http://www.cheap-heat.com WWE, TNA, ROH, NJPW - Blogs, Reviews, Top Lists, Indy News & Results Wed, 15 Jul 2015 07:14:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.2

http://www.cheap-heat.com/7-returns-that-could-rock-the-roster/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/7-returns-that-could-rock-the-roster/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2015 16:18:30 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Top Lists Bobby Lashley Brian Meyers Chavo CHIKARA Chris Hero Curt Hawkins Doc Gallows Edge Fake Kane Festus John Morrison Johnny Mundo Johnny Nitro Kane Kassius Ohno Luke Gallows NJPW NXT ROH Shelton Benjamin The Undertaker Trent Baretta wrestling WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=12946 How's it going everybody? Wait—no, that's Brian Alvarez's signature line. Geeze Louise, I need to figure this out fast. What's really good in the neighborhood wrestling fans? It's your buddy Mark Adam Haggerty, back in the swing of things on this beautiful summer day. It's one on a Monday here; I'm smoking weed and drinking […]

How's it going everybody? Wait—no, that's Brian Alvarez's signature line. Geeze Louise, I need to figure this out fast. What's really good in the neighborhood wrestling fans? It's your buddy Mark Adam Haggerty, back in the swing of things on this beautiful summer day. It's one on a Monday here; I'm smoking weed and drinking beer. As you've all gathered by now, I love lists! Maybe it's because I'm sort of obsessive compulsive, and find them to be calming in a completely calamitous world. I've recently compiled several different lists of varying length, and figured maybe I'd knock out another VIDEO countdown, in the hopes of mixing things up. I rummaged around my folder of unfinished projects and I was hit with an idea! This is a list of 7 former WWE Superstars who've made the most of their time away from the "Leader in Sports Entertainment." I feel that each of these individuals could—if positioned correctly—make an immediate impact upon return. I've included two videos with each name—the first is an example of how the WWE booked them, the second is a behind-the-scenes look at who these guys really are.

Most of his stuff with CM Punk was pretty cool, but Luke Gallows was very rarely ever given the chance to speak for himself while working for WWE. Once the Straight Edge Society disbanded, the WWE seemed at a loss for what to do with "The Artist Formerly Known as Festus." Just for fun, here's a video of Luke at his worst , opposite Glen Jacobs. It's Kane versus— FAKE KANE!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Brian Meyers debuted for the WWE as one-half of the Major Brothers, alongside current WWE Superstar Zack Ryder. Their remarkable resemblance to Edge gave the WWE a reason to repackage both individuals, and Curt Hawkins was born. Check out the debut of the Major Brothers, against ECW's Matt Striker and Marcus Cor Von.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Shelton Benjamin could make the biggest impact if he ever returns to the WWE in a prominent role, but I felt compelled to list him at number five, and with good reason. Shelton came into the WWE out of Ohio Valley with John Cena, Brock Lesnar, and Randy Orton; he spent eight years with the company, and helped pioneer the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Shelton was a three-time WWE Intercontinental Champion and the 5 ^th longest- single reigning United States Champion of all time. It's hard to say the WWE dropped the ball with Shelton, but he never seemed to grab the proverbial "Brass Ring." I mean the WWE has never had a black WWE World Heavyweight Champion [the "world title" does not count], so I'm not sure Shelton ever had any real control over his own destiny within the WWE. I ranked him 5 ^th , because while Shelton Benjamin could be the FACE of World Wrestling Entertainment, there's a 70-year old man from North Carolina running the show. Here are a pair of Shelton Benjamin clips—his match against Shawn Michaels from Monday Night Raw, and an interview from 2014.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

There was this phenomenal tag team in the WWE called the "Dude Busters." You heard me. Trent Baretta and Caylon Croft were a couple of douche bags with greasy hair. I guess this was the prototype for Seth Rollins. Trent is currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling with independent icon Rocky Romero, where they are IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. Check out the Dude Busters debut during the "ECW New Superstar Initiative." And before anyone says anything, yes. That's Taryn Terrell as Tiffany.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I was a fan of John Morrison AKA Johnny Mundo as early as the MNM Days with Melina and J&J Security's Joey Mercury. Morrison was the ECW Champion, and was a three-time intercontinental champion as well. But Morrison became something of an afterthought when the WWE went PG, and the "Shaman of Sexy" suddenly became outdated. Here's how Johnny Nitro became John Morrison.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Number two is another guy that didn't quite click, and could perhaps make the best use of his time as a part-timer with NXT. Chris Hero had a very short run in the WWE as part of NXT in its current form. Despite longstanding success on the independent circuit and around the world, he was renamed Kassius Ohno. He was released from his contract in 2013, and has since said that "the door is always open for a return." Here's Kassius Ohno versus William Regal from April 2013.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

People in the wrestling community have called him "The Black Brock Lesnar," and don't think for one second that thought is lost on Vince McMahon. Bobby Lashley debuted for the WWE before he even finished in developmental—or started for that matter. Vince McMahon saw him and immediately put him on television. Lashley's WWE run was similar to what we're seeing with Roman Reigns. Kids and casual fans cheered him because they were supposed to, but hardcore fans scoffed at his United States and ECW title wins. He worked an extensive program against Vince and Shane McMahon, and even had a main event moment at Wrestlemania when he shaved Vince's head with Donald Trump! Lashley left the WWE due to personal reasons that don't seem applicable any longer, so who's to say there isn't room for a return? Here's Bobby at the "Battle of the Billionaire" contract signing.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Until next time, please LIKE "The B+ Players Podcast" on Facebook , and FOLLOW me on Twitter for all the latest and greatest updates courtesy of Cheap-Heat and Daily Wrestling News !

http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-b-players-podcast-latest-episodes/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-b-players-podcast-latest-episodes/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2015 13:50:21 +0000 B+ Players CH Podcast John Cena NJPW Ring of Honor ROH TNA Total Nonstop Action World Wrestling Entertainment World Wrestling Federation WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=12140 32 – Fantasy Draft: 3 Months Later 31 – The Shawn Donavan Interview 30 – America’s Birthday Podcast 29 – The Power Hour Podcast 28 – Balls-in on Ballers 27 – The Last ‘Cast in California 26 – Lord of the Rungs 25 – The Outsiders’ Edge #8 24 – Beginners Guide to ROH 23 […]

32 – Fantasy Draft: 3 Months Later
31 – The Shawn Donavan Interview
30 – America’s Birthday Podcast
29 – The Power Hour Podcast
28 – Balls-in on Ballers
27 – The Last ‘Cast in California
26 – Lord of the Rungs
25 – The Outsiders’ Edge #8
24 – Beginners Guide to ROH
23 – Chamber Chatter w/ Julio Lr
22 – The Outsiders’ Edge #7
21 – Chamber Preview/ROH on DA
20 – The Masters of Wrestling Trivia
19 – The Vik Voorhees Interview
18 – The Outsiders’ Edge #6
17 – NXT Takeover Review
16 – The Payback Playback
15 – The Outsiders’ Edge #5
14 – The Payback Preview
13 – The Chris Steeler Interview
12 – The Outsiders’ Edge #4
11- The GFW Roster Reveal
10 – The Attitude Era with Patrick Bean
9 – The Outsiders’ Edge #3
8 – Extreme Rules Reactions
7 – The Outsiders’ Edge #2
6 – Extreme Rules is Going to Suck
5 – The Matt Hardy Fantasy Draft
4 – The Outsiders’ Edge #1
3 – Fixing the WWE
2 – Gone But Not Forgotten
1 – The Wrestlemania Recap

http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-fantasy-draft-three-months-later/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-fantasy-draft-three-months-later/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2015 13:46:54 +0000 B+ Players Blogs CH Podcast AJ Styles Candles Finn Balor Humor Indiana Jones John Cena NJPW Podcast Radio ROH Star Wars Suicide Squad TNA WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=12940 LISTEN TO TODAY'S UPDATE SHOW RIGHT NOW BY CLICKING HERE! Before we begin… Happy 73rd Birthday Harrison Ford! Back in April we had our "Matt Hardy's Not Getting Draft" Fantasy Draft. We went ten rounds on the air, and picked 30 of the best and brightest talents in the WWE, TNA, ROH, NJPW, and beyond. […]

LISTEN TO TODAY'S UPDATE SHOW RIGHT NOW BY CLICKING HERE!

