IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Final Battle 2018
Date: December 14, 2018
Location: Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana

As tends to be the case, this is the best promotion of a show that ROH has done all year and that’s the best thing that could happen on the biggest show of the year. The big question here is whether this will be the last big show for Cody and the Young Bucks, who both happen to be in title matches tonight. Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at Cody debuting here two years ago and then losing the World Title here last year. The rest of the big matches get some attention as well.

The announcers run down more of the card.

Kenny King vs. Eli Isom

They added an extra hour to this show and this is the kind of thing they spent the extra time on? Before the match, King says he doesn’t want to be here against a commercial for the ROH Dojo. Tonight, King gets to prove that the old school is better than the new school. King knocks Isom into the corner to take over and sends him outside for the big corkscrew dive. A clothesline hits the post but Isom can’t do anything because King can beat him up with one arm.

Back in and Isom goes with three straight leapfrogs into a knee to the face to send King outside. That means the no hands flip dive as the fans are already getting into Isom. Isom’s armbar doesn’t get him far as King dropkicks him down and grabs a reverse suplex into a Stunner. Isom hits an enziguri and gets two off a very low lifting powerbomb. King is right back with Be Kind Rewind for two with King pulling him up before three. A quick Gory Bomb sets up a backslide driver for two on King but he dives into the Samoan driver for the pin at 9:00.

Rating: C-. Not a great match or anything but Isom has been a very pleasant surprise in the last few months. While he’s not great in the ring, I was expecting another Cheeseburger and got someone I could see turning into a completely solid midcarder one day. He had a nice performance here and with while he wasn’t ready to beat King, it was nice to see him hanging in there with him.

Post match King won’t shake his hand.

We recap Adam Page vs. Jeff Cobb. Jeff showed up and immediately won the TV Title but Page isn’t impressed. He wants to show that someone is just as strong as Cobb and can hang with him everywhere. I’m not sure if he can do that, but I’m also not sure Page can’t pull it off, which makes for an entertaining match.

TV Title: Jeff Cobb vs. Adam Page

Cobb is defending. Page isn’t playing here and goes right at Cobb with some running forearms and big boots to the jaw. He keeps getting shoved off but Page goes at him again and again as they’re certainly starting fast. Another dropkick puts Cobb on the floor but he catches the shooting star off the apron and sends Page flying with an overhead belly to belly. Back in and Page takes the knee out but mostly misses a Lionsault (barely slapping Cobb’s chest) for two.

Page heads up but gets caught in a fifteen second one armed superplex (good freaking grief). Cobb’s standing shooting star (because of course) misses so he goes to the middle rope, only to have Page roll through a crossbody into a fall away slam. That sends Cobb outside for the suicide dive and the middle rope moonsault as the fans are losing it over this stuff. Back in and Page hits a pair of running shooting stars for two and it’s time for the big slugout.

Cobb pulls Page out of the corner and flips him up into a sitout Tombstone for two more and Page is shaken. He’s fine enough to hit a superkick and a pair of discus forearms to rattle Cobb, who headbutts him right out to the apron. That’s the perfect place for the Buckshot Lariat but the Right of Passage is countered into a release F5 for two more. The Tour of the Islands is countered into a crucifix but another Buckshot Lariat attempt doesn’t work, allowing Cobb to hit the Tour of the Islands on the second attempt. Cobb isn’t done though and hits a second in a row to retain at 13:34.

Rating: B+. Cobb is right there with Brian Cage for the THAT’S NOT NORMAL award. He’s big and stout but can do flips and dives while also being an Olympic wrestler. I mean, what are you supposed to do with someone like that? At the same time, Page has become one of the most well rounded workers in the company and would have a rocket attached to his back if and when he winds up in NXT. This was a blast and worth checking out.

Madison Rayne talks about training her entire career for this moment.

Kelly Klein wants a fair title shot. These are the same promos that aired on TV.

We recap the Women’s Title match, which is basically Sumie Sakai defending against most of the division.

Women of Honor Title: Sumie Sakai vs. Kelly Klein vs. Karen Q vs. Madison Rayne

Karen breaks up a crossface chickenwing on Madison for no apparent reason and puts both of them in a Boston crab at the same time. Kelly and Karen start double teaming Madison with a t-bone suplex, only to have Karen kick Kelly in the face by mistake. We get the required Tower of Doom with Kelly handling the powerbombing but Sumie hangs onto the top and hits a missile dropkick on Kelly. It doesn’t do much damage though as Kelly is up with K Power to finish Karen at 6:56.

Madison hits a quick tornado DDT for two on Kelly and the Rayne Drop gets the same on Sumie. The champ is right back up with Smash Mouth to Madison and Kelly steals the pin at 8:58 to get us down to two. Sumie takes her down into a cross armbreaker but Kelly keeps her grip. The powerbomb isn’t enough to break it up so they stand up where Smash Mouth can connect for two. A hurricanrana is countered into a powerbomb to give Klein two and K Power gets the same. Super K Power finally gives us a new champion at 13:41.

Rating: C. Not bad but they didn’t have the epic match that they were shooting for. No matter what Ring of Honor tried to do, Sumie’s title reign wasn’t epic and the title change is just a regular title change. There’s nothing special or important about this because Sumie’s time with the title wasn’t all that great. She wasn’t interesting and her matches were nothing of note, but the company stuck with her forever and it made the title seem less and less important every time.

Kelly is presented with the title and hugs Sakai. Totally out of character for Kelly but when does that ever stop anyone?

Jonathan Gresham wants to prove himself against the other best technical wrestler in the world.

Jonathan Gresham vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

This should be awesome. Sabre slaps him in the face before the bell and Gresham manages to stay calm. Gresham wins the early wrestle off and they’re both right back up. It turns into a shoving match until Sabre takes him down by the wrist. Gresham grabs the leg to escape but can’t get much further than that. Some headlocks into headscissors let Sabre grab a hammerlock before going back to the headscissors to keep Gresham down.

Gresham manages to lock up the legs and sit up for a slugout but it’s another standoff as the fans are very pleased. They hit the mat again with Gresham grabbing the arm until Sabre fights up and grabs an abdominal stretch. He even rolls down into an armbar on the mat as the crazy counters continue. Back up and Sabre uppercuts him, with Gresham saying bring it on. It turns into a slap off, which just looks pathetic no matter what explanation they have. Throw punches already.

A half crab has Sabre in trouble but he reverses into a triangle choke because that’s something people can do. That’s reversed into the Octopus, which Sabre reverses into an ankle lock. Gresham turns that into an ankle lock of his own until Sabre rolls out and hits a kick to the chest. Another strike off goes to Sabre but he misses a moonsault, allowing Gresham to drop a knee on the arm. The armbar is countered into a cradle with Sabre bridging off his head for the pin (like the cocky jerk that he is) at 11:49.

Rating: B. This felt like something out of Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit from the 2003 Royal Rumble where Benoit got caught instead of getting beaten. It was exactly what this should have been with both guys looking incredible and having an excellent display of holds and counterholds. There’s going to be a rematch at some point, and that should certainly be the case.

Sabre won’t shake hands, because he’s a jerk.

We recap Dalton Castle vs. Matt Taven. Castle is back from an injury but Taven called him weak for missing time. Taven also says that he’s the real World Champion so a win over Castle would be a big deal for him.

Dalton Castle vs. Matt Taven

Castle has an army of Boys and is rolled out on the back of a glittery mini stage. Sounds normal for him. TK O’Ryan insists that Taven be introduced as the REAL World Champion and we get some confetti falling. Matt is feeling extra generous tonight and makes this a title match, with Castle touching the title because why not. It’s straight into a slugout to start and they head outside. Back in and Castle strikes the peacock pose so Taven sends him to the apron.

A springboard kick to the face knocks Castle off but the Boys catch him, allowing Castle to come back in and slug away. Taven knocks him outside for a running dropkick through the ropes and a suicide dive, but the big no hands dive hits barricade. Castle hammers away a bit more but Taven scores with a backbreaker back inside. The seated armbar gets Castle out of trouble until Taven flips out of the corner and grabs a DDT for two. A short DDT plants Taven again but O’Ryan gets in a cheap shot.

The Boys take him out but Marseglia comes out from underneath the ring for a double DDT. The distracted referee lets Taven get in a belt shot for two with frustration setting in on the kickout. Castle dropkicks him off the apron and hits a hurricanrana from the apron. The Bang A Rang sends Taven into the post so the Kingdom gets involved again, earning themselves a double ejection. Back in and another Bang A Rang gets two with Taven grabbing the rope. Another attempt is escaped and Taven knees him in the face. The Climax gives Taven the pin at 15:50.

Rating: B. I liked this one more than I was expecting to, with Castle not being able to overcome the odds and eventually falling clean to Taven in the end. Taven might not be the most interesting guy in the world, but at least they’re pushing him very hard and he’ll likely get the World Title at Supercard of Honor in April.

We recap Marty Scurll vs. Christopher Daniels. Scurll beat Daniels to win the World Title shot at Survival of the Fittest, with Daniels claiming he would have won in a one on one match. Scurll agreed to put the title shot on the line, but Daniels only has one match left on his contract. Therefore, it’s title shot vs. career.

Christopher Daniels vs. Marty Scurll

Daniels has a bad neck coming in. Feeling out process to start with an exchange of shoves and Daniels headlocking him down. Scurll slips out and pats him on the bald head, which of course means war. Another takedown sets up a hammerlock on Scurll, followed by the slingshot elbow for two. Scurll elbows him to the floor but misses the superkick from the apron. Instead Daniels pulls him down for the Arabian moonsault.

To mix things up a bit, Daniels pulls Scurll up by the fingers but, being nicer than he was in his younger years, goes with some chops instead. Scurll kicks the leg out and gets two off a piledriver as the fans chant for Bruiser Brody (I think). The chickenwing is countered into a cradle and Daniels busts out a Burning Hammer for two.

Angel’s Wings is countered into a Tombstone with the Undertaker cover getting two. Scurll snaps the fingers but Daniels hits a not completely locked Angel’s Wings for two more. The Best Moonsault Ever misses and Marty superkicks him twice. Graduation gets two so Marty stomps on the neck to knock Daniels silly, setting up the chickenwing for the tap at 17:36.

Rating: B. Another good match here with a very well told story. Daniels wasn’t the man he used to be and didn’t quite have it anymore while Scurll was more than willing to be the villain that he was born to be. Daniels going out in defeat is exactly what you would expect here and it was a heck of a big win for Scurll. Well done all around and the ending was exactly as it should have gone.

Post match Scurll leaves and Daniels gets the big moment….until Bully Ray comes in to low blow him. Ray calls out Flip Gordon and it’s time for the I Quit match, which is all about Ray being a jerk to the younger Gordon, who he doesn’t think is a man.

Flip Gordon vs. Bully Ray

Gordon is in military gear and comes through the crowd carrying the American flag. He comes over the barricade and springboards in with a Phenomenal forearm as commentary is completely behind Gordon here. They fight to the floor with Ray being sent into the barricade for a running forearm. A trashcan to the head gets Ray out of trouble and it’s time for a table. Ray can’t powerbomb him through it though and Gordon grabs another table as commentary admits that they’re a bit biased here. Just in case you’re kind of dumb you see.

