Ring of Honor
Date: June 30, 2021
Location: UMBC Event Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We are rapidly approaching Best In The World and a lot of the card has either already been made or is pretty obvious. That is not a bad thing either, but we also have to set up the rest of the Survival of the Fittest tournament. In other words, you can feel things getting interesting around here again and that is a very nice thing. Let’s get to it.

Click on the link below for the full review.

Opening sequence.

Quinn McKay welcomes us to the show and runs down the card, which will be headlined by the Survival of the Fittest finals. Well that’s big.

Here’s how all six of the finalists qualified.

But first, this.

Matt Taven vs. Dutch

Dutch has Vita Von Starr and Bateman with him. Taven goes straight at the monster to start and gets shoved down without much effort. Some heavy forearms to the chest have Taven in trouble but Dutch’s powerslam is broken up. A dropkick has no effect on Dutch, who runs Taven over to send us to a break. Back with Dutch taking it outside for a whip into the barricade.

Vita adds some choking but here is Maria Kanellis-Bennett to order her to the back. With that out of the way, Taven spin kicks him to the floor for the big suicide dive. The Flight of the Conqueror takes Dutch down again, setting up Aurora Borealis….for one, with Taven being stunned. Taven flips out of what looks like a spinning Boss Man Slam, setting up the Climax. That’s enough for Bateman to pull Taven outside and take him out for the DQ at 11:09.

Rating: C. The ending is annoying but I get why you don’t want either of these guys taking a fall. The story worked well here as this was about making Dutch look like a monster, which worked out well. I’m not sure how much longer they can drag out this Taven vs. Righteous story, but that has been the case for months now.

Post match, Vincent comes out to dance as Bateman beats on Taven. Mike Bennett comes in for the brawl but the Righteous gets the better of things. Security breaks it up.

Post break, Vincent talks about how Matt Taven wants everyone to cheer for him but one day, he’ll have nothing left. Dig what he’s saying? Taven looks a bit crushed.

Jay Briscoe is ready to knock Mark Briscoe out in the Fight on the Farm. He let Mark have the win at the 500th episode and now it’s time to knock him out like he always has.

Survival of the Fittest: Demonic Flamita vs. Brian Johnson vs. Eli Isom vs. Bandido vs. Rhett Titus vs. Chris Dickinson

Elimination rules and the winner gets a future World Title shot. During the entrances, everyone gets a quick promo about how they’re going to win and what it means to them. Bandido and Flamita trade the kicks to start before falling outside, meaning Dickinson and Titus can come in. Dickinson headlock takeovers him down but Titus is back up with a suplex for two. Isom comes in and goes to the mat with Titus for some grappling. It’s off to Johnson to come in and chop it out with Isom, who sends him into the corner with a backdrop.

Johnson sends Isom outside but gets dropped by Bandido. The big dive is loaded up but Bandido has to grab Flamita, meaning it’s a huge backflip World’s Strongest Slam onto the pile. Back in and Bandido kicks Johnson down, only to be rolled up by Bandido for the elimination at 4:48.

Flamita isn’t done though as he jumps Bandido and puts him through the timekeeper’s table. Some chair shots crush Bandido even worse, drawing out Rey Horus for the save. We take a break and come back with Isom armdragging Johnson into an armbar but his belly to belly is broken up. Johnson whips him hard into the corner and talks about how Isom has all of seven people in Indiana cheering for him.

That’s enough to fire Isom up for a release northern lights suplex but the referee gets bumped, allowing Johnson to get in a poke to the eye. The hanging cutter out of the corner sets up the Process….but Isom rolls outside. Dickinson comes in but Johnson bails to the floor, allowing Titus to come in for the dropkick to Dickinson. Johnson comes back in (pretty fast at that) but gets suplexed by Titus for two. Another dropkick sets up a running boot in the corner to rock Johnson again and the top rope knee finishes Johnson at 12:55. Dickinson comes in to go after Titus’ knee, setting up a kneebar for the fast tap at 13:28.

