Ring of Honor
Date: January 6, 2021
Location: UMBC Events Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s a new year around here too and really, I have no idea what that is going to mean. Ring of Honor has changed so much in recent weeks but at least this time there is the Final Battle fallout to carry things forward a bit. Hopefully that is what we get here, even though I haven’t actually seen the pay per view yet. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

We get stills from the major Final Battle events.

Quinn McKay welcomes us to the show and today is going to be about what happened with the pandemic over the summer. That could be interesting.

Matt Taven talks about being ready for the Anniversary Show but the Coronavirus felt like something that was far away and on the other side of the world. Then they went to Las Vegas and you could tell that things were different. Nothing made him more nervous than Ian Riccaboni ordering hundreds of dollars of supplies to his house. It was clear something was going to be different but then it got a little more serious.

Flip Gordon talks about how he wrestled in front of Las Vegas in front of no fans, which was a really weird situation. Ring of Honor has handled the pandemic well but he isn’t sure when the fans will be back. All that matters is him getting his World Title shot though.

Flip Gordon vs. Bandido

Feeling out process to start with neither being able to get anywhere, setting up a standoff. Gordon does his nip ups to avoid Bandido before sending him outside. Back in and a froggy crossbody gives Bandido two but Gordon ties him in the ring skirt and hammers away. We take a break and come back with Bandido getting sent hard into the barricade and then taking him back inside for a double arm crank.

Bandido fights up and nails a corkscrew high crossbody. A superkick gives Bandido two but Gordon hits his own kicks for the same. Another spinning kick to the face gives Gordon two as commentary talks about how everything was going the day of this show and how crazy everything was. Bandido gets in the X Knee, only to get taken down by the springboard spear. The Flip Fly finishes Bandido at 9:25.

Rating: C+. Is it any surprise that these two are going to have a good match? Bandido is one of the nearly guaranteed solid matches around here and Gordon can go with anyone, making this about as easy of a match as you’re going to get around here. It certainly must be weird in a situation like this but somehow, this has become the norm, which is so strange to fathom.

Buy Honor Club!

Some wrestlers talk about how everything went nuts on the way to Las Vegas for the Anniversary Show. The borders were closed, which made things confusing for some of the international fans. Then the shows were canceled but no one knew how bad things were going to be. Even with no fans, some wrestlers had an eight man tag which was more about having fun than anything else. With nothing else possible, they went out and had some fun together. Now they’re back and Ring of Honor is doing a lot of great things to keep them safe but they all want to go back to normal as soon as possible.

Mark Haskins vs. Jay Lethal

Vicky Haskins is here with Mark. They go to the mat to start until Lethal takes him up against the ropes for a breather. Lethal’s top wristlock takes him down but Haskins is back up to work on the leg. Haskins sends him outside for a running kick from the apron before cranking on the arm again back inside. Lethal is sent outside again where he blocks a suplex over the barricade and hits a handspring cutter off the apron.

It’s way too early for the Lethal Injection back inside but the Lethal Combination gets two. Lethal kicks him in the face but Hail to the King is countered into a Crossface. Then it’s the Rings of Saturn with Haskins grabbing the leg, leaving Lethal to use the free leg to reach the rope. Haskins hits a running knee to the face for two but Lethal chops away. The Lethal Injection is easily countered though and it’s the Sharpshooter, with Haskins pulling on the arm at the same time, for the tap at 8:44.

Rating: B-. Another match where the people involved made it a guaranteed pretty good match at worse, which is not a bad thing. I like Haskins more and more every time I see him and Lethal is Mr. Ring of Honor at this point. Seeing Haskins finally beat Lethal for a change was a nice moment, and it’s a shame that he has been stuck behind the travel restrictions since then.

Mark Briscoe talks about going to Vegas early but then having everything canceled in a big surprise.

Various wrestlers make it VERY clear that the company has kept them especially safe.

We see how the ROH bubble in Baltimore worked with Quinn going through all of their protocols and how well everything went. Even Dave Meltzer praised them!

Maria Kanellis Bennett is bringing back the Experience in January and you can pick what happens on the show!

Overall Rating: B-. This was rather different and it was in a good way. It was cool to see the behind the scenes look like this, as we’ve really just heard about the protocols in most companies. Yeah it was a good bit self serving, but I’ll take something unique over Christmas break than the usual Best Of shows. Very different stuff here, and that was good for a change.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: August 12, 2020

We’re going with a big guy this time in Shane Taylor. After breaking up with his tag team with Keith Lee, Taylor stuck around ROH and became TV Champion, but he was rumored to be leaving the promotion earlier this year. He hasn’t actually appeared since December, so his current status isn’t the most clear. Let’s get to it.

Video on Shane Taylor, who has his own promotion company (read as his name for the lackeys).

Shane talks about how he elevates everyone and makes the company mean more just by being there. All that matters is Shane Taylor is money in this sport.

Ron Hunt, Taylor’s promoter, talks about how Taylor has proven himself time after time. That has been the case for the last four years and he’ll keep doing it in the future. We’ll start our look at his dominance at Best in the World 2019.

TV Title: Bandido vs. Shane Taylor

Taylor is defending and Bandido slaps him in the face to start. That ticks Taylor off so Bandido can start ducking and dodging in a fast manner. They head outside and this time Taylor catches him with a powerbomb onto the apron to take over. Back in and the chinlock goes on but Bandido kicks him in the head for the break. Another kick to the head sets up a corkscrew crossbody to send Taylor outside.

You don’t do that against a luchador and it’s a running dive to take Taylor down again. Back in and another middle rope moonsault keeps Taylor in trouble but he catches a charge in the corner with something like a chokeslam. The middle rope splash gives Taylor two but Greetings From 216 is broken up. A superkick rocks Taylor but the 21 Plex is blocked with a grab of the rope. The powerbomb and a knee to the head set up a package piledriver for two on Bandido.