Ray gets in what looked like a chain shot and stops to yell at various executives before shoving ring announcer Bobby Cruise. The referee yells at him too and gets tossed aside, leaving Ray to threaten ROH ambassador Cary Silkin. Daniels runs back in and dives over Silkin to protect him but gets dropped as well. Gordon gets thrown down but won’t quite. Instead Ray grabs Gordon’s girlfriend and threatens to powerbomb her through the table.

The bloody Gordon wants to quit (without actually doing it) to save her but Silkin hits Ray with the kendo stick instead. Gordon gets up and makes the save before giving his girlfriend a very bloody kiss. A top rope flag shot to the head sets up a Crossface with the flag but Silas Young runs in for the save and Misery. It’s time for lighter fluid both on Gordon and a table so here’s Cheeseburger to go after Young.

That earns him Misery (shame they didn’t burn him instead) so Colt Cabana comes in to fight them both until a low blow from Young stops him as well. Silas gets the lighter….and there go the lights because Sandman is here. On the biggest ROH show of the year because THIS NEEDS TO BE ABOUT ECW TOO!!! Beer is consumed and Ray misses a charge, allowing Gordon to hit a good superkick (Sandman didn’t hit Ray). A less good Star Spangled Stunner lets Gordon grab a pair of kendo sticks and unload on Ray for the win at 14:23.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure on this one. They had a bunch of stuff that fit with the story, but at the same time there was too much crammed into less than fifteen minutes. Gordon winning on his own in the end was the right call so they got the finish right, but at the same time there wasn’t enough of a focus on him having to fight back and overcome the adversity. I did like it and it was good, but they needed either more time or less stuff. Like less Sandman for example.

Caprice Coleman joins commentary to replace Cabana.

We recap the World Title match. Cody debuted here two years ago at Final Battle and then lost the World Title to Dalton Castle here last year. He hasn’t gotten a one on one title rematch yet so tonight it’s his second match against Lethal at Final Battle. This hasn’t been a strong build, but that happens a lot with the World Title.

ROH World Title: Cody vs. Jay Lethal

Cody is defending and has Brandi Rhodes with him. He’s also in military gear, which is probably too close to the previous match. Jay has a wish list on his back, ala Cody’s list when he left WWE for a nice touch. Hang on though as Cody grabs the mic and says it sounds like the fans love him. Fans: “WE DON’T LOVE YOU!” Well you can’t say they aren’t being clear about their thoughts.

Cody certainly doesn’t love them, because if he did, he would be working the Madison Square Garden show. That earns him a Stardust chant and Cody is a little panicked. Jay says this is his company and he’s leaving the new gold of the company dull. Feeling out process to start with Cody not being able to take over on the leg. A headlock doesn’t work either and Cody slides between the legs but comes up holding his own knee. Of course he’s faking and slides outside for a kiss from Brandi and a chorus of booing.

Lethal hits another dropkick, stops to glare at the crowd (interesting), and fails at the Lethal Combination. Instead Cody starts in on the arm but pauses for some pushups. The Disaster Kick misses though and Lethal kicks the knee out again. If you’re going with a regular knee attack, why do the fake knee injury earlier? The knee gets wrapped around the post but Lethal hasn’t completed the Ric Flair requirements yet, meaning no Figure Four.

Jay kicks at the leg before getting an O’Connor roll but Brandi distracts the ref. Said ref is sent into the corner for a distraction, allowing Brandi to hit a spear (with her surgically repaired shoulder, her new finisher) to set up Cross Rhodes for a near fall. Back up and the referee won’t let Lethal hit Shattered Dreams so Brandi comes in again, only to spear Cody by mistake. Lethal tries the Lethal Injection but hits Brandi (I use the word hits loosely as it wasn’t even close), mainly due to Cody pulling her in the way.

Another Cross Rhodes gets another two and Cody slaps on the Figure Four….with the bell ringing because Adam Page runs in to ring it. I’m not sure why you would do that, as you already had Jay in trouble and ring the bell in a hurry instead of letting it do more damage. In theory it’s to allow more interference, but it seems a little more complicated than it needs to be. Lethal hits his own Cross Rhodes for two but Hail to the King hits Cody’s knee.

As it turns out that hurts the knee again, allowing Jay to knock him outside for the triple suicide dives. Eh it’s Final Battle though so let’s make it SEVEN, though Cody is fine enough to block the eighth with a spit of water to the face. Din’s Fire (Vertebreaker) gives Cody two and Jay kicks Cody into the referee. That means a belt shot to Cody’s knee, some low superkicks, the Lethal Injection, more low superkicks, and the Figure Four to retain at 23:51.

Rating: B-. There were a few too many shenanigans here with Lethal teasing a heel turn to go with everything else going on. With Cody likely leaving soon, I’m not complaining about Lethal retaining, but he seems to be in the middle of a six month filler reign. This place really does need some better main eventers, and as usual it feels like they take WAY too long to set people up.

Post match Scurll comes out to stare at Lethal, followed by Nick Aldis and the unnamed Kamilla Kaine for the staredown from the ramp. I….eh maybe this could work.

We recap the Ladder War. The Briscoes and Young Bucks had a heck of a match for the titles that ended in a double DQ. SCU won the titles in a triple threat match and have their new contracts, but now we’re having a big ladder match to decide things. To be fair, this is the best done story on the show and it should be the main event. If nothing else, who is supposed to follow them?

SCU says New York is the worst town but they’ll make it a great memory.

Tag Team Titles: Briscoes vs. Young Bucks vs. SCU

SCU (Scorpio Sky and Frankie Kazarian) are defending here. The Briscoes head outside and start throwing chairs inside, leaving the Bucks to slug it out with the champs. The Bucks get the better of it and start superkicking until Kazarian slingshots out into a hurricanrana on Mark, sending him into a spear on Jay. Everyone heads outside with Sky being put on a table but the Briscoes chair Matt down.

Jay hits a double stomp to put Sky through the table and the Briscoes take over with various metal shots. Kazarian is busted open and Mark puts the ladder around his neck to slam into people’s faces. Some superkicks break that up and Coleman thinks we might see some more later. Jay gets kicked to the floor and a wheelbarrow faceplant drops Sky. The Bucks hit a double dropkick on Sky before stopping for a Too Sweet.

The first ladder is set up but the champs take over on the Bucks, complete with some loud swearing from Sky. It’s too early for the titles though and the fight over getting to climb is on. Nick and Kazarian shove the ladder back and forth at each other until stereo superkicks put the champs down. The Briscoes come back in with some chairs to clean house though until Kazarian hits a chair shot to Jay’s back. Another shot takes out Kazarian’s ankle though and the Briscoes take over again.

Mark gets kicked out to the floor for a flip dive from Sky and it’s time to unleash the series of dives until Matt is suplexed through a table. The bloody Jay finds a staple gun but Kazarian breaks it up with a slingshot cutter through the table at ringside. And now, a sledgehammer from Matt has Jay begging him to swing. Since that’s a bad idea, we get another ladder instead.

After catapulting it into Sky’s face, Matt goes up but gets pulled back down into a backbreaker onto the open chair because the back injury is his thing. Nick hits the slingshot X Factor to send Jay into a chair but the also bloody Mark brings in another ladder. A springboard spear knocks Sky off the ladder so it’s time for the Meltzer Driver, with Mark diving off the ladder with a cutter for the save.

There’s a Jay Driller to Matt and everyone is down for a few seconds. Jay loads up yet another ladder and then bridges a second between the standing version and the corner. Kazarian is back in with a Styles Clash to drive Jay crotch first into a chair. That’s enough to get a hand on a belt with Nick going up for the save but being tossed WAY down and through a table on the floor. Jay climbs up as well and Mark pelts a chair up at Kazarian to knock him through another table, leaving Jay to pull down the titles for the win at 22:40.

Rating: A. Well that was great. This was the exact same idea that worked for the original TLC matches: take six guys and let them go completely insane with one spot after another until one team finally puts the others away after a big move. It was entertaining and nothing was going to follow it so this was the right call for the main event. Great stuff with the blood making it seem more intense, which is exactly what it should have been.

Overall Rating: B+. The extra hour didn’t really need to exist here, especially with an added match of Eli Isom vs. Kenny King. I think we’ve established that ROH isn’t going to do the sane thing of just trimming some of the longer matches down, so this is pretty much all we can do in the future.

Speaking of the future, it’s clear that things are changing around here and that could be scary. Cody and the Young Bucks and company have dominated ROH for a long time now and with the strong chance that they’re gone (assuming there aren’t shenanigans afoot), ROH needs to change a lot going forward. I’m not sure where things are going to go, but it could be a heck of a bad time if they’re not handled the right way. Or it’ll be an improvement because so many people have to step up to fill in the gap. Anyway, very strong show here and a great way to close out the year.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-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: December 26, 2018
Host: Ian Riccaboni

It’s time for a Best of 2018 show, which is something that I can live with for a change instead of the filler episodes before the next regular TV show. There’s been good stuff over the year and that means we should be getting some good matches and moments on the card. Just don’t focus on the stuff that only ROH seems to find important and we should be fine. Let’s get to it.

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

As usual, I’ll be posting the full versions of the matches, even if they’re clipped on the broadcast.

Opening sequence.

We open with a look at some of the bigger shows and moments of the year with Ian narrating in a nice start.

From Supercard of Honor XII.

Cody vs. Kenny Omega

Cody comes in with Bernard the Business Bear (there better be a good reveal), Brandi Rhodes, and a bunch of cops. The fans lose their minds at the opening bell but hang on because Cody needs a kiss from Brandi. It takes over a minute to lock up….and they immediately cut to the crowd. Cody’s headlock goes nowhere as Kenny kicks him to the floor and runs the ropes until Bernard trips him up.

Omega dives onto Bernard and takes off the head revealing….just a guy, or at least someone not important enough to show. Cody uses the distraction to get in a cheap shot as the bear is ejected. Oh come on now. Hasn’t he suffered enough? Cody loads up Shattered Dreams but stops and flips off the crowd instead. So to clarify: the WWE Hall of Famer who works here is a heel move but Goldust is a face. Got it. I think? The fans sing for Omega and are rewarded by Cody powerbombing him to cut off a comeback attempt.

The American Deathlock goes on but Kenny makes the rope, only to be slapped by Brandi. In a blatant bit of cheating, Cody has a foreign object thrown in but uses the referee distraction to kick Omega low. All Cody so far. The beating continues on the floor with Cody shifting his focus to the back. Omega gets sent face first into a chair but hang on because Cody has to steal a beer and spit it at fans. Of course that gets Cody a chant and it’s time to slap it out.

Omega gets the better of the chopping but his moonsault hits knees. Cody heads outside and takes one heck of a suicide dive, followed by a sitout bulldog for two back inside. Something like Adam Cole’s old Last Shot plants Cody again and there’s the V Trigger for a big reaction. A pair of Snapdragons makes things even worse but Cody breaks up a third attempt and scores with a Disaster Kick for two.

