Ring Of Honor 10th Anniversary Predictions

Special Attraction
“Notorious 187″ Homicide vs “The Prodigy” Mike Bennett w/ Brutal Bob & Maria Kanellis

JP: This is really the one match on the show I am not looking forward to. Even though Homicide’s last ROH run was lackluster and Bennett has grown on me, I just do not see this pairing really working. All that matters really is that Bennett is beating Homicide in his hometown, which should likely earn just as much heat from NY as the heat that Bennett typically gets from them, which is near venomous. I would actually like to see Homicide back in ROH after this if TNA ever decides to cut Hernandez and he is brought back in with Hernandez. I always liked the two of them more as a pairing than I did singles.

Prediction: Mike Bennett

Ben: Bennett is finally becoming quite an entertaining act, along with consistent inring qualities, but ROH wants to line him up with Homicide and Lance Storm? Man, they really don’t want this guy to get over. Homicide is good for a pop, then the match has to happen. I guess this is ROH’s excuse for bringing in a “name” for the 10YA, along with Red. I expect this to be competent at best.

Prediction: Mike Bennett

Mark: Yes, what a very special attraction this is. I guess when I begged for some old ROH stars that Ring of Honor must have thought I meant put Homicide against Mike Bennett in a match that does nothing for either guy. What is Homicide to ROH right now? Is he a guy they’ll bring around once and a while to bring in “big-name value”? Because I hate to break to to everyone but Homicide in 2012 is nothing special. In fact, I’d dare say if he didn’t have the reputation to the company that he does he wouldn’t be working anywhere. Now, that being said…I used to love Homicide. I thought his style was unique, and he made himself a believable character. Now he is being brought in, without Ring of Honor using him frequently, against a guy that the office can’t decide if they want to push or bury. With Lance Storm being a future opponent, I will assume this is the start of Mike Bennett working his way into the Main Event of Ring of Honor with a win here. All I hope is that we get 2006 Homicide against 2012 Mike Bennett, who is improving with every match he has. If that is the case, and it gets fifteen minutes, this could surprise a lot of people. I doubt it will.

Prediction: Mike Bennett

Glory By Honor X Tag Team Rematch
Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin) vs The All Night Xpress (Rhett Titus & Kenny King)

JP: Unfortunately, due to WGTT having the next tag title shot, I see them coming out on top. Their GBHX match seemed to leave a lot to be desired, but one would hope that the crowd will be fully behind ANX now considering everything that ANX has gone through in NY, especially when you factor it being Rhett’s first match in a little over two months. I wish I could pick ANX, but I really can’t. This is a pick where I hope I am wrong.

Prediction: Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin)

Mark: Okay…”ANX has to win here, right?”. I put quotes there because I feel like I’ve said that about five different times during all of 2011, and every single time they lost. King and Titus need to be the next Champions, period, and ROH has chosen to give them “strong performances” rather than decisive victories. With all of that in mind, I really hope Ring of Honor understands that Rhett and Kenny are more over in NYC than any other place they will run…and this is the time to start giving them the wins they need. Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin…they don’t belong, honestly. That’s why I’m picking ANX to win, because if I pick the opposite to happen then I certainly know that I have given up all hope on this company.

Prediction: The All Night Xpress (Rhett Titus & Kenny King)

Ben: Hmmm, ANX has to win, right? I’ve only said that about a dozen times the last year, and of course they lost in every single one of those instances. These guys have to be the next champions, and with NYC being the market they are most over in, it makes sense to start giving them some wins here. Just put ANX over clean, please, but with Haas & Benjamin challenging for the tag titles in Ft. Lauderdale, they might go over.

Prediction: The All Night Xpress (Rhett Titus & Kenny King)

Special Attraction Tag Team Match
The Amazing Red & “Technical Lightning” TJ Perkins vs The House of Truth (“Unbreakable” Michael Elgin & Roderick Strong) w/ Truth Martini

JP: This match ought to be awesome. I wished for more Elgin and TJP interaction, and thankfully we are getting it here. In addition to that, we are getting the return of the Amazing Red, a return that stuns me that it has not happened sooner. Roderick/Red had a solid match at FEAR, but I feel like Red will really bring the goods here that he somewhat lacked at FEAR. HOT will for sure get the win. I feel like if Red is the one who takes the pin (unlike TJP, where that seems to be all that he does), that might be a telling sign of his future in the company, but this match should probably be a running candidate for MOTN.

Prediction: The House of Truth (“Unbreakable” Michael Elgin & Roderick Strong)

Ben: This is super fun on paper, and should deliver in such capacity. I expect this to be the opener and get sub 10 mins., which is fine, but I’d like to see it spotted somewhere else and get more. ROH has become incredibly stagnant and predictable in that sense, often putting the same matches/guys in the same spots on the card. Wouldn’t be surprised if this turns out to be my favorite match on the show, much like TJP/Elgin from Final Battle in December.

