW PART 2
June thru September 2014



JUNE

As the temperature heated up, so did the tensions in Ring of Honor! The summer of 2014 saw the culmination of one World Champion's reign...and the rise of another. Our successful collaboration with New Japan Pro Wrestling reinvigorated every single individual in ROH. With our LIVE pay-per-view debut on the horizon, the road to Best In The World lead us straight into June.

Cedric Alexander continued to be a thorn in the side of "Mr. ROH." Along with The Decade, Roderick Strong pledged to teach "disrespectful" young athletes like Alexander to pay their dues and earn their place in professional wrestling. While some like Adam Page cowed to the bullying, Cedric took a stand - he worked and trained and FOUGHT to be where he is and deserves every bit of the success he has achieved. These two would battle their way straight to Best In The World!

Another quickly escalating conflict emerged between Silas Young and "Mr. Wrestling" Kevin Steen. Young had taken offense to Steen's emotional speech after his match against Shinsuke Nakamura at War Of The Worlds. As we headed into Best In The World, we would see the stakes rise in this rivalry - with Silas insulting Steen's own family as well as his honor. Of course, Kevin Steen's story in ROH was about to take an unexpected turn.

The month of June was marked by unexpected surprises. The rivalry between Matt Taven and Jay Lethal incorporated some serious mind games when Lethal took on The Romantic Touch in a World Television Championship Proving Ground match. Lethal was obviously not taking the mysterious lothario completely seriously. But as the contest heated up and - surprisingly - The Romantic Touch was in control, Lethal and his manager Truth Martini were baffled. Shockingly, Lethal LOST the Proving Ground match...and "The Romantic Touch" revealed himself to be Matt Taven! That night Taven seriously amped up intensity of this feud, proving to the House of Truth that they CAN be beaten.

One of the other big shockers was a rare in-ring wrestling appearance by the masked man from the Edge of Sanity, DELIRIOUS! For years, Delirious was an integral member of the ROH roster whose unconventional style saw him involved in everything from hilarious comedy to vicious blood feuds. In recent years, Delirious has stepped away from ROH action. So Carbondale, IL was treated to a very special moment when he took on Michael Bennett on the ROAD TO BEST IN THE WORLD!

Michael Bennett and Maria Kanellis would make their presence felt in a sinister way the very next night. Assisting World Champion Adam Cole, Bennett and Maria assaulted number one contender "Unbreakable" Michael Elgin. The tensions between Elgin and Cole had been brewing for a very long time, but NO ONE expected what happened in Collinsville on the ROAD TO BEST IN THE WORLD. Elgin's wife, MsChif, hit the ring to make the save, but the numbers were not in her favor. With MsChif forced to watch, Adam Cole and his cohorts SHAVED Elgin's head!

BEST IN THE WORLD 14 - 6/22/14 NASHVILLE, TN

There are some nights where the energy and excitement crackles in the air. You know you are part of something incredibly special. Sunday, June 22nd, 2014 was an historic night for Ring of Honor - our Pay-Per-View debut! It also saw the ROH of a team determined to make a run at the championship: "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian. But while the duo that would be known at "The Addiction" came up short against champion’s reDRagon on this night, they made known that they have found a home in Ring of Honor!

Former NFL star MOOSE appeared at Best In The World for a live interview discussing his decision to sign with ROH. Called the hottest free agent in pro wrestling, Moose showed up in Nashville to confirm that he had made his commitment to Ring of Honor! But Veda Scott interjected to make Moose an offer for managerial services - an offer which he soundly declined. For now...

But the biggest story coming out of Best In The World would change the entire landscape of ROH. "Unbreakable" Michael Elgin defeated ROH World Champion Adam Cole LIVE on pay-per-view, finally achieving the dream he had been chasing since his first moment in Ring of Honor. With War Machine and MsChif there to finally negate the interference of Bennett and Maria, Elgin got the fair fight he wanted and became the NEW ROH World Champion! Elgin swore to be a fighting champion who would take on anyone, and he would spend the summer of 2014 making good on that challenge.



