THIS Saturday night Ring of Honor returns to The Hammerstein Ballroom in the heart of New York City for “Manhattan Mayhem V”! Featuring Quarter Final match-ups in the World Title tournament, a first time ever dream tag match, a World Tag Team Title Grudge Match, a promise of something big from Prince Nana, and a lot more, this is sure to be one memorable night in the Big Apple! Tickets are on-sale now in the ROH Store or you can pick them up at the door on Saturday night.
Let’s take a look at the matches for the evening:
Manhattan Mayhem V
Saturday, Aug 17, 2013
Bell time – 7:30pm EDT
Hammerstein Ballroom
311 West 34th Street
NY, NY 10001
World Tag Team Title Match
The American Wolves (Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards) defend vs. reDragon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly)
The history of these two teams runs all the way back to the day Kyle O’Reilly first came under the tutelage of Davey Richards…actually it runs even deeper than that, to the rings of Pro Wrestling NOAH where Bobby Fish & Eddie Edwards have teamed on-and-off since 2010. But here, within the confines of ROH, it has been the story of a student turning his back on his teacher as O’Reilly began to turn away from Davey in the first half of 2012 before ultimately bailing on his friend at “Best in the World 2012”. The ensuing months saw Kyle flounder on his own, coming up on the losing end of his rivalry with Adam Cole in their TV Title match last November while Davey also sought to find his way in memorable bouts with Jay Lethal, Mike Mondo, and in the Survival of the Fittest 2012 tournament. What it ultimately came down to for both men was a return to tag team wrestling; for Kyle it was reaching out to Bobby Fish and for Davey it was a return to the team that honed him into a wrestling machine: The American Wolves!
At “Final Battle 2012”, with Davey unsure of whether not Eddie Edwards would have his back, Richards took to the ring to fend off reDRagon’s assault on an injured Mike Mondo and in turn took a beating of his own. Edwards hit the ring, fended off Fish & O’Reilly, and the reunion of The American Wolves would lead to a victory over Bobby and Kyle that December night. Still, the two teams were not done with each other…
On ROH TV, reDRagon successfully defeated The Wolves (with some S.C.U.M help) to earn a tag team title match at the “11th Anniversary Event”, one they parlayed into success when Fish & O’Reilly first dethroned The Briscoes then, the following day, successfully defeated The Forever Hooligans in their first title defense. The reign of reDRagon would prove quite dominant as they put down the challenge of The Wolves at “Supercard of Honor VII”, defeated The Briscoes in a rematch at “Dragon’s Reign”, defeated C&C Wrestle Factory, S.C.U.M, Roderick Strong & Cheeseburger, and Alabama Attitude before The Forever Hooligans shocked the world by dethroning Fish & O’Reilly on ROH TV.
The reign of Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov would prove short-lived though as at, “All Star Extravaganza V” one week later, the Hooligans would collide with The Wolves in their first title defense and come up short against Davey & Eddie as The Wolves claimed their second World Tag Team Titles.
Now, in New York City, the rivalry between The Wolves and reDRagon comes to head with the shoe on the other foot. This time it is Eddie and Davey who come into the Hammerstein as the defending champs while it is Bobby & Kyle in the position of challengers..who will prove victorious in this championship rubber match?
Bobby has bested BOTH Eddie and Davey in singles matches since their last tag team encounter which certainly has to fuel his confidence but on the other hand, Kyle has fallen to both Eddie & Davey in singles bouts since April. The Wolves are coming off a championship victory at “ASE V” while reDRagon refused to show up out of spite for losing their championships AND they lay the blame on Nigel for that loss.
The Wolves bowed out of the World Title Tournament to focus on the tag team titles and that decision paid off in spades on August 3rd but on August 17th will reDRagon show the world that Eddie & Davey made the wrong decision or will the hunt continue?
First Time Ever Dream Tag Team Match
The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. The Forever Hooligans (Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov)
We heard your voices…
We read your wishes…
And now Ring of Honor Wrestling is extremely excited to announce that on Saturday night August 17th, as part of the “Manhattan Mayhem V” event in New York City, not only will will you see the return of The Young Bucks to the Big Apple but you will also see Matt & Nick Jackson collide with the current IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, the former ROH World Tag Team Champions, Alex Koslov & Rocky Romero…The Forever Hooligans!!!
“We heard the ROH faithful loud and clear.” said Nigel McGuinness to ROHWrestling.com, “Every day since the Hooligans lost the tag team titles in Toronto we have seen the fans hope for a bout between The Young Bucks, Rocky, and Alex in New York City. Well I am happy to say that we did everything we could to make it happen and now everyone at Manhattan Mayhem will get to see two of the best tag teams in the world today do what they do best! I promised you all that tag team wrestling would rise to the top in Ring of Honor and with bouts like this dream match, it isn’t hard to see that ROH is THE home for tag team wrestling today!”
It’s the first time ever, it is no doubt a dream match-up, it’s The Young Bucks vs. The Forever Hooligans and it will take place on Saturday night August 17th when ROH returns to The Hammerstein Ballroom for “Manhattan Mayhem V”!!!
ROH World Championship Tournament Quarter Finals
“Machine Gun” Karl Anderson vs. “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin
During “Supercard of Honor VII” weekend last April, Karl Anderson came into ROH for the very first time and had one of the most successful debuts a competitor could ask for when he defeated two of ROH’s best in Roderick Strong and “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin. Those nights the only thing on the line were notches in the win column versus ones under losses but this time the stakes are a great deal higher. The winner of this contest will advance to the semi-finals of the World Title Tournament at “Death Before Dishonor XI” in Philadelphia to face the winner of Steen/Strong and get one step closer to the goal of being crowned new World Champion.
