Cody Longpre
05-09-2004, 02:42 PM
A rush of anticipation races through the ROH locker room. A heightened sense of urgency combined with a looming anxiety grasps every ROH competitor from World Champion Samoa Joe to The Ring Crew Express of Dunn & Marcos. Everyone knows its all up for grabs!!!
Spots are wide open for the taking up and down the ROH card. This is the time for every athlete to raise their stock and take the glory. There are no glass ceilings; the sky is the limit. However, if you fail your job is in danger, you career will stall and you will be in wrestling purgatory. Add to that all the incredible, hungry, fresh talent and you have the most competitive atmosphere ever experienced in a pro wrestling ring.
Even in the case of Samoa Joe, its all on the line for him. Everyday he holds that ROH World Title he makes history. Joe has made the ROH belt an important World Title. He has produced a tremendous series of World Title defenses. Now with every passing defense, his legend grows. Joe has a chance to be immortal in the ROH record books, but only if he can hold onto that belt.
The Second City Saints of CM Punk, Colt Cabana & Ace Steel are at the point they have worked so hard to achieve. With the ROH Tag Team Titles around their waists, the Saints are the top faction in ROH and gaining power and momentum quickly. If success continues, the SCS will reign over ROH as strongly as The Prophecy did in 2002. However, if they fail all they have worked for in ROH will boil down to nothing except empty hype. With the legendary Ricky "The
Dragon" Steamboat as a newfound enemy, failure could come quicker than success was achieved.
The Prophecy of Dan Maff, BJ Whitmer and Allison Danger must now find a way to carry on the quest of destroying the Code Of Honor without their leader Christopher Daniels. Maff and Whitmer have had a strained relationship in the past and it remains to be seen whether Danger can make these two hard-hitters cooperate. The Prophecy will either regain its glory or self-destruct.
Bryan Danielson has committed to ROH when his international schedule permits. He is the last man left that put ROH on the map with match of the year candidates on the first two shows. His ROH career is haunted by the fact that he has never won the big one. Danielson has made it clear that he wants the World Title especially with his actions on Samoa Joe's Ring on both the "Reborn" home releases. Can Danielson finally cement his ROH legend and win the big one?
Jay & Mark Briscoe are at a crossroads. They broke the curse of the ROH Tag Team Titles and brought stability to the tag team division. Jay almost bled to death and gave Samoa Joe the fight of his life on March 13th to end the comp etitive Briscoes feud vs. Joe. It was a feud where Joe tried to bully and intimidate Jay and Mark, but in the end they all earned each other's respect with brutal matches. However, The Briscoes have lost the ROH Tag Team Titles and fired their legendary manager Jim Cornette. Can The Briscoes soar even higher on their own or have they already peaked?
Julius Smokes and "The Notorious 187" Homicide are entering a new, dangerous stage. Homicide has snapped and a devilish figure has emerged who is capable of anything. He felt robbed of the World Title in St. Paul so he threw fire. Dementia took control in Chicago as he terrorized fans and proved he would do anything to win. Something happened inside Homicide in St. Paul and now everyone is going pay. Add to that the emergence of a new Rottwieler or Rottwielers on May 15th and this group could easily become the top faction in ROH.
Spanky prepares to make his return to ROH. When this ROH founding father comes home on May 15th in Boston there is no telling what his goals will be or who he will target. This is an athlete that can and will make an immediate impact.
"The Torture Device" Doug Williams is ready to make a lengthy return to ROH starting on July 17th in Elizabeth, NJ. He's had a strong presence in the past and now that he is able to commit to several shows the main event will be there for the taking (if he is ready).
Turmoil engulfs Special K, who have not been heard from since being decimated in Scramble Cage II on 3/13. Becky was backstage at the Midwest double shot saying none of the members have been returning calls or anything. Special K members are scheduled on upcoming shows so we will have to wait to see what happens. ROH officials are urging Hydro to break away from the faction and be a serious pure wrestler.
The Carnage Crew of Loc, Devito, Masada and Justin Credible have another kind of turmoil going on now as they try to find out who vandalized their bags in Elizabeth, NJ. They have stated they'll beat up everyone in ROH if that's what it takes to make sure they get the scum that did it.
Another man in turmoil is Prince Nana. "Final Battle 2003" saw Nana start The Embassy. However, his crown jewel Former ROH Champion Xavier is now out at least six months with a shoulder injury. Can Nana save The Embassy and bring it to power?
