IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Final Battle 2019
Date: December 13, 2019
Location: UMBC Events Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman, Colt Cabana

Yeah I know it’s been awhile since this show took place but given the place Ring of Honor has been in over the last few….well nearly years now, it took some time to get me to care enough to do the show. That being said, the company has a tendency to be a lot better when they just stick to the wrestling so hopefully that is the case here. Let’s get to it.

Pre-Show: Josh Woods/Silas Young vs. Joe Hendry/Dalton Castle

We do get a nice inclusion from commentary as they say they have three pre-show matches scheduled but they are subject to time constraints. Why is that so hard to figure out? Castle is already running his mouth on the apron as Hendry and Young lock up to start. Young headlocks him down but Hendry powers up and nips up off another headlock attempt. Castle and Woods come in for a wrestle off with neither being able to get the better of things.

With that giving us a standoff, it’s Hendry coming back in to suplex Young. A jawbreaker gets Young out of trouble so everything breaks down, leaving Castle to get in trouble. Young kicks him in the head so Woods can get two off a half nelson. Castle finally suplexes his way to freedom and it’s back to Hendry to clean house. Everything breaks down again and Castle walks into Young’s backbreaker/clothesline combination. There’s a suplex to Hendry and a catapult into a running knee finishes Castle at 9:14.

Rating: C. Just a tag match here and that’s a good way to open the show. Young and Woods are starting to get some momentum with the fans and it is pretty clear that they are going to be turned face in the near future. Hendry and Castle on the other hand, not so much, as there isn’t much to them other than they’re a waky pair who can’t win much of anything.

The Bouncers, sitting in the front row, aren’t impressed with Young and Woods.

Pre-Show: Kenny King vs. Rhett Titus

King has Amy Rose with him and it’s a battle over who was the Marty Jannetty of the All Night Express. Titus’ wife and son are in the front row, more or less guaranteeing that he loses here. As a bonus, King comes out to the Express’ theme song. Feeling out process to start and they go head to head for some expressions of anger. They both miss kicks to the head and it’s an early standoff.

King sends him throat first into the top rope though and a clothesline takes Titus down again. Titus is right back up to send King outside, meaning a slingshot dive can hit him even harder. After a quick kiss to his son, Titus suplexes King on the floor, only to get spinebustered onto the apron. Back in and a belly to belly suplex into the corner gives King two, followed by the camel clutch.

That’s broken up in a hurry and Titus hits a clothesline, setting up a high crossbody for two. King is back up and tries a Lethal Injection, only to get dropkicked in the back. A Royal Flush plants King for two as the mind games are on. Some running kicks in the corner look to set up….something that we don’t get to see because Rose grabs Titus’ foot. The referee yells at her and it’s a low blow into the Royal Flush to finish Titus at 11:09.

Rating: C-. The action was fine but my goodness they are killing anything they could have with Titus every time he loses like this. I’m also not sure how smart it is to have heels win the first two matches (though Woods and Young are borderline) as the action was good, but not good enough that the fans don’t need something to cheer for. That and I have no reason to believe that King is going anywhere, because, you know, he never does.

Pre-Show: Jeff Cobb vs. Dan Maff

They go with the slugout to start and Maff takes him down off a shoulder. Cobb is knocked outside so Maff hits a suicide dive, so Cobb muscles him up with a suplex back inside. That just earns him a Pounce as the bigger Maff has a rare power advantage here. The Cannonball (WAY too popular a move in wrestling these days) misses Cobb in the corner and he muscles Maff up for the apron superplex.

Cobb hits a clothesline so hard that he falls outside, allowing Maff to come back with a superkick. Back in and they slug it out until Cobb grabs a German suplex. A bunch of strikes in the corner set up a running European uppercut but Maff won’t go down. Maff comes back with a spear but another suplex sends him flying again. A powerbomb out of the corner doesn’t work for Maff and it’s back to back Tours of the Islands to finish Maff at 8:50.

Rating: C+. Now that was a heck of a hoss fight as these guys beat the heck out of each other for a little while. That’s all you need to do at times, and it’s made even better when Cobb is strong enough to throw someone like Maff around. Maff is a monster in his own right and has had a rather nice resurgence in recent months.

Post match they shake hands and exchange chops in a display of respect….I think?

The opening video talks about how samurai fought for honor, but there were some how did not care. Tonight, it’s PCO vs. Rush for the World Title. It’s as sudden of a jump as it seems to be.

Villain Enterprises vs. Flamita/Bandido

Marty Scurll/Flip Gordon for the Villains here and Brody King is on commentary. Gordon shoulders Flamita down for a nip up to start and some headscissors work just as well. Marty and Bandido come in to trade rapid fire near falls into a standoff. Bandido snaps off a hurricanrana into a dropkick meaning it’s already back to Gordon. That goes badly as Bandido takes him down, allowing Flamita to climb onto Bandido’s shoulders for a splash.

Scurll comes in to take over though and a sunset flip gets two on Flamita. We settle down to Flamita superkicking Scurll down and Gordon getting knocked off the apron. A 619 sets up a running shooting star press for two and it’s a double Floss Dance into a double moonsault. Gordon comes back in, gets knocked outside again, and Flamita hits the big flip dive (after slipping that is). Scurll is back up with a tornado DDT to Flamita into a superkick from Gordon for two. Bandido is back up to kick both of them down, setting up the running flip dive.

Back in and Flamita superkicks Scurll, followed by a Spanish Fly to plant Gordon. Scurll is back up with a powerbomb/Sliced Bread combination for two on Flamita but Scurll kicks Gordon by mistake. A quick neckbreaker puts Flamita on the floor and Bandido hits a super fall away slam on Gordon. Scurll is right back with the chickenwing on Bandido but Flamita makes the save with a springboard 450. The X Knee puts Gordon on the ropes and Scurll is knocked behind him. That means a 619 into a double 21 Plex for the pin at Scurll at 13:51.

Rating: B. Sometimes you need four guys to go out there and have a fast paced tag match to open the show and that’s what we got here. Flamita and Bandido can do all kinds of things in the ring and look awesome at the same time so they could be an awesome addition. Then you have the Villains, who are as over as anyone in the company. Good match and a great choice for an opener.

We recap Matt Taven vs. Vincent. They were in the Kingdom together but Vincent (Vinny Marseglia) wanted to do his own thing so he started attacking people. This included a big beatdown with Vincent attacking Taven and busting him open. Taven: “You’ve always lived in my shadow and now I’m going to make sure my shadow is covered in your blood.” That’s a heck of a line as Taven is already more interesting in about a week as a face than he was for years as a heel.

Matt Taven vs. Vincent

Taven goes straight at him to start and sends Vincent outside for the suicide dive. Kelly rapid fires off Taven’s resume as Vincent is backdropped over the barricade. That means a dive from Taven and a jumping enziguri in the corner back inside rocks Vincent again. There’s a powerbomb for two and a freaky leglock works on Vincent’s leg. That’s broken up so Taven grabs a DDT for two more but Vincent sends him outside for a drop onto the apron.

A suplex onto the exposed concrete bangs up Taven’s back even more and they head back inside. Instead of staying on the back though, Vincent starts in on the ankle with stomps and bending around the rope. That’s broken up though and Taven sends him to the floor for the Flight of the Conqueror, followed by a top rope splash to the apron for two.

Back in and Vincent grabs a Side Effect, followed by Redrum for a near fall of his own. A quick Climax gives Taven two more and a second gets the same, leaving Taven stunned. With that not working, naturally it’s time for a hatchet but the attempted murder is countered into a Dudley Dog to finish Taven at 13:32.

Rating: C+. I’m as shocked as you are that Taven is working so well as a face. He really does seem to have been missing the point all this time and while he isn’t a huge star, he’s good enough to work in a spot like this. I could go for more of him, but his ankle injury would put him on the shelf for a long time. That’s a shame too, as he’s more interesting than he ever has been around here.

