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By Kevin Eck
The inevitable showdown between the two dominant factions in Ring of Honor is about to go down.
La Facción Ingobernable (RUSH, Dragon Kee, Kenny King and Bestia del Ring) and The Foundation (Jay Lethal, Jonathan Gresham, Tracy Williams and Rhett Titus) will square off in an eight-man tag match on “Ring of Honor Wrestling” the weekend of March 20.
That clash takes place just days before the 19th Anniversary pay-per-view on March 26, where ROH World Champion RUSH defends against Lethal and ROH World Television Champion Lee defends against Williams.
It’s no surprise that the two factions have been on a collision course, as they have polar opposite philosophies and are both determined to be on top in ROH.
The Foundation deeply believes in competing with honor and adhering to rules. Conversely, LFI prides itself on being ungovernable, winning at any cost and humiliating its opponents.
The bad blood between the factions intensified when LFI’s Lee and King won the ROH World Tag Team Title from Lethal and Gresham two weeks ago.
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After watching what was billed as a “summit” between Matt Taven and Vincent earlier this week on YouTube, two famous quotes came to mind regarding Vincent and The Righteous.
“Just when they think they’ve got the answers, I change the questions.” — Roddy Piper
“No sense makes sense.” — Charles Manson
The forum was intended to resolve the volatile dispute between Taven and Vincent, but The Righteous leader didn’t even bother to show up. Vincent, a master of mind games who seems to derive great pleasure from frustrating Taven, sent his follower, Vita VonStarr, instead.
Taven reiterated his desire to face Vincent in one final match to settle the score, but VonStarr replied by speaking in riddles. It sounded like Vincent’s words coming out of her mouth.
“For it was foretold that March 15 would be a day of great reckoning,” VonStarr said. “And a great cosmic shift will take place between the heavens and the earth, and a great pestilence will cover and scourge the earth, and fire will rain down, and The Kingdom shall fall and The Righteous shall prosper.”
Taven clearly did not dig what she was sayin.’ I suppose we’ll find out what it all means on March 15.
We’re on my own clock now. I’m beyond your nothingness you call rules, @ringofhonor.
I’m above your law here. The cruelty leads us closer toward the righteous change, March 15th.
— Vincent (@TheHorrorKingVM) March 11, 2021
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As part of the countdown to the 19th Anniversary show, ROH is presenting “19 Amazing Years, 19 Amazing Matches” on YouTube beginning Saturday at noon Eastern.
One great match from each year ROH has been in existence will be shown, including classic bouts featuring stars such as CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, Samoa Joe, Nigel McGuinness, Kevin Steen and Tyler Black.
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Dalton Castle is still in ROH thanks to his victory over Josh Woods in a Pure Rules match on last weekend’s episode of “Ring of Honor Wrestling.”
Castle, who had lost four of his previous five singles matches (including one against Woods in January), said before the match that he would leave ROH if he didn’t beat Woods.
The former ROH World Champion used a little trickery to secure the win. He feigned pain in his back, which caused Woods to hesitate, and Castle caught him in an inside cradle for the three count.
With Castle and Woods having split their two matches against each other, I’m hearing a rubber match could be in the works.
On a side note, Woods’ tag partner, Silas Young, came out after the match and scolded Woods for falling for the oldest trick in the book. Young told Woods he still has a lot to learn, and the best way for him to teach him is for them to resume teaming together.
As much as I enjoyed 2 Guys 1 Tag, I’m not sure being in a tag team is the best move for Woods at this point in his career. Since ROH’s restart in the fall, Woods has scored victories over the likes of Castle, Lethal, Kenny King and PJ Black, and he’s currently the No. 1 contender for Gresham’s Pure Championship.
Silas Young Returns With an Ultimatum for Josh Woods! pic.twitter.com/xBa8xutouJ
— ROH Wrestling (@ringofhonor) March 9, 2021
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Amy Rose was my guest on the latest episode of “The ROHStrong Podcast,” which drops this Monday morning on ROHWrestling.com and most podcast platforms.
She talked about her role with La Faccion Ingobernable; how attending a comic book convention led to her breaking into pro wrestling; training at the Team 3D Academy and ROH Dojo; going from bell-ringer to manager in ROH; whether she plans to compete in the women’s division, and much more.
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Eli Isom will compete in an ROH ring for the first time in more than a year when he faces Rey Horus on “Ring of Honor Wrestling” the weekend of March 20.
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On this weekend’s “Ring of Honor Wrestling,” Flip Gordon faces Flamita; Kenny King meets Tony Deppen; and Dak Draper squares off with Fred Yehi in a Pure Rules Match.
Preview of this weekends episode of ROH TV: https://t.co/8471TzWKgI
TV Listings: https://t.co/tgUWiiD0w4#WatchROH pic.twitter.com/Joh2Wh3ziR
— ROH Wrestling (@ringofhonor) March 11, 2021
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This Tuesday’s episode of “ROH Week By Week” features a triple threat tag match between The Foundation’s Williams and Titus, The Soldiers of Savagery (Moses and Kaun) and The Bouncers (Beer City Bruiser and Brawler Milonas).
On the March 23 episode of “ROH Week By Week,” MexiSquad (Bandido, Flamita and Horus) face Primal Fear, a trio from the ROH Dojo making their ROH debut.
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The first-ever Pure Wrestling Gauntlet will take place on “Ring of Honor Wrestling” the weekend of March 27. The competitors have not been announced.
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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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