Ring of Honor returns to iPPV June 22nd with “Best in the World 2013,” but there is one final stop along the way this Saturday, June 8, with “Live and Let Die” in Columbus, Ohio. The card features a huge title match and several fresh match-ups that gives wrestlers a chance to prove themselves. The show looks like a fun one on paper, and ROH should be able to continue its trend of great house shows.
Let’s take a closer look at each match.
ROH World Title
Jay Briscoe (c) vs. Eddie Edwards
Jay Briscoe showed the world that “Honor Lives” by winning the ROH World Title from then-S.C.U.M. leader Kevin Steen at “Supercard of Honor VII” in April. The title change wasn’t just great news for the future of Ring of Honor, but also for Eddie Edwards. Edwards had lost any chance of a title shot against Steen after losing the “Defy or Deny II” match earlier this year. He will finally get another title shot against Jay this Saturday. Jay has proven that he can beat the best since becoming champion, but Edwards may be his toughest challenge yet. Edwards knows what it takes to become champion as he is the first ever ROH Triple Crown winner, which makes him a dangerous opponent. Jay has to be careful not to focus on fighting his brother at “Best in the World 2013” because Edwards is good enough to take advantage of it. This should be a great match pitting two of Ring of Honor’s best against each other.
Rhino vs. Kevin Steen
The two men squared off for the ROH World Title in the main event of last year’s “Death Before Dishonor X,” but it was under completely different circumstances. Rhino was then with the House of Truth as a hired mercenary for Truth Martini, while Stten was S.C.U.M.’s defending champion. Now, Rhino is doing the same role but with S.C.U.M., while Steen is trying to rid ROH of the group. The two had a physical and hard-hitting match for the ROH World Title, but now it’s more personal than holding gold. Steen is trying to make amends for all the sins he committed during the past couple of years, and this is just another step in that direction. A win over Rhino will help further his war against S.C.U.M. while winning over some of the Ring of Honor roster’s trust. This should be a wild match and could be the most intense match of the night.
Matt Hardy vs. Mark Briscoe
These two wrestlers have shots at the ROH World Title in several weeks. Mark Briscoe gets his opportunity at “Best in the World 2013” against his older brother. Matt Hardy’s title match comes the next day at the television taping. Both men are looking to build their momentum toward their title matches, but that’s not all that’s on the line in this match. The war between S.C.U.M. and Ring of Honor continues as the poster child of the renegade group battles one of the company’s founding fathers. This is a match with some massive ramifications moving forward as it could set up an eventual rematch with the title on the line. Hardy and Mark have some of the biggest personalities in Ring of Honor, which should help make this an entertaining match.
Proving Ground
reDRagon (Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly) vs. ACH & TaDarius Thomas
Since forming reDRagon, Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish have dominated the tag team division in ROH. The pair defeated the Briscoes for the belts and have successfully defended them against teams such as the American Wolves and the Forever Hooligans. They take on a slightly different team in Columbus as up-and-comers ACH and TD Thomas will be their opponents. They haven’t been teaming for long but both men, especially ACH, have looked impressive in their brief runs in ROH and represent a threat to the champions. If they can beat the title holders or just last the time limit, they will be rewarded with a future title shot. Whatever the result, this is sure to be a brilliant match that should have the Columbus crowd on its feet.
ROH vs. SCUM – No Rules
Jay Lethal, BJ Whitmer, & Michael Elgin vs. S.C.U.M (Jimmy Jacobs, Rhett Titus, & Cliff Compton)
As the Ring of Honor and SCUM feud intensifies, we will see another six-man tag match just days after Steel Cage Warfare was announced for the Baltimore weekend. With both sides desperate to get any psychological advantage they can, the result of this one could be key. Michael Elgin has tried and failed to teach SCUM a lesson. At ‘Border Wars’ he was defeated by Cliff Compton and Jimmy Jacobs when Kevin Steen, who replaced the injured Jay Lethal, was pinned. Last weekend in San Antonio, Elgin and BJ Whitmer were defeated. All three ROH men have been on the wrong side in matches against SCUM and will be keen to make sure it doesn’t happen again. But everybody knows how dangerous SCUM can be and with Steve Corino on the outside, the numbers advantage is always theirs. Can ROH finally get one over on SCUM?
Davey Richards vs. Cedric Alexander
Cedric Alexander has spent the majority of his ROH tenure teaming with Caprice Coleman. He has vast experience as a singles wrestler in other promotions and he’ll need all of that as he takes on one of ROH’s finest and former World champion in Davey Richards. Davey, similar to Cedric, is focusing on tag team wrestling at the moment but is always dangerous in singles matches, as was seen in his bout against Paul London at ‘Border Wars’. This could be a big win for Cedric as he and Caprice prepare for their ROH World Tag Team title shot at ‘Best In The World’.
Adam Cole vs. Caprice Coleman
With his partner in singles action, Caprice Coleman will also go it alone in Columbus and just like Cedric, he will take on one of ROH’s best. He has excelled in tag team action but how will he fair against a man who has his eyes fixed on getting back into ROH World Title contention? Caprice has much more experience than his younger opponent but Cole is a man on a mission. He has showed signs of frustration in recent weeks, refusing to shake Roderick Strong’s hand last week in San Antonio, and he mustn’t let that get in the way as he takes on a very dangerous opponent in Caprice.
Roderick Strong vs. QT Marshall
QT Marshall isn’t a character Ring of Honor fans choose to cheer. ‘God’s Gift’ is the first to let us know that he doesn’t care what the fans think and that’s just as well. But despite his confrontations with those behind the guardrails, he has showed recently that he can hang with some of Ring of Honor’s best. Alongside manager RD Evans, he came close to upsetting the American Wolves recently and will have another chance of a big upset in Columbus. He will face ‘Mr. ROH’ Roderick Strong who is fresh off a win over Adam Cole. Strong always wants to prove he is the superior athlete and you’d have to be a brave man to bet against him in this one.
In addition to these matches, there will be a pre-show autograph signing with all members of SCUM as well as a 30 minute Q&A session with Steve Corino and Matt Hardy.
Ring of Honor comes to the state of Ohio this Saturday night at the Ohio Expo Center with a bell time of 7:30pm EDT.
Keep checking ROHWorld.com for results throughout the night.