That means frustration sets in so Shane goes up….AND BANDIDO CATCHES HIM IN MID AIR??? That’s the kind of thing that impressed people when Diesel did it to Bret Hart so good freaking grief man. Bandido powerslams him for two and a shooting star gets the same. Another 21 Plex attempt is countered into the Greetings From 216 to retain the title at 12:35.

Rating: B. It takes a lot to truly shock me with a spot but Bandido, who is far from a big guy, pulling Taylor out of the air, actually stunned me. I don’t remember the last time that happened but my goodness it was awesome. Bandido is a lot more than just a high flier but he’s awesome at that too, making this one a very nice surprise.

Hunt talks about wanting to prove that the title reign wasn’t a fluke, so it was time to defend it again, this time against a hungry competitor. From Mass Hysteria.

TV Title: Eli Isom vs. Shane Taylor

Taylor is defending and spits on his hand during the handshake offer. Isom gets powered up against the ropes to start but comes back with a forearm. That has absolutely no effect and Taylor misses some rights and lefts in the corner. The uppercuts work well enough for Isom and he starts running the ropes, only to get knocked out of the air with a shoulder. A running dropkick puts Taylor on the floor but he easily catches the slingshot dive.

Isom manages a posting though and the baseball slide works a bit better. The suicide dive sends Taylor into the barricade but he pulls Isom down and hits a hanging DDT to the floor. A hard whip sends Isom into the barricade and a running knee to the head makes it even worse. Back from a break with Shane hitting another running knee in the corner for two. Isom bails to the floor so Shane tries the package piledriver on the apron. That’s broken up to prevent a bad case of death, only to have Taylor hiptoss him out to the floor.

Taylor’s middle rope splash misses back inside and Isom slugs away with right hands to limited avail. An enziguri works better and sends Taylor to the floor, followed by the middle rope moonsault. Back in and Isom’s frog splash gets two and a tornado DDT is good for the same. A Samoan drop gets a heck of a two but Taylor drops him with a right hand. Taylor powerbombs him into the package piledriver for two and the place goes nuts on the kickout. Not that it matters as the Greetings From 216 finish Isom at 14:08.

Rating: B-. This was a lot better than I would have bet on and that’s because they made the story work. I don’t think they were ever going to convince fans that the title change was coming but some of those near falls gave you a reason to believe. Nice job here, as Isom continues to look good almost every time he’s in the ring.

Hunt says you should bet on Taylor, like you can do in Las Vegas. Like at Death Before Dishonor 2019.

TV Title: Shane Taylor vs. Flip Gordon vs. Tracy Williams vs. Dragon Lee

Taylor is defending, it’s one fall to a finish and PJ Black is on commentary. Lee is a surprise bonus challenger. Gordon and Williams slug it out to start and head to the floor, leaving Lee to bounce off of Shane. A hurricanrana sends Taylor outside so it’s Gordon taking his place, only to get dropkicked back down. Now it’s Williams coming in and getting dropkicked down as well, leaving Lee to hit the Tranquilo pose.

That’s broken up and it’s Gordon vs. Williams all over again. Williams gets the better of it and grabs a dragon sleeper with Shane making a fast save. Lee sends Shane into the corner for a slingshot kick to the face, only to miss a dropkick to Williams’ head. We haven’t had a dive in a bit so Lee takes out Williams and Gordon at the same time with a big crash.

Taylor cannonballs off the apron to take everyone out at once for the big knockdown. Back in and Gordon hits a tornado DDT on Taylor but Williams DDTs Gordon onto the top turnbuckle. Lee comes back in and starts throwing some suplexes but Taylor isn’t about to get taken down with a hurricanrana. Gordon and Williams get in a fight over a chair, allowing Gordon to knock him down. That’s about it though as Gordon walks into Greetings From 216 to retain Shane’s title at 8:26.

Rating: C. They did well enough here, though it wasn’t anything great. The problem here is Shane has been so dominant and there isn’t a feud for him anywhere. It’s just one match after another and while he is kind of awesome, there is only so much that he can do without a reason to watch him. Gordon vs. Williams has been good, but it’s been done to death at this point, which is often a problem around here.

Post match Lee stares Taylor down to set up the next match.

Taylor himself says stand for something and bow to no one. Change the game.

Overall Rating: B. This was another good show, but it’s rather nice to hear that we are coming back to regular shows in the near future. You can only get so much out of these things and ROH is rapidly running out of interesting names to put out there. Good show here though, as Taylor is a little better than your run of the mill big man and the Shane Taylor Productions deal is a nice enough idea.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor

Ring of Honor
Date: July 29, 2020

We’re up to a name you might have expected to be around a little sooner with Jonathan Gresham. He is one of the best technical guys going today and has been a Tag Team Champion since last year but somehow he doesn’t make it into the first seventeen Best Of shows. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Video on Gresham.

Gresham welcomes us to his home and talks about what he has been doing since the quarantine started. Believe it or not, this mainly includes a lot of working out and training. Anyway, on with the matches.

From ROH TV, September 4, 2019.

Bandido/Mark Haskins vs. Jay Lethal/Jonathan Gresham

Haskins and Gresham start things off with the technical exchange you knew was coming. A standoff lets Gresham pose a bit as the tiny chants seem to be going for Haskins. Another takedown gets Haskins nowhere and we take an early break. Back with the technical off continuing, this time with a series of headlocks being reversed into a series of headscissors. They shake hands with Gresham tagging in Lethal and bailing to the floor.