Another V Trigger in the corner looks to set up the One Winged Angel but Cody reverses into a Figure Four instead. Omega is in trouble and rolls around to little avail. A few slaps to the face wake him up enough for the turnover though and the hold is broken. Cody grabs a dragon screw legwhip to send Omega to the apron and it’s table time (Kevin: “Did we have a banquet earlier today?”).

Cross Rhodes through the table is broken up and a piledriver is blocked as well with Omega trying the Snapdragon on the apron. It knocks Cody down, though it would be a little more effective if Cody’s head actually touched the apron. Amazingly enough that’s not enough to finish Cody, who picks Omega up and drops him ribs first on the side of the table for a good looking crash. Instead of, you know, using the table again, Cody throws Omega back in for two off the Alabama Slam (almost no reaction from the crowd) and they’re both down again.

Another V Trigger rocks Cody and the reverse hurricanrana gets almost no rotation and Cody nearly lands on his back. Again, the fans aren’t reacting to most of this stuff and it’s not a good sign when they’re only about twenty minutes in to what’s likely going to be a crazy long match. Brandi sets up a table on the floor and gets on the apron, meaning it’s a missed V Trigger to put her through the table. Kenny is distracted so Cross Rhodes gets a close two, again with VERY little reaction.

Cody doesn’t know that Brandi is down so here’s Flip Gordon to help her out, following up on a Being the Elite angle. I know that’s the case because commentary tells us about it, which is all I need. A superplex brings Omega back down and it’s time for a whipping with the weightlifting belt as we move into the Hollywood Hogan period. Cody misses the moonsault though and one heck of a knee to the face has him in even more trouble.

Two more running knees get two (Remember: when Omega spams moves, he’s awesome. When someone in WWE does it, they’re not real wrestlers.) but the One Winged Angel is reversed into a Vertebreaker for two more. We get the required ref bump (How else are you going to get the Bucks in there?) and a double crossbody puts both guys down. Cue the Bucks (with a Being the Elite camera) to decide whom to superkick. They aim for Cody but hit Omega instead with reality setting in very quickly. Cross Rhodes gives Cody the pin at 36:35.

Rating: B-. Well, it was good and long (you could have cut 10-15 minutes) and it advanced the story. The problem is this felt like a big chapter but not a chapter important enough for 36 minutes of nothing mind blowing. Cody can’t get to that level and it’s showing more and more every time he’s in a major match. They did a very good job of explaining things that set up the match and feud, which was a major issue coming in so well done there. Overall though, this was lacking and nothing that I’m going to remember as really, the big spot was Brandi’s table bump and that was nothing great. Good, but not what they were hyping.

Omega glares at the Bucks as he’s helped to the back.

Video on Punishment Martinez winning the TV Title.

From October 24.

TV Title: Jeff Cobb vs. Punishment Martinez

Martinez is defending. They slug it out at the bell and Cobb shoves him around. The stomp out of the corner is easily blocked and Cobb hits the spinning belly to back suplex instead. A knee to the face has no effect and Martinez isn’t sure what to do. Martinez kicks him in the face to put Cobb down on one knee. The Silencer is shrugged off and Cobb clotheslines him down with ease. The Tour of the Islands gives Cobb the pin and the title at 1:28 as Martinez is off to WWE. This was EXACTLY how this should have gone as Martinez has been a monster but now the bigger monster has devoured him. Very smart booking.

Quick look at the Briscoes vs. the Young Bucks from Best in the World.

Clip of the Kingdom winning the Six Man Tag Team Titles at Survival of the Fittest.

From July 25.

ROH World Title: Cody vs. Matt Taven vs. Jay Lethal vs. Dalton Castle

Castle is defending and it’s one fall to a finish, even though the match is called a Survival Match. I get what they’re going for and it’s not terrible by any means but I’ve never liked that name for a one fall match. Castle is also very banged up but has the Boys with him to counter Cody’s seconds in Brandi and Bernard. Taven and Castle go straight to the floor so Lethal can dropkick Cody back inside.

Back in and Taven misses a missile dropkick but backdrops Letha to the apron for a springboard kick to the head. The Disaster Kick puts Taven on the floor as Castle gets back in for a running clothesline to put Cody on the floor. There’s the Peacock strut but Lethal comes back in to clear things out. Two suicide dives per opponent has Lethal in full control and we actually don’t take a break. Bernard even takes one of his own so Castle gets back inside where Brandi tosses him something.

That’s just a ruse though so a low blow can take Taven down, meaning it’s a showdown with Cody vs. Castle. The American Deathlock works on Castle’s bad knee so Lethal goes up for the save. Taven breaks it up and does the frog splash for a save instead, which fits him perfectly. Back from a break with Lethal hitting a DDT on Cody and a Downward Spiral for two on Castle. The Figure Four goes on Castle with Cody making a save, only to get kicked in the face for his efforts. Lethal goes crazy with chops on Taven, who collapses against the ropes in a heap.

Castle can’t hit the Bang a Rang on Taven, who rolls him up for a VERY delayed two (there’s your conspiracy). With Taven panicking, Cody comes in and hits Cross Rhodes for two and it’s a three way strike off between everyone but Taven. Cody powerslams Lethal and there’s the Disaster Kick to Castle. Taven is back in with a Climax for two on Castle as Cody saves. A double Lethal Injection drops Cody and Taven to the floor and the single version drops Castle. Taven pulls the referee out at two though and we take a break.

Back again with Lethal diving into a chair and Taven hitting his great looking dive onto Cody. It’s table time (completely unnecessary) and a Tower of Doom sends Taven and Cody through the wood with Lethal sliding in to get two. Lethal and Castle slug it out but the Lethal Injection is countered into the Bang a Rang. That’s countered as well and the Lethal Injection ends Castle to give Lethal the title back at 17:44.

Rating: B+. The more I think about this, the more I like it. Castle retaining at Best in the World was just a swerve so they could do something like this and there’s nothing wrong with that. Lethal feels a bit like a transitional champion and the safe choice to take the title off of the injured Castle but there are far worse choices. You’ll get solid to great matches and the fans respect him so it’s as good of an option as there was available. Now ROH can figure out where they want to go and Lethal is a fine placeholder. It came in an entertaining match as well, with everyone working hard and feeling like they could pull it off.

From Best in the World.

Tag Team Titles: Briscoe Brothers vs. Young Bucks

The Bucks are challenging and it’s Nick vs. Mark to start. It’s an early standoff until Nick gets in Mark’s face and knocks Jay off the apron. A low bridge sends Nick outside but he’s fine enough to kick Jay in the head. Everything breaks down and the superkicks are blocked (the Briscoes must be psychics), setting up double face to face staredowns. The Briscoes hit the ropes though and NOW the superkicks connect.

Nick dropkicks them both and a double basement dropkick has Jay in trouble. A Razor’s Edge/neckbreaker combination gets two on Matt and we settle down to a more standard formula. The fans are split here (again, well duh) as Mark stomps away and Jay gets in a choke behind the referee’s back. Matt tries to slide to the floor and run around but has to stop for a superkick, allowing Mark to stomp him down again.

Another superkick is enough for the hot tag off to Nick, who wastes no time with the springboard flip dive. Nick knees Jay in the face but Mark pulls him off the ropes into a rear naked choke of all things. Matt gets Blockbustered and it’s the neckbreaker into the Froggy Bow for two on Nick. The super crucifix bomb is broken up by Matt and a double clothesline takes the champs down. An exchange of superkicks actually goes to the Briscoes and the Jay Driller plants Matt with Nick having to make a save.

The Doomsday Device is broken up by a springboard cutter and a victory roll gets a rather close two. With Mark knocked to the floor, the Bucks hit a springboard Doomsday Device for another near fall on Jay but Mark takes out the referee. Mark brings in a chair, which is promptly superkicked right back into his face. The Meltzer Driver gets two on Jay as Mark makes another save.

Another Driver is loaded up but Mark pelts a chair at Nick’s head (that looked BAD, in a painful way) and the Jay Driller on a chair gets two on Matt. An elevated piledriver on a chair can’t get a pin? Now the super Razor’s Edge/neckbreaker combination is enough to put Matt away at 17:00. That last move looked great but they didn’t need to do that and the Jay Driller.

Rating: A-. Yep this was awesome and that’s really not a surprise. The Briscoes are an awesome team and can put on a great match with just about anyone. When you have the Bucks with their heads on straight and they’re being serious, they can carry their end of an excellent match too. This was the best thing on the show so far and that tends to be the case with the tag matches.

Next week: the Women of Honor. Must we?

Overall Rating: A-. Well that was easy. This was a bunch of good matches that I’ve seen before (or at least clips of them with the last match shown in full) so it’s really hard to complain about much on here. They do know how to put together a good show like this and that’s what we got with this one. There isn’t much to say on something like this but it was still rather entertaining, which was the idea.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-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: December 19, 2018
Location: Stage AE, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana, Caprice Coleman

So Final Battle has come and gone but around here….actually you know what I’m going to say here so I’m not even going to bother. It’s going to be a stand alone match tonight, but there’s a chance that we’re going to be seeing something Christmas related. That kind of show has been hit or miss in wrestling history but hopefully it works well here. Let’s get to it.

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

Tonight, Jay Lethal and Matt Taven will be captains in the Christmas Surprise ten man tag. They’ll both be opening presents to find out who their partners will be. Lethal is happy but Taven only wants the rest of the Kingdom on his team because he hates surprises. I think you know where this is going.

Opening sequence.

Twisted Sisterz vs. Britt Baker/Madison Rayne

That would be Thunder Rosa and Holidead, who jumped Baker and Rayne at Survival of the Fittest to set this up. Baker is a hometown girl and rather over as you might have guessed. Some early forearms send Rosa outside and Madison hits a dive off the apron to take them both down. Back in and Madison gets a few rollups on Holidead, who them catches her in a belly to back faceplant to take over.

It’s off to a reverse chinlock to slow Rayne down before Rosa comes in to tie her in the Tree of Woe. That means a running dropkick to send us to a break. Back with Rayne still in trouble as Holidead gets two off a neckbreaker. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Rayne jawbreaks her way to freedom. It’s off to Baker for a running knee in the corner, followed by the Sling Blade.

Back to back basement lariats keep Rosa in trouble but Holidead breaks up what looked to be a double neckbreaker. An Irish Curse into a Backstabber into a Downward Spiral into Rosa slamming Holidead (mostly) onto Baker gets two with Rayne making the save. Holidead hits a sweet spinebuster on Baker, who comes back with a ripcord forearm into a cutter from Rayne. That earns Rayne a shot to the face and White Noise into a top rope double stomp to the back finishes Baker at 9:57.

Rating: C. I was worried that they were going to go with the upset by having the thrown together team win, which would have been a horrible idea as the Sisterz are a nice monster team who could go somewhere if there was somewhere to go in this division. Still though, it’s better than nothing and I’ll take what I can get.

Lethal and Taven open some of their names. Jay is rather pleased but Matt complains about a series of Melvins. No names are given.

We look back at Jeff Cobb winning the TV Title.

Lethal is annoyed that he didn’t get Cheeseburger in the drawing but Caprice Coleman gives him one last present….which is of course Cheeseburger. So who got thrown off Lethal’s team? He didn’t have any names left so why would he be convinced that there was no Cheeseburger?

