"Boiling Point 2012" Preview

"Boiling Point 2012" Preview

ROH returns to iPPV this weekend!

 

 

This Saturday night Ring of Honor Wrestling makes its debut in Providence, RI with “Boiling Point 2012” coming to you live on iPPV from the Rhode Island Convention Center! Tickets can be bought here, the iPPV can be ordered here, and with Title Matches, Grudge Matches, and Proving Ground matches, this event is looking to be big one so let's see what brought us here:

 

ROH World Champion Kevin Steen defends against CHIKARA Grand Champion Eddie Kingston

 

 

Recently on “Ring of Honor Wrestling” TV CHIKARA's Grand Champion Eddie Kingston shocked the world when he crashed the show following Steen's successful defense of the ROH World Title (his 4th) against “No Fear” Mike Mondo. The situation erupted when Jimmy Jacobs began to assault Mondo following the contest, drawing Kingston out to even the numbers.

 

The story between these two men dates back several months to the “10th Anniversary Event” when ROH Officials, as part of the Synergy initiative offered Eddie Kingston the opportunity to talk to the ROH faithful in NYC that night. Kevin Steen elected to interrupt Kingston's moment, words were exchanged, the situation got heated as Steen disrespected Eddie & CHIKARA, and eventually blows were exchanged. Security broke it up but it was far from the end of the story...

 

Jump ahead to April's “Synergy” co-promotion and CHIKARA's “Hot Off The Griddle” event; Steen had essentially worked his way onto the event with verbal challenges to Kingston via YouTube videos and found himself with an opportunity to claim the Grand Championship from Kingston in Chicago Ridge. Steen, in a gesture of total disrespect, wore a child's mask to the ring and it became readily obvious that he was there to mock CHIKARA and spit in the face of its traditions. The battle between the two bulls was quite intense, and at times it seemed like Steen was a hair's breadth away from bringing ruin to CHIKARA by capturing the Grand Championship. Still, as the battle got increasingly heated and Kingston nailed his devastating Spinning Backfist, Steen took the easy way out with a unnecessary low blow to draw a DQ and end the bout.

 

It was a conclusion that left the fans of CHIKARA & ROH both as unsatisfied as Kingston was, but now it seems that “The Last of a Dying Breed” will get his chance to even the score when Ring of Honor debuts in Providence, RI on August 11th with "Boiling Point 2012"! Not only will Kingston and Steen go one-on-one but since Kevin has managed to hold on to the title against every opponent he has faced, the ROH World Title will be on the line!!

 

For those unfamiliar, Eddie Kingston is a force to be reckoned with, having made his debut in ROH at Death Before Dishonor IV on July 15, 2006 as part of the Cage of Death, and had a pair of absolute must-see wars with Chris Hero in 2009, but he was never a consistent competitor due to his unstable behavior.

Kingston has fought his demons every day of his life and if you ask him, he will freely cop to his deep psychological issues. Eddie has proven himself a a violent person who often reacts without thought, usually in worst possible fashion, and he will admit to suffering from an extreme paranoia. If you look at it honestly, many would say the similarities between the CHIKARA Grand Champion and our ROH World Champion are substantial.

 

Unlike Steen however, Kingston has worked hard to clean himself up in the last year and continues to strive at becoming a better man. His struggles, his desire for a better life, it all paid off when he became the first CHIKARA Grand Champion back in November of 2011 at CHIKARA’s very first iPPV, “High Noon”.

 

Even though he may not be the poster child for the unorthodox style usually associated with CHIKARA, Kingston bleeds for CHIKARA. CHIKARA has been Kingston’s only support system throughout his constant, daily struggle and is the only promotion that has never given up on Kingston. CHIKARA is truly the backbone of Kingston’s existence; you spit on CHIKARA as Kevin Steen has done, you spit in the face of everything Eddie loves and stands for.

 

Eddie will get the chance to let his violent side out on August 11th in Providence as the issues between he and Steen reach their boiling point. It's Steen vs. Kingston, the ROH World Title on the line!

 

The Briscoes vs. "Zombie Princess" Jimmy Jacobs & Steve Corino

 

Recently at “Brew City Beatdown” in Milwaukee, ROH World Champion Kevin Steen & “Zombie Princess” Jimmy Jacobs collided with Jay & Mark Briscoe in a tag team match that ended up being contested under Anything Goes stipulations after it first ended in a double countout. It got crazy once that ruling went down and saw the “match” turn into a venue-wide brawl, highlighted by an insane dive from the balcony by Mark Briscoe. It was a fight that the 7-Time former World Tag Champs one, but a war that they nearly lost as Steen attempted to hit Jay with the Package Piledriver but Rhett Titus surprisingly ran in to fend off the World Champ.