The rather banged up Bandido gets back in so Dickinson Saito suplexes him for two. Dickinson stays on the bad arm but Bandido pops back up with some shots of his own. The threat of a cross armbreaker has Bandido on the floor so here’s Isom to win a slugout. That doesn’t seem to hurt Dickinson for the most part until a superkick staggers him. That’s enough for Bandido to come in with the 21 Plex to get rid of Dickinson at 18:55.

We’re down to Isom vs. Bandido and after a break, the slugout is on. Isom gets two off a sidewinder suplex and the Rings of Saturn goes after the arms. Bandido grabs the rope and frustration has set in. The Promise is blocked though and Bandido hits the X Knee but the arm gives out on the 21 Plex. Isom grabs an Air Raid Crash for two but the Promises is broken up again. Instead Isom settles for two off a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. The Promise is broken up yet again and this time Bandido takes him down into something like a reverse cross armbreaker/Koji Clutch hybrid (Isom’s arm is WRENCHED back) for the win at 23:51.

Rating: B-. This might not have been as epic as some of the previous editions of the match but they hit it full on with Isom’s near upset and had the right winner. That’s about all you can ask for in a huge match like this as Bandido vs. Rush sounds pretty awesome for a main event at Best In The World. Dickinson looked like a killer here too, so three of the six coming out looking good works well.

Respect is shown and Bandido celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. As usual, Ring of Honor knows how to put on a good show and keep you entertained for an hour. The tournament final was the big focal point of the show and it worked well, with the opener being fine enough of a way to keep things going. I’m looking forward to the pay per view and if it can be as good as their TV, everything is going to work out.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Ring of Honor
Date: June 23, 2021
Location: UMBC Events Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re rapidly approaching Best In The World but at the same time we are well on the way through the Survival Of The Fittest Tournament. It would not surprise me to see those two things cross over, with either the finals taking place at the pay per view or the winner getting their title shot there. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

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

Bandido wants Bateman at his best because this is the first step towards Bandido becoming World Champion.

Bateman says it’s all about how much you want it. He and Bandido are polar opposites but anyone is going down to his elbow. Bateman will walk through anyone to get what he wants.

Survival Of The Fittest Qualifying Match: Bateman vs. Bandido

The rest of the Righteous is here with Bateman….and are ejected before the bell. We don’t get the Code Of Honor but we do get a fight over a lockup to start. A test of a test of strength gets Bandido a pat on the head so he tries a slam, sending Bateman bailing into the corner.

An exchange of shots to the face goes to Bateman and a chop cuts Bandido down again. Bandido gets smart with a running hurricanrana, setting up a dropkick to the floor. Another shot to the face drops Bandido for two though and we take a break. Back with Bateman planting him for tow more and slapping Bandido in the back of the head. Bandido twists the knee down and nails a Shining Wizard for two of his own.

Just to show off, Bandido hits a gorilla press driver into a standing shooting star press for two more. Bateman forearms a springboard out of the air for two more, only to have Bandido grab a crucifix bomb for the same. A rake to the eyes sets up a knee to the back of the head but This Is A Kill is countered with a headscissors. The 21 Plex finishes Bateman at 13:23.

Rating: C+. I’ll say the same thing I saw every time Bandido has a match: he’s really fun to watch and that is the kind of thing that deserves some extra praise. There is something about his style that works so well, and the crazy power display in the middle makes it even better. Good stuff here, with the right one advancing.

Post match, Vincent returns with the rest of the Righteous, to talk about a moment of clarity. Vincent wants the Ring of Honor World Title but Bateman has failed him. It is time for a Righteous rebirth because death is the greatest form of love. The beating is on, with Bateman standing still to take it.

Danhausen has lost every match since Final Battle and that is not good because his money sack is dwindling. Therefore, he needs to be more EVIL in Survival Of The Fittest.

