Could NXT house shows spell the end for ROH

Last weekend NXT took their indy inspired show on the road for the first time.

The developmental arm of the WWE held shows in Cleveland and Columbus as part of the Arnold Sports Festival. The shows were greeted with much fan fare and seemed to be hit. 

For years Ring of Honor has been the standard in traveling independent wrestling shows. Over the years the their roster has been filled with current WWE superstars. 

Over the last couple of years, the WWE has signed many of ROH stars from Kevin Steen to Sami Zayn and weakened ROH's product.  With the loss of talent in ROH and NXT continued growth, things could be changing. 

With NXT now starting to go on the road this could have a huge impact on ROH. Would you rather see a watered down ROH product or a high tempo NXT show. 

While I'm not saying that it will put ROH out of business it could impact their shows and their bottom line. If ROH's bottom line drops then their ability to bring in stars will suffer. It's something to watch out for the next year. 

Maybe I was wrong on Owens and Zayn

Last night, I made NXT Takeover on the WWE Network appointment television. I told my wife to leave me alone so I could  focus all of my attention on watching how Owens and Zayn played out.

A couple of months ago, I expressed my concern about having Owens and Zayn feud again. During their time in ROH and PWG the duo put on one of the great feuds in the modern day era. The feud had everything from blood, over the top violence and psychological warfare. I never thought the WWE would let them take it to that level.

Last night, the pair had their first match in the new incarnation  of their fued and boy did they not disappoint. While lacking the over the top violence that their prior matches had, this told a great story and left both looking good for the future. They booked Owens as this monster similar to Brock and Zayn in a more sympathetic role similar to Daniel Bryan.

While the pair didn't take it to that level of violence,they did play out a high impact match. Zayn sold Owens multiple power bombs so well and the having the ref stop the match makes both look strong in future bookings of the match. Maybe they could let Owens and Zayn kick off WrestleMania this year in a ladder match.

After the match was over, I decided to put on Final Battle 2012 Ladder War match between Owens and Zayn. While it was very violent and entertaining it got me to thinking. The guys in the ring, while being the same, where totally different. The true measure of the true talents of the pair is how they made the same feud look totally different.

Maybe I was wrong about this and Zayn vs. Owens will rival Steen vs. El Generico.

My Matches of the Year

It's been a fun year to be a wrestling fan from the rise of NXT to the continued growth of Indy promotions all over the country. So here are my top matches of the year.

1. Neville vs Zayn: NXT Evolution. Amazing match that showed why these two are the next generation of the business. 

2. Young Bucks vs Red Dragon: ROH War of the Worlds. I'm a mark for both teams. These two are the best teams in the world. 

3. John Cena vs Randy Orton: Hell in a Cell. This 25 minute war showed how good these two can work together. 

4. Hardy Boyz vs. Dudleys vs. the Wolves: Their match series in TNA this year where some of the best you will ever see.
5. World Cuties Tag Team vs. Young Bucks: PWG 11: This matches spawn the debate over female wrestlers bleeding. A great match with tons of crazy spots.

Deja Vu is not always good

So Kevin Owens finally made his much hyped debut in the WWE on Thursday night during NXT Evolution and boy did he impressed. Owens showed that hard hitting style that made him a fan favorite in Ring of Honor and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. 

The one thing that I was not a fan of is the direction that they are taking Owens. After the end of Sami Zayns world title win Owens came down and congratulated his friend and new champ. After a couple of minutes Owens came back and attacked his friend. 

While giving Owens a feud with the champ, in most cases, is a great thing. Here it is not. 

Watching them feud in NXT is never going to surpass their feuds in ROH and PWG. The program that they put on a couple of years ago is never going to be surpassed especially in the WWE PG era. That feud was up there with some of the best in the history of the business. There is mo way they are going to recreate that madness. I just hope at the end of the day they don't ruin it and let the two take the thing and run with it like ROH and PWG did. 

ROH PPV Fun but not great

I'm an Ring of Honor fan boy, always have been always will be. I love their product and the way the talent sells out in the ring. Their matches are always fun to watch and last night was no different with Final Battle.

Every year Final Battle is billed as their version of WrestleMania. While the show was good it lacked that moment that sent everyone home talking, like Sting at The Survior Series. Last year ROH used Final Battle to announce the home coming of Chris Hero and it was a great success.

Maybe its because I'm getting older but the blood fest main event between Jay Briscoe and Adam Cole was good it lacked that wow  factor. The tacks in the mouth spot is something that Pro Wrestling Guerilla did during its Young Bucks/World Cutest Tag Team match and it bored me in truth. Seen the staple gun thing in ECW.  

Also expected more from Jay Letheal and Matt Sydal match, while  it had good spots it was sloppy in a lot of respect. The only matches that really had me on the edge of my seats: The six man match featuring the Young Bucks/the Addiction and the Red Dragon/Time Splitters. Both matches showed how great tag team wrestling can be. Maybe the WWE can learn from this event.

Out of a scale of 10, I would give Final Battle a 6.5. 

Could a merged TNA and ROH be a force

Today on Busted Open on Sirius XM, they discussed the idea of TNA and Ring of Honor combining and the force that they would be. While combining the combining the two organizations might not challenge WWE for commercial appeal it would give wrestling fans an incredible threat. 

Here is a look at what a supercard featuring the two promotions (it doesn't look that bad.

- Main Event

Bully Ray vs. Kevin Steen

Jeff Hardy vs. Jimmy Jacobs (I'm a huge Jimmy Jacobs mark)

Samoa Joe vs. Tommaso Ciampa

Kurt Angle vs. Michael Bennet 

James Storm vs. Adam Cole 

Bad Influence (Kazarian & Daniels) and vs. reDragon 

- Television Championship Match

Joseph Parks vs. Matt Taven

Now that is a card that I would pluck down $50 to watch on PPV. There are quality matches up and down the card. Love the Hardy/Jacobs idea.