 

“What a f****** shock,” said Jay Briscoe, “Kevin goes and losses a match and throws a temper tantrum and tried to take out one of dem boys. But like I always say, s***, that's okay cause payback's a b****. But from what me and Mark understand Steen, you're about to be caught up with some other business when we hit Rhode Island. So how about you send Jimmy back our way, send Steve Corino right along with him...send your little tag-a-longs right towards us so we can give them a little piece of our minds.”

 

ROH officials were more than happy to acquiesce to The Briscoe's request but of course, when they informed Steve Corino of this match, he had words of his own to offer:

 

“Of course Ring of Honor and Jim Cornette want to put me in the ring when it's the Briscoes! This is like advertising on a billboard on the side of the highway that you're putting a hit out on someone. You think I don't know this game after all these years? Do you think Jay & Mark don't have this darkness inside them just like me and Jimmy and Kevin? Jimmy and Kevin have probably made the Briscoes spill more blood than any other men, and they have likely brought out the most evil sides of Jay and Mark. Those two guys are just as violent, as disturbed, as evil as Ring of Honor accuses the three of us of being! I've fought The Briscoes, I've fought alongside The Briscoes, and they are two of the scariest guys I've ever met. Maybe this little attempt of ROH's to put a hit on me and Jimmy will backfire and the Briscoes will realize which team they should really be on. And if not, if we have to leave Jay & Mark as beaten bloody men, well don't blame me, blame JC.”

 

 

"Die Hard" Eddie Edwards & "The Queen of Wrestling" Sara Del Ray vs. "The Prodigy" Mike Bennett & "The First Lady of ROH" Maria Kanellis

 

As seen on a recent episode of “Ring of Honor Wrestling” TV, the “Queen of Wrestling” Sara Del Rey made her return to ROH after the conclusion of the Eddie Edwards/Adam Cole vs. Mike Bennett/Brutal Bob contest. Cole picked up the victory for his team after nailing a flying top rope cross body on Bob after Eddie & Bennett ended up out on the floor.

 

Following the bell Maria slapped Cole, then Evans attacked him from behind to put the TV Champion down. Bob restrained Cole while Maria took off her boot and smacked Adam across the head with it. As she wound up to hit him again, “The Queen of Wrestling” Sara Del Rey hit the ring to stop it and attempted to put an ankle lock on the self-proclaimed “First Lady of Wrestling”.

 

Bennett and Evans pulled Maria out of the ring, saving her from the wrath of Del Rey, but it looks like she won't be safe for very long as ROH officials have signed an Inter-gender Tag Match for August 11th when we debut in Providence, RI! It will be “The Prodigy” Mike Bennett & “The First Lady of Wrestling” Maria Kanellis vs. “Die Hard” Eddie Edwards & “The Queen of Wrestling” Sara Del Rey!!!

 

“Me and Sara have a lot of history between us.” said Eddie Edwards via e-mail, “From our days together in Sweet & Sour to the battles between The Wolves and Kings, whether we've been on the same side of a fight or opposite, one thing Sara has always had is my respect. There is not a tougher woman in wrestling, hell I'd say there probably aren't any tougher men, and I'd be honored to have her as my partner against Bennett and Maria. I don't think there is any way you two can get prepared for this, see Sara is a wrestler, a world-class athlete, and will stand toe-to-toe with any man or woman you put in front of her. She earned her nickname the hard way and fights every day of her life inside that ring. I'd suggest the two of you spend the next few weeks training as hard as possible because you're going to need it.”

 

It's “The Prodigy” Mike Bennett & “The First Lady of Wrestling” Maria Kanellis vs. “Die Hard” Eddie Edwards & “The Queen of Wrestling” Sara Del Rey and it all goes down on August 11th in Providence, RI! You can get your tickets right here for “Boiling Point 2012” or if you can' t be there in-person than don't you worry, because you can still order it LIVE on iPPV on ROHWrestling.com!

 

"Unbreakable" Michael Elgin vs "Outlaw" Charlie Haas

 

At “Death Before Dishonor IX” last September, then-ROH World Tag Champion Charlie Haas went one-on-one with “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin in one of the few singles bouts Haas had had in ROH up to that point. Still, with years of experience under his belt flying solo, Charlie secured the victory in NYC that night.

 

Fast forward nearly a year and the landscape of ROH is quite different as it pertains to these two athletes. Haas has embraced the moniker of “The Outlaw”, spitting in the face of not just authority but also the foundations of what ROH was built on. Elgin, on the other hand, seems to be drifting farther away from the orbit of Truth Martini and in recent weeks has come to recognize the Code of Honor both before & after his matches. In addition, Elgin is still sitting on a guaranteed ROH World Title match due to his victory at “Survival of the Fittest 2011” last fall. Now, when ROH comes to Providence for “Boiling Point 2012”, the two bulls will collide once more!