Post match Bateman comes out and helps Vincent crush Taven’s ankle.

We recap Mark Haskins vs. Bully Ray. Pick any Bully story over the last few years and it’s the same thing, with Haskins standing up to him.

Bully Ray vs. Mark Haskins

Street fight and Haskins’ wife Vicky is with him. Ray jumps Haskins from behind with a barbed wire board and even hits Vicky for a bonus. A chair to the back is enough to hit the bell and it’s time to head inside, with Ray raking the cuts from the barbed wire. Some release German suplexes send Haskins flying and Ray yells at the referee. Ray throws in a piece of the barricade and tosses Haskins onto it as this is one sided so far.

The Bully Bomb drops Haskins again and let’s grab a cheese grater. Ray spends too much time posing though and it’s an enziguri to take him down. That’s a bit too much selling for Ray though and he throws in a kendo stick. He grabs the mic and talks about how he talked trash about Haskins’ family while caning him down. Haskins says hit him harder and flips him off before sending Ray face first into the open chair.

A Van Daminator (pump kick instead of a spinwheel kick) drops Ray and let’s have a ladder. Haskins climbs to Pillmanize the arm but Ray shoves the ladder over, sending Haskins crashing into the barricade. Naturally it’s table time but Ray also throws in the barbed wire board and stacks it on top of the regular table.

Ray slams him through both and drops an elbow for two, with the kickout earning the referee a shot from behind. Another table is brought in, but first Ray needs to rub Haskins’ blood on his face. The middle rope splash is loaded up but Vicky comes back in with a cheese grater to the crotch. They both slam him down and Mark adds a top rope double stomp for the pin at 16:49.

Rating: D. It’s rarely a good sign when you can cut a match in half and have the same thing. This was a lot of slowly walking around and beating on Haskins until he came back and won. I don’t even watch all of the big Ring of Honor pay per views and I knew how this was going to go. It’s how every Ray feud/blowoff match goes and most people don’t get much out of it, but he’s on creative so here we are.

Alex Shelley vs. Colt Cabana

This was set up on the pre-show. Shelley leads the fans in the COLT CABANA chants and gets headlocked down for his efforts. A lot of rolling gets Cabana out of a wristlock and then he nearly handstands his way out of another. Shelley cranks on both arms at once for a change but Cabana reverses into a bodyscissors. That’s reversed into a surfboard but they get back up for a standoff. They run the ropes until Cabana grabs a wristlock, only to switch into the Superman pin for two. Back up and Shelley grabs the wrist but pulls him down into a crucifix for the pin at 6:33.

Rating: C. This was more of an exhibition than a regular match and that’s ok, especially considering it would wind up being Cabana’s last match with ROH. The fans like both of these guys a lot and it’s cool to see them getting to go out there and do something different than what we’ve been seeing so far. Fun little match too.

We recap Maria Manic vs. Angelina Love. Manic has been tormenting the Allure and now it’s time for her to actually have a match.

Maria Manic vs. Angelina Love

Angelina has Mandy Leon with her. Maria doesn’t waste time and slams Angelina down in a hurry but stops to beat up Leon as well. Some running boots hit Angelina in the corner as this is one sided so far. A Pearl River Plunge connects for no cover so Leon loads up the hairspray, only to have it kicked out of her hands. Mandy has to save Angelina from a piledriver on the apron so Maria beats her up and gorilla presses Love to the floor instead. Back in and a torture rack finishes Love, who didn’t get in a single bit of offense, at 6:22.

Rating: C. It wasn’t a competitive match whatsoever but dang that was fun and exactly what it should have been. There was no reason to have this be anything more than complete destruction and that’s exactly what they did. Then of course ROH almost managed to screw up Maria’s contract when she could have been a big deal, but that’s ROH for you.

We recap Shane Taylor vs. Dragon Lee. Taylor has been champion for a good while now and wants to set all of the records. Lee on the other hand is awesome so this could be interesting.

TV Title: Shane Taylor vs. Dragon Lee

Taylor is defending and has all of his goons with him. Lee dropkicks him into the corner but charges into a spinebuster. That doesn’t seem to matter as he dropkicks Taylor to the floor, only to get slammed onto the apron. Taylor sends him into the barricade and then chokes on the apron for a bit as the beating begins. The big legdrop gets two and Taylor tells him to do something.

Lee dodges a charge in the corner (that would be something) and kicks Taylor to the floor for a heck of a suicide dive. An even bigger no hands flip dive takes him down again and a running dropkick in the corner gives Lee two. Some running strikes to the face have Taylor on the apron so Lee snaps off a top rope double stomp. Another top rope double stomp gets two….so Lee slaps him in the face.

Taylor knocks him right back down and a clothesline turns Lee inside out. The package piledriver gives Taylor two and a German suplex drops him again. Lee gets in a kick to the head in the corner though and the Alberto top rope double stomp gets two. Taylor snaps off Greetings From 216 for another near fall and the frustration is strong.

With nothing else working, Taylor pulls out a chain but Lee is back up to knock it away. Lee is right back with a knee to the face, a Canadian Destroyer and another running knee with the chain wrapped around it for two. The knee pad comes off and another running knee (bone to skull) gives Lee the pin and the title at 14:34.

Rating: B. This was a rather great back and forth power vs. speed match as the two of them beat each other up for about fifteen minutes. It’s as basic of a match formula as you can get and this one was very good, as the crazy talented Lee gets to take the title from the monster Taylor. I liked this more than anything else on the show and I can’t say I’m surprised by that whatsoever.

We recap Jay Lethal/Jonathan Gresham vs. the Briscoes. Gresham lured Lethal to the dark side with promises of success and since Lethal’s resume is only lacking a Tag Team Title, here we go.

Tag Team Titles: Briscoes vs. Jay Lethal/Jonathan Gresham

Jay avoids the basement dropkick and that means another standoff. Everything breaks down in a hurry and they all head outside with the Briscoes taking over. Mark throws a chair in for the running flip dive, setting up the Bang Bang elbow to Lethal. There’s a big boot to Gresham as it’s all Briscoes at the moment. Back in and Mark gets taken down by a dragon screw legwhip but Jay breaks up the Doomsday Device.

Jay cutters Lethal off the top and the Doomsday Device gets two on Gresham. We settle back down with Gresham hitting a springboard moonsault press on Mark, setting up the shooting star press for two. Gresham starts working on the leg even more and Lethal kicks the knee. A t-bone suplex gets Mark out of trouble though and it’s back to Jay to fire off the forearms.

Everything breaks down again and the Death Valley Driver plants Lethal. Gresham pulls the referee out at two and Lethal gets in a belt shot for the same. The Figure Four has Jay in more trouble until Mark makes the save with the Froggy Bow. The Doomsday Device is broken up though and Lethal rolls Jay up with a grab of the tights for the pin at 21:55.

Rating: B+. These guys beat each other up for a long time and it ended with the only realistic outcome. Lethal and Gresham had been set up as the big heels for a long time now and giving them the titles was the only way to go. The match was the awesome, action packed showdown that you would have expected and it was one of the best things about the show so far. Great match and the right result.

We recap PCO vs. Rush. PCO is 51 years old and trying to reach the top of the world after winning a tournament to gain the surprise title shot. Rush doesn’t really care.

Ring of Honor World Title: PCO vs. Rush

PCO is challenging and anything goes. They stare each other down to start and forearm it out with PCO shouting a lot. A clothesline drops Rush but he stops a suicide dive with a chair to the head. Rush whips him with a camera cord, followed by the running slap in the face in the corner. That means a Tranquilo pose but Rush would rather go over the barricade to get a small ladder. He throws the ladder at PCO and then wedges it in the corner before whipping PCO hard into said ladder/corner.

The posing takes too long though and it’s a pop up powerbomb to send Rush outside. PCO misses the Swanton to the apron though and Rush suplexes him onto the timekeeper’s table. They fight up the aisle and Rush hits him in the head with a barricade. Rush stacks up a bunch of barricades and chairs before throwing PCO off the stage for a huge crash.