Before we begin… Happy 73rd Birthday Harrison Ford!

Back in April we had our "Matt Hardy's Not Getting Draft" Fantasy Draft. We went ten rounds on the air, and picked 30 of the best and brightest talents in the WWE, TNA, ROH, NJPW, and beyond. We each picked a ring announcer, a broadcast team, and a senior official, so as to give our rosters added depth. Well today Matt S and I are picking up where we left off, to see who has the strongest team three months later. Here's a quick look at our rosters—let us know who you think is doing the best.

Warning: Gary did not understand the assignment.

"PG" Matt S wanted a roster comprised of wrestlers doing what they do best—wrestle. But he also wanted to cast some of the best talkers in the business as well! We were all given the chance to pick our home venue, and Matt S picked one of the largest, most recognizable stadiums in the world. Not only that, but he's the only person who picked an actual referee instead of a one-time guest referee.

Curtain Call Wrestling
Owned and Operated by "PG" Matt S
Based at AT&T Stadium
Broadcast Team: JBL and Matt Striker
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Senior Official: Mike Chioda

1 ^st Round – Shawn Michaels
2 ^nd Round – Daniel Bryan
3 ^rd Round – Paige
4 ^th Round – Brock Lesnar
5 ^th Round – Dolph Ziggler
6 ^th Round – Enzo Amore & Big Cass
7 ^th Round – Charlotte
8 ^th Round – CM Punk
9 ^th Round – Bray Wyatt
10 ^th Round – The Miz

I named my company S.C.R.E.W., because goofy names seem to be all the rage on the indie scene. My promotion is based in Southern California, and features the most non- WWE Superstars out of the three rosters. I feel like I took this shit too seriously.

SoCal Rumble: Entertainment & Wrestling
Owned and Operated by Mark Adam Haggerty
Based at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Broadcast Team: Mike Tenay and Jerry Lawler
Ring Announcer: Tony Chimel
Senior Official: Val Venis [All referees must wear striped towels]

1 ^st Round – AJ Styles
2 ^nd Round – Shinsuke Nakamura
3 ^rd Round – Finn Balor
4 ^th Round – reDRagon
5 ^th Round – Angelina Love
6 ^th Round – Bayley
7 ^th Round – Ethan Carter III
8 ^th Round – Austin Aries
9 ^th Round – Sami Zayn
10 ^th Round – Kurt Angle

Okay so Gary went a different direction than everybody else. Instead of assembling a roster of wrestlers, he decided to cast a G.I. Joe style Saturday Morning cartoon. It features the ongoing battles between the heroic FACE FORCE , and the diabolical H.E.E.L. I'm not sure how he plans to implement his broadcast team, or ring announcer, but his referee is on point. In addition to Gary's picks, I've added a brief description of how he plans to cast them on his show.

A.W.E.S.O.M.E.
"American Wrestling Entertainment Stars OR Military Experts"
Owned and Operated by Gary Mastriano
Based 200 miles Beneath the Pentagon
Broadcast Team: Jesse Ventura and "Were-Gorilla" Monsoon
Ring Announcer: Michael Buffer
Senior Official: Ken Shamrock

1 ^st Round – The Rock – "Leader of FACE FORCE"
2 ^nd Round – Rusev – "Second in Command of H.E.E.L."
3 ^rd Round – Triple H – "The Head of H.E.E.L."
4 ^th Round – Lana – "The Evil Seductress"
5 ^th Round – Lucha Dragons – "The Rock's Friends"
6 ^th Round – Dean Ambrose – "Demolitions Expert for FACE FORCE"
7 ^th Round – Seth Rollins – "Architect and Engineer"
8 ^th Round – Stardust – "Casts Spells and Brings People Back from the Dead"
9 ^th Round – Rockstar Spud – "The Rock's Comic Relief"
10 ^th Round – Hulk Hogan – "Real American Hero"

READY TO LISTEN TO TODAY'S UPDATE SHOW? CLICK HERE!

Until next time, please LIKE "The B+ Players Podcast" on Facebook , and FOLLOW me on Twitter for all the latest and greatest updates courtesy of Cheap-Heat and Daily Wrestling News !

*There was a fourth party involved with the Draft, so if you're curious why guys like John Cena weren't picked—they were. That's all I'll say on the matter. – Mark

http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-shawn-donavan-interview/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-shawn-donavan-interview/#comments Sat, 11 Jul 2015 16:47:29 +0000 B+ Players CH Podcast Interviews B+ Players Backyard Superheroes IWF Lucha Mask New Jersey New York NJPW Philadelphia Pro Wrestling Ravishing Rick Rude ROH Shawn Donavan TNA WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=12847 LISTEN TO “THE SHAWN DONAVAN INTERVIEW” HERE Today’s episode of the B+ Player Podcast features the IWF Heavyweight Champion “Simply Ravishing” Shawn Donovan. Shawn has been wrestling for nearly fifteen years, has appeared for the WWE on occasion, and has been a fan of the sport since the very early 1980s. Listen to how Shawn […]

LISTEN TO “THE SHAWN DONAVAN INTERVIEW” HERE

Today’s episode of the B+ Player Podcast features the IWF Heavyweight Champion “Simply Ravishing” Shawn Donovan. Shawn has been wrestling for nearly fifteen years, has appeared for the WWE on occasion, and has been a fan of the sport since the very early 1980s. Listen to how Shawn entered the business, and who he defeated to become a TWO time IWF Champ. WARNING: There were a few technical issues with Shawn’s Skype feed, so there are a few moments where it sounds like the interview is taking place inside of a CASH REGISTER. It’s not too bad, but we wanted to warn you ahead of time.

We ask Shawn the tough questions and he comes back with some awesome answers. He gives us the straight dope on Kevin Knight, Biggie Biggs, Darren Young and EVEN Tony Torres! Matt has his usual round of fan questions; find out what stores are beneath the champ, and whether or not he carries the belt with him wherever he goes! In addition, we get Shawn’s take on the current state of WWE, the New Japan product, his favorite BATMAN villain of all time [its not the Clock King] and whether or not he’s excited for the upcoming Star Wars sequel.

LISTEN TO “THE SHAWN DONAVAN INTERVIEW” HERE

You can follow “Simply Ravishing” Shawn throughout Social Media on Twitter . Check out his “Keep Calm and Be Simply Ravishing” t-shirt HERE , and watch his Survivor Series commercial below. Shawn is the assistant coach!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Shawn works all over the East Coast, but his home is the Independent Wrestling Federation, owned and operated by Kevin Knight, in Nutley New Jersey. Interested in attending a show, having a birthday party, or training toward your goal of becoming a pro wrestler? Check out their Official Website and Facebook Page for all the details.

LISTEN TO “THE SHAWN DONAVAN INTERVIEW” HERE

http://www.cheap-heat.com/roh-champions-top-13-longest-reigns/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/roh-champions-top-13-longest-reigns/#comments Mon, 29 Jun 2015 17:30:52 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Top Lists Adam Cole Austin Aries Bryan Danielson Daniel Bryan Davey Richards Eddie Edwards Jay Briscoe Kevin Steen Nigel McGuinness Ring of Honor Roderick Strong ROH ROH Champion Samoa Joe Seth Rollins Takeshi Morishima Tyler Black Xavier http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=12692 Welcome back to another exclusive list here at Cheap-Heat.com! In the past I’ve covered title belts in terms of great champions, iconic names in the industry, longest reigning NWA champions, WWE champions, cool designs and so much more! But it struck me–I never did a countdown of the Top 13 Longest Reigning Champions in Ring […]

Welcome back to another exclusive list here at Cheap-Heat.com! In the past I’ve covered title belts in terms of great champions, iconic names in the industry, longest reigning NWA champions, WWE champions, cool designs and so much more! But it struck me–I never did a countdown of the Top 13 Longest Reigning Champions in Ring of Honor History. This is a WHO’S WHO in the wrestling business, featuring some huge names and a couple of surprises that you probably didn’t see coming. Ready? Let’s get to it!