Taven gets one extra name in the form of a stocking and seems happy for once.

Ian and Colt ask Caprice how he knew what was in the box. Coleman says it was just the Christmas spirit.

Team Lethal vs. Team Taven

Jay Lethal, Cheeseburger, Rhett Titus, Vinny Marseglia, Jeff Cobb

Matt Taven, Brian Milonas, Jonathan Gresham, Beer City Bruiser, Marty Scurll

Milonas and Bruiser come in from the bar, as they should. As you might guess, there’s quite an argument over who is starting here. There’s also an argument over the Christmas attire the wrestlers are wearing, because this isn’t quite as serious as some matches. Lethal even tries to engineer a trade with Gresham for Marseglia but that’s against the rules, which are strictly followed around here. The fans give us a MERRY CHRISTMAS chant as Lethal and Gresham start things off.

The technical sequence goes to Gresham but it’s Bruiser tagging himself in because Gresham isn’t willing to cheat. It’s off to Bruiser for a headlock but Lethal speeds things up and takes the skin off his chest with some chops. The hiptoss into the basement dropkick keeps Bruiser in trouble and we take a break.

Back with Taven wanting and receiving Cheeseburger, who comes in with some pushups. Taven immediately tags out to bring in Milonas, but Cheeseburgers is willing to fight for himself. A headlock doesn’t get Cheeseburger very far so he tries speeding things up and jumping over Milonas in the corner until Milonas needs oxygen. Titus comes in without a tag and tries a suplex until Cheeseburger, Milonas and Bruiser suplex Cheeseburger and Titus at the same time. Marseglia isn’t going to be outdone because he brings in an ax to scare Marty.

Someone throws Marty the umbrella, but he opts to tag out to Taven instead. No one will tag either of them though and it’s time for the fight that everyone else in the match wants to see. They hit the ropes a few times before heading outside for the huge brawl. Bruiser goes up top for the huge dive to take everyone out and it’s off to a break.

Back with Lethal superkicking Marseglia out of instinct, bringing Taven in to deck Lethal. A bunch of splashes in the corner have Lethal in trouble, with Taven having to kick Gresham and whip him in. That goes badly for Taven as Lethal starts whipping people into Taven in the corner. Stereo basement dropkicks to Taven set up a German suplex from Cobb. The dog pile cover gets two with Gresham diving over for the save.

Bruiser comes in and turns Lethal inside out with a clothesline. Milonas starts cleaning house but Cobb picks him up, only to have Scull shove him over before the Tour of the Islands can hit. Taven beats up Cheeseburger (this guy’s all right) but gets caught in the Lethal Injection. Cobb suplexes Milonas to a big pop and hits a good Tour of the Islands on Bruiser for the pin at 15:34.

Rating: C+. Cobb is a beast and something like this is going to be on his highlight reel for a long time. This was the kind of match that is a fun way to fill in a show that doesn’t mean much. Even the announcers were talking about how this wasn’t as serious and the interaction between the guys were fine. It’s a good idea for a match and the people had a fun time, which was the point.

Overall Rating: C. Much like the main event, this whole show was little more than a way to fill in a week as we move from Final Battle to the start of the new year. The next two weeks or so are going to be Best Of shows so they might as well have some fun here. I liked the main event and the opener was fine so it served its purpose well enough.

Results

Twisted Sisterz b. Britt Baker/Madison Rayne – Top rope double stomp to Baker

Team Lethal b. Team Taven – Tour of the Islands to Bruiser

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-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: December 12, 2018
Location: Stage AE, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Colt Cabana, Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s the go home show for Final Battle and most of the card is actually set for the only time of the year. I could go for more of that but ROH would rather have the ridiculous scheduling for whatever reason. On top of that this is likely the last time we’ll be seeing the major stories this year as we tend to get Best Of shows to close out December. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of SCU’s contract situation and Christopher Daniels agreeing to have his last match against Marty Scurll at Final Battle with a World Title shot on the line. Makes enough sense and Daniels is a big enough legend around here to make it important.

Opening sequence.

Silas Young vs. Flip Gordon

Fallout from a few weeks back in that still bad Sandman match. Hang on though as Flip asks if Silas is really the Last Real Man. If he’s that serious, let’s make this an I Quit match as a Final Battle preview. Silas kicks him down and says it’s on. Gordon is in trouble early and a suplex makes things even worse. Flip starts the flipping into the kicks and a springboard spear has Silas on the floor. I’ll let you figure out what Gordon does from there, just as a little exercise.

Some hard forearms against the barricade have Silas in more trouble and a snap suplex on the floor makes things even worse. Back in and Flip misses the 450, setting up the backbreaker into a clothesline. A springboard clothesline is ducked (with a nipup instead of a flip) and Flip sends him outside for a middle rope moonsault. We take a break and come back with Flip putting a table up in the corner but Silas throws a chair at his head. Some chair shots to the ribs keep Flip down and Silas stands on the ribs while screaming for him to quit.

That’s a big negative so Silas knees him in the face and hits a swinging hanging neckbreaker. A seated full nelson from the side (cool) has Flip in more trouble but he pops up, only to miss a dive to the floor in a bad looking crash. It’s kendo stick time so Gordon grabs the chair and beats him to the strike. Gordon loads up the stick but here’s Bully Ray to choke him with a chain. Silas adds a spear through the table….and apparently it’s a no contest at about 11:00.

Rating: C-. Well they were getting somewhere until the really stupid ending. Why even book an I Quit match when the ending is a no contest? Is it really asking too much to have Young, who might have been leaving when this was filmed, give up in a match to a fired up Gordon? The good thing here is this feud has made Flip grow a bit, which was really necessary to get him away from the place he seemed destined to stay. I haven’t liked how the feud has gone, but I like the eventual result.

Heart monitor vignette again.

Video on Hangman Page vs. Jeff Cobb. Page has NOT been impressed.

Here are Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky for a chat but the Briscoe Brothers jump them from behind. The Young Bucks run in to get rid of the Briscoes and shake the champs’ hands. In a smart move, the Briscoes shove SCU into the Bucks and it’s time for superkicks. The Bucks bring in a ladder but Kazarian dropkicks it into them, leaving Sky to dive onto the Briscoes. SCU climbs the ladders and pose to end a rather good segment.

Video on the Women’s Title match between Sumie and the other three women who don’t stand out enough to remember.

Christopher Daniels, with some clips of his career, talks about how he’s accomplished everything around here and there’s nothing left for him to do. Would anyone blame him for just retiring? Well he’s not cool with just leaving and having the chance to fight again tomorrow. What’s what matters to him more than anything else. He wants to be able to keep fighting but he’s put himself in this position. He’s made Joe Koff put him out of the company and Koff knows that if Daniels gets a new contract, the evil could be right back the next day.

The sands of time are starting to run out and it’s leading to Final Battle. He had Scurll beaten at Survival of the Fittest and it’s going to be his one last shot at a fresh start. Daniels knows what Scurll is thinking because he’s been there before. This means so much more to Daniels though and he’s going to bring it like never before. Outstanding stuff here from Daniels, which has been the case for a long time now.

Kingdom vs. Cody/Jay Lethal/Dalton Castle

What does it say that I forgot Cody was getting the World Title shot on Friday? I kind of dig Castle’s ugly Christmas sweater. Lethal and O’Ryan start things off but Cody tags himself in before anything can happen. And now Castle does the same so he can go after O’Ryan, drawing everyone else in for the big brawl. Cody Disaster Kicks Marseglia to the floor and suicide dives onto Taven and Lethal at the same time. That leaves Castle to suplex O’Ryan and it’s legally back to Cody as things get back to normal. Actually regular tagging isn’t normal around here but I think you get the idea.

A delayed vertical suplex drops O’Ryan again and Lethal comes back in for an elbow to the jaw. Castle comes back in and we take a break. Back with O’Ryan still in trouble, meaning we must have a ton of time for this thing. Taven comes in to get a cheap shot on Castle and it’s Cody getting caught in the Kingdom corner. That means a lot of chopping because wrestlers don’t throw enough right hands anymore. On the other end of the spectrum, wrestlers do use way too many chinlocks, like O’Ryan here at the moment.

Cody fights out in a hurry and snaps off a powerslam so Castle can come back in to clean house. Taven breaks up a run down the apron and it’s the almost entirely banged up Castle being sent into the barricade. Somehow the referee sees NONE of this and it’s Marseglia coming in legally to keep up the stomping. A running knee to the face lets Taven yell at the crowd and get a rather delayed one with Lethal coming in to stare at him for the break.

Back from another break with Castle hitting a DDT to get himself out of trouble and handing it back over to Lethal. A powerslam puts Marseglia down and the announcers point out that it’s the same move Cody used earlier. Taven is right back up and tries a Conchairto so Castle BEATS HIM WITH THE SWEATER. They fight into the crowd and run into the back so we’re down to two on two.

Cody tags himself in but Lethal isn’t going with that and hits a cutter on O’Ryan. Marseglia hits a Sliced Bread as everything breaks down. The Lethal Injection to O’Ryan is broken up with a rollup from Cody as the announcers aren’t sure what’s going on. Lethal takes Marseglia to the floor and Cross Rhodes finishes O’Ryan at 15:34.

Rating: C+. This was exactly what the last match before the biggest show of the year should have been and they did a good job with what they were shooting for here. They even managed to have the right person take the fall instead of one of the people who matter at Final Battle. Every story was advanced here and that’s all this was supposed to do and I was impressed by how well they pulled it off.

Post match Cody says there’s nothing left to say and he’ll see Lethal at Final Battle.

Castle says he’s going to be dishing out a baker’s dozen of suplexes. Wait isn’t a baker’s dozen twenty? We’ll go with twenty instead.

Taven says he’ll win because of who he is.

Page says Cobb is in trouble because he has the guts to jump off the roof. The title should have been his a long time ago.

Cobb is ready.

Jonathan Gresham is ready to show he can out wrestle Zack Sabre Jr.

Madison Rayne has wrestled her entire career for this moment.

Kelly Klein says she hasn’t gotten a fair shot in eight months. Klein: “At Final Battle, you will lose to me.” That’s as bad a line as it sounds, but the other two women don’t even get to talk.

Cody is ready to lead ROH into the future.

Lethal says Final Battle is in his backyard and Cody isn’t using a shortcut to get to the title.

Overall Rating: B. This is for the overall presentation rather than the wrestling itself. They did a very good job of setting up the pay per view and I want to see it a lot more than I did coming in. The show will be good if they don’t have things go on forever and get to the point, which tends to be their weakness. At least we got a very good go home show though and that’s not something they do very often.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-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: December 5, 2018
Location: Stage AE, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana, Marty Scurll

Final Battle is next week and the card seems to be mostly set. For once, they’re at least doing something with the build towards the show, which is more than you get most of the time around here. Odds are we’ll see a few matches set up here along with the build to those already announced. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s main event, where the Briscoes and the Young Bucks went to a draw. SCU didn’t seem to mind and made a triple threat ladder match for the Tag Team Titles at Final Battle. Makes the most sense of all their options.

Opening sequence.