Prediction: The House of Truth (“Unbreakable” Michael Elgin & Roderick Strong)

Mark: Now THIS is a special attraction. A completely fresh match-up that you’d expect to happen in a place such as Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, but kid-you-not it is happening on a Ring of Honor show. Now forget the fact that it’ll open the show and go fifteen minutes tops, this should be one of the best matches on the show. It’s such a throwaway match in the end that it is actually hard for me to pick with the recent dissension between Elgin/Roddy…but regardless, I think the House of Truth takes the win here but would not be shocked if a “miscommunication” gives TJP & Red the win.

Prediction: The House of Truth (“Unbreakable” Michael Elgin & Roderick Strong)

NO DQ – Grudge Match
Jimmy Jacobs vs. “Wrestling’s Worst Nightmare” Kevin Steen

JP: It’s scary to think that it has been about eight months and change since Jacobs returned and this is his first REAL match since returning (Generico/Jacobs should have been, but it was largely meant for an angle.) These are also two guys who really excel in brawls. I feel like this is the easy sweep pick’em in turns of Steen winning, but besides the previous match, this is my most anticipated match of the night. If you happen to be at the show, make sure to run for your life. Even if you’re watching on iPPV, you may have to do the same thing.

Prediction: Kevin Steen

Mark: This is my most anticipated match on the show. The story that has been building between Kevin Steen and many different members of the Ring of Honor roster is just about the only thing I really care about in ROH outside of The Briscoes- and add in Jimmy Jacobs, one of my favorites no matter his gimmick, you have a recipe for something wonderful. I fully expect this to be as violent as the Final Battle match between Steen and Corino, and it may actually turn out a lot better even though the FB match came off perfect to me. I really hope this won’t be the last time we see Jimmy Jacobs in Ring of Honor, but if it is he will go out with a bang. Truth is, Steen is on top of this company and Jimmy is going to have to come with his A-game on Sunday. In the end, Kevin Steen will win this match and move on to bigger and better things- I think this may be the most solid lock on the show, in fact. But that doesn’t take away from what should be a match you won’t want to miss.

Prediction: Kevin Steen

Ben: I love these dudes. We can only hope this isn’t the end of Jimmy in ROH. One of the best talkers and workers on the indy circuit. Could you imagine him inserted into the current top title picture? That would obviously be way too fresh and pro wrestling for ROH, wouldn’t it? Steen is the man, what more can really be said at this point? They’ll probably steal the show.

Prediction: Kevin Steen

ROH World Television Championship
Jay Lethal defends vs. “The Dominant Male” Tommaso Ciampa w/ The Embassy LTD.

JP: Much like Jacobs, it’s sort of scary to me that this is the first match that Ciampa has had in about a year of his run that feels like it has any real importance. Besides the fact that it should be a good match, he should likely be winning the TV title here, at least one would hope. I’m not ruling out the possibility of a draw and then a rematch in Miami where Ciampa wins there, but (for once) I am hoping for an NY title change.

Prediction: Tommaso Ciampa

Ben: This could be really good or just solid, hoping for the former. Amazing what can happen to a guy when he gets to cut some legitimate promos and isn’t limited to working ROH students. This is easily a case where his momentum should continue to ride and pick up the title on his first opportunity, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see this get stretched out to Ft. Lauderdale, just cause that’s what ROH does now. I would think this is a springboard of sorts for Lethal to the main event, but he’s never going to actually win the World Title, and they’ve already done him against Richards twice now, potentially again WrestleMania weekend, so not sure what you do with him if he drops the title.

Prediction: Tommaso Ciampa

Mark: I wish I was more excited for this match than I currently am, but that may play to my favor by the time it comes time for it. I expect a very solid match out of these two, but with Jay Lethal you know you’re going to get to see one of the best in the world wrestling his heart out. Ciampa has improved greatly due to the fact that they stopped putting him against Andy Ridge and Grizzly Redwood on every show they possibly could. This is his shot to stand out from the pack and in one fell swoop make The Embassy and himself a major threat in ROH. All it will take is for him to go out there and wrestle as if his life is on the line. At this point, as I said when Lethal, Generico and Bennett had their three-way for the TV Title in NYC, I feel like it’s time for Jay Lethal to move up into the Main Event full-time while giving a younger heel a good rub. While Bennett wasn’t that guy, I think Ciampa HAS to be if ROH plans to continue to use and push him. Winning the TV Title will do way more to help the credibility of Ciampa than it will to hurt the credibility of Lethal if he loses- meanwhile, if Lethal wins it’s just another notch in the belt while it kills any heat they’ve built up for Tommaso Ciampa and the Embassy.

