Courtesy of ROHWrestling.com:
Here is your complete Aftershock Tour Philly Preview
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21ST, 2015 – 2300 ARENA – PHILADELPHIA, PA
The Ring of Honor AFTERSHOCK TOUR is making a stop at the legendary 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA! On August 21st, all your favorite ROH athletes will be there LIVE…and they are joined by stars from New Japan Pro Wrestling! Every professional wrestling fan appreciates the history tradition that thrives in Philadelphia and inside the walls of the 2300 Arena. The summer of 2015 is huge for the Best Professional Wrestling on the Planet. You need to be there LIVE this Friday night to see what happens next.
Before we look at this amazing card, you must know there are very few tickets still available. To ensure you are in the building to witness the action, click HERE!
THE REMATCH: ROH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROH WORLD & WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION JAY LETHAL vs “MR ROH” RODERICK STRONG
“Mr ROH” Roderick Strong’s showing at Death Before Dishonor XIII proved that he is one of the very best wrestlers on the planet. ROH World & World Television Champion Jay Lethal proved that he IS the best wrestler on the planet, which is why he is still champion. These two battled to an epic 60 minute draw. Roderick Strong demonstrated that he deserved a rematch based on his impressive record in 2015 and the fact that he took Lethal to the limit. ROH Matchmaker Nigel McGuinness went against the judgment of Lethal and Truth Martini and agreed with Strong!
Lethal and his manager Truth Martini have shown the world that Lethal is t the very best today! Lethal himself proved to Strong that it is going to take everything Roddy has and much more to remove the championship from his waste.
Roderick Strong is already telling anyone who will listen that he is amping up his training and will come in even more prepared. Truth Martini had this to say: “Jay Lethal is the undisputed ROH World & World Television Champion for a reason. Roderick Strong, you won’t be ready for what Jay is bringing in Philly!”
Nigel McGuinness has dictated that if Lethal does retain his ROH World Championship in this defense he will still be obligated to face reDRagon’s Kyle O’Reilly in San Antonio, TX at All Star Extravaganza live on PPV, Friday September 18. On top of that, Lethal is currently scheduled to also defend his ROH World Television Championship against the #1 contender to the title, reDRagon’s Bobby Fish. The pressure is on Lethal right now and Strong could capitalize on this situation to become a 2x ROH World Champion.
McGuinness has also stated that should Roderick Strong defeat Jay Lethal to become the New ROH World Champion, he would then assume the already signed title defense against Kyle O’Reilly on at All Star Extravaganza VII.
This is a rematch of one of the greatest matches in ROH history and you do not want to miss it!
DREAM MATCH
ADAM COLE vs SHINSUKE NAKAMURA
A match that Ring of Honor fans have long desired has been officially signed for ROH’s return to the 2300 Arena. Former ROH World Champion Adam Cole will take on “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura of New Japan Pro Wrestling in a true dream match.
Adam Cole returned from injury this past May at the ROH/NJPW’s War of The Worlds. He surprised everyone by announcing he was going to challenge then-IWGP Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles. The stunned audience couldn’t believe the fortitude of Cole.
“The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura is a phenomenon that Ring of Honor Fans can’t get enough of. The charismatic in-ring artist brings an unbridled energy to everything he does. His most recent tour of Ring of Honor saw him score major wins over The Briscoe’s, Jushin Liger, ACH & “Mr ROH” Roderick Strong. These wins speak volumes for Nakamura’s immense talents.
These two huge stars have never met inside the ring. Cole is finding his groove since returning from injury and a win over Nakamura would not only send shockwaves through Ring of Honor, but send a clear message to the stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling as well. Nakamura would love nothing more than to add the head of another major ROH superstar to his growing mantle of trophies. Cole is healthy and ready. Nakamura will be fresh off the grueling G1 Climax Tournament. Will Nakamura be ripe for the picking? Be there in South Philadelphia as two of the very best in the world collide for this first time!