Kenny King vs. Christopher Daniels

Marty Scurll, who wants to face Daniels at Final Battle, is on commentary. Before the bell, King says he doesn’t know how long Daniels has left in ROH so he’ll hand Daniels one of his last losses. Then Daniels can go back to SCU: the Senior Citizens Unite at the hospital. Daniels, with tape on the back of his neck, chops away to start and gets two off a standing Lionsault.

Daniels avoids a springboard though and the Blue Thunder Bomb gets two. An STO sets up a belly to back faceplant for two but King gets the same off a spinebuster. It’s too early for the Royal Flush though and Daniels hits a release Rock Bottom. The referee gets bumped though, allowing King to hit a low blow and the Royal Flush for the pin at 8:48.

Rating: C. Nice action for the most part, though I’m getting sick of the ref bumps and low blows around here. Mix it up a little bit by having King throw his feet on the ropes in a rollup or something, but find something new. Daniels losing should lead to a big comeback win at Final Battle, or his retirement and leaving the company. You could go either way.

Dalton Castle says he was gone for three months and didn’t go through all that treatment to fight Matt Taven. That belt that Taven wears is nothing but a RUSE. The anger inside Castle is certainly real though.

Josh Woods vs. Jeff Cobb

Non-title. Cobb tries to wrestle him to the ground but Woods is a former NCAA wrestling champion so it’s not so easy. Cue Hangman Page to sit on the stage and watch the match as Woods takes him down and works on the arm with Cobb not being able to shake him off. Cobb gets tired of the wrestling thing and sends him flying with a suplex, only to get caught in another armbar. Woods goes after the arm again before trying a spring but Cobb catches him in the Tour of the Islands for the pin at 3:48.

Rating: C. This was a great illustration of Cobb being well rounded. His amateur wrestling was canceled out so he slammed Woods really hard instead because he has the power to go with the mat skills. That’s a very dangerous combination and a good reason why he could be a star for a long time to come.

Post match Page comes in and says he’ll show Cobb how this is done.

Hangman Page vs. Facade

Joined in progress with Page stomping away in the corner as Cobb is watching from the stage this time. Page hits a running dive from the apron and gets two off a tabletop suplex back inside. Facade fights back with some flips and jumps, including a one armed cartwheel. A rope walk dive goes right into Page’s boot though and there’s a super fall away slam. Again Facade tries to slug away, this time connecting with a springboard spinning kick to the face to send Page outside. That means a big flip dive of his own but he walks into the Buckshot Lariat. The Rite of Passage finishes Facade at 5:14.

Rating: C+. Facade was moving out there and Page was his usual entertaining self. It’s interesting that Page had more trouble against a weaker opponent though. That’s not exactly what you would expect from a match designed to make Page look like he’s on Cobb’s level, but the ending sequence looked good and that’s what people will take away from it.

Post match Page and Cobb stare each other down.

We look back at Marty Scurll winning the Survival of the Fittest tournament.

After the match, Scurll congratulated Christoper Daniels (the man he pinned) on a good match. Daniels said Bullet Club cost him the match and arguing ensued. They’ll face off at Final Battle with Scurll’s World Title shot on the line.

Jay Lethal is ready to beat Cody because Cody had to cheat to beat him in the first place. Cody knows he can’t beat Lethal so Jay is ready at Final Battle. Cody cannot win because Jay isn’t letting him start the year on top.

Final Battle rundown. Points to them for having a proper build instead of a one week version.

Matt Taven talks about Dalton Castle cracking under the pressure of being World Champion. When he’s under pressure though, Taven becomes a diamond.

We get that heart rate thing again.

Tag Team Titles: Stuka Jr./Guerrero Maya Jr. vs. SCU

SCU is defending. Sky, dressed up as Apollo Creed, takes Guerrero down to start and works on the arm to keep him in trouble. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gives Guerrero two and it’s off to Stuka vs. Kazarian with Frankie getting two off a dropkick. The champs tie up Stuka’s legs and roll him over (the Rockers used to do that) and we take an early break. Back with Stuka and Guerrero putting Sky in a double surfboard (cool) until Kazarian makes a save.

Another double hold is broken up again and thankfully we get back to the actual tagging with Sky coming in to take over. Kazarian adds the slingshot dropkick (so much for the tagging) in the corner but Stuka moonsaults onto him outside (with Kazarian somehow winding up on top). Guerrero adds a running flip dive through the ropes onto Sky but Kazarian comes back in with his slingshot DDT. The Rock Bottom into the Backstabber finishes Stuka to retain the titles at 8:04.

Rating: C+. The match was entertaining, though it’s not like there was any kind of drama at all. This would have been better served airing before the announcement of the ladder match as there might have been a reason to believe in a fluke title change. The CMLL guys are talented, though I’m still not sure how much it means to have them around. Yeah they’re big names there, but that’s not entirely the case for a lot of the fans who might not be familiar with the company.

Post match Christopher Daniels comes in to say he’s the only one who doesn’t have a contract extension at the moment. He has one match left on his contract and that’s against Marty Scurll at Final Battle. If that’s what he has to do to stick around, he’s willing to do it to stay in the company that he helped build. Marty gets in the ring and asks if Daniels wants to be the man who built his company or the man who is known for a three letter catchphrase. A tense handshake takes us out.

Overall Rating: B-. The wrestling, while pretty good here, wasn’t the point this week. This show was all about building up Final Battle and for once, they made it work very well. The card is getting some attention and it should be a good one once we get there. You know most of the matches already and most of them have gotten some attention instead of just adding things in for the sake of adding them in. That makes the biggest difference and makes Final Battle feel important after all those shows with a last second build. Well done, for a rare change.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-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: November 28, 2018
Location: Stage AE, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana

What does it say that I had to look up the results from last week’s episode? This series really doesn’t have a lot of staying power and that’s been an issue for a long time. Last week’s main event saw SCU winning the Tag Team Titles to give them some security as the year comes to a close. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Christopher Daniels being injured two weeks ago and SCU winning the Tag Team Titles last week.

Opening sequence.

The Kingdom vs. The Boys

We take an early break and come back with Taven hitting a running knee to #1’s face but #2 comes in for a headscissors. #2’s dive is caught in the air so #1 dives onto both of them for the double knockdown. Vinny Marseglia pops up from underneath the ring though and pulls #2 under. The Climax finishes #1 at 6:12.

Rating: D. Just an angle here and while that’s fine, it could have been a little more interesting if they had come up with something a little more interesting. Maybe it’s the Kingdom not exactly being thrilling or maybe it’s the Boys, but this wasn’t exactly thrilling. At least Taven is facing Dalton Castle at the pay per view instead of going after the World Title, but you know that’s coming.

Cody talks about Final Battle being the anniversary of him losing the World Title. Since then, he’s never gotten his one on one title shot and that changes at Final Battle. Cody was pretty serious here and it worked….I think.

Ian brings Jonathan Gresham to the ring for a chat. Gresham, who is tiny compared to Ian, isn’t on the Final Battle card yet while his tag partner Jay Lethal has a World Title defense. He’s here to prove that he’s the best technical wrestler in the world so it’s Open Challenge time for the pay per view. All the best technical wrestlers in the world can come see him….and here’s Zack Sabre Jr. on the screen. He’ll show up at Final Battle for the challenge in his ROH debut. Wait, how in the world has Sabre never worked here before??? Anyway that should be a good one.

Daniels is on the phone with someone named Joe (presumably COO Joe Koff) and promises to send the signed documents to him the next day. SCU is there with him and the two of them have contracts. Daniels doesn’t though and the two of them are worried about him. He’ll come up with something.

Kelly Klein vs. Jenny Rose

The winner goes on to the four way title match at Final Battle and Rose is in a football jersey for some reason. They don’t even wait for the bell and start fighting in a hurry with Klein taking over off some knees to the face. Rose gets sent outside and we take a break. Back with Rose rolling out of the corner but getting pulled back in for a choke. That earns Klein a slam off the top and a spear gives Rose two. Some knees to the back keep Klein in trouble but she’s right back with K Power (spinning AA) for the pin at 7:35.

Rating: D+. I know I’ve said it before but EGADS this division is just not working. There’s a history between these two but I have no idea who Rose and Klein are (as in I know nothing about them) and that doesn’t make for an interesting match. The wrestling wasn’t bad, but I couldn’t tell you who else is fighting for the title and really, I don’t care.

Video on Hangman Page vs. Jeff Cobb. That could be a heck of a hoss fight.

Quick vignette of a heart monitor line spiking over and over. No idea who that is.

Young Bucks vs. Briscoes

The winners face SCU at Final Battle. Mark jumps over Nick to start so Nick hits a springboard flipping wristdrag to take over instead. Everything breaks down in a hurry with Matt firing off the kicks and throwing Nick into the air for a double dropkick. A neckbreaker to Mark in the corner sets up a quick slingshot splash and the Bucks are in trouble as we take an early break.

Back with Matt in trouble as the Briscoes take turns hitting him in the head. The choking on the ropes keep Matt in trouble and Mark is smart enough to knock Nick off the apron before Matt can get to the corner. As tends to be the case though, the hot tag goes through all of five seconds later and the Bucks put on stereo Sharpshooters. The Briscoes grab the ropes and start throwing the Bucks around. Redneck Boogie gets two on Matt and Jay grabs his own Sharpshooter on Matt.

Another rope break sends us to another break and we come back with Nick starting to clean house. Mark gets catapulted into a kick to the face in the corner and a slingshot splash gives Nick two. They slug it out with the Briscoes getting the better of it until the Bucks superkick their way to freedom for two. It’s Meltzer Driver time but Jay throws in a chair. Matt gets one of his own and stereo chair peltings give us a double DQ at 12:09.

Rating: B-. These teams have great chemistry together and that was the case again here. The ending pretty clearly sets up the triple threat match at Final Battle and there’s nothing wrong with that. You really wouldn’t want to have either of these teams go over the other so the three way is the best idea, even if we just saw it a few weeks back. Good main event with a big match feel.

Post match Jay and Matt fight over a chair and the referee gets decked. The teams don’t seem to mind and keep slugging it out until security comes in to separate them. Cue SCU to say oh well, we can just fight you both at Final Battle. Oh and we can make it Ladder War. The deal is on to end the show.

Actually hang on as we get that heart monitor thing again.

Overall Rating: C-. Strong main event aside, this wasn’t exactly a great show. I’m glad they set up one of the biggest matches for Final Battle but other than that, this was a bunch of boring wrestling with little angle advancement. There’s some good stuff in Ring of Honor but when it misses, it really misses badly. At least the main event was there to help things, but it couldn’t quite save the show.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-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: November 21, 2018
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana

We’re still in Philadelphia and the big story coming out of last week was the return of Dalton Castle, who helped Jay Lethal and Jonathan Gresham defeat the Kingdom. Then he made it clear that he wanted the World Title, which means he’ll likely be facing either Lethal or Taven at the upcoming Final Battle. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Castle returning and looking at the title. Stop trying to steal my job.

Opening sequence.