Bandido comes in to a very well received reaction and it’s another standoff as they’re still not all the way into second gear so far. They trade flips with neither being able to get anywhere, including a pair of no count covers into another standoff. The fans are rather appreciative and a handshake means it’s time to try it again. This time Lethal gets kneed in the ribs and it’s Haskins coming in for a double basement dropkick. Lethal fights back but Haskins blocks a sunset flip and stomps on the arm to take him right back down.

That doesn’t last long though as it’s already back to Gresham, who sends Haskins into the ropes while Lethal dropkicks Bandido off the apron. We take another break and come back with Lethal yelling at Gresham for low bridging Bandido to the floor. Gresham doesn’t have time to argue though as he sends Bandido into the apron and grabs a chair, which is too far for Lethal. That and it would be a DQ as the referee was watching.

Gresham shoves him down and everything breaks down with Haskins hitting a Death Valley Driver to send Gresham into Lethal for two, with the kickout offering a shock. A Samoan driver gives Haskins two more so he does it again, setting up Bandido’s frog splash for two with Gresham diving in for a save. Gresham sends Bandido into the steps, leaving Lethal to Figure Four Haskins.

The hold stays on for a long time until Bandido comes back in to powerbomb Gresham onto Lethal for the save. Gresham and Bandido slug it out with Gresham nailing an enziguri, only to get caught with a pop up cutter. Lethal comes back in and gets caught in a torture rack into a GTS. The 21 Plex sets up Haskins’ Sharpshooter to make Lethal tap at 18:22.

Rating: B+. The ending more than pushed this one over the line as they took their time getting started and then blew it away at the end. The closing segment had me wondering if they would actually give Lifeblood the win before actually doing it and it was really entertaining as a result. This was the idea of “send them out there and let them tear the house down” and it worked very well.

Then it was time to face Jay Lethal one on one. From Death Before Dishonor 2019.

Jay Lethal vs. Jonathan Gresham

Lethal doesn’t think much of Gresham not offering a handshake but Gresham has to show off what a jerk he has become. They go to the wristlocks (of course) to start with Gresham taking him down and stomping on the arm. That gives us a standoff so Gresham headlocks him down, only to have Lethal shake out for another standoff. Gresham can’t get the Octopus so Lethal rolls him up for two instead.

They hit the mat and it’s another standoff as Gresham can’t out wrestle him yet. The stalemates continue until Lethal sends him to the apron for a baseball slide to take the knee out. Back in and Lethal dropkicks him right back to the floor, setting up the freaking suicide dive. Back in again and it’s Lethal hitting the cartwheel dropkick for two as Gresham is in trouble for the first time.

It’s too early for the Figure Four so Gresham’s knee is fine enough for a standing Lionsault, though the knee is still a little banged up. Gresham takes him down by the arm and cranks back on it while also pulling on the leg for a bonus. A keylock goes on but Lethal drives him into the ropes for another break. Lethal’s arm is banged up but it’s fine enough to hit a powerslam and now the Figure Four goes on.

They roll to the ropes and then out to the floor with the crash being the only thing that breaks the hold. Gresham’s chair is taken away so they stop to yell at each other about who caused their losing streak. The slugout starts on the floor and winds up in the ring with the Lethal Injection being broken up with a kick to the arm. Since the Injection isn’t working, Lethal goes with an RKO for two instead.

The Figure Four goes on again and is broken in another hurry so it’s another Lethal Injection attempt. This time it’s countered into a backslide for two, so Lethal tries it AGAIN, this time to have his arm go out. Lethal counters la majistral into a cradle for two but Gresham unloads with strikes to the head. The Octopus goes on and Gresham cranks WAY back on the arm for the tap at 17:21.

Rating: B+. I REALLY liked this one as Lethal was his usual great self but Gresham was fired up and needed to prove himself. Couple that with giving him a target like the arm and there was almost no way Gresham could lose here. It was a heck of a performance too as Lethal was giving it all he had but fell short in the end. They played a great chess game with Lethal having to protect the arm but going for the win with the Injection but eventually giving out after Gresham worked over the arm as much as he could. This was great and one of the best things I’ve seen from ROH in a long time.

Post match, respect is shown.

Finally we have Gresham wanting to prove himself. From ROH TV, January 15, 2020.

Jonathan Gresham vs. Alex Shelley

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

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

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

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

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

Gresham wraps it up by talking about his connections with a promotion called Lucha Memes, which is doing some good things. More on that later.

Overall Rating: B. Gresham is one of those guys who would work anywhere anytime because there is always a use for a pure technician. It might not be the most thrilling guy or someone who can be the top star in a promotion, but he is someone who looks awfully good to have on a card. That’s what we had here, with some excellent stuff that is worth your time to check out.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: July 8, 2020

It’s PJ Black week and that likely means a lot of multi-person matches from Honor Club shows, because there are all kinds of those to pick from. Black has been one of the veteran presences in the company for a long time now and I’m curious to see what they have from him here. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Black welcomes us to the show and talks about his love of extreme sports, mainly skydiving and BASE jumping. He reads and cooks a lot, while also trying to add in some more moves to his arsenal. Anyway, on to the matches.

From Honor For All 2019.

Silas Young vs. PJ Black

Josh Woods is here with Young. They go to the mat for the technical stuff to start with Young bailing outside in frustration. Back in and Black runs him over with a shoulder before they trade some rollups for two each. Black sweeps the leg and stomps on the back, only to get dropped with a shot to the face as we take a break. We come back with Black headscissoring him to the floor but Young spits at him. The chase is on and Young hits a clothesline, though Woods was tying his shoe instead of cheating as Young was hoping for.

Young gets two off a hard whip into the corner and we hit the chinlock. Black fights up and hits a kick to the face, followed by a top rope right hand to the head. The springboard clothesline gets two but Young knocks him outside. Woods still won’t cheat for him though, meaning Young has to send things back inside. The yelling at Woods allows Black to grab a small package for the pin at 8:49.