13. Eddie Edwards
Days as Champion: 99
Number of Reigns: 1
Coming in at number thirteen is one half of the American Wolves—Eddie Edwards. Edwards just missed the hundred day mark with 99 days as champion, and successfully defended his title a total of 3 times during his 3-month run. He won the championship on March 19, 2011 in New York City when he defeated the current number one contender to the ROH title, Roderick Strong. The end came for Edwards and his reign as champion on June 26, 2011 when he was unseated by his now-tag team partner, Davey Richards.

12. Xavier
Days as Champion: 182
Number of Reigns: 1
The name Xavier might not resonate with many casual fans, but Ring of Honor historians know him as the second man to hold the coveted ROH World title. Xavier defeated Low Ki on September 21, 2002 and held onto the championship through four title defenses. It was the fifth however, that cost Xavier the strap, when he dropped it to Samoa Joe on March 22, 2003.

11. Roderick Strong
Days as Champion: 189
Number of Reigns: 1
He is the current number one contender to Jay Lethal's Ring of Honor championship, and should he be successful in his upcoming effort, Roderick Strong will be just one of three men to hold the title twice. Roddy—as his friends and fans call him—won the ROH World Championship on September 11, 2010 in New York City from the current WWE Champion, Seth Rollins AKA Tyler Black. Roderick maintained his championship for over six months with five successful title defenses to his credit. He was finally defeated on March 19, 2011 by the first "American Wolf" to hold the title, Eddie Edwards.

10. Tyler Black
Days as Champion: 210
Number of Reigns: 1
He is the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion and in just three weeks will head into battle against the "Beast" Brock Lesnar. But once upon a time, Seth Rollins was known as Tyler Black—the tenth longest reigning ROH World Champion in history. Black defeated seven challengers during his time as champion, after first conquering the 2-time ROH Champion Austin Aries. Black held the title for the better part of seven months, and finally dropped the title to Roderick Strong on September 11, 2010 in New York.

9. Takeshi Morishima
Days as Champion: 231
Number of Reigns: 1
The only man on our countdown from the "Land of the Rising Sun" is the one and only Takeshi Morishima. Morishima's size and speed made him a formidable force when mixing it up with the smaller-statured American Indy workers, and on February 17, 2007, he defeated Homicide for the coveted ROH championship. Morishima's title defense record blows the previous numbers out of the water by nearly tripling Tyler Black's defense record with a total of 20 vanquished challengers. Morishima's unprecedented 231-days as champion came to a close on October 6, 2007 when Nigel McGuinness took the gold, and held it for nearly 2 years.

8. Adam Cole
Days as Champion: 275
Number of Reigns: 1
If you started watching Ring of Honor when they began airing their pay-per-views on traditional cable systems, then Adam Cole might very well have been champion when you became a fan! Adam Cole is currently the leader of the Kingdom, and is the eighth longest-reigning ROH champion ever. Adam Cole won his first world title on September 20, 2013 when he defeated Michael Elgin in the tournament finals at Death Before Dishonor. He went on to carry the belt with him for an astounding 275 days and thirteen successful title defenses, until he was ultimately defeated by the man he bested in September, "Unbreakable" Michael Elgin.

7. Davey Richards
Days as Champion: 321
Number of Reigns: 1
Joining his tag team partner is the other half of the American Wolves, Davey Richards. Richards didn't beat just anyone either, but his beloved friend and confidant Eddie Edwards. That's right, the two men who are currently competing with the Dirty Heels to decide the undisputed TNA Tag Team Championship are both former ROH World Title holders. Richards won the belt on June 26, 2011 and managed to retain his title for just shy of eleven months. During his run, Richards beat ten challengers, but finally succumbed to the eleventh on May 12, 2012. The man who beat him is the current reigning NXT Champion, Kevin Owens AKA Kevin Steen.

6. Kevin Steen
Days as Champion: 328
Number of Reigns: 1
From Davey Richards to Kevin Steen, the next few names are actually listed in chronological order. Kevin Steen outdid Richards' reign by one week, and an additional 8 title defenses. With 18 challengers sent packing, Kevin Steen was among the most active world champions up to that time, with but a few noteworthy exceptions. Kevin Steen eventually dropped his title to Jay Briscoe on April 5, 2013 at Supercard of Honor VII in New York City.

5. Jay Briscoe
Days as Champion: 375
Number of Reigns: 2
And from Kevin Steen to Jay Briscoe! Jay Briscoe beat Kevin Steen after the formers 328-day reign as champion, but Briscoe would eventually outdo Steen over the course of TWO title runs. Only two men have ever held the Ring of Honor Championship twice; combining his first 89 days as champion with his other 286, Jay Briscoe ranks toward the top with 375 days. His first reign was cut short due to "injury," and the title was vacated and put up for grabs in a championship tournament won by Adam Cole. He then won the championship again from Michael Elgin, and carried it for nine months until recently losing it to Jay Lethal at Best in the World.

4. Austin Aries
Days as Champion: 419
Number of Reigns: 2
The only other man besides Jay Briscoe to hold the ROH Championship twice is the guy that likes to go by "The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived." Austin Aries first won the championship on December 26, 2004 when he defeated the longest reigning ROH Champion in history, but more on that in a few moments. His first reign lasted for 174 days, and consisted of sixteen successful title defenses. He was eventually bested by CM Punk, but regained his title on June 13, 2009 when he knocked off veteran journeyman Jerry Lynn. His second reign lasted even longer—a total of 245 days—and included an additional 13 successful defenses. Aries second championship reign came to an end on February 13, 2010 when he was beaten by the man who would one day be known as Seth Rollins—Tyler Black.

3. Bryan Danielson
Days as Champion: 462
Number of Reigns: 1
Everyone's favorite underdog wasn't always so cute and cuddly, in fact he was one of the most vicious wrestlers to ever work inside a ROH ring. Bryan Danielson, more commonly known as Daniel Bryan, won the ROH Championship on September 17, 2005 when he defeated another WWE fixture, Jamie Noble AKA James Gibson. Danielson made a name for himself by setting the record for the most successful title defenses at 38, during which time he bested some of the greatest wrestlers on the planet. Danielson carried the ROH strap for 462 days—just over five months—until finally losing to Homicide at Final Battle 2006.

2. Nigel McGuinness
Days as Champion: 545
Number of Reigns: 1
Nigel McGuinness is the current ROH Matchmaker, and with 18+ months as world champion under his belt, is a shoe-in for any future ROH Hall of Fame. Nigel initially won the championship from the monstrous Takeshi Morishima on October 6, 2007 and went on to tie Bryan Danielson's defensive record at 38. Nigel McGuinness was one of the most prolific title holders in company history, as his reign spanned three calendar years from the tail end of 2007 to the spring of 2009. Nigel was the kind of despicable heel champion that could have only been beaten by a returning legend, and on April 3 ^rd , 2009, Nigel McGuinness lost the championship to Jerry Lynn.

1. Samoa Joe
Days as Champion: 645
Number of Reigns: 1
Samoa Joe made his WWE debut in 2015 at the age of 36. For many casual "Universe" fans, this was the first time they were afforded the chance to see Joe in action. Sure some of them got to know the "Samoan Submission Machine" thanks to his work in TNA, but not many fans are aware of what an important role Joe played in establishing Ring of Honor as a viable promotion. Samoa Joe is the longest reigning Ring of Honor Champion in history, and unlike Jay Briscoe and Austin Aries, his numbers are the result of a single run with the title. Joe debuted for Ring of Honor not long after the company debuted, and on March 22, 2003, defeated Xavier to become just the third man to hold the gold. During his 21 and a half months as champion, Joe defeated 22 challengers including some of the best and brightest from every corner of the globe. Joe was finally defeated the night after Christmas 2004 at Final Battle, by another fruitful champion and future ex-member of the TNA roster, Austin Aries. With 645 days as champion to his name, it's not hard to see why Samoa Joe's return to ROH this year was heralded as such a momentous occasion.