 

“You think I give a damn about Michael Elgin or the House of Truth?” said Charlie Haas to ROHWrestling.com, “Do you honestly think anything has changed since the last time I whooped his ass? Actually something has changed, but it sure as hell isn't something that's going to help Elgin. The one thing that's changed is that I am not holding back anymore. There's no more letting up for my opponent's safety or caring if he's capable of fighting after I'm done with him. Elgin's getting all the praise in the world for his power, for being a breakout star, but none of that's going to matter one damn bit when he gets in the ring with me.”

 

Jay Lethal vs "The Sicilian Psychopath" Tommaso Ciampa w/ RD Evans

 

On May 12th at “Border Wars” live on iPPV, the former ROH World TV Champion Jay Lethal brought an end to the near year and a half unbeaten streak of “The Sicilian Psychopath” Tommaso Ciampa, the very same man who cost him the TV Title one month prior at “Showdown in the Sun – Day 2”.

 

Since that loss Ciampa's record has grown sporadic, ranging from dominant annihilations of opponents to questionable TV Title losses, and ultimately coming to a head when he viciously assaulted Prince Nana in Pittsburgh at the “Live Strong” event.

 

Now, with RD Evans seemingly at the helm, Ciampa is looking to even the score with the man who he blames for starting this out of control spiral: Jay Lethal.

 

“Tommaso Ciampa currently has one man in his sights.” said RD Evans, “Jay Lethal I hope that you have kissed your family goodbye, that you have checked off every item on your bucket list, and that all your documents are in order because in Providence on August 11th you will have the pleasure of attending your own funeral. Tommaso Ciampa has only one goal at this moment, and that is to break you, body and spirit, and then get back to the goal of winning championships and dominating the competition. Oh, and in case you don't have your affairs in order Jay Lethal, I would glad to be provide you with those services for a discounted rate.”

 

It will be “The Sicilian Psychopath” versus Jay Lethal one-on-one but that's not all. ROH officials have also determined that this match will be contested under 2/3 Falls Rules! Lethal may have the advantage in this meeting as he proved himself quite adept at those stipulations when he beat Roderick Strong at “Rising Above 2012” in two straight falls (Roderick captured the first). Will Lethal prove himself the master of this match or will Ciampa get his ship righted and return to his dominating ways?

 

Roderick Strong w/ Truth Martini vs "No Fear" Mike Mondo

 

 

ROH officials have signed on a great contest for this iPPV broadcast featuring “No Fear” Mike Mondo taking on one of ROH's two Triple Crown Champions, Roderick Strong! Mondo has been stepping up his game more and more every week, recently stepping up to the challenge and challenging ROH World Champion Kevin Steen on “Ring of Honor Wrestling” TV for the title, albeit unsuccessfully.

 

Between that, his television draw with Davey Richards, his victory over Mike Bennett at “Best in the World 2012”, his Four Corner Survival victory at "LivE Strong" in Pittsburgh, and his gutsy performance against Jay Lethal in Milwaukee at “Brew City Beatdown”, Mondo has impressed ROH officials with his hunger and has been increasingly earning the respect of the ROH faithful every day. One man who does not share the feelings of either party is Roderick Strong:

 

“You want respect Mikey?” said Roderick to ROHWrestling.com, “Prove to me you deserve it. Cause from where I'm sitting, what I've watched you do so far, you don't hold a candle to me man. I just passed my eight year anniversary with ROH a few months ago and I've been a Tag Champion, TV champ, and the World Champion in that time. I've won Survival of the Fittest, I've beaten every one that's every set foot in my ring...yeah, after 8 years I think I can say it's my ring...and I am without a doubt the best athlete Ring of Honor has ever seen. No one can keep up with me in the gym or in the ring. Not bragging, just facts bro. So now tell me Mikey, what do you got for me? Nothing, that's what you've got. You went toe-to-toe with Kevin, I beat him. You drew Davey, I beat him. Lethal...beat him too and took his TV Title. You've got nothing on me and in Providence Mikey, No Fear Mondo, I'm going to beat the fear into you.”

 

ROH World TV Champion, Adam Cole vs "Brutal" Bob Evans

 

 

Matt Taven vs. QT Marshall vs. Antonio Thomas vs. Vinny Marseglia

 

 

 

 

Also, a Special Autograph Signing has been added prior to the start of the event with "Die Hard" Eddie Edwards & "The Queen of Wrestling" Sara Del Rey, as well as Prince Nana (see today's Newswire for more on this story). Tickets for “Boiling Point are available right here in the ROH Store or you can purchase them at the door on Saturday night. If you can't be there in-person, you can still watch all the action live on iPPV which can be ordered here!