Rhett Titus talks about being in the Survival Of The Fittest before but never being able to win the thing. Now he wants the World Title and Danhausen is standing in his way. He likes Danhausen, but now he will beat him because that is his profession.

We look at Flip Gordon and EC3 cheating to beat the Briscoes last month.

The Briscoes yell at each other over the loss when Papa Briscoe breaks it up. They can fight this out. On their farm.

Dragon Lee, who was never beaten for the TV Title, can’t believe that Tony Deppen is the champion. He’ll just win it back.

Tracy Williams took his eyes off the prize against Tony Deppen so now he is coming back for the title.

Tony Deppen is willing to do whatever it takes to retain the title.

TV Title: Tony Deppen vs. Dragon Lee vs. Tracy Williams

Deppen is defending, with Lee yelling at both of them and then dropping out to the floor. Lee comes back in to try and steal a pin on Deppen before going outside again. Deppen sends Williams’ arm into the buckle but Lee comes back in again. Williams chops Deppen by mistake to mess up a double team so Deppen gets kicked out to the floor. Lee is sent outside again, this time for a double suplex as we take a break.

Back with Deppen and Williams fighting over who gets to cover Lee. Deppen: “DO I LOOK THAT STUPID???” Williams: “YES YOU DO!” Williams is sent outside and Deppen hits a quick dropkick to Lee. With Deppen outside as well, Lee is back up with the big running flip dive to take both of them down again. Back in again and Lee unloads on both of them in opposite corners.

The running corner dropkick gets two on Deppen with Williams making a save. Williams hammers Lee down in the corner until Deppen knees him in the head. Deppen takes Williams up top but gets caught in the super DDT. Lee drops Williams and everyone is down as we take a break. Back again with a three way slugout from their knees until it’s a three way slugout from their feet.

They trade suplexes, with Williams German suplexing both of them at once. Lee dropkicks Williams to break up a piledriver attempt and everyone is down again. Williams and Lee slug it out with Williams hitting a discus lariat. The referee gets bumped so Lee hits Williams low, allowing Deppen to roll Williams up for the pin to retain at 11:27 (with Lee looking on instead of breaking up the count).

Rating: B-. The ending was a little weird but the action was good throughout. Deppen is working as a beatable champion who wants to prove himself while Williams is the technical guy who can do anything with anyone. Lee is a bit of a wild card and I’m curious to see where some of this goes. I mean, it’s going to continue the faction war because Ring of Honor loves that stuff, but it could be interesting to see how they go there.

Lee applauds a rather confused Deppen. Violence Unlimited comes out to celebrate as the Foundation checks on Williams. Cue La Faccion Ingobernable to laugh (and sing) about the Foundation falling apart. The strategy was to have Williams fall down the ranking, with Lee becoming the new #1 contender. Deppen can defend against Lee at Best In The World, or they’re coming to Deppen’s house and taking the title shot from his wife and kids. Violence Unlimited isn’t happy to end the show. They don’t do anything about it, but they aren’t happy.

Overall Rating: B-. Another easy to watch and entertaining show from Ring of Honor as you can start to see the Best In The World card coming together. That is a very nice thing to see as the company needs something to happen after building these stories up for so long. If their pay per view can be anything like the TV shows then they are going to be fine, as they are in the running for best weekly show at the moment.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Ring of Honor
Date: February 24, 2021
Location: UMBC Event Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re getting a big title match this week as the Six Man Tag Team Titles are on the line. Yeah I barely remember that the things are around either but Ring of Honor needs them because….I have no idea most of the time actually. Anyway it’s time for Shane Taylor Promotions to go after the belts in what should be a good match. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Quinn McKay welcomes us to the show and recaps Shane Taylor Promotions not getting their title shot at Final Battle due to Coronavirus issues. They turned down the titles to tonight is their shot.