Prediction: Tommaso Ciampa

ROH World Tag Team Championship
Jay & Mark Briscoe defend vs. the Young Bucks

JP: These two teams have had a few very good matches, but have yet to have one that really made it to the next level. I sort of feel like that is because they are both teams that typically excel from working against a team that can control a match and then one of them have a great comeback. However, I feel like they will really hit it home here and deliver the match that everyone would expect from them. Briscoes will retain cleanly, but I would not rule out a potential Bucks title win over the next few months.

Prediction: Jay & Mark Briscoe

Mark: A match that has even gone under my radar, The Briscoes vs. The Young Bucks is just a match thrown together to give Mark & Jay a viable defense in front of NYC. That being said, this should be absolutely awesome. My expectations on this one are through the roof, just because this is a match that hasn’t been overdone in any promotion- and actually feels a little special. I’ll say that it feels so special mostly due to the awesome promo’s the Briscoes have been cutting lately and even the Young Bucks have shown a bit of charisma in their retorts in the video wire. This is a match between two of the best tag teams in all of wrestling and I have a good feeling we will see a match that could possibly hold up for the next nine months as a match of the year contender. Briscoes win clean here.

Prediction: Jay & Mark Briscoe

Ben: These teams have never delivered THAT match you would expect from them. They’ve always been good to fairly underwhelming, but this is the first time it’s been in a top spot of an important card, with even a little bit of back story leading in. This match could rely on who plays what roll, but I feel like either way it’s going to be their best match to date.

Prediction: Jay & Mark Briscoe

Main Event
ROH World Champion Davey Richards & Kyle O’Reilly vs. “Die Hard” Eddie Edwards & Adam Cole

JP: This also should be a very good match, although I am torn on the result. One would hope that Cole pins Davey, but due to the way that Cole has been booked for the last year, I’m not entirely sure if I see that happening. At least if it does happen, it would hopefully show that they have faith in him to step up to the plate. The worst possibility out of this is either Davey pinning either Cole/Eddie or Eddie pinning Kyle. The latter I do not see happening, but I would not rule out the former. Another factor is that while he did not have any involvement in Davey/Eddie at Final Battle, I’ll be interested to see if Steen does anything here as he continues on his quest to take over ROH and gain the World Title. The result will influence my overall feelings of the match, but this match should likely really deliver.

Prediction: “Die Hard” Eddie Edwards & Adam Cole

Ben: I’ll keep this quick. This match on paper is dreamy with the infusion of Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly, but the build isn’t even something I want to acknowledge. Cole should pin Richards, so Edwards will likely pin O’Reilly, accomplishing…? This could easily be something that has a lot of people talking afterwards, in a positive way.

Prediction: Adam Cole & Eddie Edwards

Mark: The much maligned match that some people are dreading, while others are probably very excited for it. I find myself in the middle. I fantasy booked this match months ago, but not under the circumstances of it being a tug of war over the love and admiration of Davey Richards. I was hoping, since the MMA influences are there, they’d split off into “camps” and build the feud that way. But hey, I can’t complain too much because I got the match I wanted- right? Honestly, I’m hoping with all my heart that this match surprises the hell out of me and has my jaw on the floor- because as of right now, I’m completely wait-and-see when it comes to this one. All four guys are absolutely incredible in the ring, and I think adding Kyle and Adam to this match will tone down both Davey and Eddie to the point where everything they do will actually mean something- instead of just moving onto the next spot as they did at FB. I also see this as a chance to push Adam Cole into the Main Event with a clean pinfall over Davey, but again this is ROH we’re talking about here and they seem to have a problem looking to the future. In the end, I’m going with my heart that says Eddie & Adam win with Cole pinning Davey; as any other finish is a complete waste of time.

Prediction: Adam Cole & Eddie Edwards

Final Thoughts

JP: I have said it several times on Twitter, but I really do like this card. The problem is it is a card for such a huge landmark in ROH history. One would argue that it does a lot for Kyle & Cole to be in the ME of such a huge show, but at the same time, due to the way that the two have been booked over the last year, it somewhat gives a B-level feeling. I love both guys, but it’s just due to the way they have been booked. However, there’s only one match on here that I can say that I am not looking forward to in any way, which leaves 6 matches that I have at least a bit of anticipation for (ANX/WGTT) to matches that I have a LOT of anticipation for (Steen/Jacobs, HOT/TJP & Red, Briscoes/Bucks). I cannot see it being a bad show and in fact see it being a good show. For $10, you can’t really go wrong.

Ben: It’s a shame, because there should be way more behind this article and show. Afterall, we are posting predictions for the TENTH ANNIVERSARY show of Ring of Honor, but so goes the current state of the company. The card has a lot of potential. I expect some things to deliver, while others will likely be handicapped due to booking. It should feel and look like a bigger deal, but as a stand alone card, it’s still quite loaded. Hopefully, my overall lack of enthusiasm for the promotion didn’t show through, but perhaps it should….

Follow JP on Twitter @I_Am_Hollywood, Ben @BenTurpen and Mark @podjohnnyringo. Feel free to tweet us or post your thoughts in a comment below.