PCO is a bit dead so here’s his trainer Destro to pop open the hoot of a well placed hearse…..and jump start PCO using some jumper cables. Well of course he does, allowing PCO to chokeslam Rush onto the car. Rush suplexes him off of the car and heads back to the ring, only to have PCO stagger after him.

That means it’s time for some doors, with Rush standing them up in opposite corners. Rush knocks him down and gets one off a top rope backsplash. PCO gets sent through the door but of course he’s right back up to send Rush through another door. The PCOsault gets two so Rush goes outside to beat up Destro. The delay lets PCO hit a chokeslam and another PCOsault through a table finishes Rush at 22:28.

Rating: D. And no. The problem here comes down to the fact that Ring of Honor was in a terrible place at this point and this is what they give us for the main event of the biggest show of the year? It was just a brawl, but a very slow paced one that should have been about ten minutes shorter. The PCO story is a nice inspirational one about never giving up on your dream, but this was a really rough sit, especially in this spot. It wasn’t the right way to go given where Ring of Honor was and it was a pretty terrible match as a result. Cut this down to ten minutes and put it in the middle of the card and maybe, but not like this.

Villain Enterprises come out to celebrate to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. It’s an up and down show with nothing that will blow you away, but a good string of solid enough matches to make it work. That being said, the bad stuff was rather bad and felt out of place on the biggest show of the year. Ring of Honor has gotten a bit better since this show, but they have so far to go to get back to anything close to good that one show doesn’t matter.

As it is, the show was more good than bad, but there are some major issues that stand out, including putting the promotion on PCO in a story that a lot of fans aren’t going to care about in a bad main event. It could have been worse though, and that’s not something you could say very often about this company in 2019.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: March 4, 2020
Location: UMBC Events Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman
Host: Quinn McKay

We’re still on the road to the Anniversary Show, plus Supercard of Honor in April. That should make things interesting but you never can tell with this show, as it’s kind of all over the place. Things need to pick up for some big shows and Ring of Honor knows how to do it, but we haven’t seen what Marty Scurll is going to do in a situation like this. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

We open with clips of Mexiblood becoming the new Six Man Tag Team Champions.

Quinn welcomes us to the show and runs down the card.

Andrew Everett vs. Alex Zayne

Zayne is billed from Lexington, Kentucky which means….well it could mean several things actually. Likely that he’s from Kentucky. Everett, who stands 5’9, thinks he is a giant and even wears a singlet to honor Andre the Giant. They fight over arm control to start with Zayne flipping around a lot to start and grabbing a hurricanrana. Back from a break with Everett hitting a springboard missile dropkick, followed by a springboard dive to the floor.

Everett nails a Lionsault for two back inside and the strap comes down. That takes too long though, allowing Zayne to block a chokeslam. A running flip Fameasser gives Zayne two but he misses a shooting star double stomp (egads). Instead Everett sends him into the middle buckle, setting up a very spinning springboard splash for two. Everett is right back with a reverse hurricanrana for two but misses the shooting star press. Now the shooting star double stomp connects, setting up a pumphandle piledriver for the pin at 10:44.

Rating: C+. This was your standard flippy match but Zayne made an impression in a hurry. There’s something cool over having a hometown wrestler for a change and it’s cool to see some fresh blood around here. It’s not some blow away match but what we got was rather nice while it lasted.

PJ Black is training Brian Johnson, who doesn’t even have a finishing move. Black gives him a neckbreaker into a faceplant, saying that can be his finisher. Further training/torture ensues and eventually Johnson gets the hang of it, earning himself a white belt. Johnson is rather pleased, which seems to surprise Black.

Brian Zane gives us the Top 5 Matches He Wants To See, capped off by La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Ring of Horror.

Silas Young can’t find his jeans and Josh Woods smiles because they’re in the trash. He gives Woods matching jeans because they’re a team. Young can’t even get them on.

We see some clips of Mark Briscoe vs. Jay Briscoe from WAY back in the day, as they both looks like teenagers. From what I can find, it’s from 2002.

Briscoes vs. Mexiblood

Bandido/Flamita for the team. Mark and Flamita start things off and since neither can get anywhere, they try stereo dropkicks and give us a standoff. It’s off to Bandido vs. Jay for an exchange of shoulders, which doesn’t go well for Bandido. A hurricanrana drops Jay but Bandido is right back up with a superkick to send us to a break. Back with Bandido getting chopped into the corner as everything breaks down.

Some hurricanranas send the Briscoes to the floor, meaning a heck of a springboard moonsault takes them both down again. Bandido isn’t about to be outdone and hits a springboard shooting star (Caprice: “He just high fived Jesus!”) to wipe out everyone. Back in and an enziguri rocks Mark, followed by a wheelbarrow suplex into a moonsault onto both Briscoes. We settle down to Bandido and Mark but Jay comes in for a running corner clothesline.

A big boot/dragon suplex combination sends Flamita to the apron and everything breaks down again. Mexiblood is sent into the barricade and Mark puts a chair in the ring for a launchpad into a springboard flip dive. Jay gets his own chair for his own dive and we take a break. Back with Bandido backdropping Flamita onto Mark, leaving Jay to take the X Knee (GTS but with a flip instead of a straight drop onto the knee).

The 450 hits Jay for two with Mark making a save, followed by an Iconoclasm to Bandido. Jay suplexes Flamita to set up Redneck Boogie for two in another great near fall. Somehow Flamita is back up with a double missile dropkick (with a frog splash pump in the middle just to show off) but his moonsault hits raised knees.

Jay clotheslines him out tot he floor and Mark adds a dropkick through the ropes. The Blockbuster off the apron sets up the neckbreaker into the Froggy Bow but Bandido drives Jay into the cover for the save. Stereo Spanish Flys get stereo near falls on the Briscoes but Mark breaks up the 21 Plex. A suplex onto the apron drops Bandido and the Doomsday Device FINALLY finishes Bandido at 18:21.

Rating: A. When you actually let out a big breath when the bell rings because you couldn’t breathe for most of the match, you know they just blew the roof off the place. This was EXCELLENT and one of the best matches Ring of Honor has put on in years. They didn’t stop the entire time and I can only imagine how great it was without the commercials. Go out of your way to find the full version because this was incredible stuff that had me pulled all the way in.

Overall Rating: A-. Sweet goodness that main event carried this show and I barely remembered the first match as a result. If this is what we can expect from the Scurll Era, they might actually have some hope after all those months of drek. Hopefully we get more shows like this because I had a blast with it. Find some kind of top story around the World Title (or anywhere at all) and the company is that much different in the blink of an eye. Check out that tag match though because dang.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: February 26, 2020
Location: UMBC Events Arena, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni
Host: Quinn McKay

It’s time to keep moving on as we are in Baltimore for Free Enterprise. This was Ring of Honor’s idea to get people back into things by having a free show. That’s not the worst idea in the world and if it gets people talking, so be it. Ring of Honor needs any kind of positive news it can get so maybe this helps things. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We get a Slex vignette, as he has recently signed with the company.

Alex Shelley vs. Mark Haskins

They go technical to start (duh) as neither can get very far off arm control. Haskins’ rollup might get one as Shelley backs away for a standoff. A headlock takeover works a bit better but Shelley reverses into his very spinning rollup for two. Shelley grabs la majistral into an armbar but Haskins is out in a hurry as well. Haskins kicks him in the chest and we take a break. Back with a fight over an abdominal stretch but Shelley gets flipped into a Crossface.

With that broken up, Haskins starts kicking at the chest, which just seem to annoy Shelley. A slugout gives us a double knockdown with Haskins getting up first. Shelley gets in a snap suplex for a breather and sends Haskins hard into the corner. Haskins is right back with a suplex and a Samoan driver for two as the shock is real. Back up and Shelley hits Sliced Bread into a swinging Downward Spiral. The Border City Stretch (Gargano Escape) goes on but Haskins rolls into the Sharpshooter for the tap at 11:49.