ROH WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
THE ADDICTION (CHRISTOPHER DANIELS & FRANKIE KAZARIAN) vs. THE YOUNG BUCKS (NICK & MATT JACKSON)
The Addiction have proven to be not only a team with great physical tools, but also great at getting inside the heads of their opponents. The veteran duo has reigned over the best tag team division in professional wrestling for 4 months and the competition is only getting tougher.
The Young Bucks come into this title opportunity as near favorites. As former ROH World Tag Team Champions and current IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, The Young Bucks are coming to Philly with their trademark confidence. The brash youngsters are looking to become dual champions once again.
Daniels and Kazarian will have their work cut out for them. The Young Bucks rarely travel without Bullet Club backup and this may be the one time the champions do not have that mental edge heading into a defense. Will the Philly faithful see the crowning of “The Superkick Party” as 2x ROH World Tag Team Champions? Or can the champions successfully fend off another credible threat to their impressive reign?
NON TITLE
IWGP JR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION KUSHIDA V MATT SYDAL
KUSHIDA is in the middle of an absolutely incredible 2015. Earlier this year, he won NJPW’s prestigious Best of the Super Juniors Tournament, defeating Kyle O’Reilly in the final round. He also recently claimed the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, marking the second time he has held that title. Following a series of stellar matches during WAR OF THR WORLDS and GLOBAL WARS, Ring of Honor fans could not wait to welcome KUSHIDA back into an ROH ring!
His opponent in Philadelphia is none other than MATT SYDAL! Sydal was recently attacked by The Decade and laid out by a vicious Rite of Passage by Adam Page onto a steel chair. But Sydal will be more than ready to go on August 21st when he takes on KUSHIDA! While no championships are on the line, this promises to be a fast paced, athletic spectacle between two of the most exciting professional wrestlers on the planet.
IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION KAZUCHIKA OKADA & ROPPONGI VICE vs. IWGP INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION HIROOKI GOTO & THE BRISCOES
Current IWGP Heavyweight Champion KAZUCHIKA OKADA and fellow Chaos members ROCKY ROMERO & BERETTA, known as Roppongi Vice, will take on the IWGP Intercontinental Champion HIROOKI GOTO and former 8x ROH World Tag Team Champions THE BRISCOES in South Philly on Friday, August 21.
Rocky Romero has spent the better part of a week calling out tag teams in Ring of Honor on social media. Not happy with the loss suffered to the Briscoe’s at Death Before Dishonor XIII, Romero and Baretta want revenge. Joining them will be someone who most consider the best wrestler on the planet, current IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada. The trio are members of the Chaos faction in Japan and are no strangers to teaming against common enemies.
The Briscoes are trying to keep their legacy moving and are striving for an amazing 9th ROH World Tag Team Championship. They received the challenge from Chaos and made a phone call to get one of the toughest men in New Japan Pro Wrestling to stand by their side, someone who fits the Briscoe brand of butt kicking: current IWGP Intercontinental Champion Hirooki Goto. Goto is known as a tough as nails hard hitting superstar who will without a doubt put a lot of people on notice in his Ring of Honor debut.
Roppongi Vice & Okada will be looking to send a message to their respective rivals and The Briscoes and Goto will be looking to do the same in South Philly!
MICHAEL ELGIN vs. SILAS YOUNG
Michael Elgin returns to Ring of Honor on August 21st in Philadelphia! Elgin is coming off a major tour of Japan for NJPW’s G1 Climax where he truly impressed the Japanese fans. It’s long been known that Michael Elgin’s two major goals in professional wrestling were to win the ROH World Championship and to compete in Japan. Now that he has achieved both, there’s no doubt Elgin is readying himself for the next challenge…a second championship reign and more international competition!
On August 21st, he takes on a fellow ROH star with whom he is very familiar: SILAS YOUNG. Elgin and Young have battled throughout their careers. Recently, Silas’s mind has been occupied by Dalton Castle and his Boys, who have gotten under Young’s skin like no one ever before. But he will need to push all distractions aside if he hopes to defeat a former ROH World Champion and an athlete the caliber of Michael Elgin! A hungry, motived Elgin is returning after his first tour of Japan. He is not coming to lose and this could spell serious trouble for Silas Young.