Rating: C. I was liking the technical side of things here for a change as that isn’t what you expect from a high flier like Black. Young not being able to get Woods to cheat for him was a nice story for the match and not something you see to often. I’m not sure I’d put this on a Best Of show, but it worked rather well for a one off.

From ROH TV, March 16, 2019.

Bandido vs. PJ Black

They grapple to the mat to start with Bandido going after the leg. Back up and it’s a standoff with Black shooting an invisible arrow at Bandido. A shoulder just makes Bandido nip up, followed by a handstand nip up to get in Black’s head. Black misses an elbow and Bandido freezes him with the finger gun. A dropkick puts Black on the floor but he’s right back in for a crucifix driver as we take a break.

We come back with Bandido kicking him in the head to block a dive, setting up a heck of a moonsault to the floor. The Cannonball hits the barricade though and it’s time to head back inside for a slugout. Back in and Black gets crotched on top but manages to roll through a super hurricanrana into a Styles Clash for his own near fall.

A pumphandle into a cutter (the Wellness Policy, because we have to take a shot at WWE every few shows) gives Black two but Bandido rolls over and deadlifting Black into a piledriver (Black’s head landed on Bandido’s leg as the whole thing looked messy). Back from another break with Black hitting a moonsault press for two but running into a Spanish Fly for two more.

Bandido charges into raised boots though and a top rope double stomp to a standing Bandido gets two. Black gets caught on top for a super Spanish Fly but the moonsault hits raised boots. A shot to the face rocks Black again though and the handspring bridging German suplex finishes Black at 15:21.

Rating: B-. So you remember when Black was evil and lost to Bandido? Well now he’s good and lost to Bandido again. The match was very back and forth and entertaining, but I’m not sure what the point of this was. Black’s change hasn’t made him any better but I guess he feels better about it? Uh, good for him then I guess.

Post match they shake hands because Lifeblood is good that way.

And now we wrap it up at the Global Wars Espectacular: Milwaukee.

PJ Black vs. Triton vs. Flip Gordon

Triton is from CMLL. Gordon bails to the floor to start and has a seat in a chair, leaving Triton to take him down and hit a basement dropkick. Black sweeps the leg and hits a jumping double stomp to the back, followed by a dive to take out Gordon. Triton dives onto both of them though and we take a break. Back with Black whipping Triton into the corner to monkey flip Gordon, who comes up holding his knee. That’s enough to send Gordon to the back with some assistance and we’re down to one on one.

They trade the dives over each other until it’s a double clothesline for the knockdown….and Gordon is right back in to stomp away. Nice job on the rather believable knee selling if nothing else. Triton is sent outside, leaving Black to get hit with a running clothesline in the corner for two. Back in and Triton gets caught with the springboard tornado DDT but Black brainbusters Gordon for two more. Black moonsaults onto both of them at once for two and we take another break.

We come back again with Black grabbing a Gory Stretch on Gordon and a Boston crab on Triton at the same time. That’s broken up so Gordon breaks up Black’s 450 with a hard crotching. Triton’s super Spanish Fly gets two on Gordon and a hurricanrana sends him outside. Black is sent outside with him and there’s the big dive to take Black and Gordon down at the same time.

Back in and Triton hits a Five Star onto both of them at once but Gordon rips off Triton’s mask. That means it’s chair time but here’s Tracy Williams to take it away from Gordon. Triton has his mask back but his moonsault hits Black’s feet. The Placebo Effect gives Black the pin on Triton at 12:44.

Rating: B-. The problem with this kind of match is there are only so many things you can do that haven’t been done before. How many times have you seen a multiman match where they’re all flying around and doing whatever they can to each other? It’s certainly entertaining and fun to watch, but they bleed together really hard and that was the case here. At least Black got the win though.

Black talks about mentoring Brian Johnson and he looks forward to seeing him grow into a World Champion. He’ll be back in the ring soon so stick around.

Overall Rating: C+. These things are starting to run out of steam as it felt like this was the leftover Black matches instead of anything you should go out of your way to see. At some point they’re going to run out of interesting people to talk about and while Black has a cool story, he isn’t going to be seen as anything more than a solid hand who can do some cool flips. I’m worried about what we might be seeing on these shows, as the good ones have been very good but then you get something like this, which was just there. Not bad and even pretty good at times, but don’t go out of your way for it.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: June 24, 2020

We’re off to Bandido this time around and that is going to mean a lot of flips and dives all over the place. That sounds like an entertaining hour and these shows have done well in recent weeks. It’s a simple formula and with someone who can do the kind of things Bandido is capable of in the ring, we should be in for a good one. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Bandido welcomes us to the show and sends us to his first match, which was his debut with the company.

From ROH TV, February 6, 2019.

Mark Haskins vs. Bandido

Feeling out process to start with the aggressive Haskins grabbing a headlock but getting shoved up against the ropes. Bandido starts the flipping and it’s an early standoff. More flipping ensues but Haskins kicks him down and avoids a charge to the floor. That means a suicide dive to drop Bandido and we take a break.

Back with Haskins charging into a boot in the corner, setting up Bandido’s corkscrew crossbody. The big running flip dive takes Haskins down again and, amazingly enough, the fans are way into someone who can fly like this. Bandido gets two off a pop up cutter but gets kicked right back down. That just earns Haskins a superkick but they kick each other in the chest for another double knockdown, which the fans seem to appreciate.

They (the wrestlers, not the fans) slug it out until Haskins charges into a torture rack, with Bandido flipping him forward into something like a GTS for two. Haskins is right back up and spins him into a Sharpshooter (a fast one at that too) but Bandido is right next to the rope. A top rope double stomp gives Haskins two so Haskins goes back to the leg. That’s broken up in a hurry so Bandido knocks him against the ropes (619 position but standing instead of kneeling), flips forward and bounces off the ropes (ala the Tajiri handspring) for a snap German suplex and the pin at 12:12.