Rating: B. Yeah what else were you expecting here? These two can do some great technical stuff and it was on full display here, as it should have been. Haskins is gearing up for either a Pure Title run or a World Title chase so putting him over here was the only option they had. Shelley is great as the veteran who is putting people over and that’s what they’re mainly using him for these days.

Video on Vincent destroying Matt Taven and the Kingdom.

Dalton Castle and Joe Hendry are ready to fight, because Castle once stared down a spider in all eight eyes, even though he only has two. Castle rubs Hendry’s face because they do what people don’t expect.

Mark Haskins is ready for his World Title triple threat match, though Tracy Williams doesn’t seem thrilled.

Vincent/Bateman vs. Dalton Castle/Joe Hendry

Chuckles and Vita are in Vincent/Bateman’s corner. Bateman and Castle stare at each other to start until Castle takes him into the corner so Hendry can work on the arm. A fireman’s carry into a running shoulder has Bateman in trouble and a jumping knee gives Hendry two. Castle drops a middle rope knee and we hit the waistlock. Vincent holds out Matt Taven’s crutch for a distraction though, which just lets Hendry clothesline Bateman to the floor. Vincent finally comes in and posts Castle as we take a break.

Back with Hendry in trouble as Bateman and Vincent take turns kicking him in the ribs. Vincent gets two off a Side Effect and grabs a guillotine choke for a bonus. That’s broken up with a suplex and the hot tag brings in Castle. House is cleaned with suplexes until Vincent puts Castle on the top.

That goes nowhere as Castle slips down and catches him in a release German suplex. Vincent knocks him outside, only to have Castle get over to Hendry. That means a double fall away slam so Hendry can show off quite a bit as everything breaks down. A reverse Sling Blade puts Bateman down and there’s the facebuster to Vincent, only to have Chuckles pull Castle to the floor. Vincent hits a Dudley Dog for the pin on Hendry at 12:38.

Rating: C+. They were working hard here with Vincent and Bateman continuing to be more interesting than the Kingdom ever was. Castle and Hendry’s oddball stuff isn’t exactly thrilling and the two of them have been doing the same stuff for months now. At least we got a good match out of it though and that’s more than some people can say.

Slex is ready to beat Flip Gordon and it doesn’t matter if it takes twenty minutes or twenty seconds.

Vincent says their future is righteous, if you dig what he is saying.

Video on Slex.

Slex vs. Flip Gordon

Slex is from Australia and calls himself The Business. Gordon goes with a headlock to start and shoulders him down. They miss each other a few times and we take an early break. Back with Back with Slex chopping away at the ropes and hitting a slingshot backbreaker to send Gordon outside. That of course means the suicide dive and a release suplex onto the apron keeps Gordon’s back in trouble. A very delayed vertical suplex drops Gordon for two in a good power display. Slex powerbombs him out of the corner for two more and we the chinlock.

Gordon’s comeback is cut off with a wheelbarrow suplex but it’s a double clothesline to put both of them down again. Gordon heads to the apron for an enziguri and a spinning kick to the head. The twisting Falcon Arrow gets two and we take another break. Back again with Slex hitting a hard clothesline, followed by a torture rack bomb for two more. Gordon hits a superkick and the Kinder Surprise to the floor, followed by the big moonsault. The springboard spear connects for two on Slex, followed by a Curb Stomp to put him away at 11:38.

Rating: B-. Slex looked rather good here and definitely has a future, but why have him lose here? You don’t have to have him beat Gordon (though you could) but having him lose here is one of those questionable things that happens too often in wrestling. It’s ok to let someone debut and win a big match but instead Gordon, who doesn’t need it, gets the win. Slex will be fine, but I don’t get this one.

Post match Gordon shows respect and leaves, but here are the Soldiers of Savagery to distract Slex so Shane Taylor can run in and package piledrive him. Taylor says that since his demands have been met so he’s officially back in ROH.

Overall Rating: B+. Maybe it was just the wrestling they had this time around but this was one of the best ROH shows I’ve seen in a very long time. That’s a nice thing to hear on its own, but the big picture is that it’s one of the first major shows from Marty Scurll. Hopefully that means a good sign for the future, because ROH has been so nothing for such a long time now.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: February 19, 2020
Location: Cabarrus Arena, Concord, North Carolina
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni
Hosts: Ian Riccaboni, Quinn McKay

For the first time in a good while, there are a few interesting things going on around here and that means we might be going somewhere. Granted I’ve had that false hope before and I’m almost scared to imagine how much worse it could get. Hopefully we get more of the good and less of the bad though so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We look at Josh Woods/Silas Young beating the Briscoes to become the new #1 contenders to the Tag Team Titles in a good match.

Clips of Alex Zayne winning his debut match against Bandido.

Dalton Castle gives Joe Hendry advice during his photo shoot, involving roller blading and eating pizza that is too hot. Or maybe he’s a mean tree! I could listen to Castle’s random words for days.

Come to house shows!

Buy merch!

We look at Sumie Sakai turning heel. Yeah I still don’t care about her.

Clips of Sakai vs. Nicole Savoy.

Brian Zane’s Top 5 of the week looks at best factions, with Generation Next at the top of the list. That’s one of those really obvious ones and that’s ok.

Lifeblood vs. Vincent/Bateman

Vincent and Bateman jump them from behind before the bell but Lifeblood uses the power of good wrestling to save themselves. Bateman gets caught in the corner and a catapult sends him into an atomic drop. It’s off to Vincent who can’t hit a chokeslam but can get taken down with a middle rope dropkick. An elbow sends Williams to the floor, where he has to beat up the clown named Chuckles. That earns him a cutter from Bateman though and we take a break.

Back with Williams fighting out of the corner but getting rolled right back into said corner to keep him in trouble. Sliced Bread is broken up and it’s a hot tag to bring in Haskins for the fast paced house cleaning. Haskins clears the ring and kicks Bateman off the apron, followed by the suicide dive to Vincent. Back in and Haskins gets two off a clothesline to Vincent but everything breaks down. Williams piledrives Vincent into a Sharpshooter but Chuckles comes in with a block of wood for the DQ at 9:14.

Rating: C. Lifeblood continues to be entertaining and seems to be working as hard as they can ever time, but I’m not sure how much they can do at this level. Then you have Vincent and Bateman, who are already more interesting than almost everything the Kingdom ever did. They’re still nothing all that great, but it was the right call to not have them take a clean loss here.

Post match Vincent and Bateman go after Haskins’ leg but Williams chases them off with a chair.

Bouncers/2 Guys 1 Tag vs. Jeff Cobb/Dan Maff/Jay Lethal/Jonathan Gresham

So yeah, Woods and Young are just faces now. I’m not sure I’m good with that but sure why not. Gresham bails from the threat of Young’s wristlock to start before remembering that he’s Jonathan Gresham and therefore can easily take Young down. A headscissors freaks Gresham out and the staredowns continue. Gresham monkey flips him out of the corner but they keep their hands locked and it’s a monkey flip off.

Some rollups give Young some twos as they remember other people are involved in this match. That means Woods coming in to easily take Gresham down so it’s off to the floor for a breather. Woods tells Lethal to come in and easily takes him down in a hurry. Lethal gets run over with a few shoulders but manages the hiptoss into the basement dropkick. That means it’s off to the Bruiser vs. Lethal, with the former promising to punch him in the mouth. The no tooth bite and the promised right hand put Lethal down so it’s off to Cobb as we take a break.

Back with Woods suplexing Cobb but getting sent outside for the big beatdown. Lethal comes in and suplexes Woods for two before taking him into the corner for the tag to Gresham. And not that it matters as it’s right back to Lethal for a heck of a whip into the corner. A double suplex drops Woods again but he grabs a suplex of his own to drop Lethal. Gresham dives into a knee to the head and the three of them are all down.