Until next time, please LIKE "The B+ Players Podcast" on Facebook , and FOLLOW me on Twitter for all the latest and greatest updates courtesy of Cheap-Heat and Daily Wrestling News!

http://www.cheap-heat.com/honorable-mention-roh-tv-62415/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/honorable-mention-roh-tv-62415/#comments Thu, 25 Jun 2015 19:21:11 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Blogs Reviews AJ Styles Destination America Gedo Kazuchika Okada Michael Elgin Ring of Honor Rocky Romero Roddy Strong Roderick Strong ROH Shinsuke Nakamura The Bullet Club The Young Bucks wrestling http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=12634 Welcome back everybody to the once-weekly recap of Ring of Honor wrestling, now available on Destination America! This was the first time I was afforded the chance to watch Ring of Honor in crystal clear HD, as I finally live somewhere in which Destination America is available! This was an absolutely incredible show, complete with […]

Welcome back everybody to the once-weekly recap of Ring of Honor wrestling, now available on Destination America! This was the first time I was afforded the chance to watch Ring of Honor in crystal clear HD, as I finally live somewhere in which Destination America is available! This was an absolutely incredible show, complete with darn-near five star matches from some of the best performers in the world. If you've been down on the debut of ROH on Destination America, then this is a must-see show.

The opening contest tonight features the number one contender to Jay Lethal's ROH World Title, Roderick Strong, as he goes into action against another STRONG— the "King of Strong Style" Shinsuke Nakamura. One of my absolute best friends in the world is a dude by the name of Matt Sloyan. For those of you that listen to my podcast, he's a dude you might better know as "PG" Matt S. This was the first time Matt ever had the chance to check out Ring of Honor, and this is his first match. Does it get any better? Roddy is the first to enter the arena, followed by the insanely flamboyant Nakamura. The fans chant for the former IWGP Intercontinental Champion and adorn him with colored streamers. This match kicks off with a stiff tie-up and Roddy Strong takes advantage from the early going. Roderick's ground game is on point, as he manipulates the Japanese star's arm, leading him around the ring. Nakamura is just about four inches taller than Strong, and outweighs him by just about fifteen pounds. Roddy continues to work his ground-game, keeping Shinsuke stranded on the canvas, and unable to achieve any offense. Things take a turn however as this bout is taken to the arena floor. Nakamura uses a litany of high knees and aggressive kicks to knock the former ROH champion off his balance. It's time for a quick commercial break and once we return, Shinsuke Nakamura is proving why he is the undisputed "King of Strong Style." Hard forearms and elbows drill into Strong's face, but the 15-year veteran Roddy won't give up without a fight. Strong hits him with a combination of running knees and clotheslines, and finishing the combination with a modified backstabber. Roderick tries for his patented "Strong Hold," but Nakamura counters with a sleeper hold. Roddy hits Shinsuke with a high knee on the top rope and Nakamura is crotched on the top rope. Roddy climbs to the second rope and hits his opponent with a sidewalk slam on the top turnbuckle. Back and forth, this match is absolutely bonkers with both individuals gaining the advantage, and then losing it moments later. Shinsuke hits a hard knee, but Roddy comes back with another double-knee attack of his own. Strong locks Nakamura in the "Strong Hold," but can only maintain it for a mere moment until Nakamura reached the ropes. They begin to exchange hard right hands in the center of the ring; both men are groggy and struggling to stand. Roddy ducks beneath Nakamura's attack and hits a vicious "Sick Kick," for a near fall. The fans at the Tedreeve Arena chant for both the former IWGP IC Champion and the ROH Triple Crown Winner. "This is awesome," rains down from the rooftop as Nakamura hits Roddy Strong with an incredibly stiff superkick that extended across Roddy's face. Your winner is the FUTURE IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, the "King of Strong Style" Shinsuke Nakamura!

Up next is another cross-promotional battle between NJPW's head booker, Gedo, and the former ROH champion, "Unbreakable" Michael Elgin. Elgin is wearing a very cool robe comprised of red, black and silver. This is a quick contest featuring two somewhat unknown entities to the mainstream wrestling audience. I revert to my buddy who saw ROH for the first time tonight, and his reaction to Michael Elgin was: "His music is boring." But it's hard to fault Elgin for his in-ring style. Elgin is giving up quite an experience edge to the wily Gedo, but it's not enough to silence the psychotic Elgin. He hits Gedo with a big brainbuster and maintains control for the majority of the bout from there. He sends Gedo spiraling into the corner with the "Buckle Bomb," and finishes the sequence with a sit-down powerbomb. Michael Elgin is your winner.

Tonight's main event is a trios contest between two warring factions. On one side is the boisterous Bullet Club, made up of The Young Bucks and the current IWGP World Champion AJ Styles. Their opponents are the former IWGP champion Kazuchika Okada, and the tag team tandem of Berretta and Rocky Romero. The numbers definitely favor the Bullet Club, as they enter the arena with the former IWGP tag team champions, and fellow "Bullet Brothers," Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. This is a fun match right out of the gate with an enormity of high spots, without sacrificing selling or psychology. I feel as though the word "polarizing" is used far too often in professional wrestling. Yes, we get it—not everybody likes John Cena. But the Young Bucks are one such team who can be called polarizing, without any additional hyperbole. Newcomers such as "PG" Matt S see the Bucks, and immediately think: "Wait—so are they just a Shawn Michaels rip off?" Well, short answer: "Yes with an if"; long answer: "No, with a but." I stole that line from Reverend Lovejoy on the Simpsons. The Bucks and other members of the Bullet Club most certainly use mannerisms otherwise associated with HBK and his Kliq, but more so as an homage than anything else. It's really hard to keep track of the action in this bout, as five of the six participants are among the most lightning quick performers in the world. Even Okada—the odd man out in terms of speed—is a rapid fire type individual who comes within a Frog's Hair of the "Rainmaker" within seconds of the bell. Rocky Romero is perhaps the most underrated wrestler in this match, but that's not to say he isn't a highly respected "Sports Entertainer." Rocky might not have the international name recognition as his contemporaries, but he has no issue in hanging with them throughout the match. Trent Beretta is also a very talented individual, who I remember loving as part of the "Dude Busters" during his WWE run. An absolutely incredible match from start to finish, ending with a series of amazing spots! The Young Bucks hit Trent Beretta with not one, but two Meltzer Drivers, followed by a Styles Clash con Superkick from the combined forces of The Young Bucks and AJ Styles. Following the match, AJ and the Bucks posed for the fans, while Okada stood by in defeat.

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http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-last-cast-62415/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-last-cast-62415/#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2015 22:14:29 +0000 B+ Players CH Podcast Ballers ECW John Cena Jokes Laughter Movies Pro Wrestling RAW ROH The Rock TNA WCW wrestling WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=12620 LISTEN TO THE LAST CAST NOW! Mark and Gary are recording in person for the first time EVER! Listen to the guys as they discuss this week’s episode of “Ballers” on HBO, they talk “Swerved” on the WWE Network, and go for a nice leisurely drive around suburban New Jersey. So much awesome stuff, we […]

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Mark and Gary are recording in person for the first time EVER! Listen to the guys as they discuss this week’s episode of “Ballers” on HBO, they talk “Swerved” on the WWE Network, and go for a nice leisurely drive around suburban New Jersey. So much awesome stuff, we can’t even talk about it here! Get the inside scoop on some of the most hilarious places Mark has decided to relieve himself, and get ready for an impromptu set of guests in the form of Gary’s sister and her fiancГ© Mario.

