– Two Former World Champions Collide For the 1st Time In NYC!
– “Die Hard” vs. “The Notorious 187” at “Best in the World 2012”…
Following his return to the United States after competing in the Global Tag League in Pro Wrestling NOAH, “Die Hard” Eddie Edwards made a simple request to ROH officials: bring me the best. When asked to elaborate Edwards stated that he wanted to fight former champions, the best men that have set foot in an ROH ring, with the purpose of staying on point, of keeping his fighting game at its absolute peak in preparation for a future title shot.
Once it was announced Edwards was receiving the title opportunity against Kevin Steen in Charleston, WV he contacted ROH officials once more via e-mail. Here is an excerpt from that:
“Thank you for putting your faith in me to stop Kevin’s title run before it really gets started. It means the world you’re putting that on my shoulders first and I promise I will not let you down. But it doesn’t change a thing about what I requested when I got back from Japan. I still want to face the former champions, the prime athletes, the best wrestlers who ever competed in ROH because that is the only way I will stay at my absolute best. So regardless of what happens when Kevin and I meet, whether it’s New York or Chicago or the Carolinas, I still expect to see the best opponents you can find for me standing across that ring….”
Well Eddie is getting his wish on June 24th as at “Best in the World 2012”, live on iPPV from The Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC, he will go one-on-one with former ROH World Champion, one of the founding fathers, “The Notorious 187” Homicide!!!
‘Cide hasn’t seen ROH competition since his loss to “The Prodigy” Mike Bennett at the “10th Anniversary Event” but has been in constant contact with ROH officials, itching for the right time to get back in the mix. Well now he gets his opportunity right in his hometown as he goes toe-to-toe with Edwards! What a return it would be for Homicide to defeat a recent champion & ROH’s 1st Triple Crown Winner! The bout takes place on 6/24 at “Best in the World 2012”, tickets are available right here (http://www.rohwrestling.com/product/new-york-ny-june-24th) and it will also be broadcast live on iPPV at ROHWrestling.com!
– Future Shock collides at “Best in the World 2012”
– Kyle O’Reilly Issues A Challenge…
Their future was bright, tag team dominance was surely in their future, but emotion, jealousy, and bitterness seemingly got in the way as Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly, the team known as Future Shock, permanently split ways after Cole pinned Davey Richards in the “Young Wolves Rising” tag match that main-evented the “10th Anniversary Event” in March.
O’Reilly was content with his victory regardless of the means and it seemed he was also content to leave Cole in his past. After some tension between Richards & O’Reilly after their “Unity” tag team bout, all was put to rest and Kyle was set to be in the Davey’s corner at “Border Wars” for his ROH World Title defense against Kevin Steen.
“That was one of the most heartbreaking days of my life for several reasons.” Kyle told ROHWrestling.com, “Not only could I not stand in Davey’s corner during his biggest title match, but I also had to contend with a family emergency that I’d rather not get into the details about. Still I was able to watch the match, and man, I hated what happened, I felt like I could have done something to turn the tide. But something else that night really bugged me man, something earlier on when Adam and Michael Elgin had their match. Kevin Kelly and Nigel called them the breakout stars? Really, Adam Cole is a breakout star? The guy I beat in Florida is the breakout star? The guy who lost that match is a breakout star? Man I must not know what words means, or maybe there’s a different meaning in England, because a loser is not a breakout star!”
Kyle continued to rant on about how Cole is too one-dimensional to be a breakout star, much less the future of Ring of Honor; about how he’s a pretty face with some flashy moves but no knowledge of Jiu Jitsu, no kickboxing, no ground game or submission skills. Kyle pointed out that the dumber fans like those moves but the more intelligent, discerning, sophisticated fans appreciate the hybrid of styles that O’Reilly utilizes and appreciate the effort he puts into his training.
“I know Adam can’t go at the higher levels of competition like me or Davey, but I’m offering him a chance to prove it, and to get me back for Florida since I’ve been hearing he thinks I cheated my way to that win. Let’s call it the Hybrid Fighting Rules challenge…”
O’Reilly provided ROH officials with a detailed listing of what he was looking for and while it’s obvious that his goal is to attempt and embarrass Cole, Adam looked over the rules and has accepted the challenge. He also informed ROH officials, and suggested we pass the word onto Kyle, that ever since the fight with Davey in Dayton at “Rising Above 2012” he has started to focus more on his submission training and stand-up and will double up that training in order to prepare for this bout. He said Kyle should expect Adam to come into this contest with a couple of new tricks up his sleeve.
So on June 24th in NYC, it will be Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly in a “Hybrid Fighting Rules Challenge”! No pinfalls in this one; it can only end in a knockout, TKO, submission, DQ, or 15 minute time limit draw. The rules are elaborated on below, and while on paper this seems to favor O’Reilly, you can never discount the fight Adam Cole brings to the table. It all happens at “Best in the World 2012” live on iPPV Sunday 6/24/12 and you can still get great seats for ROH’s summer spectacular right here (http://www.rohwrestling.com/product/new-york-ny-june-24th)!
Hybrid Fighting Rules
Decisions
– Knockout
* Occurs when one competitor falls to the canvas and is unable to rise to his feet within 10 seconds.
– Submission
* Occurs when one competitor taps out or vocally gives up.
– TKO (Technical Knockout)
* Occurs when the referee rules it impossible for a competitor to continue the match.
– Draw
* Occurs when the 15 minute time limit expires
– Disqualification by Fouls
* A loss due to a critical foul or when a participant accumulates 3 total fouls (see below for details)
Fouls
Critical Foul – Cause for immediate disqualification
* Deliberate eye-gouging, groin attacks, biting, and pulling the opponent's hair.
* Use of foreign object
* Outside interference
* Physical abuse to official
Foul – When a competitor accumulates 3 of these fouls he will be disqualified.
* Deliberately going out of the ring or throwing an opponent out of the ring.
* Deliberately holding and utilizing the ring ropes during the match for an advantage.
* Accidental eye-gouging and groin attacks.
* Holding or pulling the opponent's outfit.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