For Elgin this is redemption, for Elgin it is getting nearer to the dream of becoming Ring of Honor World Champion that he has since the day he watched his first ROH match. For Anderson it may just be another notch on the belt, an addition to a resume that is already loaded with successes in New Japan Pro Wrestling. For Elgin it is a deeply personal quest, for Anderson it is business; which man’s motivation will prove stronger when that bell rings?
ROH World Championship Tournament Quarter Finals
Roderick Strong vs. Kevin Steen
The winner of this battle of two former World Champions will go on to face the winner of Elgin/Anderson in Philadelphia but before either man can even think of that future, they will have to wade through hell to get there. Steen & Strong are quite familiar with one another; Roderick was actually one of the first men Kevin defended the championship against during his World Title reign (at “Live Strong”) and he was one of the men denied at “Defy or Deny II”. Now “Mr. ROH” looks to turn the tables, deny Steen the opportunity to advance to the semi-finals in Philly, and get one notch closer to becoming only the second 2-Time champion in ROH history in addition to his credit as one of only two Triple Crown champions in company history as well.
ROH World Championship Tournament Quarter Finals
“The Sicilian Psychopath” Tommaso Ciampa vs. Michael Bennett
“The Sicilian Psychopath” is on a mission to crush anyone who gets in his way of becoming the World Champion while Michael Bennett is on a mission to finally live up to all of the hype that preceeded his debut in ROH. In his mind that started by shedding the excess baggage of Brutal Bob and it continues with one victory after another in this tournament until he stands at the top of the mountain as the new World Champion. Some would say that Maria Kannelis is a crucial part of Bennett being able to ascend to that mountain top but in NYC he won’t have her to rely on as Nigel McGuinness’ has banned her from ringside during this bout. He will be alone, truly alone for possibly the first time since he entered into ROH competition two years ago and it will be against one of the most vicious competitors on the roster in Ciampa. If there is a man in the tournament who defines intensity it is the Sicilian Psychopath and he is looking to ride the momentum of his return from injury all the way to the championship. And for the winner of this bout, Adam Cole awaits at “Death Before Dishonor XI” in Philadelphia…
Scramble Rules Tag Team Match
C&C Wrestle Factory (Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander) vs. Adrenaline RUSH (ACH & Tadarius Thomas)
Two of the most exciting tag teams on the scene right now, C&C and AR will lock horns in a Scramble Rules bout which means no tags are necessary and as soon as one man exits the ring then his partner can enter! In their last two-on-two meeting at “Border Wars 2013” it was C&C who emerged victorious but at “All Star Extravaganza V” in their triple threat bout with The Young Bucks, it was RUSH who picked up the victory when ACH pinned Cedric. With Scramble Rules in effect you know this one will get crazy!
Proving Ground Match
World TV Champion Matt Taven vs. “No Fear” Mike Mondo
***If Mondo either defeats Taven, or lasts the time limit, he will earn a future TV Title bout***
He hasn’t been seen in an ROH ring since just prior to “Border Wars 2013” when he had to pull out of a scheduled Triple Threat bout with Mike Bennett and Roderick Strong due to a training injury. Now, this Saturday at “MM V”, Mike Mondo will make his return to Ring of Honor and will face off with a man with whom he is very familiar: World TV Champion Matt Taven!
The early stages of each man’s ROH career are quite intertwined as Taven & Mondo developed quite a rivalry in the early months of 2012 that culminated in quite a barnburner of a bout on the April 7th edition of “Ring of Honor Wrestling” TV. Now that rivalry will be renewed on August 17th when the World TV Champion goes head-to-head with “No Fear” in NYC with Mondo hoping to earn himself a TV Title Match!
The Rubber Match
Silas Young vs. Adam Page
Round one went to Silas Young during the Top Prospect Tournament, round two went to Adam Page on ROH TV, and round three ended up becoming a Triple Threat match with QT Marshall when “God’s Gift” stuck his nose into their Tournament Qualifier only to end up beaten by Silas Young.
Now, with Young eliminated from the tourney by Ciampa, these two atheletes will have an opportunity to settle the score in NYC. Young has shown himself more than willing to take shortcuts, particuarly evidenced in his initial bout with Tommaso at “Reclamation: Night 2”, so Page will have to be wary of “The Last Real Man In Pro Wrestling”.
We have also been informed that taking up commentary duties for the matches on Saturday night will be Kevin Kelly & the returning Prince Nana! Speaking of Nana, he has been dropping some rather cryptic messages regarding this Saturday’s event, specifically in the Newswire this week regarding some “friends” he will see in NYC!
Also, we have been informed by RD Evans that he and QT Marshall will be in NYC to address the tag team division…
In addition, The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson), IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Rocky Romero, IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Team Alex Koslov, World TV Champion Matt Taven, and New Japan’s “Machine Gun” Karl Anderson will all be available prior to the start of the show for an autograph signing! Pricing runs $10 Each OR you can get all 5 8×10’s at a discounted price of just $40!
PLUS, for all those lucky fans in attendance, you will be the FIRST to get an opportunity to purchase tickets for “Final Battle 2013” on December 14th!
Tickets for “Manhattan Mayhem V” are on-sale NOW in the ROH Store, or you can pick them up at the door on Saturday night! Either way, do NOT miss out on New York City’s BIGGEST wrestling show of the summer!