Here are Castle and the Boys to get things going. Castle mentions that he was injured for over three months, but he didn’t go home and just sip mint juleps. He went home and sipped mint juleps but started putting in the world. Castle went to physical therapy and even went to Australia to kiss a kangaroo. Now though, his lone mission is to get back the World Title. He wants the champ, but gets Matt Taven instead. He’s the only man who can call himself the real World Champion. That makes Castle’s head spin so much that he has a seat on the Boys. Castle: “Go home Matt. You’re drunk. You’re like Myrtle Beach drunk.”

Taven accuses Castle of cracking underneath the pressure and bailing on the company so Castle calls him a tall, gangly, uncoordinated idiot. As long as Castle is around, someone like Taven will never be champion. Cue the Kingdom and the good guys are beaten down. The Kingdom gets a bunch of chairs and pile Castle on top of them followed by a TRIPLE CONCHAIRTO. That was really cool. Then I remembered that it’s the Kingdom and my interest lowered.

We look back at Christopher Daniels being beaten down last week. ROH is trying to find a suitable replacement for Daniels in the Tag Team Title match. You mean the Daniels who is part of a trio? Half of which is in the title match already?

We recap Hurricane Helms vs. Marty Scurll. They’ve split two matches and then a third match was thrown out when they both beat up the referee. Therefore Scurll, who won the Survival of the Fittest tournament this year, is getting a fourth match with the old comedy guy. Marty also stole his mask to make it personal.

Marty Scurll vs. Hurricane Helms

No DQ and Scurll has the mask. Hurricane is on the stage….or not actually as that’s Delirious. Instead Hurricane is behind Scurll and hits a chokeslam for two at the bell. They fight outside with Hurricane sitting him in a chair for a running clothesline. Back from a break with Hurricane in trouble and Marty pulling out some umbrellas. Ian: “This is definitely something Marty pre-orchestrated.” Why is commentary so dumb tonight?

Marty unloads with the umbrellas and throws in a little Singin in the Rain for fun. Some stomps to the fingers have Hurricane in trouble but he’s right back with a neckbreaker. Instead of following up though, he puts the mask on and now it’s time to be a hero. That means an umbrella being broken over the knee and a Downward Spiral gets two on Scurll. Hurricane throws in some chairs but since that takes forever, Marty is able to get in a few shots and set up four chairs. That takes way too long as well (a villain never learns) and Hurricane press slams him onto the chairs.

The Nightmare on Helm Street gets two and we take another break. Back again with Marty hitting an AA off the apron through the table….for two. Marty throws an umbrella down and grabs a bag from underneath the ring. That would be thumbtacks but Marty blocks a drop toehold onto the tacks. Instead Marty snaps Hurricane’s fingers….but gets chokeslammed onto them for two instead. The tacks in his back are censored for a nice touch. Marty is back up with a low blow and puts some tacks in Hurricane’s mouth for a superkick. Graduation onto the tacks finishes Hurricane at 15:32.

Rating: B-. It’s a good brawl, but there are two problems. First and foremost, it’s the fourth match between Hurricane and Marty Scurll, the latter of whom should be a main eventer. Why is he toiling with a guy best known for comedy? That’s the other problem: Hurricane feels REALLY out of place in this kind of a violent match. Hurricane isn’t a hardcore guy and while he did it well, it felt way out of place.

Brandi Rose talks about being out with an injury for a long time but now she’s back. Her clavicle is being held together by metal and screws but she’s cleared to wrestle again. I can appreciate her efforts, but is anyone really begging to see her back in the ring?

Tag Team Titles: Young Bucks vs. So Cal Uncensored vs. Briscoes

The Briscoes are defending and, shockingly enough, Scorpio Sky is Kazarian’s partner. Nick and Sky start things off and we’ve got a special hashtag for this main event: WatchROHSecondHalfOfOurDoubleMainEventHereInPhiladelhiaTheCityOfBrotherlyLove. That’s actually on top of the screen, because ROHTagTeamTitles is too simple. Sky flips out of a wristlock and takes both Briscoes to the floor for a dive. Kazarian adds a slingshot hurricanrana to stagger Mark and it’s Jay being thrown back inside to deal with the Bucks.

Kazarian comes back in to add a slingshot dropkick to Jay and an assisted tornado DDT drops Mark for two. The champs take over on Kazarian though and the referee stops to check on him as the Briscoes pose. Mark isn’t done as he takes Kazarian outside and rams his head into the barricade a few times. Back in and the pummeling continues in the corner. A Backstabber finally puts Mark down but Jay is smart enough to kick Sky off the apron.

Back from a break with Kazarian German suplexing Mark in the direction of the turnbuckles, which is good enough for the hot tag to Matt. Everything breaks down and Mark gets dropkicked into the barricade. The Sharpshooter has Jay in trouble but Sky makes a save, even as Matt’s back was about to give out. Nick throws Sky into the air for a spear from Matt and it’s a superkick into the Swanton for two.

A hurricanrana sends Nick into the corner for a tag to Kazarian and it’s a dropkick/sitout powerbomb combination for a close two. Sky grabs a slingshot cutter on Mark and it’s off to stereo dragon sleepers. Nick and Jay make the save with superkicks, followed by another superkick to Jay. The hot tag brings in Nick, who knees the referee by mistake. That’s enough for Matt to start throwing chairs (used in three different segments tonight) but Kazarian saves Sky from taking one to the head.

The Jay Driller (more like Angel’s Wings actually) gets two on Kazarian with Sky making the save. Matt slugs away at both Briscoes but gets backbreakered onto the chair. The Doomsday Device is countered into a powerslam to pull Mark out of the air for another near fall (with the referee stopping early). Jay chairs Mark by mistake though and it’s a powerbomb/Backstabber combination to give Kazarian the pin and the titles at 14:27.

Rating: B-. As usual, ROH isn’t the best at the structured tag matches but they didn’t go too far with the false finishes to mess with things here. SCU winning made the most sense here and while the Bucks were just there to prevent a rematch from Death Before Dishonor, they were their usual entertaining selves and it’s not like they lose anything in defeat. Good match, though a little more actual tag wrestling would have been nice.

Daniels, in a neck brace, comes out to celebrate to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. While I’m not wild on some of the booking (the Kingdom, with Taven in general, isn’t interesting), the wrestling was good and this show flew by. There are times when this show feels like it’s taking forever but that wasn’t the case here. It’s a good show, and you can see where some of Final Battle is going. That’s good too, as the show is less than a month away.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-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

Death Before Dishonor 2018
Date: September 28, 2018
Location: Oracle Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 2,000
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni

I know I’m a little behind on this one, but given how long it takes for Ring of Honor to catch up with its own schedule, it should be fine. The big main event this time around is Jay Lethal defending the World Title against Will Ospreay, who hasn’t actually been around on TV other than in pre-taped vignettes. It’s almost like the main event feels a little bit thrown together. Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at the card. That’s about as standard as you can get.

The announcers run down the card.

Kenny King vs. Jushin Thunder Liger

King is the hometown boy. Liger works on the wrist to start as Ian greets people in a live chat. It’s already time for the surfboard attempt so Kenny goes straight for the rope. Kenny slips out of a headscissors and shoulders Liger down but gets backdropped to the floor. See Liger is old and smart but King is….well he can spell his name. The running flip dive from the apron keeps King in trouble but he kicks Liger off the apron to take over.

Two backbreakers into a side slam set up a Boston crab as King is showing some intelligence here. That’s broken up and Liger nails the palm strike, followed by the rolling Liger kick. King gets in his own kick to the face for two and a swinging backbreaker gets the same. He takes way too long going up though and it’s a top rope superplex to give Liger two of his own.

The Royal Flush is countered into a small package and a frog splash hits King. Liger’s ribs and back are banged up pretty badly though and he can barely get up. King offers him some applause and a handshake, which of course is pulled into a spinebuster to give King the pin at 12:21.

Rating: C. Perfectly acceptable opener with the hometown boy getting a win over the legend. I’m not sure if it’s going to help him get to the World Title scene but that’s about all King has left at this point. Liger is still a legitimate legend and can work just fine in a role like this. The fans are going to react to him every time and while he’s nowhere near what he used to be, he’s still more than watchable.

Post match, King thanks Austin Aries for showing him the light. Nice touch.

We recap the Briscoes vs. the Addiction. The Addiction needs to win some titles for leverage before the end of the year because they’re about to be fired. The Briscoes are just mean and Uncensored have turned face in recent weeks to stand up to them, making it two stories in one, which has actually worked.

Tag Team Titles: Addiction vs. Briscoes

An STO rocks Jay so the champs start throwing in chairs. Kazarian misses a chair shot though and it’s a baseball slide through the ropes from Mark to take him down. The Blockbuster off the apron keeps Kazarian in trouble and things settle down with Daniels getting stomped in the corner. A double shoulder keeps the champs in control as Coleman tries to add up the number of years experience in the match.

Kazarian gets drawn in and of course the Briscoes use the distraction to send Daniels into the barricade. Back in and Mark misses the Froggy Bow, allowing Daniels to score with the Blue Thunder Bomb. That’s enough for the hot tag off to Kazarian so things can speed way up. The Backstabber drops Jay and a hurricanrana through the ropes has Mark in trouble on the floor. It’s not enough trouble to prevent Jay from kicking Kazarian in the face though, leaving Daniels to have to suplex Jay to keep things even.

Back in and it’s off to Daniels for the middle rope stomp to the chest, followed by the slingshot cutter from Kazarian for the same. Daniels breaks up the Jay Driller and hits a suicide dive as Kazarian has been busted open on the floor. With Scorpio Sky on the floor checking on Kazarian, the Redneck Boogie gets two on Daniels.

A double clothesline gets Daniels out of trouble but there’s no Kazarian. The Doomsday Device misses and Daniels sends Jay outside. The Rock Bottom to Mark sets up the BME for two with Jay diving in for a save. Now it’s the Jay Driller on the floor to kill Daniels dead….for two? Egads come on now. Another Jay Driller retains the titles at 17:43.

Rating: B. I liked this one more than I was expecting to with both teams looking awesome, even with Kazarian being down on the floor for the last part of the match. SCU’s face turn has been way better than I was expecting and I want to see them do well as we get closer to Final Battle. Cut out the last Jay Driller and this would be even better.

We recap the Women’s Title match. Sumie Sakai is the inaugural champion and wants the best competition. That sounded like a challenge to Tenille Dashwood and it’s on.

Women’s Title: Sumie Sakai vs. Tenille Dashwood

Sakai is defending and Dashwood has a very taped up shoulder. The champ gets aggressive to start so Tenille is right back with forearms to the jaw. It’s way too early for Smashmouth but Dashwood can’t get a double underhook suplex. Instead it’s some forearms to Sakai’s neck but she’s right back with a middle rope missile dropkick.

That’s enough to send Dashwood outside for a dive but Saki can’t get the cross armbreaker back inside. Dashwood makes the rope for the break and punches her in the face, only to bang up the shoulder again. A belly to belly sends Sakai flying for two but the shoulder delays the cover. Dashwood ties the legs up and bridges them into the air, followed by a stomp to the head for two.

Sakai is fine enough to hurricanrana her off the top for two and a running knee sets up Smashmouth for a closer near fall. A butterfly suplex into the corner has Sakai in more trouble and the Tarantula goes on. Sakai heads outside so it’s a powerbomb to the floor. Back in and a German suplex keeps Sakai in trouble but they forearm it out anyway. That goes well for Dashwood, but Sakai takes her down into a cross armbreaker and Dashwood passes out at 12:36.