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http://www.cheap-heat.com/13-wrestlers-in-movies-superstars-of-the-silver-screen/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/13-wrestlers-in-movies-superstars-of-the-silver-screen/#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2015 15:43:38 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Top Lists Films Hulk Hogan Movies Pro Wrestling Roddy Piper ROH Sgt. Slaughter Terry Funk The Rock TNA WCW WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=12595 Welcome back everybody to the number one countdown series on Cheap-Heat.com! My name is Mark Adam Haggerty and this is THE LUCKY THIRTEEN! When other sites give you too few with ten, or too many with twenty—I’m bringing you the Top Thirteen of Pro Wrestling! Top what, you ask? In the past we’ve covered everything […]

Welcome back everybody to the number one countdown series on Cheap-Heat.com ! My name is Mark Adam Haggerty and this is THE LUCKY THIRTEEN! When other sites give you too few with ten, or too many with twenty—I’m bringing you the Top Thirteen of Pro Wrestling! Top what, you ask? In the past we’ve covered everything from face paint to mustaches, and today we’re going to the movies! Professional wrestlers have always maintained a pretty solid presence on the silver screen. Before Hulk Hogan was ever “Mr. Nanny,” El Santo was performing in Luchador Films, and paved the way for other performers north of the border and beyond. Who was the greatest actor to have also laced up a pair of wrestling boots? Let’s find out together, starting with number thirteen!

13. Ernest “The Cat” Miller
Noteworthy Films: The Wrestler
Ernest Miller might not have the resume of some of his contemporaries, but this former Karate Champion and WCW/WWE Superstar was featured in an Oscar-nominated movie! That's pretty cool for a guy that never wore a championship belt! Most fans will remember Ernest Miller for begging fans to "call his mama," but fans of the cinema will likely recall his groundbreaking performance opposite Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler."

12. Sgt. Slaughter
Noteworthy Films: GI Joe: The Movie
What movies featured Sgt. Slaughter? Okay you got me. This one is a bit of a cop out, but for good reason! Not only did Sgt. Slaughter star on the GI Joe animated series, but they based an all-original character on his likeness! Before they opted to reboot the franchise via live action, Hasbro released "GI Joe: The Movie." If you haven't seen it, then stop reading right now. In fact, don't ever come back to Cheap-Heat until you've seen it! I'm serious! The Joe's discover a hidden realm known as "Cobra-la," Cobra Commander becomes an actual snake, ROADBLOCK GOES BLIND, and there's an unstoppable super weapon known as "The BET." Oh, and Sgt. Slaughter is there! Definitely give this a watch the next time you're intoxicated, but not so fucked up that you can't find a copy of "GI Joe: The Movie."

11. Kane
Noteworthy Films: See No Evil, See No Evil 2,В MacGruber
The WWE has been helping to produce movies for years, going all the way back to "No Holds Barred." They also had a hand in developing "The Scorpion King" as well as "The Longest Yard," but it was "See No Evil" that put WWE Studios on the map. Kane stars as Jacob Goodnight, a deranged Jason Voorhees/Mike Myers amalgam—that kills people with a hook. I think it as a hook, I'll be honest, I haven't seen this movie since it was in theaters. Years later, Kane starred in the direct-to-DVD sequel directed by the Soska Twins, and even had a cameo alongside fellow WWE Superstars in the action-comedy "MacGruber."

10. Terry Funk
Noteworthy Films: Paradise Alley, Road House, The Ringer
Most people hear the name Terry Funk and think about barbed wire brawls and pile drivers through tables. In addition to being "middle aged and crazy," Terry Funk is an accomplished Hollywood star who has been featured in hit films, and has even served as the "stunt coordinator," in certain situations. Funk has been featured in a number of Sylvester Stallone films including the former NWA's first cinematic experience on the film "Paradise Alley." In later years, Funk began showing up in more comedic roles such as the box office flop "The Ringer," starring Johnny Knoxville.

9. Andre the Giant
Noteworthy Films: The Princess Bride, Conan the Destroyer
Andre the Giant is credited with breaking down walls for other wrestlers to star in mediums outside of the wrestling ring. Andre was not the first wrestler to appear on the silver screen however—Tor Johnson was making movies with Ed Wood in the 1950s, while Harold Sakata portrayed Oddjob in "Goldfinger." But Andre might have been the first wrestler-turned-actor that remained loyal to his roots. The aforementioned individuals all-but left their wrestling boots behind when Hollywood came calling, but Andre never turned his back on the industry that made him a star. Andre was given an uncredited role in the Conan sequel "Conan the Destroyer," alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, Grace Jones, and the even taller Wilt Chamberlain. Andre's most famous role came in 1987, when he was cast as Fezzik in the Rob Reiner cult-classic, "The Princess Bride."

8. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
Noteworthy Films: The Condemned, The Expendables, Grown Ups 2В
He is one of the most iconic professional wrestlers in modern history. He has been featured in countless Wrestlemania moments, has worn an enormity of gold belts, and currently hosts a series of Texas-inspired reality competitions on cable television. Steve Austin has had unprecedented success in the wrestling ring and on the small screen; unfortunately his assent to the top of the sports entertainment charts never translated to box office success. Steve Austin has been acting since he was cast as a regular guest star on the CBS show "Nash Bridges," and has since appeared in a handful of cinematic releases and direct-to-DVD features. His most iconic appearances were perhaps as part of an ensemble cast; he appeared in "The Longest Yard" as an extremely racist prison guard, he was one of a dozen action heroes in the original "Expendables," and even stretched his comedic muscles in the Adam Sandler sequel "Grown Ups 2."

7. Kevin Nash
Noteworthy Films: TMNT 2: Secret of the Ooze, The Longest Yard, Magic Mike
Kevin Nash has had a long history of success in film, dating back to an uncredited appearance in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sequel "Secret of the Ooze," in which he played Super Shredder. Nash has been more noticeable in recent years, appearing in everything from comedy to tragedy, and everything in between. He was one of several wrestlers to appear in "The Longest Yard," playing a prison guard that mistakenly ingested Estrogen supplements. Nash appeared in the box office smash hit "Magic Mike" starring Channing Tatum, where both men played male strippers. Kevin Nash continues to act, and also has a part in the sequel to Magic Mike, reprising his original role.

6. John Cena
Noteworthy Films: The Marine, 12 Rounds, Legendary
Go ahead! Groan! Believe it or not, I had John Cena at number three until I started whittling-down my list. If this countdown is based on box office success, than John Cena belongs somewhere toward the bottom. If this countdown is based on the number of movies any one individual has starred in, then John truly deserves to be up around the top. John Cena has been to WWE Studios, as Leonardo DiCaprio is to Martin Scorsese. Cena starred as the very first "Marine," he was the lead in "12 Rounds," and was featured prominently in the heart-warming sports drama "Legendary." In addition to hard-nosed roles, Cena has a softer side that has been showcased in comedy-flops such as the "Fred" series, and can even been seen in animated form alongside both Scooby Doo and the Flintstones.

5. Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Noteworthy Films: Predator, The Running Man, Demolition Man
When I was kid, Jesse Ventura was the color commentator for the WWE, and that's really all I knew about him. I had never seen him in a movie, but when you look at his credits, you can probably tell why a 5-year old wasn't privy to "Predator." Jesse was always talking shit about how Hulk Hogan "followed in his footsteps" and copied what he did in Hollywood. I remember Wrestlemania 2, Jesse was located in Los Angeles, where he proceeded to talk about "being among the stars" and all of his "famous friends." I still had no idea that Jesse Venture was a movie star. Like—a LEGIT movie star. In addition to his iconic role in "Predator," Jesse was also in the dystopian classic "The Running Man" with Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as "Demolition Man" with Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes. N

4. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper
Noteworthy Films: They Live, Hell Comes to Frogtown, Wrestlers versus Zombies
Now we're getting down to the nitty-gritty of pro wrestlers in film. If you gander at "Rowdy" Roddy Piper's filmography, there really isn't anything outstanding to recall. He just finished work on "Wrestlers Versus Zombies," and has had a recurring role as of recent on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." Piper is most famous for the cult-hits "They Live" and "Hell Comes to Frogtown." But it's not the quality of work when it comes to the Rowdy One, it's the quantity. Since 1978 Roddy Piper has starred in more than 40 featured films, as well as countless appearances on television.