The hot tag brings in Young, who slingshots in with a double stomp to Lethal. Young hits a backbreaker into a clothesline but it’s Maff coming in to chop away at Bruiser. Maff gets to clean house with a spear getting two on Young, setting up Cobb’s standing moonsault onto Woods. Cobb can’t suplex Milonas but he can hit the Tour of the Islands on the Bruiser for the pin at 16:53.

Rating: B-. They did a bunch of stuff in one match but at the same time, how much drama was there in this? Cobb is a nearly unstoppable monster and Lethal is one of the most successful wrestlers ever in this company. I’m supposed to be believe that a glorified comedy team like the Bouncers and eternal midcarder Silas Young were threats to that lineup? Good enough match, but not exactly a shocking result.

Post match Maff and Cobb stare the champs down to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. The wrestling was good enough but it took about twenty minutes to finally get to that wrestling. What we got was good but it is pretty clear that there isn’t enough to make this into a regular TV show week to week. It’s basically just clips strung together into something resembling a show, which makes for a pretty standard experience week to week. That doesn’t make for the most thrilling stuff, but at least you get a good match almost every time.

Results

Lifeblood b. Vincent/Bateman via DQ when Chuckles interfered

Jeff Cobb/Dan Maff/Jay Lethal/Jonathan Gresham b. Bouncers/2 Guys 1 Tag – Tour of the Islands to Beer City Bruiser

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: February 12, 2020
Location: Center Stage, Atlanta, Georgia/Cabarrus Arena, Concord, North Carolina
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman
Hosts: Ian Riccaboni, Quinn McKay

We’re back around here and that means there is likely to be something about the NWA Invasion. It might not be the most original story in the world but it’s something fresh and that’s EXACTLY what they have needed around here. Things have felt stale for a long time now and that isn’t going to be completely fixed with one story, but it’s a big upgrade. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

We open with a look at PCO vs. Rush involving a ton of interference, including NWA World Champion Nick Aldis, with the match ending in a no contest.

Ian and Quinn preview the show.

Clips of Flip Gordon beating Flamita at Honor Reigns Supreme. Flip stole the mask post match.

Brian Johnson isn’t interested in watching footage with PJ Black and leaves. Black says phase two is about to begin.

Here’s what’s coming up at various upcoming shows.

We go to Atlanta where Bully Ray ranted about dirt sheets promised Maria Manic was coming to fight him. Cue Maria, with Ray daring her to get on the apron and then in the ring. Maria looked scared but then got inside and speared Ray down. A table was loaded up but Angelina Love and Mandy Leon ran in to beat her down. Ray splashed Maria through the table to wrap it up.

Buy merch!

Brian Johnson/PJ Black vs. Bouncers

During their entrance, we hear the Bouncers asking why we have so many makeshift teams around here. Oh and buy their jersey. After some yelling over the t-shirts, Milonas shoves Black down and catches a crossbody without much effort. A slam plants Black again and a Pounce sends him into the corner. Johnson comes in and gets chopped down so Bruiser comes in to chop it out with Black.

Another chop puts Johnson in the corner and there’s another one to the back. Milonas’ falling splash crushes Johnson and we take a break. Back with Bruiser’s no teeth bite and an old Bushwhackers’ Battering Ram for two on Johnson. A cheap shot lets Johnson go to the apron where he slips off the ropes to the floor, gets back up and slips again, before finally hitting a spinning shoulder.

Thankfully he brings Black in for a chinlock so things can settle down a bit. Johnson grabs his own chinlock and throws his feet on the ropes, which is such a lost art these days. Black points out the cheating to the referee and comes in, only to get clotheslined by Bruiser. Milonas gets the hot tag and starts cleaning house, including a double crossbody to Johnson and Black. Closing Time is broken up but Johnson grabs a chair, with Black taking it away. Now it’s Closing Time to finish Johnson at 10:56.

Rating: D+. So yeah that happened. The Bouncers brought up a good point in their pre-match promo when they said that just because you team together doesn’t really make you a team. A lot of these new teams are just people doing stuff because they have nothing else to do. That’s all well and good, but it doesn’t exactly make the tag division look strong.

Post match Johnson walks away from Black.

Post break, Johnson rants but Black comes in to say you win with your mind and then your body. They do some breathing to calm down. Well Black does at least as Johnson walks away again.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Villain Enterprises

Rhett Titus is on commentary and that would be Rush/Dragon Lee/Kenny King (with Amy Rose) vs. PCO/Marty Scurll/Brody King. Lee takes Scurll down to start so Scurll spins around to grab a hammerlock. A shoulder puts Lee down but he nips up (off camera) to annoy Marty. La Majistral gives Marty two and we take an early break. Back with Brody shouldering Kenny down as King is becoming the new Jay around here.

Rush and PCO come in for the hoss fight with PCO planting him off a spinebuster. Everything breaks down and they fight to the floor with La Faccion taking over, including choking Scurll with a camera cord. PCO gets thrown inside so Lee can work on his leg, followed by Kenny striking away in the corner. Rush grabs a triangle choke over the ropes, followed by the running kick to the face.

We take another break and come back with PCO clotheslining his way out of trouble. Brody comes in with a bunch of running corner clotheslines and it’s Scurll sunset flipping Brody to German suplex Kenny for two. Everything breaks down again and Lee’s backsplash gets two on Brody. Lee and Brody strike it out until it’s Rush coming in to chop away and PCO and Brody at the same time.

That earns him a double chokeslam and La Faccion is sent outside. That means a double backdrop to send PCO onto all three of them, setting up the PCOsault for two on Rush with Lee making the save. We hit the parade of secondary finishers and everyone is down. The Villains take over on Kenny with Marty going after the fingers.

That earns him a kick to the head but Marty is fine enough to hit the Ghostbuster for two. Brody’s suicide dive takes out Lee and Rush, setting up the apron Swanton from PCO to Kenny. The chickenwing has Kenny in trouble but he flips out into a rollup for two. Marty and Lee go up top but the rest of the Faccion comes in for a double powerbomb/double stomp combination to finish Marty at 17:17.

Rating: B+. This is where the Villains shine and I could watch them do something like this every week. Their matches are always well laid out and make you feel like you’re watching organized chaos, albeit in a good way. La Faccion needed to win here as they’re still brand new and they got that win in an awesome match. Also: new booker takes the fall, which is a good sign.

Speaking of everything else, I’m having trouble remembering anything else going on in the company because everything feels like it’s just coming and going. The main event saved the show, but how many times can Villain Enterprises pull a rabbit out of their evil hats? You can only do something to get some attention going and the NWA Invasion, which wasn’t on this show other than a recap, is all they have in that area right now. Not a terrible show, but they have a lot of work to do.

Results

Bouncers b. Brian Johnson/PJ Black – Closing Time to Johnson

La Faccion Ingobernable b. Villain Enterprises – Double powerbomb/top rope double stomp combination to Scurll

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Ring Of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: February 5, 2020
Location: Center Stage, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni
Hosts: Ian Riccaboni, Quinn McKay

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

We open with a recap of last week’s Six Man Tag Team Title change.

Quick preview from the hosts.

Joe Hendry and Dalton Castle have a meeting about how to solve their problems. The solution: win more matches. And get Dalton some better soup.

Master and Machine vs. Dalton Castle/Joe Hendry

Hendry takes Master down with an early wristlock but it’s back up so they both miss some kicks to the head. Master’s hurricanrana works well enough but he has to slip out of a fall away slam to send us to a break. Back with Castle vs. Machine with Castle wrestling him down and scoring with a suplex.

The chinlock doesn’t last long but Machine has to get out of a Bang A Rang attempt. Master puts him down and belly to back suplexes Master into a moonsault. A double stomp into an elbow gets two on Castle but it’s off to Hendry in a hurry. Hendry’s delayed vertical suplex connects for two and it’s already back to Castle for a chinlock. Make that a chinlock from Hendry, followed by a suplex from Castle.