Rating: C. The wrestling was ok but this was a great way to kill the crowd off. Now that being said, Dashwood was hurt and would need shoulder surgery so they couldn’t do the title change, but this Sakai title reign is killing anything they have. She’s been champion since April and wasn’t interesting when she started. Nearly six months later and things are getting even worse. Just find someone new already and let them try their luck, because this isn’t working.

We recap Chris Sabin vs. Punishment Martinez. The Motor City Machine Guns have broken up due to Alex Shelley retiring so Sabin is focusing on his singles career, including going after the TV Title. Martinez is more than willing to have a fight for the belt.

TV Title: Chris Sabin vs. Punishment Martinez

Martinez is defending. We get some Big Match Intros, with Sabin having his own entrance prepared. He’s introduced as a wrestler promised since the beginning of time with the Eye of the Tiger in both eyes, the last man standing of the lost civilization of Atlantis and a warrior poet among other things. You know, I’ve heard worse.

The chokeslam is countered into a rollup at the bell for two and it’s already time to start in on the monster’s leg. Those kicks are enough to send Martinez to the floor and there’s a big dive from Sabin. The suicide dive is countered into a chokeslam onto the apron, followed by a heck of a clothesline for two back inside. Martinez gets enziguried on top and a super hurricanrana brings him right back down.

The forearms just annoy Martinez so Sabin low bridges him to the floor for a suicide dive. A dive from the top takes Martinez down again and a missile dropkick keeps him in trouble. The ref gets bumped though and Martinez hits a spinning kick to the head. It’s time for a chair but Sabin is right back up with a tornado DDT onto said chair for two. The referee takes it away though and it’s the Psycho Driver into the Silencer into the South of Heaven chokeslam to retain at 8:01.

Rating: C+. This was a pure formula match but they did that formula well. I could have gone for a few more minutes and I wouldn’t have bet on that in a Sabin match. Martinez is really good as the monster, but the ref bump for the sake of the false finish wasn’t necessary. It’s a nice little match though and one of the more entertaining things on the show so far.

Post match Martinez grabs the chair again but here’s Jeff Cobb to stare him down. Martinez’s chair shot has no effect so Cobb suplexes him down and poses with the title.

We recap Bully Ray/Silas Young vs. Flip Gordon/Colt Cabana. This isn’t exactly groundbreaking stuff as Ray and Young are trying to get rid of the fake wrestlers because they’re the old, real men. Therefore, it’s a tables match because that’s what Ray does.

Bully Ray/Silas Young vs. Flip Gordon/Colt Cabana

Elimination tables match. Cabana heads over to hug Ian before we get going. I’m still not sure why Ian is playing any role in this but he doesn’t add much. Flip charges in and we’re ready to go in a hurry. The villains are knocked to the floor to start but Young sends Flip hard into the barricade. Back in and Flip knocks Silas off the top, setting up What’s Up on Ray.

It’s already time for the tables but Ray saves Silas from a double suplex. I mean, the suplex still happens, but Ray moves the table. Cabana does the same with a double backdrop and takes both old guys down with a double Lionsault. Flip sends Silas to the floor for a big flip dive off the top but Ray unloads on Cabana with a chair. Ray stops to yell at Ian, who comes down to ringside to check on Cabana. I don’t see this ending well but Flip takes Ray down and hands Cabana a chair to blast Ray.

That doesn’t seem to have much effect so Ray pops up and powerbombs Colt through a table for the elimination. Ray sets up another table in the corner and Silas chops away at Flip. Heel miscommunication gives Flip a chance but he misses a springboard missile dropkick. The whip into the table is countered as Flip flips off the table and sidesteps a charge to send Ray through for the elimination.

Young is right back with the backbreaker and clothesline, meaning it’s time for another table. Another clothesline flips Flip inside out to the floor but the ref gets bumped back inside. That of course means the 450 puts Silas through the table but no one sees it. Well save for everyone in the arena but the referee. Ray gets up and decks Gordon, who he puts on the broken table for the win at 13:34. Yeah just saying you put him through a table counts.

Tenille Dashwood has been attacked.

It takes some time to clear the ring.

Chaos vs. Bullet Club

Chaos: Kazuchika Okada, Best Friends, Rocky Romero, Tomohiro Ishii

Bullet Club: Cody, Young Bucks, Marty Scurll, Adam Page

This one doesn’t exactly need an explanation. Former NWA World Champion Nick Aldis is in on commentary. Page headlocks Ishii to start but the forearms and shoulders don’t work for either of them. The forearms continue until a suplex takes Page down. It’s off to Scurll vs. Okada so I’m hoping they have enough tape. Nothing happens so Romero, who is actually shorter than Marty, comes in to pose in the ropes.

Romero knocks him to the floor but a cheap shot from the apron breaks up the dive. The rapid tags leave us with Matt vs. Chuckie but Barretta and Nick come in as well. The Bucks are sent outside and Romero breaks up the hug, instead setting for triple dives. That means a three way hug before it’s off to Cody vs. Okada back inside. Okada chops him down without much effort and it’s off to Barretta, who has a tornado DDT attempt blocked.

Cody clotheslines him to the floor but misses the dive, allowing Barretta to run back in for a dive of his own. Page keeps the parade of dives going and Chuckie adds a big running version from the stage. Ishii even goes up top for a flip dive of his own (cool). They head back in and Brandi offers a distraction to put Barretta in trouble. Scurll adds a superplex for two but a missed charge allows the hot tag to Romero, who hurricanranas both Bucks at the same time.

The Forever Clotheslines have the Club in more trouble but they finally get up for a group superkick to drop Romero. Romero gets in a jumping knee though and the hot tag brings in Okada to speed things up again. Everything breaks down for….we’ll say the third time, with Nick kneeing Okada in the face but getting kneed right back by Chuckie. A bunch of people knock each other down with Cody’s Disaster Kick hitting Ishii, who just stares at him.

Double superkicks from the Bucks work a bit better but the Meltzer Driver to Okada is broken up. Instead it’s a spike Tombstone on Matt, followed by a Buckshot lariat for a bonus. Cody sneaks in for Cross Rhodes on Okada and then gets the tag but Okada is right back with the Rainmaker.

Ishii comes back in and takes a Buckshot lariat but pops back up for clotheslines of his own. We settle down to Romero punching Scurll in the face and fighting out of the chickenwing attempt. Nick superkicks Marty by mistake and Romero makes things even worse by breaking up the Meltzer Driver. Cody dives onto the Best Friends, leaving Marty to reverse Romero’s suplex into the chickenwing for the tap at 21:20.

Rating: B+. This was a lot of fun and it’s very clear why they put this match, or something with Los Ingobernables, on time after time. You have people who are working hard and doing everything they can to steal the show, which is what they did here. It’s nonstop action and that’s very entertaining, which is exactly what an ROH crowd is looking for. Really fun match, even if it doesn’t mean much long term.

Cody comes up to commentary and accepts Aldis’ challenge for 2/3 falls match at the NWA 70^th Anniversary Show.

We recap Jay Lethal vs. Will Ospreay. Lethal has avenged all of his losses and become World Champion again. Ospreay didn’t beat him but came close, so that’s a rematch.

ROH World Title: Will Ospreay vs. Jay Lethal

Lethal is defending. Ospreay won’t shake hands to start, which works well enough for setting up a heel in a one off match. Feeling out process to start as they seem to have a lot of time. Lethal takes him down by the arm for nothing of note so they trade shoulders. Ospreay gets in a shot to the face to make things a little more serious and they chop it out. The Lethal Injection and the Oscutter both miss so Lethal chops him off the top.

The trio of suicide dives send Ospreay over the barricade as Lethal takes over for the first time. Back in and we hit the chinlock for a few seconds. The dueling chants bring Ospreay back up and he hits the spinning kick to Lethal’s head. Ospreay starts kicking away, including a running dropkick to a seated Lethal in the corner.

Lethal is right back with his own chops in the corner as Ospreay puts his hands behind his chest for an open shot. He’s fine enough to kick Lethal to the floor for a suicide dive of his own. They fight underneath the ring and Lethal pulls out a ladder but go back inside without it, thank goodness. Ospreay gets two off a Phenomenal Forearm, only to walk into the Lethal Combination for the same. They slug it out from their knees with Ospreay knocking him outside.

The Flying Space Tiger (I love wacky Japanese names) misses so Lethal tries a powerbomb through the table. That’s broken up as well and Lethal superkicks the ring announcer by mistake, meaning the World Title flies into Ospreay’s hands. Ospreay throws it down and opts for a slugout instead with Lethal getting the better of it. Lethal puts the ladder up against the barricade but goes with a DDT inside. The Figure Four is broken up though and Ospreay hits a reverse hurricanrana.

Some more kicks to the head set up the Batista Bomb for two so Ospreay sunset bombs him onto the ladder, which of course isn’t a DQ. Back in and Ospreay can’t hit the Stormbreaker, instead diving into a cutter. Ospreay superkicks his way out of the Lethal Injection and more rapid fire kicks set up the Oscutter for two. Stormbreaker is broken up again but the super hurricanrana is countered into a super Batista Bomb. The Lethal Injection retains the title at 22:50.

Rating: B+. Another really good match here, at least partially due to slowing things down a bit so we could have two guys beating each other up. The ladder wasn’t needed but at least they didn’t make it a focal point. Lethal continues to look like a star, but I’m getting worried about who they’re going to bring out next for an opponent. Ospreay didn’t feel like anything more than the challenger of the month, which is fine for a one off match but not the most interesting thing in the world. At least the match was very good though.

Post match Ospreay is willing to shake hands but here are Vinny Marseglia and TK O’Ryan to beat them both down. Jonathan Gresham tries to run in for a save but gets beaten down as well. A now mohawked Matt Taven runs out with his own World Title to knock Lethal silly. Posing ends the show. As uninteresting as Taven might be, he’s still a full time wrestler here and good for a next challenger.

Overall Rating: B. The last two matches more than carry this as they got the most time and were both very good if not excellent matches. When Ring of Honor is focused, they can put together some highly entertaining shows, which is what they did here. They can start the build towards Final Battle now, and that’s often the best time of the year. Above all else here: the show wasn’t three hours long and didn’t overstay its welcome, which is often one of this company’s major faults. If they can keep that problem under control, their pay per views will be a lot better in a hurry. Good effort here and a really fun show.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-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: November 14, 2018
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana

We’re still in Philadelphia and on the road to Final Battle, but the big question is how many more ECW names can we get in here. I wonder if Blue Meanie is doing anything tonight. Anyway we still need a card for the pay per view so maybe we can start building things up this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Shane Taylor vs. Jeff Cobb

Non-title. Shane spits on his extended hands and they start ramming into each other. Cobb hits his swinging belly to back suplex but Shane pops up. That earns him a t-bone suplex and Cobb is right back up again. They slug it out until Taylor blasts him with a clothesline. Back from a break with Shane telling Cobb to show him why he’s the chosen one. Cobb is right back up with a running elbow in the corner and a dropkick as Taylor is on the ropes.