3. Dave Bautista
Noteworthy Films: Riddick, Guardians of the Galaxy, SpectreВ
If you would have told me in 2010 that I would rank Dave Bautista as the number three Wrestler/Actor in the world, I'd call you crazy. And if you told me that on Facebook, I might just block you from ever talking to me again. But Geeze Louise! The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion has been on a roll as of recent. He began his acting career playing tough streetwise thugs in kung fu flicks and action films, and slowly transitioned to more character-based work. He was featured in "Riddick" alongside Vin Diesel, and in 2014 was one of the stars of Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy." Since playing "Drax the Destroyer" in Guardians, Bautista's stock has been soaring; this December, Batista will follow in the footsteps of Harold Sakata when he steps into the world of James Bond. I for one, cannot wait, as James Bond is a close-third to Star Wars and Pro Wrestling in my personal fandom.

2. Hulk Hogan
Noteworthy Films: Rocky III, No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando
Hulk Hogan might not have been the first wrestler to appear on the silver screen, but he was among the first to star in his own films! Hogan was first featured in Rocky III as the audacious Thunderlips, and went on to star in a litany of movies—some good, some bad, some terrible, and some so bad that they're good. His most iconic portrayals have been in WWE produced films such as "No Holds Barred" and "Suburban Commando," both of which also starred various other professional wrestlers. Hulk Hogan went on to make a number of kid's movies, such as "Mr. Nanny" and "Three Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain," and even made a cameo appearance in "Gremlins 2." Most people might better recall the Hulkster for his role as Terry Bollea on the VH1 reality series "Hogan Knows Best," but Hulkamania might never have occurred, had Hogan never been cast in "Rocky III."

1. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Noteworthy Films: The Other Guys, Hercules, San Andreas and a LOT mores
Without question the number one wrestler-turned-actor in history is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. I couldn't even narrow his "Noteworthy Films" down to three! The Rock first appeared in "The Scorpion King," he starred in "Walking Tall," showed up in the "Get Shorty" sequel "Be Cool," and even played a TOOTH FAIRY! The Rock has proven time and again that he is equally competent in kicking ass, as he is showcasing his more gentle side. So as not to list every movie the guy has ever been in, I'll keep it to some of my personal favorites: "The Game Plan," "Get Smart," "The Other Guys," "GI Joe: Retaliation," "Pain and Gain," and three out of seven Fast and the Furious films. The Rock is currently starring on the brand new HBO series "Ballers," in which he plays a sports agent on a show described as "Entourage meets the NFL."

Until next time, please LIKE "The B+ Players Podcast" on Facebook , and FOLLOW me on Twitter for all the latest and greatest updates courtesy of Cheap-Heat and Daily Wrestling News!

http://www.cheap-heat.com/ring-of-honor-best-in-the-world-2015/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/ring-of-honor-best-in-the-world-2015/#comments Sat, 20 Jun 2015 03:53:01 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Live Show Blogs Best in the World Destination America Jay Briscoe Jay Lethal NXT Pay Per View Ring of Honor ROH Truth Martini WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=12525 Welcome back to my once-quarterly coverage of Ring of Honor pay-per-view events. This is an interesting time for ROH as the perpetual third-party brand is finally available to fans nationwide. We just witnessed the third week of programming on Destination America, which just so happened to be a go-home show for their biggest event of […]

Welcome back to my once-quarterly coverage of Ring of Honor pay-per-view events. This is an interesting time for ROH as the perpetual third-party brand is finally available to fans nationwide. We just witnessed the third week of programming on Destination America, which just so happened to be a go-home show for their biggest event of the summer. I had mixed feelings heading into this show, as a number of matches on the card seemed rather forced . There were certainly a few slower-paced bouts, but nothing stood out as BAD . In fact, this was a pretty stellar show from top to bottom.

Donovan Dijak w/ Truth Martini vs. Mark Briscoe w/ ODB
The opening match tonight is a one-on-one preliminary bout between members of the Briscoe Clan and the House of Truth. Donovan Dijak is going head to head with Mark Briscoe, who comes to the ring with ODB. This is a fun match from start to finish, and really set the pace for things to come. I feel that people are down on Donovan Dijak for no reason; he's a rookie with very little time in the ring under his belt. That being said, I think he's pretty darn impressive, and works perfectly as part of Truth Martini's stable. My favorite part of the match was when ODB captured the valuable "Book of Truth" and tore it to shreds! The match was over when Mark Briscoe leapt from the top rope, taking out Dijak with a flying elbow. Mark Briscoe is your winner.
Winner: Mark Briscoe
Rating: 3 Stars ***

The Decade w/ Colby Corino vs. ACH and Matt Sydal
Our next contest is a tag team grudge match pitting the evilly egotistical Decade against the fan favorite duo of ACH and Matt Sydal. ACH has been feuding with BJ Whitmer and Adam Page for a number of weeks—maybe even months at this point—and Matt Sydal seems to be along for the ride. As always, the Decade is accompanied to the ring by King Steve Corino's son Colby, who holds his team's towel and a bucket of ice water. This is a fast-paced throw down wherein styles aren't so much meshing, as they are evolving to create a strong-style of sports entertainment. BJ Whitmer is a sadistic man who earns the ire of the New York crowd, and even prompts them to chant "Fuck You Whitmer." The Decade gets the pinfall thanks to Adam Page and an interruption by Colby Corino. Your winners are BJ Whitmer and Adam Page, but this rivalry is far from over.
Winner: The Decade
Rating: 3.25 Stars ***1/4

Dalton Castle vs. Silas Young
This was the match I was most looking forward to on the entire card, if you can believe that. I absolutely adore the Dalton Castle character, and have always had an affinity for Silas Young as well. Silas is the cigarette smoking nephew of Stan Hanson, whereas Dalton is an ambiguously eccentric showman who hits the ring wearing a "Freddie Mercury" jump suit, flocked by his "boys." Silas controls the pace of the match from the get-go, putting the relative newcomer through the ringer. Silas offered his hand in the "Code of Conduct," but Castle refused, presenting his hand for kiss instead. Silas gets a warm ovation from the audience despite his regular role as a heel. Castle comes back toward the tail end of the match by employing his amateur background, much to the surprise of Silas Young. He hits Silas with the Deadlift German Suplex for a near fall, sending the crowd into a frenzy! Silas gets angry with referee Todd Sinclair, and shoves him into the corner. Dalton takes advantage and rolls the veteran up with a school boy to earn an impressive victory. Your winner is Dalton Castle!
Winner: Dalton Castle
Rating: 2.5 Stars **1/2

War Machine vs. C and C Wrestling Factory
Cedric Alexander is coming into the match after earning a huge victory over the previously undefeated Moose on ROH TV. Tonight Cedric reforms C and C Wrestling Factory with Caprice Coleman to take on the dominant duo of Warbeard Hanson and Raymond Row—War Machine. Cedric defeated Moose on television this week after introducing a wrench to his opponents skull, and tried to pick up another win the same way. However Caprice Coleman was less enthused to take the low road and refused to act on Cedric's idea. War Machine was able to take advantage and pick up a win within mere moments. After the match, Cedric wrestled with whether or not to strike his partner, but decided against it. He stood across from Caprice and told him, "You and me? It's over." Cedric left Caprice in the ring. Your winners are War Machine!
Winner: War Machine
Rating: 2 Stars **

Number One Contender's Match
Michael Elgin vs. Moose vs. Roderick Strong
Moose gets a Wrestlemania entrance along with cheerleaders and football-inspired entrance gear. Admittedly—I was streaming this show illegally. And when you do things like that, it's only a matter of time before you're bit in the ass. Or at the very least, you witness somebody biting somebody else's ass. I was streaming the show and immediately following the introductions, the stream cut away to some of the most hardcore gay porn you've ever seen. Or maybe not, it really depends on what kind of gay porn you're use to watching, I guess. When the problem was fixed, this match was well underway and Roddy Strong was in firm control. He hit Moose with a sidewalk slam from the top rope and hit him with a double knee gut buster for a near fall. Roddy was moving at a hundred miles-per-hour, and took home the win after hitting Moose with two jumping knees and a SICK KICK! Roddy Strong wins, but the action is far from finished. Following the bell, Cedric Alexander returned and attacked Moose, claiming this was his match, and that he's the only person that matters.
Winner: Roderick Strong
Rating: 3.25 Stars ***1/4