Here’s what’s coming this week and next week.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Briscoes

That would be Kenny King and Dragon Lee, with Amy Rose, for La Faccion and this is a #1 contenders match. Kenny and Mark start things off with King headlocking him to the mat in a hurry. A Japanese armdrag into an armbar has Mark in more trouble until he fights up without much trouble. Jay and Lee come in with the former blasting him with a shoulder. Lee pops back to his feet and snaps off a hurricanrana as Jay isn’t sure what to do with someone so fast.

Mark comes back in for the exchange of chops but gets taken into the wrong corner for some clubberin. That doesn’t matter very much as it’s back to Jay, who slams Kenny on the floor. The Cactus Elbow connects and we take a break. Back with Mark escaping the Royal Flush and a double clothesline giving us a double knockdown. It’s back to Lee, who gets kicked in the face by Jay. Lee is up all over again and takes out Jay’s knee, only to get caught with a Death Valley Driver.

King catches Jay on the top and Lee hits the Alberto double stomp for two more. Kenny’s bridging t-bone suplex sets up a leglock with Mark having to make a save. Back up and it’s a double slugout with Lee hitting a running German suplex into a jumping knee into a reverse hurricanrana to drop Mark. Lee’s hurricanrana is countered though and Jay’s neckbreaker connects. The Froggy Bow is loaded up but here’s Flip Gordon to kick him down, allowing Kenny to get the rollup pin at 11:15.

Rating: B. While it wasn’t quite the Briscoes vs. Flamita/Bandido classic, it was one of the better matches that the company has had since their comeback. Lee is on another planet, King is more than good enough and the Briscoes are the Briscoes. This was a case where it wasn’t would this be good but rather how great would it be and they managed to deliver rather well.

Post match EC3 is back to say that since honor can be bought, honor cannot be real. EC3 respects Jay because he is the kind of man who does everything he is supposed to do. He even envies Jay but after everything he has done, what is next for Jay? EC3 says he is free and now Jay controls his narrative. I think I remember why I didn’t miss EC3 around here.

Mike Bennett vs. Bateman

Bennett’s ankle is still banged up coming in and this is under relaxed rules. Bennett charges straight at him and knocks Bateman out to the floor in a hurry. That’s fine with Bennett, who follows him outside to keep up the shots to the head. Vida Von Starr offers a distraction though and Bennett misses a charge into the barricade. Bateman drops him chest first onto the apron and there’s a catapult to send Bennett throat first into the ring structure.

We take a break and come back with Bennett hitting a ripcord elbow but getting suplexed down hard. A superkick into a discus lariat gives Bennett two and it’s time for the big chop off. An exchange of forearms puts both of them down until Bennett is up first. The superkick is blocked and Bateman hits a discus forearm for two. This Is A Kill is broken up though and Bateman hits a spear into a piledriver for the pin at 10:03.

Rating: C. This didn’t have the same level of charisma as something with Matt Taven and Vincent but for a side feud based off of that, everything worked out well enough here. Bennett is already being treated as a much bigger and better deal around here so at least they are doing something with him for a change. Bateman is fine for a monster, but this just made me want to see Vincent more.

Post match here’s Matt Taven to jump Bateman and it’s time to go for the leg, complete with the block of wood. Taven tells Vincent that this will happen unless he gets the match he wants. Vincent says no so Bateman’s ankle is crushed.

Video on Shane Taylor vs. Rush for the World Title next week.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Mexisquad

Shane Taylor/the Soldiers of Savagery are challenging and Maria Kanellis-Bennett is on commentary. Hands are shaken but the fight is on in a hurry with everyone going to the floor. Back in and Flamita ducks Khan’s running big boot in the corner, allowing Flamita to hit a quick takeover. A dropkick puts Khan down again but he powers Flamita into the corner, allowing the tag off to Moses.