Trent Acid is a man definitely at the crossroads of his ROH career. He is going the singles route for the first time and will be given an opportunity to make it to the main event. The former ROH Tag Team Champion has shined in single matches in the past vs. Homicide and Sonjay Dutt, now he is ready to make the big push to the top.
Then there are a group of competitors who have spent roughly one year in ROH. They have impressed, they have had their moments, but now is their time to take a spot on top of the card. This includes Field Of Honor Champion Matt Stryker, the man who made his name by winning the Xavier feud in John Walters, another who seems lost in the shuffle without the guidance of AJ Styles in Jimmy Rave and technical wizard Chad Collyer. These men are all at the crossroads and they all must make an impact now because coming up quick are "Generation Next" and these guys are hungry to make their name.
"Generation Next" is the theme for the show on May 22nd in Philadelphia. In 2002 there was a class ready to shine and make an impact on the wrestling business. It consisted of Samoa Joe, Bryan Danielson, Christopher Daniels, AJ Styles, Homicide, Low Ki, Spanky, Doug Williams and others. Now in 2004 there is a new class ready to put on phenomenal matches in order to make their names. "Generation Next" includes the likes of The Havana Pitbulls, Nigel McGuiness, Austin Aries, Jack Evans, Alex Shelley, Roderick Strong, Hydro, Jimmy Jacobs, Josh Daniels and Masada. These guys are ready to amaze you with athletic action and new innovations with old school philosophies in order to grab their glory.
Even on the ring crew there are two tag teams ready to climb the card. Dunn & Marcos, The Ring Crew Express, have started the "We're Not Gonna Take It Tour" and proved over the "Reborn" weekend that they can hang with any tag team on the roster. The Outcast Killaz of Oman Turtuga & Diablo Santiago have patiently paid their dues, but the patience is wearing off. The Killaz are primed to do whatever it takes to climb the card.
If that's not enough hungry, talented upcomers others like Matt Sydal, Delirious, Fast Eddie, Christopher Street Connection, Caprice Coleman, Rainman, Danny Daniels, Shawn Daivari and Ray Gordy are just waiting for their chance as well.
No one can afford to make a mistake. ROH wrestlers can't even relax for a second. A defeat could cost you your job. There is just too much talent and too many opportunities for the few available spots from top to bottom on any given ROH card. It's all up for grabs and everyone knows this is their time to make the most of it.
This is an amazing and interesting read!
Thoughts?
Spots are wide open for the taking up and down the ROH card. This is the time for every athlete to raise their stock and take the glory. There are no glass ceilings; the sky is the limit. However, if you fail your job is in danger, you career will stall and you will be in wrestling purgatory. Add to that all the incredible, hungry, fresh talent and you have the most competitive atmosphere ever experienced in a pro wrestling ring.
Even in the case of Samoa Joe, its all on the line for him. Everyday he holds that ROH World Title he makes history. Joe has made the ROH belt an important World Title. He has produced a tremendous series of World Title defenses. Now with every passing defense, his legend grows. Joe has a chance to be immortal in the ROH record books, but only if he can hold onto that belt.
The Second City Saints of CM Punk, Colt Cabana & Ace Steel are at the point they have worked so hard to achieve. With the ROH Tag Team Titles around their waists, the Saints are the top faction in ROH and gaining power and momentum quickly. If success continues, the SCS will reign over ROH as strongly as The Prophecy did in 2002. However, if they fail all they have worked for in ROH will boil down to nothing except empty hype. With the legendary Ricky "The
Dragon" Steamboat as a newfound enemy, failure could come quicker than success was achieved.
The Prophecy of Dan Maff, BJ Whitmer and Allison Danger must now find a way to carry on the quest of destroying the Code Of Honor without their leader Christopher Daniels. Maff and Whitmer have had a strained relationship in the past and it remains to be seen whether Danger can make these two hard-hitters cooperate. The Prophecy will either regain its glory or self-destruct.
Bryan Danielson has committed to ROH when his international schedule permits. He is the last man left that put ROH on the map with match of the year candidates on the first two shows. His ROH career is haunted by the fact that he has never won the big one. Danielson has made it clear that he wants the World Title especially with his actions on Samoa Joe's Ring on both the "Reborn" home releases. Can Danielson finally cement his ROH legend and win the big one?