Since that’s not impressive enough, a delayed release suplex gives Cobb one. That means the standing moonsault for tow more as Cobb isn’t sure what to do with this guy. Taylor is back up with a running Canadian Destroyer of all things but Cobb is back up with a German suplex. The Tour of the Islands finishes Taylor at 7:05.

Rating: C+. This was EXACTLY as it was advertised with two big guys doing things that people their size shouldn’t be able to do. It was a lot of fun with both guys beating each other up until the other couldn’t stand any longer. Good, fun match that didn’t try to be anything more than it should have. I didn’t expect to like this and they entertained me so well done.

Post match Hangman Page comes in for a staredown with Cobb but they pause to beat up security. Page stares at the title….and one security guard is foolish enough to still be in the ring. Page leaves and Cobb hits a superkick and the Tour of the Islands.

Jay Lethal knows that being World Champion has put a target on his back and Kenny King took a shot at him. He’ll take care of King at Global Wars on November 11 (as in after this show aired) and tonight he’ll show that off in a six man tag.

The Bouncers aren’t sure of their opponents’ names tonight but know they have to win.

Post break, Brian Milonas has lost the Beer City Bruiser. Ok then.

Marty Scurll talks about being stuck in the story of superhero vs. supervillain. Next week, it’s round four. Earlier this month, Scurll won the Survival of the Fittest tournament to earn a World Title shot. There is zero reason for him to be in an extended feud with Shane Helms.

Milonas finds Bruiser drinking because Silas Young won’t talk to him. The talk of hitting people makes Bruiser feel better. Well I’m so glad that problem was started and solved in the span of five minutes.

The Bouncers vs. Cheeseburger/Eli Isom

Cheeseburger and Isom have Ryan Nova in their corner. Isom can’t do much to Bruiser to start so he steps on the big man’s foot. The suplex just isn’t happening though and Bruiser sends him into the corner, only to miss a charge. It’s off to Cheeseburger for a chop, followed by a sleeper to the also tagged in Milonas. He staggers over for a tag to Bruiser for a side slam/dropkick combination and it’s time to bite Cheeseburger. Make your own jokes.

Milonas sits on Cheeseburger in the corner but misses a charge and goes shoulder first into the post. That’s enough for the hot tag to Isom and the pace picks up. A high crossbody gets two on Milonas and everything breaks down. Cheeseburger DDTs Bruiser and Isom manages a suplex for two. The dive is caught though and Cheeseburger gets posted, leaving Isom to take Closing Time for the pin at 6:02.

Here’s So Cal Uncensored for a chat, where they suck up to Philadelphia and insult it, because that’s what Scorpio Sky does. Kazarian calls this place sacred ground and there’s the required ECW chant. He lists off some names in the Hardcore Hall of Fame and gets the fans to chant SCU, who at least work for this company. Daniels (in an SC F’N U shirt) says he wants to be serious for a minute and talk about Joe Koff throwing out Kazarian and himself after this year’s Final Battle.

Some things have changed since then and now Koff should want to keep SCU around here. Maybe the best way to prove their value is to take the Tag Team Titles from the Briscoes. They came up short at Death Before Dishonor, but next week it’s the Briscoes vs. the Addiction and the Young Bucks. Daniels promises to win the titles next week and next year, the best thing about Ring of Honor is going to be SCU. Good fire from Daniels here, which tends to be the case. The trio goes to leave but here are the Briscoes to beat them down, including a Jay Driller to Daniels on the stage. That sounds like an injury angle.

Daniels was helped to the back during the break.

Jay Lethal/Jonathan Gresham/??? vs. The Kingdom

A kick to the leg sets up a dropkick to send O’Ryan into the corner for the tag off to Marseglia. Vinny wants the peacock though and it’s off to Castle for a big reaction. Castle can’t hit a bulldog but can hit the peacock pose with those wild eyes. Another takedown lets Castle work on the arm for a second, followed by a clothesline to the floor. The teased dive lets Castle bring back the slow motion strut and now Taven is willing to come in. Taven gets in Castle’s face but the rest of the Kingdom pulls Lethal and Gresham down, allowing Matt to take over with a cheap shot.

Everything breaks down and Gresham cleans house, allowing the hot tag to Castle. A running knee in the corner gets two on Taven and Gresham elbows Marseglia down. That means a dive onto O’Ryan but the shooting star hits knees. Lethal hits the Lethal Injection on O’Ryan as Marseglia brings in a chair. That goes badly though as it’s the Bang-a-Rang onto the chair to give Castle the pin at 12:08.

Rating: C+. This was all about Castle’s return and that worked very well. The fans went coconuts for him and he adds another big name to the roster. I’m not sure what they can do with him at this point but having too much talent around isn’t a problem. Gresham continues to look like a star and it’s always nice to see the Kingdom taking a loss.

Castle poses with the winners but points at the title. Lethal isn’t sure about that so Castle extends a handshake, which Lethal accepts. Sounds like a title match is imminent.

Overall Rating: C. This show had the energy back again with some good wrestling and a nice surprise in the end. They’re starting to talk about Final Battle more too and that’s a good sign as we get closer to the biggest show of the year. Just keep up the angles and stories instead of the filler episodes and things will start getting better at the right time.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-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: November 7, 2018
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman, Colt Cabana

We’re onto a fresh taping cycle tonight and, believe it or not, the big story here in Philadelphia is about an ECW wrestler as Bully Ray and Flip Gordon are sending in representatives (Ray has already announced Silas Young) for a match where the winner gets to pick whatever happens to the loser. Should we just pull up a Tommy Dreamer graphic already? Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the Gordon vs. Ray challenge and the setup for tonight.

Opening sequence.

Here’s Ray with an envelope as we’re starting big. He explains the concept again, because airing that video in the arena was too complicated. Flip comes out as well and has his own envelope, labeled “Bully Ray’s Punishment.” I’m not sure I want to see what’s inside there. Colt Cabana gets off commentary and gets in the ring, much to Ray’s stunned displeasure. Ray: “You really are stupid Flip.” Colt says he’s here for two reasons: to support Flip and to be in the ring when he sees who Flip has chosen. And then this happens.

Silas Young vs. Sandman

Yes, because THE ECW TRIBUTES MUST CONTINUE!!! I get where they are and I get why they’re doing this, but do you really want to bring up this memory from ECW? The company that folded seventeen years ago? Meaning seventeen years after Sandman’s, ahem, athletic prime? Sandman canes him down for two as the fans chant for a company that is decidedly not Ring of Honor.

They head outside with Sandman in full control and grabbing a ladder. Coleman lists off some great ECW names and there are at least three of them who didn’t retire five years ago. Back in and Sandman gets sent into the ladder as we hear about Mikey Whipwreck and Joel Gertner. Silas gets in a few shots of his own and then grabs a table. Sandman puts the ladder on top of him and hits the Swanton onto the ladder onto Silas for two. That’s about it though as Misery finishes Sandman at 4:33.

Rating: D. Well it could have been worse. Again, I get what they’re going for here but egads this isn’t a good idea. It’s not like Sandman is an ROH legend. He’s a legend in the building they’re in at the moment. It’s bad enough that Ray is arguably the top heel in the promotion right now, but between this and Tommy Dreamer getting a spot at last year’s Final Battle, they need to cut out this ECW stuff. I’m sure the fans in the arena loved it, but there are a lot more fans on the other side of those cameras who are probably wondering why this is happening.

Post break, we see an edited version (with graphics and commentary saying it’s too violent to show in full) of Gordon’s punishment: ten Singapore cane shots to the back, because THEY DID THAT IN ECW TOO! Wrestlers eventually come out, including the Bullet Club with Cody making the actual save despite past issues with Gordon.

Everyone else gets out and Ray says this one is for Brandi. Gordon won’t give up and says F*** YOU to Ray because he has one more. Ray hits him low instead and everyone comes in to scare him off. It was an effective angle, though the ECW stuff really hurt it for me. Not worthy of using half the show, but it was good.

Karen Q./Britt Baker/Kelly Klein vs. Jenny Rose/Madison Rayne/Sumie Sakai

Mandy Leon is on commentary. Apparently Klein attacked Rose at the zoo in Japan. That’s not something you hear too often so at least they’re doing something. I mean, showing us that might be interesting but I’ll take what I can get. Sumie chops away at Baker to start but gets rolled into something like the Rings of Saturn.

That’s broken up just as fast and Sumie hits a running knee to the chest for two. The Sling Blade gets the same on Sakai and Baker runs the ropes, until Karen tags herself in (Coleman: “I wish she’d tag me like that.”). Jenny comes in for a headlock and it’s quickly off to Madison for a wristlock. A northern lights suplex gets two and we take a break.

Back with Sakai hitting a headscissors on Karen and bringing in Madison to dropkick Kelly. A crucifix driver hits Karen for no cover as she’s not legal (good referee) and it’s a ripcord cutter for two more. Rose and Kelly come in for the brawling but actually settle in with an abdominal stretch on Kelly. That’s broken up so Rose rolls Kelly up for the pin at 8:14.

Rating: D+. Another Women of Honor match with little story (though Rose vs. Klein was something) and no one really standing out. Pinning Klein is a big deal for Rose, but I still don’t know anything about her, though apparently she goes to Japanese zoos. The division just isn’t working and I’m not sure how they can fix it, though it’s not exactly getting better.

The Kingdom is ready for their six man tag next week.

Kenny King vs. Cody

Non-title, Jay Lethal is on commentary and Brandi has changed her outfit. Feeling out process to start with neither headlock going anywhere. Kenny’s wristlock works about the same and it’s time for some dancing. Cody tries a hammerlock instead and gets hiptossed down as it’s all King so far. The drop down right hand finally takes King down and a release gordbuster gets two.

Back up and King falls down but blames Brandi, who was nowhere near him. A Flatliner gets two on King and this time he accuses Brandi of a slap. King puts him down again and grabs a chinlock as we take a break. Back with a double clothesline taking both guys down for a breather.

Cody is up first with the Disaster kick for two and a superplex is good for the same. Kenny sends him outside for a dive and there’s a spinebuster for two of his own. With Cody down, King throws an elbow pad at Brandi, drawing her in to distract the ref. Cody gets up and King throws him the IWGP US Title before falling down, ala Eddie Guerrero. Another referee runs out to say not so fast so King shoves the referee for the DQ at 11:09.

Rating: D+. That ending was all kinds of messy and continues my streak of not liking something about King’s matches. Cody wasn’t doing any favors here either as he hit the Disaster kick and not much else. They were hyping up King getting a title shot this weekend so there was indeed a point to the thing, but it wasn’t working for me, as tends to be the case in their main event stuff.

Post match Kenny kicks Cody low and grabs Brandi but Lethal runs in for the save. Brandi leaves and Kenny belts Lethal down to end the show.

Overall Rating: D. This one was way off as the first half was spent on a single angle that featured Bully Ray, the Sandman, and an angle that felt more like a tribute to ECW than anything else. Then you had a women’s match that just showed how much the women all run together and a main event with an overbooked ending. I hope this was a one off bad show because this really missed bad.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

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

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