That means a big running charge takes Flamita over (commentary is rather pleased) but he’s right back up with a twisting Stunner. Shane comes in to chase Rey Horus around until a shot to Shane’s face sends us to a break. Back with Bandido getting the hot tag to come in and hammer on Shane. That’s fine with Taylor, who shoves him into the corner for the tag off to Flamita. A walk across Bandido’s shoulders sets up a running hurricanrana with the champs sending all of them outside. That means trio of dives, followed by a trio of flips to take them down again.

Back in and a 450 gets two on Shane as commentary tries to figure out if the champs winning can be an upset. Flamita flips Bandido around to take out Khan’s legs, because that’s just something he can do. One heck of a toss splash gives Flamita two on Moses with Khan making the save. Horus accidentally DDT’s Flamita and Moses nails a double clothesline to the floor. That leaves Shane to Rock Bottom Flamita into a splash for two and Welcome To The Land gives us new champions at 12:32.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t quite the level of awesome that you expect from the Mexisquad but they have been champions for so long and I don’t think that a single loss is going to change anything for them in the long run. What matters here is that we have some fresh champions, which probably needed to happen after the long layoff. Throw in Shane getting a big win before next week’s World Title match and it is a rather well put together title match.

Overall Rating: B-. It was certainly an eventful show and that is something that this company has been needing for the time being. The title change alone, even if it is with the least important title in the promotion, made the show feel more important. That is in addition to a pretty awesome opener and there wasn’t much you could ask for in a slightly bigger than usual show.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Ring of Honor
Date: December 9, 2020
Location: UMBC Events Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

The build towards Final Battle continues and it needs to hurry up as the show is in less than ten days. I’m not sure how much they can build towards the show but at least it seems like they have a lot of the ideas set up in advance. We seem to be getting Brody King challenging for the World Title, so hopefully they set up some more things here. Let’s get to it.

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

Quinn McKay welcomes us to the show and throws us to the end of Brody King beating Shane Taylor last week.

King says he’s coming for the World Title.

McKay throws us to Josh Woods beating Jay Lethal.

Woods is very fired up by his win.

Video on Vincent vs. Mike Bennett. Mike talks about how Vincent is insane, but Vincent wants to know why Bennett bailed on Matt Taven when he hurt his knee. Vincent was all Taven had left and they used to be friends. Now Bennett doesn’t recognize Vincent and it’s time to beat him up.

Vincent vs. Mike Bennett

Vincent starts with the mind games and drops to the floor at the bell. They switch places though and Vincent stomps him down in the corner to take over. The strike off goes to Bennett and a running forearm sends Vincent outside again. Bennett charges into an elbow though and gets dropped throat first across the top. A side suplex on the floor keeps Bennett down and we take a break.

Back with Bennett slapping him in the head over and over, setting up a superkick into a Death Valley Driver. Vincent sends him into the corner for some running elbows, only to get caught in an exploder suplex. A quick guillotine choke slows Bennett down until he drives Vincent into the corner. The spear is countered into the guillotine again so Bennett suplexes his way to freedom. Back up and they slug it out until Bennett scores with a clothesline. Now the spear connects but the piledriver is blocked. Vincent unloads on him in the corner…and the referee calls the DQ at 11:34.

Rating: C+. That’s a weird way to bring Bennett back to the ring but Vincent shouldn’t be losing before the big showdown at Final Battle. Vincent is a monster and Taven is the hero to fight him, so having him lose clean to a returning Bennett would be wrong. At the same time though, Bennett losing as soon as he gets back is a little weird too. Hopefully things get better, but Bennett turning on Taven wouldn’t shock me.

Post break the beating is still on, with Vincent saying he’s going to make it even worse for Taven. Cue Taven with a dive off the stage so the real fight can be on. Bennett gets up and here’s Bateman to keep up the brawl until referees break it up.

Video on Rhett Titus being overlooked but joining the Foundation. Titus: “I am the Foundation.”

Mark Briscoe has picked PCO as his partners for the Tag Team Title match. What an oddball team.