Master gets in a kick to the head though and it’s Machine coming back in to pick up the pace. Castle and Hendry get beaten up, including a spinebuster to Castle and a spear to Hendry. The Skywalker Elbow gets two on Hendry but he’s right back up with a double fall away slam. Everything breaks down and Master is shoved into a Codebreaker, setting up the reverse Sling Blade for the pin at 10:45.

Rating: C+. This worked better than I was expecting as Master and Machine (not Master and Commander as I keep wanting to put) are a rather nice treat that I wasn’t expecting. Castle and Hendry are getting better but it took so long to get there that it doesn’t feel like it’s worth the time.

Video on Brian Johnson not wanting to listen to PJ Black but agreeing to team with him anyway.

Mark Haskins wants to go after the World Title but Tracy Williams doesn’t seem convinced.

Come to these shows!

Rhett Titus vs. Danhausen

Danhausen dances to start and gets taken down into an armbar for his efforts. Titus shrugs off a chokeslam attempt but he makes the mistake of swearing, which is NOT ok with Danhausen! I could go with this guy! He holds up a swear/teeth jar to Titus as we take a break. Back with a running dropkick putting Titus on the floor but a slingshot dive is countered into a northern lights suplex for two.

Titus hits a running boot in the corner and shouts about Kenny King, setting up a reverse over the shoulder backbreaker. A splash misses in the corner though and Danhausen hits a slingshot German suplex. That means he can pour the teeth on Titus’ face so Titus is right back with a dropkick (Ian: “Only Okada gets higher!” Yeah we’ve got the second best dropkick around! If you want to see the best, go watch that other show!”) for the pin at 7:39.

Dan Maff/Jeff Cobb vs. Briscoes vs. Lifeblood

The Bouncers are on commentary and we actually get some handshakes before the bell. Haskins kicks at Cobb’s legs to start before going with the tried and true jump on his back method. That goes as far as you would expect and we take a break. Back with Mark Briscoe slugging away at Cobb before handing it off to Williams for the same. Haskins works on Cobb’s arm with a bunch of stomps but Jay tags himself in to stomp away in the corner.

The Briscoes clothesline Cobb down but Williams tags himself in, much to Tracy’s annoyance. Jay does the same thing and it’s time for the big uppercuts. A slap to Haskins’ face counts as a tag and it’s Mark vs. Mark for the slugout. Cobb uses the distraction to run them over and it’s Maff coming in to clean house. Everything breaks down and we take another break.

Back with Maff sending people to the floor for a big dive. Cobb’s spinning belly to back suplex into Maff’s backsplash gets two on Williams with Haskins making the save. Lifeblood double teams Maff for their own two but it just wakes him up to chop away at everyone. A kick to the leg sets up an ankle lock to Maff with Haskins stomping away at the same time.

The Froggy Bow breaks it up and it’s time for the parade of people hitting each other in the face. Redneck Boogie gets two on Williams but he’s back up with a Death Valley Driver to Mark Briscoe. The Crossface goes on until Jay powerbombs Haskins onto them for the save. The Jay Driller finishes Haskins at 12:34.

Rating: B-. This is where the company excels and they did it again here. These guys had a very fast paced and entertaining match which is all you can ask for out of something like this. Lifeblood having issues could be interesting and Cobb/Maff are the monsters that you need to have around here. The Briscoes are themselves and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them back in the title picture again soon (mainly because they’re never out).

Overall Rating: C+. Pretty good overall here with the action being the focus of the show, which is where the company shines more often than not. They really aren’t great with the storyline stuff around here and other than a few things in the back, there wasn’t a major story in the whole show. It’s what makes things better around here and that was the case here. Not a great show, but far better than some of the stuff they’ve done over the last year.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: January 29, 2020
Location: Center Stage, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni
Hosts: Ian Riccaboni, Quinn McKay

We’re off to Atlanta again and that could make for some interesting moments. The Final Battle fallout is officially over and we need to move on towards whatever is up next, which will eventually include Supercard of Honor. I’m not sure what to expect from this one but this show is so all over the place these days that you never can tell. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

We look at PCO defending against Rush, which saw a bunch of people, including NWA World Champion Nick Aldis getting involved for the no contest. That could benefit both sides.

The hosts tell us to watch Free Enterprise.

Clips of Dragon Lee retaining the TV Title over Andrew Everett.

Silas Young and Josh Woods get in an argument in the back and Silas yells at Woods for almost knocking over Quinn McKay.

Video on Vincent turning on Matt Taven and forming his own team.

Vincent/Bateman vs. Sal Rinauro/Michael Stevens

Bateman pulls Stevens inside and kicks him in the face as we ring the bell. The fans chant for Bateman but sound like they’re slipping in some YOWIE WOWIE at the same time. Bateman keeps up the beating with some slow forearms and chops until Stevens hits a quick Eat Defeat.

Rinauro comes in and, after an enziguri from Stevens, gets two off a sunset flip. That’s it for the offense though as Bateman is back with the slow chops to take over again. Rinauro grabs a running Stunner but Bateman plants him with a brainbuster. Vincent gets the tag and cuts a promo….which is censored out, including a graphic saying that the statements are too controversial. Either way he pins Rinauro at 3:25.

Rating: D+. Just a squash here and there’s nothing wrong with that. The thing at the end with Vincent being censored is the coolest thing they could do as it adds some intrigue. Vincent wasn’t interesting in the Kingdom but maybe he can do something else here now that he’s got his own team. The squash was effective enough but they need to do something to make these guys stand out.

Nick Aldis talks about how he’s here to save this place. Now you have Marty Scurll as the new big deal but he had to come to the NWA as a bonus. They are not friends right now and if Scurll wants a turf war with Villain Enterprises against Strictly Business, bring it on. He’s happy to team with Rush against Marty and PCO. Aldis is a great promo.

Here’s Shane Taylor, with the Soldiers of Savagery, to call out Joe Koff. Shane thanks him for the opportunity around here and the best year and a half of his career. If Joe wants him to stick around though, he has some demands: a Six Man Tag Team Title shot, a World Title shot, the biggest contract around and his face on every poster. Koff doesn’t get to answer but that doesn’t seem likely.

Buy merch!

Clips of Jonathan Gresham beating Josh Woods via countout.

Marty Scurll says Flip Gordon is taking PCO’s place in the Six Man Tag Team Title match. The fans are all over Marty here and it’s almost weird to see.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: Villain Enterprises vs. Flamita/Bandido/Rey Horus

Marty, Flip and Brody King are defending. Brody and Flamita start things off with the masked one being launched into the corner. A shoulder drops Flamita again and his chop just annoys King. Back up and Flamita manages a running hurricanrana, only to get knocked down again. Marty and Bandido come in with Bandido hitting a running dropkick. A running hurricanrana is blocked and it’s a quick standoff, with the fans being behind the luchadors.

Horus and Flip come in to continue the very formalized series of tags. A running kick to the back of the head gives Horus an early two so Flip is back with a kick to the mask. Flip sends him outside so Marty can get in a running shot and we settle down a bit. King comes in to take over on Horus with a splash giving Marty two. Back from a break with Gordon clotheslining Marty by mistake, allowing the hot tag off to Bandido.

The top rope spinning crossbody takes King down again, followed by a moonsault to the floor from Bandido with the other two hitting running flip dives at the same time (awesome spot). Back in and Flip gets beaten down, including Bandido suplexing Flamita into a moonsault for two. Gordon is right back with a springboard spear and it’s King coming back in to start wrecking people. Everything breaks down again and the sunset flip into a German suplex gets two on Flamita.

King kicks Scurll off the apron by mistake though and Horus is back in with his springboard tornado DDT for two. Bandido’s crucifix bomb plants King again and a Spanish Fly does the same to Flip. Horus DDTs the heck out of King again and everyone is down to a VERY warm reception from the fans. Bandido and Scurll are up for the slugout with the X Knee hitting Scurll.