Rating: B+. Well that was insane. This was all about showcasing both guys and I had a great time watching it. Bandido really impressed me last year at various times and Haskins looked great as well, which is exactly what the point of this was supposed to be. I want to see these two do this more often and I’d buy a ticket to see it. Well done here, with exactly what they were shooting for.

From Masters of the Craft 2019.

Bandido vs. Caristico vs. Flip Gordon vs. PJ Black

One fall to a finish. They go with a four way test of strength to start until Caristico sends Gordon and Bandido outside. A springboard crossbody takes Black down and a running headscissors does it again. Bandido comes back in for a showdown with Caristico and the fans seem happy. They strike it out until an exchange of handspring backflips gives us a standoff.

Bandido headscissors him to the floor but Gordon comes back in before the dive can launch. Black springboards in to take them both down so Gordon is right back with a springboard dropkick to send Black outside. Caristico breaks up a handshake between Bandido and Gordon, only to get knocked outside. Bandido dives onto Black as Gordon does the same to Caristico. That leaves the divers to chop it out, miss dropkicks, and nip up to face off. The other two come back in as Bandido muscles Gordon to the top, only to have to slug it out with Caristico.

Gordon is double superplexed into a powerbomb to give Black two, followed by Black being put in the Tree of Woe. Bandido takes Gordon to the top, with Black sitting up to toss both of them down at once. We take a break and come back with a parade of flips and dives off the top for a parade of near falls (you knew that was coming). Black Gory Specials Caristico and Billy Goat’s Curses Bandido at the same time but quickly collapses under the weight.

Gordon and Black go outside with Bandido hitting a big dive, followed by Caristico hitting one of his own onto the three of them. Caristico takes a long time playing to the crowd before going to the barricade, only to be shoved into the crowd. Bandido and Black join them, as does Gordon with a crazy springboard flip dive from the ring into the stands.

That’s worthy of a big celebration (well earned) and it’s Caristico heading back inside for a Destroyer on Black. Bandido is back in as well with a super fall away slam superplex on Caristico with Black and Gordon making a save. Just because he can, Bandido 21 Plexes Black and Gordon at the same time to finish Gordon at 14:42.

Rating: B+. They did what they should have done here and had everyone fly all over the place and hit one crazy move after another. Bandido continues to look like a star and someone who has been doing this for fifteen years despite being in his early twenties. This was a blast and what you would expect from four guys like these people.

Bandido is VERY fired up over his win.

Bandido is proud of pinning Bully Ray in an eight man tag.

After a break, Bandido talks about gaining momentum until he got to face Jay Briscoe in a main event. That’s where we’re going to wrap it up, at Global Wars 2019.

Jay Briscoe vs. Bandido

Mark Briscoe and Mark Haskins are at ringside. They shake hands to start and Briscoe powers him into the corner without much effort. Bandido does it right back though as the mind games begin. A running headscissors has Bandido staggered but he flips into a standoff, complete with dancing finger guns. Bandido picks up the pace with a springboard wristdrag to the floor and there’s a big flip dive for a bonus. Back in and Jay superkicks him out of the air though and we take a break.

We come back with Jay hitting a Death Valley Driver for two and taking things outside for a whip into the barricade. There’s a running boot to the face to knock Bandido silly again, followed by another whip into the barricade. A suplex drops Bandido on the floor as Mark Briscoe joins commentary. That lasts all of ten seconds until Bandido dives back in to beat the twenty count. Jay charges into some boots in the corner and that means a corkscrew moonsault to take Jay down.

We take another break and come back with Bandido slipping out of the Jay Driller. They forearm it out and trade superkicks until Bandido hits a pop up cutter for no cover. Briscoe gets in a forearm and the Jay Driller connects for two. The fans are split as Bandido fights to his feet and grabs the moonsault fall away slam. Bandido can’t hit his own Jay Driller so Jay clotheslines the heck out of him for two more. Back up and Bandido says bring it and knees him in the face. The X Knee sets up the 21 Plex to finish Jay at 21:45.

Rating: B. These two beat the heck out of each other and Bandido got a heck of a rub here. Jay is the most successful star ROH has ever seen and a win over him is a big deal, as it was here. Bandido looks like a major star as a result of the win and that’s the point of a win like this. Very good, hard hitting match here as Bandido again looks talented beyond his years.

Some clips of Mexa Squad winning the Six Man Tag Team Titles to wrap us up.

Overall Rating: A. That’s about as entertaining as you are going to get for a one hour show and Bandido continues to be one of the most entertaining stars on the entire roster. This was a heck of a showcase for him and it seems that he should be a big star for a long time around here to come. Or until he signs with AEW or WWE, where someone as good as he is seems destined to go.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Ring Of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: June 10, 2020

We have an interesting subject this week with Brody King, who is more of a supporting character than a top star. King has been around the company for a little while now as part of Marty Scurll’s Villain Enterprises, but I’m wondering if he has enough to get a full show. Let’s get to it.

We open with a quick look at King, including his family life. King is teaching his son to spend more time outside and teaching himself how to smoke meat. He’s also a gamer, but gets annoyed at them in a hurry. After a look at King doing yoga, we see his debut as part of Villain Enterprises in December 2018.

We’re going to start with King’s first match back from a knee injury on ROH TV, January 29, 2020.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Next up is Cobb’s singles debut from Death Before Dishonor 2019.

Pre-Show: Jeff Cobb vs. Brody King

They trade the power shoves to start but Cobb can’t get his hand all the way up for a test of strength. Brody is nice enough to lower his hands and they roll around without breaking the grip. An exchange of shoulders goes nowhere so Cobb counters a charge with an overhead belly to belly.