Tracy Williams didn’t win the Pure Title tournament but he was glad to get his chance against Jonathan Gresham. The Foundation is still about rebuilding this company though and now it is time to deal with some of the other veterans. That brings Williams to John Walters, who is a former Pure Champion returning to the company after ten years. Williams has fifteen minutes to beat him tonight and he’s ready to prove himself again.

John Walters explains who he is and talks about some of his bigger wins. He’s back because Pure Wrestling is back and doesn’t get how Williams says he wants to be like an old school Pure wrestler when Walters is right here. Williams isn’t ready for him.

John Walters vs. Tracy Williams

Pure Rules and Flip Gordon, who will be challenging Jonathan Gresham for the Pure Title, is on commentary. Walters headlocks him to start before they fight over wrist control. Williams takes him down into an armbar but it’s too early for any serious danger, as Walters bails to the ropes for the first time. With that not working, Williams switches to the knee as we take a break.

Back with Walters hammering away in the corner and taking out Williams’ knee. The dragon screw legwhip sets up the Sharpshooter, sending Williams straight to the ropes for his first break. A kneebar sends Walters to the ropes as well so it’s time for a slugout. Williams suplexes him down and now the Crossface has Walters in real trouble. The third rope break gets Walters out of trouble again but he goes back to the knee. Williams is fine with that as he does the same and the top rope DDT rocks Walters again. The piledriver finishes Walters at 11:41.

Rating: C. Well Walters is back after ten years, reminds people of who he is, and then loses in a fairly uneventful match. I’m not sure I need to see much more from Walters as there are several names around here who can do what he did but better, and they don’t need to be reintroduced. Maybe they owed him a shot due to the old vs. new show being canceled, but this wasn’t exactly eventful.

They shake hands post match.

We run down the Final Battle card to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. It really is kind of impressive that they are managing to set up a coherent Final Battle card this fast, as they have only had a few weeks outside of the Pure Title tournament. The show isn’t looking too bad all things considered, but there wasn’t much to see in the ring this week. They have one more show before the pay per view and it’s going to be a weird last push, but I have some slight optimism 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: November 25, 2020
Location: UMBC Events Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

Believe it or not we are well on the way to Final Battle and I’m not sure how many matches have actually been set up for the show. Actually I’m not even sure how many matches have been teased for the show, which makes for a fairly important next few weeks. Hopefully they can get off to a good start here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

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

Jay Briscoe wants the Tag Team Titles back but first he has to deal with EC3.

EC3 talks about how much he envies Jay Briscoe for sticking around here while he chased the bright lights. Now he wants to know if Briscoe believes in the code of honor and if he can control his narrative.

EC3 vs. Jay Briscoe

EC3 backs him into the corner to start and Jay isn’t interested in a handshake. Briscoe grabs a front facelock so EC3 slips out and hits an elbow. Hold on though as EC3 looks down at his hand so Briscoe stomps him down into the corner. Choking ensues…..for the DQ to give EC3 the win at 1:57. Well that’s not something you see much of these days.

Post match EC3 takes him down and hammers away as the fight is on hard. Security (in masks) make the save. EC3 gets away and drops to his knees, allowing Jay to try the Jay Driller. That’s broken up as well and Briscoe is ready for more.

Post break, Quinn McKay asks Jay Briscoe why he didn’t adhere to the Code Of Honor. Jay: “Why? Because F*** Y** that’s why!” McKay: “Succinct.”

Leon St. Giovanni, who you can call LSG, talks about being a baseball player his entire life before he saw Ring of Honor. It was all he wanted to do, especially when he saw Jay Lethal. For years, LSG was part of a tag team with Shaheem Ali and now he is on his own after a horrible 2019. People need to step up to him now and that includes Jay Lethal in their Pure Rules match. The boy who wanted to be Lethal is now the man who is going to beat him. Good line.

