Eck’s Files: First Entrant In ROH Women’s World Title Tournament Revealed Next Week; Brian Johnson Issues Open Challenge

Eck’s Files: First Entrant In ROH Women’s World Title Tournament Revealed Next Week; Brian Johnson Issues Open Challenge

May 2, 2021

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By Kevin Eck

The first entrant in the ROH Women’s World Title Tournament will be revealed next week.

ROH Board of Directors member Maria Kanellis-Bennett will inform one competitor via a Zoom call on ROH’s YouTube channel on Wednesday that she has been granted entrance into the tournament, which takes place this summer.

The call will occur immediately following the Women’s Division Wednesday match on YouTube, which begins at 7 p.m. Eastern time. Every Wednesday going forward, ROH will air a new women’s match at that time and Kanellis-Bennett will present another competitor with a “ticket to gold.” 

Fans can watch along using #ROHWD or join the live chat on YouTube.

Women’s Division Wednesday began this week with a tag team match featuring four wrestlers making their ROH debuts. The odd couple of Max The Impaler and Rok-C battled Hyan and Laynie Luck to a 15-minute draw.

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“The Mecca” Brian Johnson has issued an open challenge for the “Ring of Honor Wrestling” episode the weekend of May 8.

“I marched into Ring of Honor management’s office and I demanded a match against any man, woman or child walking God’s green earth,” Johnson said. “In 2021 I have a 4-1 record and I am a dragon’s breath away from being the Ring of Honor Television Champion. Yet nobody is talking about ‘The Mecca.’ … I am ready to start building my legacy here at Ring of Honor!”

Who will step up and accept the challenge? I don’t know, but my guess is there’s no shortage of wrestlers who would like to shut Johnson’s mouth.

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After I wrote in last week’s Eck’s Files that Angelina Love was stronger than Quinn McKay, McKay tweeted a photo of herself flexing at the gym.

 

It’s amazing what one can do with Photoshop.

All kidding aside, McKay obviously is in phenomenal shape and I know she’s training like crazy for her match against Love on the May 8 episode of “Ring of Honor Wrestling.”

For McKay’s sake, I just hope those muscles are for go and not just for show.

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I wasn’t thrilled about Dalton Castle showing up just as Eli Isom and Dak Draper were about to wrestle for five more minutes after battling to a hard-fought 15-minute draw. And kicking Isom and Draper in the balls was certainly uncalled for.

However, I have to admit that I was entertained by Castle’s new look, elaborate entrance and entourage. The former ROH World Champion had been mired in a lengthy slump before defeating Josh Woods at the 19th Anniversary show last month, but he seems to be rejuvenated.

 

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Former ROH commentator Lenny Leonard was my guest on the latest episode of “The ROHStrong Podcast,” which drops Monday on ROHWrestling.com and most podcast platforms.

Leonard revealed details about his imminent return to the company. He also talked about how he broke into pro wrestling as a ring announcer and his time in ROH, including some of his favorite matches and moments, working with Gabe Sapolsky and Dave Prazak, his role in the film “The Wrestler” and much more.

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This weekend’s loaded episode of “Ring of Honor Wrestling” is headlined by Tracy Williams’ first defense of the ROH World Television Title against Tony Deppen.

Also on the show: MexiSquad members Bandido and Flamita square off in a match that could either settle their differences or make them worse, and The OGK (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) face Beer City Bruiser and Ken Dixon.

 

It’s going to be strange seeing Bruiser tagging with someone other than Brawler Milonas. Are The Bouncers finished?

Milonas addressed the issue on the latest episode of “Trending With Taven.”

“This guy is my best friend and I’m not going to give up on him,” Milonas said. “We’ve had a rough stretch. I don’t think that’s a secret.”

 

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Rhett Titus looks at Hall of Famer Eddie Guerrero’s final match in ROH on the latest episode of “Restoring Honor” on YouTube. 

The hidden gem pits Guerrero and Amazing Red against The SAT from ROH Night of Appreciation in 2002.

 

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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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Be sure to visit Ring of Honor for more news and updates

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