ROH World Championship Match
Matt Taven (c) vs. "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams
Kenny King vs. Jay Lethal“Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams has already competed in several main events since signing with ROH late last year, and now the LifeBlood member has earned an opportunity to challenge for the ROH World Title.
Williams will face ROH World Champion Matt Taven when ROH makes it’s Pacific Northwest debut at State of the Art, an international television taping, in Kent, Wash., on June 1.
Williams gained the title shot by winning a Four Corner Survival Match at War of the Worlds in Grand Rapids, Mich., on May 11 over Eli Isom, PJ Black and RUSH.
Taven is no stranger to the LifeBlood faction. On that same show in Grand Rapids, Taven barely escaped with his title -- thanks in large part to interference from Bully Ray -- in an impromptu match against LifeBlood’s Mark Haskins. (In fairness to Taven, it was his second match of the night. Earlier, he and fellow Kingdom members TK O’Ryan and Vinny Marseglia defeated Bullet Club (The Guerrillas of Destiny and Hikuleo) in a six-man tag match.)
Can Williams pull off the upset and leave Kent as the new ROH World Champion? Or will Taven conquer another contender to his throne?
The Kingdom vs. The BouncersKenny King announced recently that he has set his sights on Jay Lethal, and his opportunity to face the two-time ROH World Champion will take place when ROH makes it’s Pacific Northwest debut at State of the Art, an international television taping, in Kent, Wash., on June 1.
King, who has been claiming that he was blinded as a result of being sprayed by The Great Muta’s mist at G1 Supercard last month, said he was going to undergo surgery this week to restore his sight. ROH officials have received no further word from King on the matter, but the match in Kent has been booked regardless.
After winning the Honor Rumble at G1 Supercard to earn a shot at the ROH World Title, King said that before he cashes in his title opportunity against champion Matt Taven, he wants to get his hands on Lethal.
King has had a beef with Lethal since last November, when Lethal -- who was then the ROH World Champion -- defeated him at Global Wars. King believes he’s the uncrowned champion because he got a three count on Lethal during the match. What King fails to mention is that he had his feet on the ropes for leverage, and the referee immediately waved off the pin.
That match notwithstanding, King has been on a roll in recent months, scoring wins over the likes of Dalton Castle, “Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams and PJ Black.
Defeating Lethal, however, is a huge task for anyone. Despite losing the ROH World Title to Taven in a Triple Threat Ladder Match at G1 Supercard, Lethal remains at the top of his game. As the saying goes, even a blind man can see that.
What will happen when Lethal and King clash in Kent?
NWA National Championship MatchOne team hangs with wrestling royalty and the other team hangs at the bar. Now they’ll be meeting on common ground -- in the ring.
The two teams in question -- The Kingdom and The Bouncers -- will square off when ROH makes its Pacific Northwest debut at State of the Art, an international television taping, in Kent, Wash., on June 1.
The Kingdom (TK O’Ryan and Vinny Marseglia) and The Bouncers (Beer City Bruiser and Brawler Milonas) have never faced each other in a straight-up tag match. Both teams are jockeying for an opportunity at the ROH World Tag Team Titles, and the winner of this match undoubtedly will move up in the rankings.
O’Ryan and Marseglia have tasted gold in ROH before, winning the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Titles on three occasions with the leader of The Kingdom, Matt Taven. Now that Taven is the ROH World Champion, O’Ryan and Marseglia would love to bring the ROH World Tag Team Titles to The Kingdom.
They can’t get ahead of themselves, however. Bruiser and Milonas have been winning a lot of matches as of late, proving time and again that they’re every bit as good as busting skulls as they are at chugging brews.
Will The Kingdom deliver a royal beating to The Bouncers in Kent? Or will The Bouncers deliver another victory toast?
Colt Cabana (c) vs. Mark Briscoe
PCO vs. Jay BriscoeIt’s obvious that the Briscoes have a problem with the NWA, and since Colt Cabana is the NWA National Champion, that means the Briscoes have a problem with him as well.
The Briscoes are livid about getting disqualified in an NWA-sanctioned match in the Crockett Cup tournament on April 27. The Briscoes weren’t happy with the NWA even before that, as they felt disrespected by the promotion for having to win a qualifying match to gain entry into the tournament.
The team the Briscoes beat in the qualifying match was Jeff Cobb and Willie Mack, who was NWA National Champion at the time. By pinning Mack in that match, Mark Briscoe earned a future shot at the NWA National Title.
On the Crockett Cup show, Cabana defeated Mack to win the championship, so now he will be the one putting the National Title on the line against Mark Briscoe.
Mark Briscoe would love nothing more than to stick it to the NWA by taking the title from Cabana, but that will be easier said than done. Cabana had a strong showing in the New Japan Cup in March, and that momentum carried over into his match against Mack.
Will Mark Briscoe take the NWA National Title with him back to Sandy Fork, Del.? Or will Cabana successfully defend both the championship and the NWA’s honor?
Mark Haskins vs. Jeff Cobb
Also Appearing:
ROH WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION SHANE TAYLOR
“EL TORO BLANCO” RUSH
BULLY RAY
“PRO WRESTLING’S LAST REAL MAN” SILAS YOUNG
PJ BLACK
THE ALLURE (ANGELINA LOVE, VELVET SKY, MANDY LEON)
COAST 2 COAST (LSG AND SHAHEEM ALI)
JOSH WOODS