King wins a strike off though and kicks Cobb down for a running backsplash before he just stomps away in the corner. Cobb pops back up for a clothesline though and it’s a double clothesline for a double knockdown. They slug it out from their knees and trade some running shots against the ropes. A Boss Man Slam gives King two but Cobb catches him on top with a dropkick.

That means a stalling superplex for one, followed by a standing moonsault for two. King’s hurricanrana puts Cobb on the floor for the suicide dive, setting up the piledriver for a VERY close two as the announcers aren’t sure about the kickout. They trade snap German suplexes but Cobb is right back with the Tour of the Islands for the pin at 12:59.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t a match that required a lot of thinking and that’s a good idea sometimes. The point of this was to have two monsters in there beating each other up and that is exactly what we got. Cobb is someone who could carry the World Title based on matches like this and King gets to show that he is more than just a tag guy. Good match, but it would have been even better on the main show in front of a warmed up crowd and without with more time. Still though, rather entertaining as Cobb tends to be.

From Road To Supercard of Honor Night 3, January 26, 2019.

Tag Wars Finals: Lifeblood vs. Villain Enterprises

It’s David Finlay/Juice Robinson vs. PCO/Brody King with the winners winning a tournament and a future Tag Team Title shot. King headlocks Finlay to start and then runs him over with a shoulder. Finlay gets in an uppercut though and Robinson comes in for a double suplex. Back from a break with PCO shouting at Robinson, whose running shoulders just hurt himself. The snap jabs get the same result but PCO kicks him in the chest to take over.

There’s a backsplash to crush Robinson again and a running dropkick to the back of the head puts him down. A belly to back suplex doesn’t quite work and it’s a double dropkick to put PCO down. There’s a double flapjack for the same but PCO sends them into each other. King comes back in to send PCO into Finlay in the corner, followed by the running backsplash.

We cut to a shot of commentary and come back with King chinlocking Finlay and driving an elbow into his face. PCO’s chokebreaker sets up a heck of a clothesline from King as Finlay is in trouble. King lays Finlay throat first across the middle rope and hits a cannonball but Finlay slips out of a powerbomb. The hot tag brings in Robinson to pick up the pace, including his own cannonball, which he insists is better.

Back from another break with PCO hitting a running clothesline in the corner into a DDT. The top rope splash misses though and Finlay gets the tag. The double teaming doesn’t work whatsoever though and PCO sends them both outside for a dive. Back in and a sitout powerbomb gets two on Finlay with Robinson making a save. Juice punches away at both monsters and drops King with a big left.

The same big left just makes PCO freak out and it’s a discus forearm to drop Robinson. PCO misses the Swanton to the apron though and Robinson sends PCO into the barricade. Back in and Finlay spears King down, setting up a clothesline to the back of the head for two. King isn’t having any of that though and gets in a shot to the face, setting up the Ganso Bomb to finish Finlay at 15:27.

Rating: C+. Pretty good stuff here with the Villains being some solid monsters against the young, plucky faces. Robinson’s left hand not working on PCO gave us a great visual and made him look like a monster all over again. The Villains winning made more sense here though, as just having them together with Marty Scurll makes them seem all the more important.

We finish up with some quick clips of Villain Enterprises winning the Tag Team Titles.

King wraps it up and promises that the company will be back.

Overall Rating: B-. This wasn’t so much a Best Of Brody King show but rather more a Best Of Villain Enterprises show with Cobb vs. King included as a bonus feature. That’s about what I was expecting though as there is only so much you can get out of a feature on someone who is primarily a tag guy. The action was good, but you can tell these shows getting a little weaker as time goes by.

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

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

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

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

Ring of Honor
Date: May 27, 2020

It’s time for another Best Of show and this time we’re getting to see a lot of Dragon Lee. I could go for a good bit of that as Lee has some of the most entertaining matches around here for a long time now. They have a nice selection to pick from with Lee so hopefully they pick the right ones. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Dragon Lee video.

Lee welcomes us to the show and thanks us for watching (that’s polite of him). He throws us to our first match.

From All Star Extravaganza 8.

Dragon Lee vs. Kamitachi

You probably know Kamitachi better as Hiromu Tankahashi. Kamitachi isn’t interested in a handshake to start so they strike it out and go to the mat with neither getting an advantage. They trade flips to escape each other until Kamitachi is sent outside for a suicide dive. Lee may have banged up his knee so Kamitachi is back up with a running sunset bomb to take Lee from the apron to the floor in a huge crash. A running dropkick off the apron drops Lee again and a hard whip sends Lee over the barricade.

We take a break and come back with Lee hitting some running dropkicks to put Kamitachi on the floor again, setting up the big flip dive. A double stomp from the middle rope to the apron plants Kamitachi again and a suplex powerbomb gives Lee two back inside. Kamitachi suplexes him into the corner and they crash to the floor again. They dive back in and strike it out again until Lee kicks him in the face and snaps off a German suplex for two.

We take another break and come back with an exchange of German suplexes with Lee getting the better of things for another near fall. Kamitachi drops him on his head with another German suplex for another two and they’re both staggered. Lee grabs some Rings of Saturn but Kamitachi is too close to the ropes. That sends Kamitachi to the apron and Lee snaps off a running hurricanrana to the floor.

Neither of them can do much but it’s Kamitachi snapping off a Canadian Destroyer for two. Lee forearms his way out of a superplex attempt and now the top rope double stomp connects. A powerbomb is countered into another Destroyer to plant Lee for another near fall. Lee knees him in the head though and grabs the Phoenix Plex (powerbomb but he grabs Kamitachi’s head and drops backwards to send Kamitachi head first into the mat) for the pin at 16:06.