Jay & Mark Briscoe are at a crossroads. They broke the curse of the ROH Tag Team Titles and brought stability to the tag team division. Jay almost bled to death and gave Samoa Joe the fight of his life on March 13th to end the comp etitive Briscoes feud vs. Joe. It was a feud where Joe tried to bully and intimidate Jay and Mark, but in the end they all earned each other's respect with brutal matches. However, The Briscoes have lost the ROH Tag Team Titles and fired their legendary manager Jim Cornette. Can The Briscoes soar even higher on their own or have they already peaked?
Julius Smokes and "The Notorious 187" Homicide are entering a new, dangerous stage. Homicide has snapped and a devilish figure has emerged who is capable of anything. He felt robbed of the World Title in St. Paul so he threw fire. Dementia took control in Chicago as he terrorized fans and proved he would do anything to win. Something happened inside Homicide in St. Paul and now everyone is going pay. Add to that the emergence of a new Rottwieler or Rottwielers on May 15th and this group could easily become the top faction in ROH.
Spanky prepares to make his return to ROH. When this ROH founding father comes home on May 15th in Boston there is no telling what his goals will be or who he will target. This is an athlete that can and will make an immediate impact.
"The Torture Device" Doug Williams is ready to make a lengthy return to ROH starting on July 17th in Elizabeth, NJ. He's had a strong presence in the past and now that he is able to commit to several shows the main event will be there for the taking (if he is ready).
Turmoil engulfs Special K, who have not been heard from since being decimated in Scramble Cage II on 3/13. Becky was backstage at the Midwest double shot saying none of the members have been returning calls or anything. Special K members are scheduled on upcoming shows so we will have to wait to see what happens. ROH officials are urging Hydro to break away from the faction and be a serious pure wrestler.
The Carnage Crew of Loc, Devito, Masada and Justin Credible have another kind of turmoil going on now as they try to find out who vandalized their bags in Elizabeth, NJ. They have stated they'll beat up everyone in ROH if that's what it takes to make sure they get the scum that did it.
Another man in turmoil is Prince Nana. "Final Battle 2003" saw Nana start The Embassy. However, his crown jewel Former ROH Champion Xavier is now out at least six months with a shoulder injury. Can Nana save The Embassy and bring it to power?
Trent Acid is a man definitely at the crossroads of his ROH career. He is going the singles route for the first time and will be given an opportunity to make it to the main event. The former ROH Tag Team Champion has shined in single matches in the past vs. Homicide and Sonjay Dutt, now he is ready to make the big push to the top.
Then there are a group of competitors who have spent roughly one year in ROH. They have impressed, they have had their moments, but now is their time to take a spot on top of the card. This includes Field Of Honor Champion Matt Stryker, the man who made his name by winning the Xavier feud in John Walters, another who seems lost in the shuffle without the guidance of AJ Styles in Jimmy Rave and technical wizard Chad Collyer. These men are all at the crossroads and they all must make an impact now because coming up quick are "Generation Next" and these guys are hungry to make their name.
"Generation Next" is the theme for the show on May 22nd in Philadelphia. In 2002 there was a class ready to shine and make an impact on the wrestling business. It consisted of Samoa Joe, Bryan Danielson, Christopher Daniels, AJ Styles, Homicide, Low Ki, Spanky, Doug Williams and others. Now in 2004 there is a new class ready to put on phenomenal matches in order to make their names. "Generation Next" includes the likes of The Havana Pitbulls, Nigel McGuiness, Austin Aries, Jack Evans, Alex Shelley, Roderick Strong, Hydro, Jimmy Jacobs, Josh Daniels and Masada. These guys are ready to amaze you with athletic action and new innovations with old school philosophies in order to grab their glory.
Even on the ring crew there are two tag teams ready to climb the card. Dunn & Marcos, The Ring Crew Express, have started the "We're Not Gonna Take It Tour" and proved over the "Reborn" weekend that they can hang with any tag team on the roster. The Outcast Killaz of Oman Turtuga & Diablo Santiago have patiently paid their dues, but the patience is wearing off. The Killaz are primed to do whatever it takes to climb the card.
If that's not enough hungry, talented upcomers others like Matt Sydal, Delirious, Fast Eddie, Christopher Street Connection, Caprice Coleman, Rainman, Danny Daniels, Shawn Daivari and Ray Gordy are just waiting for their chance as well.
No one can afford to make a mistake. ROH wrestlers can't even relax for a second. A defeat could cost you your job. There is just too much talent and too many opportunities for the few available spots from top to bottom on any given ROH card. It's all up for grabs and everyone knows this is their time to make the most of it.
This is an amazing and interesting read!
Thoughts?