CEDRIC ALEXANDER w/VEDA SCOTT vs DALTON CASTLE
Cedric Alexander has made some very obvious changes in his career. Gone is the humble, honorable young athlete. In his place stands an arrogant star…but a star quickly on the rise now that he’s shaken off his losing ways and acquired new guidance in Veda Scott. Cedric and Veda refuse to participate in the Code of Honor and openly disrespect their opponents, gleefully celebrating nefarious wins over the previously undefeated Moose. Veda Scott has always been willing to interfere and intervene on behalf of her clients, and Cedric has been more than happy to use her tactics to his advantage.
But on August 21st in Philadelphia, Cedric Alexander takes on a man who comes with his own…unique…ringside enforcers: DALTON CASTLE! Castle has taken Ring of Honor by storm in 2015, a competitor completely unlike any other in professional wrestling today! Combining his considerable athletic skills with over-the-top theatrics (and The Boys monitoring ringside), Dalton Castle is hard to scout and even harder beat.
This will be a true challenge for both competitors with so much at stake. Dalton Castle is still establishing himself in ROH, and for all his success he cannot afford to take a step back! But Cedric Alexander is climbing back up the ranks himself with a new attitude and new alliance with Veda Scott. Dalton and his “boys” could be in for a very long night.
NON TITLE
IWGP JR HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS reDRagon vs DONOVAN DIJAK & J. DIESEL wTRUTH MARTINI
Undisputed ROH World & World Television Champion Jay Lethal and his manager Truth Martini are releasing the hounds of the House of Truth on Lethal’s scheduled challengers at All Star Extravaganza VII. Donovan Dijak and J Diesel have their sights set on destroying Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly before their scheduled title opportunities live on Pay Per View. Fish is guaranteed a World Television Title opportunity against Lethal, while the champion still has to make it past his rematch with Roderick Strong in order to defend against O’Reilly. Truth Martini is not taking any chances and said he wants reDRagon destroyed in Philly. Fish & O’Reilly will be coming loaded for bear and primed to take out anyone in front of them. The 3x former ROH World Tag Team Champions will be looking to send a clear message to Jay Lethal, Truth Martini and the entire House of Truth!
ACH vs CAPRICE COLEMAN
The Aerial Wizard will be taking on the charismatic preacher in South Philadelphia! ACH has found a rhythm since his epic NO DQ war with The Decade’s Adam Page at Death before Dishonor. His desire to gain a shot at an ROH Championship grows with each day. Caprice Coleman is currently in turmoil as he takes issue with the choices his former tag team partner Cedric Alexander is making. He will need to focus his efforts here as ACH will be bringing everything he has.
FOUR CORNER SURVIVAL
ADAM PAGE w/BJ WHITMER vs WILL FERRARA vs TAAKAKI WATANABE vs MOOSE w/STOKELY HATHAWAY
Four different worlds collide in this one. Adam Page is rising at a meteoric rate under the guidance of BJ Whitmer and a win here really establishes him as a contender. Will Ferrara is looking for a big win to get into title contention. Watanabe is still looking to make his mark in Ring of Honor and a victory here can establish him as a true force. Moose has suffered 3 major losses recently and needs to find his way back to what made him unbeatable. Will Stokely Hathaway be able to refocus the former NFL lineman and get him back on the winning track? Will BJ Whitmer lend a hand to ensure that Adam Page stays on the winning side of things? Can the smallest dog in the fight, Will Ferrara, overcome the odds once again and score possibly the biggest win of his career? Or is it Watanabe’s chance to shine?
Tickets are almost sold out. You will want to be there LIVE to catch this huge night of action in at a must-see destination for wrestling fans.
RING OF HONOR WRESTLING PRESENTS
THE AFTERSHOCK TOUR ’15
2300 ARENA – PHILADELPHIA, PA
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21ST, 2015
7:30PM BELL TIME
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