Ring of Honor sent the following in:
Ring of Honor returns to Toronto & The Ted Reeve Arena on May 4th for our “Border Wars 2013” iPPV event and on May 5th for our first ever international “Ring of Honor Wrestling” TV Taping! As announced several weeks ago, multi-time GHC Champion Naomichi Marufuji and GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori will participate in both huge events.
ROH officials are ecstatic to tell our fans worldwide that all of the details have been finalized on Marufuji & Ishimori’s involvement, the matches have been signed, and we can now announce to you their respective bouts for each day!
First, at “Border Wars 2013” on Saturday May 4th it will be:
– NON-TITLE: GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori vs. Eddie Edwards
Part of the BRAVE unit alongside Marufuji, Morishima, and Sugiura, amongst others, Ishimori is coming off a successful title defense over fellow BRAVE member Ricky Marvin on March 31st and has an impending defense against Genba Hirayanagi scheduled for this Saturday April 13th. Edwards, who is quite familiar with Ishimori from his time spent touring with NOAH as well as training in their Dojo, will head into Toronto coming off a loss at “Supercard of Honor VII” against reDRagon. In addition, Edwards will also be returning from NOAH after participating in the Global Tag League along with one of the men who beat him in NYC in Bobby Fish.
– Naomichi Marufuji vs. Davey Richards
In a rematch of their “Final Battle 2007” clash available on the “Davey Richards: The American Wolf” DVD set, the highly decorated Naomichi Marufuji returns to ROH after a lengthy absence to collide with Davey one-on-one! From his first bout inside the ROH ring at “Final Battle 2005” until his last at “Final Battle 2008”, Marufuji has always been a favorite of the ROH faithful and his return is one met with great anticipation. Prior to coming back to ROH, Marufuji & Suiguira will represent BRAVE in the Global Tag League in which Edwards & Fish are also participating.
Davey, as with Eddie, is coming off a big loss at “Supercard of Honor VII” in their tag title bout and is looking to get back on the winning track with this international dream match. It is also safe to assume that Davey would love to even the record books for that loss he suffered back in 2007 and truly show how much he has grown as an athlete in the years since. Either way, this is certainly one contest that the eyes of the wrestling world will be watching.
Then at the “Ring of Honor Wrestling” TV Taping May 5th:
– NON-TITLE: GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori vs. Roderick Strong
At “Northern Navigation” on July 25, 2008 it was Marufuji who had his hand raised at the Ted Reeve Arena after defeating Roderick in a bout available here on the “Roderick Strong: Messiah of the Backbreaker” DVD set. Now, nearly 5 years later, Roderick returns to the scene of the crime to face off with another NOAH superstar in Taiji Ishimori. Strong is hoping use a victory over Ishimori to get back on the winning track, particularly after his recent losses to Michael Elgin at the “11th Anniversary Event” & Karl “Machine Gun” Anderson at “Supercard of Honor VII”, and prove he deserves to be back in the World Title picture.
– Naomichi Marufuji vs. “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin
In addition to earning a future World Title match by beating Lethal at “SoH VII”, Elgin also clashed with Anderson over the recent weekend in New York City in a must-see bout that will air in the coming weeks on “Ring of Honor Wrestling” TV. Suffice it to say that Elgin was put to the test by “Machine Gun” and now looks to another test of epic proportions when he collides with Marufuji on 5/5 in Toronto. In his battles with Richards, Steen, and Strong over the course of the last year “Unbreakable” has shown he is truly a world class athlete and now he will have the opportunity to demonstrate that once more on an international stage when he steps into the ring with one of the most decorated wrestlers in Puroresu history.
Don’t miss out as Marufuji meets Richards & Elgin and Ishimori takes on Edwards & Strong! It may be your only opportunity to see two of NOAH’s best in Ring of Honor this year so get your tickets now! Great seats for both “Border Wars 2013” on May 4th and our first ever international “Ring of Honor Wrestling” TV Taping on May 5th can be purchased right here in the ROH Store!