Back up and Scurll tries to fight off all three challengers at once, earning himself a superkick into a moonsault slam for two. Flip and King are back in for the exchange of chops, followed by the Motor City Machine Guns’ Made In Detroit for two on Bandido. Flip and King dive onto Horus and Flamita so a triple kick to the head can get two on Bandido. Marty takes way too long loading up the chickenwing though (some things never change) and it’s a victory roll to get Bandido the pin and the titles at 16:47.

Rating: B+. As usual, Ring of Honor is at its best when they let it all hang out and go nuts, which is what they did here. Villain Enterprises are awesome in matches like this one and you can’t go wrong with Bandido and company. This was a heck of an entertaining match with everyone getting to show off. It’s also good to keep the World Champion out of this as he shouldn’t be taking a loss, even if someone else gets pinned.

Overall Rating: B-. That main event more than carries the show and it was a heck of a way to use the last third. They did everything you could want them to do out there and I had a good time watching it for the most part. It’s still weird to just do portions of big events as it feels like a highlight show rather than a show that goes week to week. Then again we tried that and it was such a mess that there is no point in going there again. In other words, it comes down to the action itself and this week’s was good.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor

Ring of Honor
Date: January 22, 2020
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman, Brian Zane
Hosts: Ian Riccaboni, Quinn McKay

We’re still dealing with the Final Battle Fallout and that means things should be getting interesting around here sooner or later. The last few shows have done very little to get my interest up after the pay per view but maybe they can change things around here. I mean, I wouldn’t bet on it but stranger things have happened. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

We open with a look at Jay Lethal and Jonathan Gresham winning the Tag Team Titles at Final Battle.

The hosts welcome us to the show, which will be all about tag teams. Fair enough.

Bouncers vs. Dalton Castle/Joe Hendry

We get the Code of Honor to start before Milonas shoves Hendry down a few times. Back from a break with Castle coming in and promising to slam Bruiser. Castle can’t do much to him so Bruiser starts punching him and gets in the fake biting. The Bouncers go New Zealand with a Battering Ram but Hendry low bridges Milonas to the floor. Bruiser even goes all the way up and dives onto all three for the big crash and quite the earned reaction. Back in and Milonas’ falling splash gets two on Hendry but Bruiser misses his running hip attack in the corner.

That means Castle can come back in to suplex Bruiser (not bad) for two and Hendry adds a fall away slam (not badder). Castle doesn’t seem to like Hendry tagging himself back in so Bruiser can shove Hendry away, allowing the hot tag to Milonas. Everything breaks down but Castle saves Hendry from Last Call. That lasts for all of a few seconds before Castle is sent outside, leaving Hendry to take the Last Call for the pin at 9:07.

Rating: C. The Bouncers have become one of the most consistent acts around here and that’s one of the most bizarre things I ever could have imagined. I don’t get how that works but they’re getting something out of it. Castle and Hendry aren’t doing as much for me, but it hasn’t seemed like ROH has had anything planned for them for weeks now.

Buy merch!

Ian and Quinn preview the rest of the show.

Johnson tells Black to get out to start, which isn’t a nice way to talk to your new mentor. Black tags himself in anyway and the fans are rather behind him. Machine slams him down though and it’s Johnson tagging himself back in. Everything breaks down and Black kicks away at everyone until we take a break.

Back with Johnson holding Master in an abdominal stretch, though Johnson won’t let him grab the rope. Johnson’s middle rope splash gets two but Black kicks his feet off the ropes. The hot tag brings in Machine to clean house with an Oklahoma Stampede and a spear getting two on Johnson. Master’s top rope elbow gets the same but Black runs Machine over. A superkick to Master sets up a fist drop from Johnson for the pin at 5:53.

Brian Zane gives us his Top 5 Tag Teams in Ring of Honor history, which of course is topped by the Briscoes. Like it could have been anyone else.

2 Guys 1 Tag vs. Briscoes

For the #1 contendership and that would be Josh Woods/Silas Young. A long Rock Paper Scissors game means it’s Woods starting against Mark with the latter making the mistake of going amateur against the former NCAA Champion. It’s a spank to Mark and we take a break. Back with Young hammerlocking Mark and getting two off a shoulder.

Jay is sick of waiting though and comes in for a hard forearm each to Woods and Young to knock them both outside. That means Mark can hit a springboard flip dive and we settle down to Jay beating up Young. Jay charges into a raised boot though and a blind tag allows Woods to come in for a Saito suplex.

Another suplex into a slingshot hilo gets two and we take another break. Back again with Mark getting the hot tag to come in and clean house. The Rock Bottom suplex drops Woods and the brainbuster plants Young. Woods counters the Froggy Bow into a quickly broken cross armbreaker with Woods being sent into a middle rope boot to the face.

Redneck Boogie gets two on Woods and Mark kicks Young in the face again. Woods superplexes Mark off the top though and everyone is down for a bit. They get back up for the four way slugout with the Briscoes getting the better of things. The Doomsday Device is loaded up but here are Lethal and Gresham for a distraction so Woods can Rolling Chaos Theory Mark for the pin at 15:14.

Rating: B-. The interference at the end brought it back down just a bit because they were starting to rock at the end there. Woods and Young work well together and they could have a good title shot against Lethal and Gresham. It makes sense for the champs to be scared of the Briscoes but dang I was hoping for a clean upset win here. Still though, good stuff.

Overall Rating: C+. The main event bailed this one out in a pretty big way as the other two matches didn’t exactly blow anything away. It was fine to have a theme though and showcasing the tag division a bit is a good idea. If nothing else, it’s nice to see that they actually have a tag division, which isn’t something more companies can brag about these days.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor

Ring of Honor
Date: January 15, 2020
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni
Hosts: Ian Riccaboni, Quinn McKay

We’re back after last week’s less than inspired show. The biggest problem with last week was they didn’t make me all that interested in seeing what happened to a lot of these people. That being said, it’s not like there were a lot of people included last week. It didn’t feel like a fallout show and I don’t see that continuing this week. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

We look at Jonathan Gresham vs. Alex Shelley in a teacher vs. student match with Shelley winning. Tonight, it’s the rematch.

Quinn and Ian explain that Shelley beat Gresham in a teacher vs. student match and tonight it’s the rematch.

We get clips of Flip Gordon making Rey Horus tap out at Final Battle Fallout.

Brian Johnson still doesn’t want to study under PJ Black.

Crowbar vs. Eli Isom

Yes the WCW Crowbar and he has a woman and a large man with him. He doesn’t like the new generation so Isom says he’ll show what the new generation can do. Crowbar jumps him in the corner to start but gets suplexed out. Some shoulders give Crowbar one but Isom is right back up with a dropkick. The big man blocks the suicide dive though and the woman’s distraction lets Crowbar hit a running knee to the back. Crowbar hits a legdrop between the legs and we take a break.

Back with Crowbar sending him into the barricade and hitting a Vader Bomb off said barricade. They head inside again with Isom firing off some forearms and hitting a King Corbin Deep Six for the double knockdown. A bicycle kick knocks Crowbar off the apron and into the arms of the large man. That means a big suicide dive to take them both down as the fans are behind Isom again. Back in and Crowbar catches him on top with a super hurricanrana but walks into a hard clothesline. Isom brainbusters him for the pin at 9:34.

Rating: C-. The match was fine, but Crowbar??? Of all the people they could bring in for something like this, they picked Crowbar and let him have two people out there with him? It isn’t about the content, but rather the idea of having Crowbar around which makes ROH look low rent. Crowbar is the kind of guy who would be a midcard attraction on a low level indy show, not a company that is supposed to be one of the biggest in the country.

We look at Bully Ray chokeslamming Maria Manic through a table so we can get some ECW chants.

Ray talks about not liking Maria put Angelina Love through a table in his arena.