JULY

Best In The World might have come and gone, but The Decade continued their campaign to teach "respect" to the young athletes in ROH. Despite what Jacobs, Whitmer, and Strong might claim, there was no honor evident in their tactics - and one of the other veterans of the locker room had enough of the bullying. Caprice Coleman assumed the role of mentor and partner, showing the up-and-comers that someone had their backs. Coleman brought some much needed positivity and encouragement to the stand against The Decade!

Meanwhile, the rivalry between War Machine and The Briscoe’s picked up even more! Obviously, The Briscoe’s are one of the most tenured, respected teams not just in ROH but all of professional wrestling. With War Machine looking to establish themselves, Jay and Mark were more than happy to give Hanson and Rowe a warm welcome, Dem Boys style!

Veda Scott's unsuccessful pitch to Moose at Best In The World apparently didn't deter her from continuing to push her offer on ROH's newest star. With #TheNewStreak bigger than ever, Veda kept trying to lawyer her way into a partnership with the giant ex-NFL player...with Ramon looking on in disapproval. Moose speared through his competition - solo - as the summer heated up!

Speaking of heating up, the career of Cedric Alexander got a HUGE jolt when he survived the Golden Gauntlet in Dearborn for an ROH World Championship opportunity. Cedric outlasted the competition in this six man gauntlet match. World Champion Michael Elgin had sworn to defend the title against anyone worthy, and so Head Matchmaker Nigel McGuinness had the chance to open the field of contenders. Now Cedric Alexander was guaranteed a chance to make history and become World Champion!

And finally, we would all say #ThanksSteenThanks in July, as Kevin Steen made his last appearances for Ring of Honor. Over his time in ROH, Steen won championships, clashed with management, and cemented himself as one of the most memorable and legendary athletes in our history. Steen's farewell tour culminated on July 19th in Dearborn, MI, when he battled his longtime friend and rival, Steve Corino. ROH allowed Steen to handpick his final opponents and Corino was given a one night reprieve from broadcasting duties to join this wild goodbye!

AUGUST

War Machine was formed out of mutual respect after Hanson and Raymond Rowe battled each other in the finals of this year's Top Prospect Tournament. While Hanson would emerge victorious, the bond between these two brawlers meant ROH got a brand new, seemingly unstoppable tag team! But just as their journey was truly beginning, Raymond Rowe was injured in a horrific motorcycle accident, requiring surgery and extensive rehabilitation. Rowe promised he would be back - stronger and better than ever! But for the foreseeable future, Hanson was embarking on his own.

In the unfortunate absence of War Machine, another new team stepped up - and this was an unlikely partnership for sure. MOOSE finally joined #TheNewStreak family, the "linebacker to my quarterback," as R.D. Evans proclaimed. Veda Scott ensured that all tag team victories would officially tally under #TheNewStreak!

Cedric Alexander and ACH were both touted as 2014's Breakout Stars in ROH, and in August they both undoubtedly earned that mantle. Cedric took his World Title opportunity earned in the Golden Gauntlet and battled Michael Elgin. While he didn't leave with the title, he proved to the world that he is ready for the highest level of competition.

That same night, ACH challenged Jay Lethal for the ROH World Television Title. That match would eventually conclude in a time limit draw...but every single person in attendance proclaimed it an instant classic and quite possibly the best match ever to air on ROH TV! The rivalry between these two is obviously not over yet. And ACH has cemented his place among the absolute best professional wrestlers on the planet.

FIELD OF HONOR - 8/15/14 BROOKLYN, NY

The summer of 2014 featured a unique new event from ROH: FIELD OF HONOR! With the ring constructed right on the baseball field, the fans were treated to a huge night of Ring of Honor action...outdoors under the stadium lights!

And the outdoor setting meant there was literally no limit to the heights Matt Taven and Jay Lethal could take their Steel Cage Grudge Match! Throughout the year, this became a feud embroiled in a hatred that went far beyond the World Television Championship. Both athletes risked it all inside the cage, including a heart-stopping leap from the top by Taven! But in the end, Lethal remained champion...and the future of Matt Taven in ROH appeared to be over.

Death Before Dishonor weekend was a gigantic two night event bringing the best of ROH to the Midwest! AJ Styles and Kyle O'Reilly squared off in a first time ever encounter in Milwaukee that had "dream match" written all over it. And it MORE than lived up to the hype! Plus Michael Elgin continued his campaign to be the hardest fighting champion in ROH history, taking on all challengers - including surly Silas Young in Young's own hometown.