The Bullet Club vs. The Kingdom
The following contest is a six man tag team match featuring two of the most popular stables in the world. In one corner are the current IWGP tag team champions Matt Taven and Michael Bennet, alongside the former ROH World Champion Adam Cole. Their opponents are the highly decorated threesome of the Young Bucks and AJ Styles. Before the match can begin, both teams approach one another as if to engage in the "Code of Conduct," but the BC crotch chops, and the Kingdom hold up four fingers, signifying their four-person team including Maria Kanellis. Right off the bat this is perhaps the most enjoyable match of the night, and why wouldn't it be? AJ Styles is currently the IWGP champion, as well as the UK Heavyweight title holder, and his partners are the guys that made Super Kicks cool again. And the Kingdom? Matt Taven is a former world TV champion, Michael Bennett is a highly accomplished mat-technician, and Adam Cole is destined for NXT greatness. Back and forth the momentum shifts as both teams employ their signature spots including more kicks to the face than I could begin to count. The match took a turn for the Bullet Club when the �Bucks hit the Double Meltzer Driver, and even dragged Maria into the match. AJ hit Cole with "Bloody Sunday" for what was presumed to be the finale, but the Kingdom refused to give up! The fans chanted: "This is Wrestling," along with the incredible athleticism on the stage. Adam Cole was along in the ring with the Bullet Club, and it was only a matter of time before the end was at hand. The Young Bucks performed another beautiful Meltzer Driver on Cole, followed by a "Styles Clash" by AJ, earning the pinfall victory and bragging rights for the Bullet Club.
Winner: The Bullet Club
Rating: 3.75 Stars ***3/4

No Disqualification Tag Team Match
ROH World Tag Team Titles
The Addiction (c) vs. reDRagon
This is a bona fied grudge match between two teams that despise one another. The Addiction defeated reDRagon for their world titles just a few months ago when they were revealed to be two-thirds of the mysterious "Knights of the Red Dawn." Kyle O'Reilly received an opportunity at the titles by himself when Bobby Fish was unfit for competition, but this is their first official rematch since the title switch. Things are off to a hard-hitting start and all four men waste no time in leaving the ring for greener pastures—IE the narrow entry way and the unforgiving ring side area. The "Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels is rocking a brand new wardrobe tonight; from his Gestapo-inspired entrance attire to an all-black singlet, Christopher Daniels is feeling rather festive tonight. This is most certainly a no disqualification match, as nobody hesitates in regards to turning up the heat on the competition. Frankie Kazarian gets backdropped from the entry way onto the floor, earning a boisterous "Holy Shit" from the New Yorkers in attendance. ReDRagon is on fire; Bobby Fish puts both members of the Addiction in one chair on the outside and holds another steel chair in front of them. Kyle O'Reilly heads to the apron and runs toward the Addiction, hitting the Double Foot Stomp on the chair, and into Daniels and Kaz. ReDRagon is far more sadistic than we've seen in recent years, but that's in response to their inordinate opponents. The Addiction has a plan however. They tape Bobby Fish to the middle rope with a roll of white wrist tape, and lay into him with a punishing assault. They set their sights on Kyle O'Reilly, and this match is all but finished. That's when O'Reilly summoned the strength to apply the Triangle Choke, breaking the Addiction's momentum and allowing for an opportune opening. This match teetered from side-to-side with both team's earning the right to be called champion, but in the end, only two men would walk away with the titles. Frankie Kazarian successfully hits "Celebrity Rehab," following a distraction by fellow KRD member Chris Sabin. Kazarian gets the 1-2-3 ; your winners and still world tag team champions, the Addiction.
Winner: The Addiction
Rating: 4 Stars ****

World Championship vs. Television Championship
Jay Briscoe (World Champ) vs. Jay Lethal (TV Champ)
This show was in many ways a "one match show," where fans were excited to see a card of carnage, but were most intrigued by the main event. The pomp and circumstance associated with this match is unequalled by previous bouts, save for Christopher Daniel's SS uniform. Jay Lethal is escorted by the entire House of Truth, including Truth Martini who has a brand new "Book of Truth," with a shimmering white cover. Jay Briscoe gets an enormous ovation and the fans battle Briscoe chants against Lethal for nearly five minutes after the bell. Both men's parents are in attendance; Jay's mom and dad made the quick trip from Elizabeth New Jersey, whereas "Papa Briscoe" drove up from Sandy Fork, Delaware. This match has everything I want as a wrestling fan. The athleticism is truly main event caliber, and the story being told couldn't be any more personal if it needed to be. Referee Todd Sinclair, who's been on a hot streak tonight, sends Truth's cronies back to the locker room after Dijak gets involved early on. Jay Briscoe might not be my favorite wrestler in the world, but he's looking pretty darn good in this match. Lethal is undoubtedly more marketable, so it would seem almost inevitable that a now-nationwide company would hand the ball to someone such as "Black Machismo." Especially if he truly is the "Greatest First Generation Wrestler Ever." This is an awesome match, that could take the cake for "Match of the Night," but I think the Addiction and reDRagon might give the champs a run for their money. This was a seesaw-style contest, which allowed for both men to wow the crowd, and earn their share of adoration in the process. I like Jay Briscoe when he wears pants instead of shorts, and when he's completely bald instead of all stubbly. He looked like a real champion tonight, and despite my affinity for Jay Lethal, I was fully supportive of Briscoe's efforts. Briscoe locks Lethal in a dangerous submission hold, and nobody is louder than Lethal's dad at ringside! He slams his hand against the barricade, screaming for his son to regain his composure! Back and forth, both men have an equal shot of walking out of New York City with TWO championships! TWO titles! That's unprecedented within the confines of Ring of Honor Wrestling, and yet somebody is going to do it once the bell rings. Nigel McGuinness—who always sits ringside for the main event matches—grew tired of Truth Martini's interference, and as head match maker, kicked him out of the arena! This distraction gave the world champion an opening to delivery the "Jay Driller" to the world television champion through a table from the apron. They returned to the ring by the 18-count from senior official Todd Sinclair, and this match continued. Jay Briscoe hit the Jay Driller! Jay Briscoe hit the RAIN MAKER! But Jay Lethal refused to quit! The fans, who might otherwise loathe Lethal, cheered with all their might for both men—knowing full well that their New York accents would be hoarse the next morning. Jay Lethal rallied on account of the support and hit the Lethal Injection—for a TWO COUNT! Jay Lethal struggled to hit Briscoe with his own finishing move, but couldn't quite get it. Briscoe hit Lethal with a sunset flip, but Lethal was ready and delivered THE JAY DRILLER to the innovator of the move himself. Lethal smiled and ran toward the ropes, hit the springboard and came back for another successful LETHAL INJECTION! Jay Lethal pinned Jay Briscoe for the one, two—THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jay Lethal becomes the Ring of Honor World Champion for the first time in his life, and even shakes hands with Jay Briscoe following the match. Lethal fell to his knees with tears in his eyes as his parents cheered from ringside and the audience chanted: "You deserve it!"
Winner: Jay Lethal
Rating: 4.5 Stars ****1/2

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http://www.cheap-heat.com/honorable-mention-61715/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/honorable-mention-61715/#comments Thu, 18 Jun 2015 18:43:28 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Reviews ACH BJ Whitmer Cedric Alexander Colby Corino Hiroshi Tanahashi Jay Briscoe Jay Lethal Matt Sydal Moose NJPW Ring of Honor ROH Steve Corino Tanahashi Tetsuya Naito TNA War Machine World Champion WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=12476 Welcome back to another edition of "Honorable Mention," the once-weekly Ring of Honor report exclusively available at Cheap-Heat.com. My name is Mark Adam Haggerty and I am pleased as punch to be here just two days shy of Ring of Honor "Best in the World" live on pay-per-view. This was an excellent hour of professional […]

Welcome back to another edition of "Honorable Mention," the once-weekly Ring of Honor report exclusively available at Cheap-Heat.com. My name is Mark Adam Haggerty and I am pleased as punch to be here just two days shy of Ring of Honor "Best in the World" live on pay-per-view. This was an excellent hour of professional wrestling and finally hit the crescendo that we ROH fans have been anticipating for three weeks.

