Eck’s Files: Big Moment for SOS On ROH TV This Weekend; Danhausen To Make Special Announcement

October 30, 2020

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By Kevin Eck

There’s a lot of pressure on EC3 to start his ROH career on a winning note when he teams with the Briscoes against Shane Taylor and The Soldiers of Savagery on this weekend’s episode of “Ring of Honor Wrestling.”

EC3 isn’t the only competitor in the match with something to prove, though. This is by far the biggest spotlight for SOS (Kaun and Moses).

Kaun and Moses, who both signed a developmental deal with ROH last year and later joined Shane Taylor Promotions, will be teaming with a former ROH World Television Champion and standing across the ring from the greatest tag team in ROH history and the hottest free agent in pro wrestling.

A strong showing from SOS will certainly grab the attention of ROH officials and fans.

I asked Taylor on the latest episode of the “ROHStrong Podcast” if he believes SOS is ready for such a huge match.

“If I didn’t think they were ready, they wouldn’t be in the match with me,” Taylor said. “I have the utmost confidence in their abilities. But I’ve had the utmost confidence in their abilities since I brought them with me back in Columbus [last November]. … I feel like I invested into a company that’s about to boom and I got in on the ground floor.”

On the podcast, Taylor also talked about his storied history with EC3, his early days in ROH teaming with Keith Lee, growing up on the mean streets of Cleveland’s East Side, using his platform to speak on social justice issues, his vision as CEO of Shane Taylor Promotions, and much more.

The episode drops this Monday at 7 a.m. ET on ROHWrestling.com and most podcast platforms.

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I am eagerly looking forward to the ROH Pure Title Tournament final between Tracy Williams and Jonathan Gresham on this weekend’s episode of “Ring of Honor Wrestling.”

If I had been asked before last weekend’s block finals who would win the tournament, I would’ve said Jay Lethal or Gresham. I previously predicted Williams to lose to Fred Yehi in the block semifinals, so I sure didn’t think he would beat Lethal.

However, after seeing Williams force Lethal to tap out in the Block A final, I’m not doubting Williams anymore. It’s truly a tossup, but I’m going with “Hot Sauce.”

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No one should ever root for an athlete to get injured, but apparently Brian Johnson doesn’t adhere to that unspoken rule.

Johnson and Dak Draper were chosen as alternates for the Pure Title tournament in case any of the participants got injured, and Johnson has made it known that he’s still holding out hope that either Williams or Gresham will be unable to compete in the finals.

If I were them, I’d been on high alert. I’d hate to see either of them get Tonya Hardinged.

Draper is no paragon of virtue, but even he is sickened by Johnson’s attitude.

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I’ve learned that a former ROH Pure Champion will be watching the finals intently and is hoping to make his return to ROH in the upcoming weeks.

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Danhausen will be making a special announcement on Twitter on Halloween (Saturday) at 7 p.m. ET.

The very nice, very evil free agent would not give me any hints as to what the announcement is about. Do you think maybe, finally … nah.

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Also on Halloween, ROH’s YouTube channel will premiere two videos. One is the trailer for “The Find,” a horror movie starring Vincent, and the other features Mandy Leon and Amy Rose taking part in an intense haunted attraction.

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Speaking of Vincent, both he and Matt Taven have been fined by ROH officials for their recent attacks on one another, as first announced on “ROH Week By Week.”

Here’s the official statement: “In our efforts to restore the core values of Ring of Honor, Matt Taven and Vincent’s unprofessional behavior, which included destruction of property, will not be tolerated. As a result, they have been fined and warned that continued violations will result in harsher disciplinary action.”

I applaud ROH officials for laying down the law, but something tells me fines and threats aren’t going to deter Taven and Vincent from trying to destroy one another.

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Brody King’s return to ROH TV is imminent, and he’s made it clear that he’s focusing on his singles career and has his sights set on becoming a champion. That has to be unsettling news for ROH World Champion RUSH and his brother, ROH World Television Champion Dragon Lee.

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Did you catch Quinn McKay dressed up as Angelina Love for Halloween on “ROH Week By Week?”

McKay made it clear that she was not paying tribute to Love, as she opened the show by saying that she was “dressed as the scariest costume I can possibly think of: Angelina Love.”

I reached out to Love for her reaction to McKay’s stunt, and her comments were not suitable for a family website. Let’s just say she was less than pleased and McKay should watch her back.

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ROH Director of Operations Gary Juster shared memories of former AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel on this week’s episode of the “Old School In Session” podcast on YouTube. Bockwinkel mentored Juster and played an integral role in getting his career in the wrestling business started.

A new episode of “Old School In Session” is uploaded every Wednesday. To submit a question for Juster about his many years as a promoter in the NWA, WCW and AWA, send a tweet using #AskGary. Next week’s episode will consist entirely of Juster answering your questions.

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Speaking of old school, on the latest episode of the “Last Stop Penn Station” podcast, ROH ambassador and former owner Cary Silkin shares his memories of the legendary Bruno Sammartino.

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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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