Ring of Honor – three words that became synonymous with the independent wrestling boom of the early to mid 2000s that saw the rise of not only future wrestling superstars, but also the changing of pro wrestling’s very in-ring dynamic presentation. Using monthly issues of “Pro Wrestling Illustrated”, various websites usually connected to angelfire.com, and the trading of VHS tapes, I became familiar with names such as “Reckless Youth”, “The Fallen Angel”, Cheetah Master, and Trent Acid just to name a few.
Ring of Honor was meant to be a true showcase for all the budding or solidified indie wrestling talent. Instead, ROH turned into one of the premiere wrestling organizations in North America by capitalizing on the fall of wrestling’s “Attitude Era” with a product more similar to mixed martial arts than Extreme Championship Wrestling. Being a fan of ROH since its inception in February 2002, I’ve witnessed a majority of the company’s moments both significant and less-so live or through video. And just like any wrestling promotion, there have been decisions made and circumstances play out leaving this ROHbot wondering, “What if…?”
Today I ask: “What if Rhett Titus got a main event push in 2012?”
What Really Happened?
Arguably the most successful graduate of the ROH Dojo, Rhett Titus spent the early days of his Ring of Honor tenure as a comedy figure. Going by the moniker “Addicted to Love”, Titus attempted to coerce women into his rock-hard arms connected to his boulder-like shoulders; causing problems with the likes of Delirious and Daizee Haze. Eventually Titus found a like-minded soul in Kenny King – a former “WWF Tough Enough” competitor who used his real life occupation as a to inspire his in-ring persona. The innuendo-laden All Night Express of Titus & King went from a preliminary duo to semi-main event stars thanks to their partnership with the first two-time ROH World champion Austin Aries. But it wasn’t until 2011 – two years after they began teaming – that The ANX found themselves moving away from being nothing more than Aries’ lackeys. In front of a shockingly pro-ANX crowd in New York, Titus & King overcame the greatest tag team in ROH history: The Briscoes. The match & the victory changed the fans’ perception of The ANX; leading to blood feud between the two teams that culminated in the third ROH Ladder match known as “Ladder War” tag team match where Titus & King earned the glorious victory.
The ANX’s path to a ROH World Tag Team title reign was certain after defeating “Dem Boys” in Ladder War, but the journey was nothing short of rough mostly thanks to Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team of Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas overcoming them in every encounter. Nearly a year after their career-defining win over The Briscoes, The All Night Express ended up in New York yet again; but this time it was for the ROH World Tag Team Championship during the grand pay-per-view event “Best in the World”. Once again the crowd was wholly supportive of the challengers prior to them becoming the new ROH World Tag Team champions after Titus pinned Haas. Unfortunately the reign didn’t last long for The All Night Express.
Kenny King, who was working with no ROH contract, made a memorable appearance during an episode of TNA Wrestling’s “Impact”. Then head booker of ROH Jim Cornette used his power to not only insult King for his believed backstabbing the company that helped make him a worthy commodity in wrestling, but also announced King’s firing from ROH; thus forcing The ANX to vacate the ROH World Tag Team Championship. Titus, seemingly using the loss of both his tag team partner and the Tag Team Championship to fuel the next stage in his career, was dragged into teaming with Charlie Haas after Benjamin was suspended. The team of Titus & Haas wouldn’t gain the ROH World Tag Team title; eventually becoming involved in a feud that culminated in early 2013 with Titus falling to Haas in a singles match.
What if…?
One of, if not the biggest storyline during 2012 in ROH was the company’s battle with the S.C.U.M. faction featuring then-ROH World champion Kevin (Owens) Steen, Steve Corino & Jimmy Jacobs. The trio’s want to kill everything ROH represented brought forth physical detractors both near (Davey Richards, The Briscoes, Roderick Strong) and far (then-CHIKARA Grand Championship titleholder Eddie Kingston and gun-for-hire Rhino). With Kenny King leaving ROH for TNA during the summer of 2012 and Titus sticking around, ROH found itself with a major opportunity: to emphasize Titus’ love for ROH kept him in the company even if it meant sacrificing the partner that helped elevate him to champion status. Instead of attempting to convince Charlie Haas to be his tag team partner for the ROH World Tag Team Championship tournament held before & during “Death Before Dishonor X”, Titus would come to the first TV taping post-King’s exit with a microphone in hand to tell the viewing audience his angst about losing the ROH World Tag Team Championship due to something out of his control.
Speaking from the heart, Titus’ words of sticking with ROH due to the faith management had shown in him would, hopefully, cultivate a groundswell of fan support as he declares himself “ROH for life” and demands that Steen fight the intended heart & soul of Honor. Steen wouldn’t come alone, attacking Titus alongside Jacobs & Corino; bringing out The Briscoes to save Rhett. Jay & Mark Briscoe, having turned back into fan favorites during their rivalry with Haas & Benjamin during the winter & spring of 2012, would vocalize their respect for Titus and gladly fight alongside him against S.C.U.M.
ROH’s TV taping featuring Titus’ declaration would also see Steen successfully defending the ROH World title against Rhino at the behest of manager Truth Martini in his quest to regain the championship for his stable after Roderick Strong lost the title to Eddie Edwards months earlier (giving Steen his personal dream match come true here instead of at “Death Before Dishonor X” as in reality). Steen would also walk away from the “Boiling Point” iPPV still the ROH World champion after overcoming CHIKARA’s Eddie Kingston – another moment in history remaining the same. The biggest differences following each match would be Titus attacking & laying out the champ. ROH’s “Caged Hostility” event in Charlotte allowed for Titus to team with The Briscoes in a six-man tag Steel Cage match. Instead of Jacobs being pinned by Mark Briscoe as what really happened, Titus would hand Steen a rare pin fall loss here; setting the stage for ROH’s “DBD X” pay-per-view event where the champ and Rhett would meet for the ROH World Championship.
Nothing short of a brawl is Steen versus Titus for all the marbles. With The Briscoes there to stop Jacobs & Corino – who would win the vacant ROH World Tag Team Championship one-match prior just like in reality – Titus’ chance to pin Steen again is a given until interference from the returning Benjamin & Haas turns everything upside-down for Rhett; leading to Steen finishing his challenger with the Package Piledriver into a lateral press for the pin. Infuriated over the loss, Titus’ focus on S.C.U.M. would temporarily halt as he tries to overcome the demons from his recent past (Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team) alongside another man who became the unlikely face of Honor during a war six years prior, BJ Whitmer.
Remain or Change?
Ring of Honor had the opportunity of a lifetime to potentially turn a fan favorite tag team competitor into a short-term main event star. By pushing Titus as, essentially, the Tommy Dreamer of ROH (an unlikely fighter who overcame gimmick limitations to become one of the more beloved figures on the roster) following King’s exit may have paid off better for Titus & ROH than simply sticking Rhett and Haas in a tag team of unfriendly partners as they did. By “DBD”, Titus felt like just another guy – only one event removed from headlining the aforementioned “Caged Hostility” show alongside some of ROH’s biggest names ever. The “DBD” pay-per-view’s main event would actually had a significant story behind it while setting the stage for a rematch down the line if Titus got over in the eyes of the fans as true main event talent. There are very few, if any reasons history shouldn’t change in regards to this possibility.