Cheeseburger/Ryan Nova vs. Soldiers of Savagery

Isom is still at ringside after the first match. It’s a brawl to start with Nova hitting a fast suicide dive on Khan. Moses gets kicked in the head but Khan pulls him down from the apron for a Rock Bottom. We settle down to Cheeseburger getting beaten up with forearms to the back and the chest, setting up the bearhug. Cheeseburger jawbreaks his way to freedom and it’s a diving tag to Nova so house can be cleaned. Nova kicks away and Cheeseburger gets in on it as well, only to have Moses hit a double clothesline to cut them down. A Snapshot finishes Nova at 5:06.

Rating: C. The Soldiers are a good enough team and ROH could use some monsters like them. That being said, they have barely been featured on TV since their debut and they don’t have anything resembling a story. The tag division could use a boost, but they’re not getting anywhere against heel champions at the moment. I’ll give them this though: they’ve made Cheeseburger watchable with the Squad stuff so well done.

We run down the Honor Reigns Supreme card.

Jonathan Gresham vs. Alex Shelley

Jay Lethal is here with Gresham. They fight over arm control to start and that’s an early standoff. Gresham spins him down and works on the leg on the mat but Shelley spins out for another standoff. Back up and Gresham misses a moonsault press as we take a break. We come back with Shelley Downward Spiraling him into the buckle to take over.

They run the ropes until Shelley’s leapfrog is pulled down by the leg with Shelley dropping a knee on said leg. A few rolls send us into a Figure Four on Shelley but he channels his inner Dunne and bends the fingers apart for the escape. Gresham takes him down by the knee again and we take a second break.

Back again with Gresham hitting a shinbreaker, only to have Shelley snap off an enziguri with the good leg. Shelley pulls himself up but loses a chop off, mainly thanks to another kick to the ribs. The same rollup that Shelley used to win the first match gets two and a superkick rocks Gresham again. They trade headlock takeovers into headscissors (kind of late in the match for that sequence) until Gresham stacks him up for the clean pin at 11:35.

Rating: C+. The technical stuff was good here but they didn’t do that well into going into the history between these two. It was treated like some big showdown match but instead it was just a nice, back and forth technical exchange. Gresham working the knee was fine, but there was very little to suggest that he was some new big time heel, especially one who had just won a title by cheating.

Post match Shelley shakes hands with the champs before leaving in peace to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Better show overall this week but you would still have no idea that they are a month removed from their biggest show of 2019. Maybe that’s due to the change in bookers with Marty Scurll taking over and that’s one thing, but egads it’s rather annoying waiting around on something interesting to happen. Or at least for them to air the interesting thing that happened. Not a bad show this week, but another one you don’t need to see.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also -available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author- page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: January 8, 2020
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni
Hosts: Ian Riccaboni, Quinn McKay

We’re onto the Final Ball Fallout shows, meaning I should probably watch Final Battle at some point. At least we get some fresh content this week, but I’m not sure what to expect from everything else going on. Hopefully things pick up a bit in the new year, but I’m not sure I would get my hopes up. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

We look at PCO winning the World Title at Final Battle in a big upset.

The announcers recap Final Battle and hype up tonight’s show.

Here’s Villain Enterprises so PCO can get in his first address as the World Champion. The fact that Marty Scurll has yet to win the title but PCO has is mind boggling. Scurll praises PCO for wrestling longer than he has even been alive and finally achieving the destiny. PCO thanks the fans for believing in him but we’re clipped to Rush popping up on screen to say he’s coming for the title. They couldn’t even show the full segment?

Rush has his own friends now, with Kenny King (including Amy Rose) and Dragon Lee, who get their own jerseys as part of La Faction Ingobernable. PC says he isn’t giving the title back because they are Villain Enterprises. This was really flat and just set up a not exactly surprising rematch. Also Kenny King as Rush and Lee’s buddy? Really?

PJ Black and Josh Woods are in the back when Silas Young comes in. Black wants to be a Real Man and suggests that his student could beat Young’s student. Brian Johnson passes by so Young says go train him. The match seems to be made.

Clips of Dragon Lee winning the TV Title.

Dak Draper vs. Shaheem Ali

Kind of a random match. Draper headlocks him to start so Ali slips out and tries a shoulder block. An armdrag takes Draper down and hits a belly to back suplex as we take a break. Back with Draper hitting a delayed gutwrench suplex so the cockiness can get cranked up. Ali chops away and flips out of a belly to back suplex, setting up a release northern lights suplex. There’s a side kick and a running splash in the corner, setting up a running basement dropkick to rock Draper again. A Doctor Bomb gets two on Draper but he winds up on the apron and nails a springboard back elbow. The Magnum KO finishes Ali at 7:24.

Rating: C-. Not too bad here but Draper isn’t exactly the thrilling guy they seem to think he is. The participation ribbon is a nice touch but it’s the problem with the Top Prospect Tournament most years: these guys are billed as brand new names and most of the time they’re starting from scratch. Draper is kind of a hard one to go from brand new to something interesting and it’s a long way to go given his rather basic (not a bad thing) style.

Video on Vincent beating Matt Taven at Final Battle.

We look at the wacky tag match from Unauthorized with a wrestling referee and Ian dropping a top rope elbow. Brian Johnson took the pin and seemed rather humiliated.

PJ Black offers Johnson his support but Johnson respectfully declines. Johnson insists he doesn’t need a manager.

We look at Jay Lethal and Jonathan Gresham cheating to win the Tag Team Titles at Final Battle.

Gresham and Lethal are rather pleased. Lethal is sorry that it took him so long to see that Gresham was right. No one gets punished for what they do around here so he might as well cheat and enjoy the success. Gresham wants to remake the company in their image.

Brian Zane from Wrestling With Wregret gives us his top five Final Battle 2019 moments, with all of the new champions at the top of the list.

PCO/Marty Scurll vs. Dan Maff/Jeff Cobb

Scurll spins out of Cobb’s wristlock to start and makes the mistake of trying a shoulder. A dropkick puts Scurll down and it’s Maff coming in to miss the big elbow. Scurll slaps him on the top of the bald head and then runs away from the threat of violence. PCO comes in instead and the fans are rather pleased with the change. The staredown sets up the double suplex to drop the Villains but Scurll is right back with a cheap shot to Matt to take over.

Maff is so annoyed that he doesn’t see PCO coming from behind with a dropkick. Scurll gets thrown down though and Cobb elbows him in the face for a bonus. An overhead suplex sends Scurll flying for two and the standing moonsault is good for the same as we take a break. Back with Maff press slamming Scurll and driving PCO into the corner. The Cannonball crushes PCO and Maff drops a splash for two.

PCO gets taken into the corner for some chops but fights out with some rather slow punches to both of them. A double clothesline gets PCO out of trouble and it’s Scurll coming in to chop/strike away. Scurll DDTs both of them out of the corner and backdrops PCO onto Maff on the floor. A Boston crab/middle rope legdrop to the back of Cobb’s neck gets two and a suplex is good for the same. Scurll dives into a cutter from Maff though and he even mocks the bird pose before another cutter gets another two.

The French Canadian Destroyer gets two on Maff, because YOU NEED A DESTROYER IN EVERY SINGLE MATCH! PCO’s Cannonball gets two on Maff and a flip dive through the ropes knocks Cobb down again. Scurll tries his own dive but walks into the spear from Maff. That means a big dive from Maff, which doesn’t seem to hut PCO. The Swanton to the apron only hits apron and PCO is done again. Back in and Scurll small packages Maff for the pin at 15:16.

Overall Rating: C. This was their big fallout show from their biggest show of the year and I’m kind of disappointed. We got some recaps of a few things, but at the same time it felt like a show that just came and went. What was on here that would make me want to keep watching? An old World Champion while Scurll STILL feels like the biggest star in the company who is nowhere near the top of the card. It’s a weird place and I don’t know how they are going to get out of the whole situation.