Rating: B+. This is the kind of match where you can just sit back and watch spot after spot with nothing in the way of psychology. That’s exactly the point of something like this though and they had a heck of a match here. Just let them go insane and have fun, which is all they needed to do in something like this. Check this out, or pick any of their other matches.

Lee talks about the G1 Supercard in Madison Square Garden and how big it was for him.

From the G1 Supercard.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title: Dragon Lee vs. Bandido vs. Taiji Ishimori

Ishimori is defending and this is going to be insane. The champ gets knocked outside to start and it’s Bandido with a pair of hurricanranas to Lee. The running flip dive takes Lee down but it’s Ishimori back in to crank on Bandido’s neck. Lee hurricanranas Bandido outside as they’re already crazy fast to start. Ishimori moonsaults onto both of them and they all head back in with Lee powerbombing Ishimori for two. Lee’s top rope double stomp is countered by Bandido’s super hurricanrana, earning himself a Canadian Destroyer as Lee popped right back up.

Ishimori knees Lee down but walks into a pop up cutter for two. Now Lee hits the top rope stomp on Bandido but his suplex is countered into a hurricanrana for two from Ishimori. The Bloody Cross gets two on Lee and they head up top with Bandido on his feet as well. Bandido catches them both for a SUPER DOUBLE FLOATOVER FALL AWAY SLAM (Cabana: “THAT’S NOT A REAL MOVE!!!”).

After two on Lee, Bandido hits….something on Ishimori that we miss because the camera was looking at the crowd looking at itself on the screen. Lee knees Ishimori to the floor and hits a fisherman’s suplex powerbomb on Bandido for the pin and the title at 8:56. Sweet goodness that was awesome.

Rating: B+. Oh come on like this was going to be anything but awesome. It was a pure spotfest and that’s exactly what we should have been getting here. Any of these guys could have left as champion and I’d bet on all three of them being champion at some point again. Just do more of this and they’ll be fine.

Then it was time to go after the TV Title against the monster Shane Taylor.

From Final Battle 2019.

TV Title: Shane Taylor vs. Dragon Lee

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

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

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

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

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

Overall Rating: A. What more could you ask for out of something like this? Lee is all about flying all over the place and having one awesome spectacle of a match after another. That’s what we got here and it was outstanding to watch an hour of what he did. Awesome stuff here, but you know that if you’ve seen Lee before.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor

Ring of Honor
Date: May 13, 2020

We have an interesting one this week with the company’s new boss, Marty Scurll. This is one of the more fascinating choices as you don’t often see the company’s boss as one of the most popular wrestlers around. Scurll is someone you could see being a top guy and he pretty much is, but never THE top guy. Let’s get to it.

We open with a Scurll video package.

Marty joins us from his couch and talks about how we have to do something like this because of the Coronavirus and they with they could be in the arenas like usual. It’s a crazy time so stay safe out there. Their job is to entertain you and the fans have always been loyal to them. Therefore, we’re going to be looking at a special subject: Marty himself! Marty debuted here and won the TV Title in a hurry over his longtime rival Will Ospreay.

And now, his first match, from All In.

Marty Scurll vs. Kazuchika Okada

We even get the Okada Bucks. Feeling out process to start with Okada laying Marty up against the ropes and slapping him on the chest. Marty teases doing the same thing but stops with a pose instead. The announcers entertain themselves with inside jokes as Okada’s wristlock doesn’t get him anywhere. Marty starts slugging away with running forearms and an apron superkick, followed by the suicide dive.

They chop it out with Marty getting the better of it but Okada flapjacks him back inside. That’s enough for in the ring so they head outside again with Okada DDTing him on the floor. Back in and Marty pulls himself up but gets caught in a crossarm choke. That’s reversed into a Backstabber followed by a tornado DDT for two more.

Another DDT gives Okada two and they strike it out until Scurll grabs the brainbuster to knock Okada silly. Scurll grabs a piledriver but can’t pick him up. Instead he stops to fire himself up, allowing Okada to hit the over the White Noise onto the knee to put Marty right back in trouble. They go to the corner to slug it out with Okada getting the better of it, followed by the pinfall reversal sequence for two each.

Scurll powerbombs the heck out of him for two so Okada missile dropkicks him for two of his own. Another DDT gets Scurll out of trouble but there’s the Tombstone. Okada spends too long loading up the Rainmaker though and Marty snaps his finger (Ian: “We found the umbrella!”). The Rainmaker is countered a second time into the chickenwing but Marty can’t get the grip. Okada stands up and drops back on him for the break, only to have Marty slap it on again.

The hold gets flipped back for the break…and the ref gets bumped. An umbrella to Okada’s head sets up a Rainmaker from Scurll for two as THIS JUST KEEPS GOING. The chickenwing is countered into the Rainmaker but Okada can’t cover. Scurll tells him to bring it on so a forearm puts him down. A slap to the face annoys Okada and it’s a discus lariat into the Rainmaker to finally finish Scurll at a ridiculous 26:09.

Rating: C. It was pretty good at times but GOOD GRIEF this was long. They easily could have cut ten minutes out of this and when the show is already running long, it would have done them a lot of good. The story of Scurll trying to rise up to the heavyweight level was a good one, but sweet goodness it wasn’t the right time to go the better part of half an hour. I was worried they would do that late in the show and they did it here.

That’s the kind of match that makes him love wrestling. Just like this one, with a very exciting opponent. From ROH TV, September 18, 2019.

Bandido vs. Marty Scurll

The fans are VERY into both of them here. We get a handshake, with Bandido being nervous but going through with it, earning some applause from Scurll. Marty wrestles him to the mat to start and an early standoff takes us to a break. Back with Marty “accidentally” poking him in the eye, though Bandido is fine enough to superkick him outside. Scurll hits his own superkick on the floor to take over and he even heads into the crowd for a quick bow.

