Eck’s Files: Bouncers Headed For A Split? When Will Date For RUSH-Shane Taylor Match Be Revealed? Tony Deppen Returns

February 6, 2021

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By Kevin Eck

Before proceeding with this week’s column, here is an official statement from ROHWrestling.com:

“In an article on the website this week about Brian Johnson’s tainted victory over Danhausen in their Final Battle rematch, Mr. Johnson’s last name was unintentionally misspelled in the headline. ROHWrestling.com regrets the error and apologizes to Mr. Johnson.”

On a completely unrelated note, perhaps it’s not a great idea to refer to the people who work for ROHWrestling.com (and write the headlines) as “bozos.” 

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I’ve been around the wrestling business a long time, so there’s not much that shocks me anymore. However, when Beer City Bruiser smashed a beer bottle over Matt Taven’s head on last weekend’s episode of “Ring of Honor Wrestling,” I was speechless.

The heinous act took place after The OGK (Taven and Mike Bennett) defeated The Bouncers (Bruiser and Brawler Milonas). Milonas, who has been friends with Taven and Bennett for years, was confused and angered by his tag partner’s uncharacteristic behavior.

What made the incident even more surreal is that Bruiser was egged on by Vincent of all people. Yes, the same Vincent who once used Bruiser as a human dartboard in a match.

During a tense episode of “Happy Hour With The Bouncers” this week, Bruiser made it clear that what he did wasn’t about Vincent.

“Vincent had nothing to do with it. I’ve been thinking this way for a while,” Bruiser said. “I’m sick and tired of The Bouncers always being the guys that get relied on but never get the payoff in the end. … So I gotta do what I gotta do, and that’s smash a beer bottle over someone’s head.

“Brian Milonas, maybe you should get on my page. Instead of being the nice guy that does everything for the company, why don’t you do what it takes to finally win. I’m sick and tired of being second place to everybody. Brian, get on my level and maybe we’ll start winning.”

With that, Bruiser stormed off the show, leaving a disconsolate Milonas to contemplate whether he and Bruiser can continue to be a team.

“He’s my best friend in the world,” Milonas said. “We’ve traveled up the roads. We’ve fought together. We’ve had some battles over the last couple years and have just come up short. I just think there’s a right way and a wrong way. I don’t know.”

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The date of the huge match between ROH World Champion RUSH and No. 1 contender Shane Taylor for the title will be announced on this Tuesday’s episode of “ROH Week By Week.”

Taylor and The Soldiers of Savagery are also owed a title shot against ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions MexiSquad (Bandido, Rey Horus and Flamita).

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ROH fans continue to ask for more Tony Deppen, and ROH matchmakers continue to oblige.

Deppen will face LSG on “Ring of Honor Wrestling” the weekend of Feb. 13. Deppen pinned LSG in the Four Corner Survival Match at Final Battle in December to earn a shot against ROH World Television Champion Dragon Lee that night.

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I’m hearing there’s likely to be some familiar faces returning for the upcoming 19th Anniversary pay-per-view. The date of the show will be announced soon.

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“The Mile High Magnum” Dak Draper was my guest on the latest episode of “The ROHStrong Podcast,” which drops this coming Monday morning on ROHWrestling.com and most podcast platforms.

Draper discussed his recent move to the Pure division; being discovered by a WWE Hall of Famer/talent scout while he was a collegiate wrestler; spending two years in NXT; the legend of Sammy Six Guns Jr.; wrestling against Haku and The Barbarian on an independent show, and much more.

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ICYMI: Kellyanne’s column, “The Other Side,” debuted this week on ROHWrestling.com. The Australian star has quite a unique way of looking at things.

“The Other Side” will appear every other Wednesday.

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On this weekend’s episode of “Ring of Honor Wrestling,” La Facción Ingobernable (RUSH, Lee, La Bestia del Ring) and Flip Gordon face Brody King, PCO and the Briscoes in what is certain to be a wild match. Also, Tracy Williams faces The World Famous CB (formerly known as Cheeseburger) in a Pure Rules Match.

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Another match I’m looking forward to is between Sledge and O’Shay Edwards, two products of the ROH Dojo. The match will be shown exclusively on “ROH Week By Week” on Tuesday.

Both guys are talented, tough, and hungry.

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Shameless plug: Check out my recent appearance on “MCW Cast,” the podcast produced by MCW Pro Wrestling, an affiliate of ROH. I go in-depth about working behind the scenes for ROH, WWE and WCW; being the guest on the final Piper’s Pit, and much more.

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Until next time, keep safe and stay #ROHStrong!

Kevin Eck is a veteran pro wrestling journalist who has worked for The Baltimore Sun, WWE and WCW before joining ROHWrestling.com. Eck’s Files appears every Friday.

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