But it was Elgin's defense the next night in Chicago Ridge that would have long lasting effects on all of ROH! "The Sicilian Psychopath" Tommaso Ciampa had long insisted that he is overlooked and underappreciated by Ring of Honor officials. So in Chicago Ridge, Ciampa was granted the title match against Elgin he said he deserved. These two had a totally brutal violencefest, a FIGHT for the World Championship fitting of how elite this title is to professional wrestling. Ciampa was unsuccessful...but it was not a loss to be ashamed of by any means. However, Ciampa went on an absolute RAMPAGE after his defeat. He attacked ring crew, ROH officials, Kevin Kelly, and finally concussed ROH Announcer Bobby Cruise with knee strikes. It was an unconscionable, shocking attack and Tommaso Ciampa was justifiably suspended from Ring of Honor - indefinitely.

Were we seeing some cracks showing in the previously unshakable unit that is The Decade? Jimmy Jacobs swore that everything was a-ok, but Roderick Strong appeared to get a bit frustrated with "young boy" Adam Page's increasingly bold attitude. This blooming confidence only seemed to be ENCOURAGED by Page's former chief antagonist, BJ Whitmer. With "Scrap Iron" Adam Pearce making a special 2 night ROH return to dole out some old fashioned "humility," The Decade's saga was only going to get more intriguing as the second half of 2014 continued.

SEPTEMBER

ALL STAR EXTRAVAGANZA 6 09/06/14

Our Canadian return to the historic Maple Leaf Gardens was broadcast LIVE on internet pay-per-view! And it was truly a night of shocking moments that shook up Ring of Honor from top to bottom. Michael Bennett and Maria Kanellis finally revealed what they'd done with the "real" World Title they stole from Jay Briscoe. Barely concealed under Maria's trench coat, the title belt had undergone a bit of a makeover. Bennett and Maria christened the Title of Love and festooned it with pink fur and photos of the power couple. The rivalry between Bennett and the Briscoe’s was obviously not over!

Michael Bennett's partner in crime, former champion Adam Cole, took on AJ Styles one-on-one - and they tore the house down! AJ Styles is quite possibly the best in the world and his resurgence in 2014 has resulted in classic match after classic match. But if there were any doubts about Adam Cole, in Toronto he proved that he has ascended to the most elite level of competition in professional wrestling. Whether or not he's holding a championship, 2014 showed that Adam Cole has emerged as the pinnacle of ROH athletes.

In the main event, reDRagon successfully retain their championship against The Young Bucks, continuing one of the hottest rivalries on the planet. These two teams have taken their feud quite literally around the world. They have battled on multiple continents over both the ROH World Tag Team Championship AND the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. The absolute best in tag team wrestling is showcased in ROH, and that's only going to be more evident in 2015!

But after the conclusion to the main event, Tommaso Ciampa charged into the arena and attacked the ringside area! As previously noted, Ciampa had been suspended indefinitely from ROH following a horrific attack on ROH officials and non-wrestling personnel. Ciampa's rampage in Toronto left Nigel McGuinness with a number of serious decisions to make regarding the future of "The Sicilian Psychopath."

The biggest shocker coming out of All Star Extravaganza centered around the ROH World Championship. As part of his pledge to be a fighting champion, "Unbreakable" Michael Elgin challenged any and all former champions to face him. Jay Briscoe still maintains that he never officially lost the World Championship - he was stripped of it the summer before. So of course he was ready to step up to Elgin in Toronto! Briscoe had not been pinned since his return, but Elgin seemed so dominant as a champion that most people thought this was the night Briscoe's streak would end. Shockingly, after a spine-shattering Jay Driller, Jay Briscoe defeated Michael Elgin to win the ROH World Championship! This makes Briscoe a two-time World Champion, only the second man in ROH history to secure such an honor. Who would be the next challenge for this two-time title holder? As we headed into the fall of 2014, the entire championship landscape of Ring of Honor was once again up in the air.

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I miss Silas Young. Been forever since he even did a PSA, yeah they were bad but at it was something. Anyone heard an update on him or remember the original timeframe for his recovery?