This week's show comes to us from the Tedreeve Arena in Toronto, Canada with Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino calling the action. There's another Corino in the arena! It's Steve's son Colby, who accompanies the Decade's BJ Whitmer and Adam Page to the ring for their match against War Machine. Colby fell victim to the menacing Moose just a few weeks ago, but has returned to the ring where he'll fulfill the necessary "Young Boy" duties bestowed upon him by BJ. Whitmer gets the microphone and tells the angry fans that a live mic is "way louder than they are." The fans try hard to bury BJ's voice, but it's no use: "Two weeks ago Colby, you came out here and you showed the world how much of a man you are, and you came within an inch of beating that big goofy bastard Moose. But I don't think your father gets it. I don't think he understands. And I think he needs to see it— AGAIN !" BJ tells Colby Corino to "step up and take his place in the match." Colby immediately takes a roll of white tape and begins to wrap it around his wrists. As soon as the bell sounds, Adam Page tags Colby into action against Raymond Rowe, who doesn't want to wrestle Corino. "You're not ready Colby," yelled Rowe, as he begged the Young Boy to listen to his father. Colby slapped Rowe across the face, causing King Corino to stand and scream: "Who taught you this?" Rowe tags out, fearful of what he might do to Steve Corino's son. According to Kevin Kelly, Ray Rowe has known Colby ever since he was ten years old, and opts to allow "Warbeard" to handle the light work. Hanson slams Colby, and tags Rowe back in, but Rowe continues to ignore the challenge, ordering the other members of the Decade to tag into the match. Rowe is forced to attack Colby Corino with a vicious backbreaker-gutbuster-powerbomb combo. Adam Page refused to tag in, and War Machine picked up the victory mere seconds later. BJ Whitmer continued to rile King Corino at ringside, to the point where the former world champion broadcaster tossed down his headset and prepared to fight. Before anything could happen however, Kevin Kelly threw the show to a break, in an attempt to restore order.

"Around this time last year, I was considered THE breakout star in Ring of Honor," Cedric Alexander is in the center of the ring, telling the fans how he is no longer the breakout star he once was. "Right now for Cedric Alexander it's do-or-die. I need to start picking up WINS ! I need to start picking up wins to prove to my family that this dream of being a professional wrestler isn't a waste of time." Cedric Alexander is ready to challenge anyone in the locker room, and decides to call out the undefeated Moose! Moose comes to the ring per usual alongside Stokley Hathaway and Veda Scott, prepared to meet whatever challenge awaits him. Cedric keeps up with the big man, evading every one of his drop kicks, and landing a sizzling sidekick to the back of Moose's head. The action spills to the outside, and Cedric is still in control over the burly Moose, but not for long! Once they return to the ring, Moose hits Cedric with a successful drop kick, sending Cedric Alexander back to the outside. We head into a commercial—for Ring of Honor Best in the World—and once we return, Moose and Cedric are still going back and forth. Cedric is very good at reversing the rookie Moose's moves, but has a tough time building any sort of discernible offense that might win him the match. The announcers make frequent mention of how Moose is friends with the majority of men and women in the back, including his manager Stokley Hathaway, as well as his opponent Cedric Alexander. Veda Scott however, has other plans for the future of Moose, and would rather see him turn a blind eye to the rest of the Ring of Honor roster. This match is heating up and Moose scores a near fall following a decapitating lariat. The fans battle chant-for-chant: "Let's go Moose" versus "Let's go Cedric," until this match devolves into a series of forearm strikes. Moose heads to the top rope, but Cedric catches him and prepares to end the undefeated streak of his friend following a litany of high impact drop kicks to the head. "Moose's eyes are dimming," says Kevin Kelly! Just before Cedric can deliver his final kick, Moose summons the strength to employ his somersault Spear. Both men are down and at the mercy of the referee's count. Veda yells at Stokley to distract the referee, and she hands a wrench to Moose. Moose refuses to use the tool to gain the victory, but Cedric Alexander has no problem earning a win that way! Cedric uses Moose's confusion against him and seizes the wrench, smacks him across the skull with it, and hands Moose the very first loss in his wrestling career.

Mandy Leone is backstage giving us a history lesson on what went down between reDRagon and the Addiction when the latter team stole the coveted tag titles from the former. Adam Cole interrupts Mandy, and cuts a promo on his return to pay-per-view this Friday night alongside Matt Taven and Mike Bennett. They'll be heading into six-man-competition this weekend against the Bullet Club's AJ Styles and The Young Bucks.

The main event tonight is—well, it's a contract signing. BUT the main event match this evening is a tag team contest. ACH and Matt Sydal will head into battle against the record-setting seven-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi and the former NEVER Openweight Champion Tetsuya Naito. The NJPW team refuses to adhere to the code of honor, despite Sydal and ACH's insistence. Things kick off with Tanahashi against Matt Sydal, as both men decide take things to the mat. Naito taunts Sydal from the apron, and soon ACH is part of this match. Things wage forward with both teams earning the upper hand, and the NJPW team playing a bit of a heel role. While that might seem odd to NJPW fans familiar with Tanahashi and Naito, it makes perfect sense across the Pacific Ocean where ACH and Matt Sydal are far more popular. Tanahashi scurries back to his corner like a cowardly heel, and things speed up when ACH and Naito take control of the contest. Naito's eyeball gimmick is sort of strange, and even odder when mocked by the inordinately agile ACH. Tanahashi takes ACH to the outside and tosses him into the barricade behind referee Todd Sinclair's back; the New Japan team is most certainly the more dastardly of the two this evening. We head into a commercial break and when we return, ACH has fallen victim to both of his opponents, as Sydal struggles to get back into the action. Naito attempts a Superplex but is sent spiraling down to the canvas. ACH takes advantage of Naito's slip up and applies a double foot stomp to the back of his opponents shoulders. He tags Sydal into the match, and the former Evan Bourne gets to work in settling the score against these two international stars. The waning moments of the match are exciting and unpredictable—both Sydal and Tanahashi battle for dominance before ACH returns for a final go at the former IWGP champion. ACH hits Tanahashi with more than a dozen standing sidekicks for a near fall, and follows up with a German Suplex with a bridge for a 2 and 9/10ths count. ACH mocks Tanahashi to his face, and is awarded a Texas Cloverleaf for his efforts. Before he can reach the bottom rope, Sydal returns with a jumping knee to the face of Hiroshi Tanahashi. The match ends with a frog splash by Tanahashi on ACH for the 1-2-3, and a definitive end to an extraordinary match.

The final segment tonight, and dare I say the main event, is a contract signing between the ROH World Champion Jay Briscoe, and the ROH World Television Champion Jay Lethal. They're set to meet this Friday night at Terminal One in New York City, where both of their belts will be on the line. Lethal hits the ring first, dressed like Lou Bega (Mambo Number 5) and flanked by Truth Martini. Jay Briscoe is accompanied by his brother Mark, who will be in action on Friday against another member of the House of Truth, in Donavan Dijak. Things are tense between the champions; Jay Lethal has said on multiple occasions that his TV title is far more prestigious than the World Championship held by Briscoe. Former World Champion and current ROH matchmaker Nigel McGuinness is presiding over the precedings, and explains the rules and time limit. Nigel says that this will be the biggest match in Ring of Honor history, and asks both men for their final words going into the fight. Lethal says that the only reason he doesn't flip the table over and "beat [Briscoe] where he stands" is because he "needs him at his best." Lethal says that after June 19 ^th —after Best in the World—Jay Briscoe will no business in Ring of Honor anymore. Jay Briscoe responds in kind, angered by Lethal's overconfident demeanor: "June 19 ^th , when I get done whoopin' yo ass, when I get done with you boy , you gonna have to go back to being the �Black Machismo' man!" Take that TNA! Lethal flips the table and both men remove their shirts, and hold their belts side by side as they continue to talk smack while the camera's fade out. Great show.

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