Back in and a slingshot into an arrogant cover gets two on Bandido as the fans are eating Marty up here. There’s a surfboard double knee stomp to slow Bandido down and the knee gives out on a gorilla press attempt. The knee is fine enough for a springboard spinning crossbody and a cutter puts Marty on the floor for a big flip dive. Back from another break with Marty suplexing him for a double knockdown.

A tornado DDT looks to set up a chickenwing but Marty settles for a pumphandle Ghostbuster for two more instead. The chickenwing is broken up again so Marty snaps off a half and half suplex instead. Bandido is right back up with a shot to the face and they’re both down for a breather.

Marty teases a chop off before punching Bandido in the face, only to have a middle rope hurricanrana countered into a buckle bomb. The 21 Plex is countered so Bandido hits a standing shooting star press for two instead. The superplex moonsault World’s Strongest Slam plants Marty but he’s fine enough to pull Bandido into the chickenwing. That’s broken up so Marty hits Black Plague for the pin at 19:43.

Rating: B. Sometimes the solution is to just have two popular guys do a bunch of stuff to each other for twenty minutes and let the fans go nuts. That’s what they did here and the match was a blast as a result. They didn’t need to go any more complicated than that and we can get one more big team match between the groups next week, because that’s what works best around here. I’ll take it over whatever else we can get and it should be another fun match, just like this one.

Marty is proud of his win and knows more great ones are coming.

Overall Rating: B. Yeah this worked well enough. Scurll is someone who can do a lot of things but most importantly, the fans like what he is doing and he gets strong reactions everywhere. Hopefully he gets a major push somewhere down the line, because he’s earned a chance on top, even if it’s something short. Good show here, as these continue to work.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: April 29, 2020

It’s Flip Gordon week and that could be an interesting choice. Gordon has been around for a good while now and has had some big moments in the company. He has yet to break through to the other side, but there are enough moments to make for a good hour, at least in theory. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

We look at Flip Gordon walking his dog and then talking about a rough childhood. He kept getting in trouble but then he saw wrestling and knew that’s what he wanted to do. Eventually he became a college mascot and learned how to control his body, followed by going into the military to join in his mind. After that was over, he drove to Boston and learned how to wrestle.

From ROH TV, May 3, 2017 (labeled as April 8, 2017 for some reason).

Matt Sydal vs. Flip Gordon

I saw Gordon down in Orlando and thought something of him so hopefully he does well here. They trade flips (you would think Gordon would have the advantage there) to start with Gordon nipping up about ten times in a row for a standoff. Sydal grabs a rollup for two and there’s a spinwheel kick to put Gordon down. Back up and Gordon gets in a kick of his own and a standing moonsault gets two. Another kick to the head doesn’t do much good as Sydal scores with his own kick, followed by the Shooting Star for the pin at 5:34.

Rating: C. I haven’t liked Sydal this much since his Evan Bourne singles run, which is quite the surprise after all the time I spent being bored with his ROH stuff. Gordon looked good here and I’d have much rather seen him in the Top Prospect Tournament instead of half the schmucks they had in there.

From Final Battle 2018.

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.

Gordon talks about coming to Ring of Honor young but he got hurt twice. That’s why he became the Mercenary, and it fit the military theme as well.

From War of the Worlds: Buffalo 2019.

Flip Gordon vs. Bandido

The fans are VERY behind Bandido here and there’s no contact for a good while to start. Gordon takes him into the corner but lets him go for some floss dancing. My goodness there is nothing Best Of about that stupid dance. Bandido flips out of a wristlock and it’s a standoff to keep things in slow motion early on. Gordon runs him over with a shoulder and walks on his hands for a headscissors. That earns Flip a hurricanrana but he flips out of a second attempt and ducks a penalty kick. They both bounce up to their feet and it’s a standoff.

Back from a break with Gordon hitting a quick Blockbuster into an inverted Cannonball in the corner. The Kinder Surprise sends Bandido outside and it’s a springboard hilo for two back inside. We hit the double arm crank to keep Bandido down but he’s right back up with a spinning high crossbody. A Shining Wizard sends Flip outside and there’s the big dive to send us to a second break.

Back with Bandido showing off with the one armed gorilla press (geez) into a standing shooting star. Bandido reverse hurricanranas him out to the floor, only to get sent into the barricade. They both beat the count back in and the slugout is on again. Bandido kicks him in the face but gets pulled into a sleeper. They go into the corner for the break and Bandido crotches him on top, setting up the moonsault World’s Strongest Slam for two on Gordon. The 21 Plex is blocked and the Star Spangled Stunner gives Gordon his own near fall. Bandido hits the X Knee but it’s the Flip Five to finish Bandido at 25:35.

Rating: B. Take two talented high fliers, let them go out and do their thing for a long time. They didn’t build a ton of drama until the finish but the point here was to have two guys fly around a lot. Gordon getting a win here is the right move and I’m sure Bandido is going to be fine given the reputation that he has built up in a hurry.

Gordon talks to his dog and we get a music video on him to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This might have been the weakest of the Best Of shows but Gordon doesn’t exactly have the longest tenure so far. Gordon is someone who is going to be fine, but I’m not sure how far you can get with the first name Flip. Then again, Dalton Castle is a peacock and former World Champion. Perfectly fine enough show, but nothing worth going out of your way to see.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

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

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

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

Opening recap.

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

The hosts tell us to watch Free Enterprise.

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

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

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

Vincent/Bateman vs. Sal Rinauro/Michael Stevens

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

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

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

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

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

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Clips of Jonathan Gresham beating Josh Woods via countout.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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