Jay Lethal talks about how the Pure Wrestling Title tournament taught us who the best man was and he can live with that. He was eliminated by Tracy Williams because Tracy was the better man that night. The Foundation is here to find the best and they want to reward those people. That is why Lethal requested this match because Samoa Joe did the same thing for him years ago. Now Lethal wants to pay it forward to LSG, but he’ll have to pay for the free gift.

Leon St. Giovanni vs. Jay Lethal

Pure Rules. Lethal headlocks him to the mat in a hurry and is broken up even faster as the feeling out process starts fast. LSG flips out of the hiptoss into the dropkick and it’s another standoff. Another headlock has LSG down before Lethal works on the arm for a bit. After pulling LSG away from the ropes (doesn’t count as a break), the threat of a Figure Four sends LSG to the ropes for the first break.

Back up and Lethal goes for the back, including taking him down into a waistlock. Another Figure Four attempt results in some back to back small packages for two each. LSG sends him outside for a dropkick through the ropes for a near countout before stomping away back inside. We take a break and come back with LSG holding a cravate. After a good bit of cranking, Lethal fights up and hits a Russian legsweep to send LSG to the apron. The triangle dropkick sets up a suicide dive but LSG doesn’t go off his feet.

Back in and LSG gets up before Hail to the King can launch. Instead it’s a reverse DDT for two on LSG, who is right back with a rolling clothesline for the same. LSG grabs a crucifix into the Crossface (WAY too popular a move these days) but Lethal slips out in a hurry. The Sharpshooter (see also the Crossface) goes on with LSG bridging back into a Muta Lock. Lethal grabs the rope and we’re out of time at 15:00. Lethal wins via split decision.

Rating: B-. LSG looked good here and this is the kind of a match that can give him a nice boost. I had forgotten he was part of the company so putting him out there against a star like Lethal is a pretty smart move. This was a good showcase for him and sometimes that’s all you need to do. Well maybe throw in a win every now and then too.

John Walters is coming back.

Video on Bateman vs. Matt Taven. Bateman isn’t impressed with Taven and is standing in his way to get to Vincent. That’s cool with Taven and we have a main event.

Matt Taven vs. Bateman

Taven chops away and hits a dropkick but the much bigger Bateman runs him over without much effort. The beating doesn’t last long as Taven comes back with a suplex and some right hands to the head. Bateman grabs a swinging neckbreaker and we take a break. Back with Taven hitting a lifting Downward Spiral to send Bateman outside. That means the Flight Of The Conqueror, though Taven comes up holding his leg. They head inside again where Taven misses the Aurora Borealis (frog splash), only to grab a rollup for the fast pin at 9:33.

Rating: C-. There is something amazing about how nothing Taven was as a heel and how much more interesting he is as a face. It is such a huge turnaround and in a good way as I can see the star power in him this time around. That dive alone looked great and now the showdown with Vincent should be set for Final Battle. I’m not sure how interesting the match is, but at least it has been set up properly.

Post match Bateman jumps Taven from behind and here’s Vincent to say Taven is a little too comfortable. Bateman knocks Taven out as Vincent talks about how embarrassing Taven is. There is no one in this building and yet Taven is still that desperate for attention. No matter how hard Taven tries, he will never get that kind of attention.

Vincent grabs Taven’s face and says his legacy will be nothing but a failure. He pulls out a dart and promises violence but the lights go out. Cue the returning Mike Bennett (Kanellis) for the save to clean house. A Kingdom reunion ends the show. Bennett didn’t do anything in WWE so if he can be a star here, good for him.

Overall Rating: C. The EC3 stuff isn’t doing anything for me, the Pure Rules match was good and the main event angle was fine enough. We’ll call the whole thing in the middle, but at least they are starting to set something up for Final Battle, even if nothing has been announced on TV as of yet. Watchable enough show though, as things are starting to get back to normal.

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: May 20, 2020

The Best Of’s continue with Dalton Castle, who has had one of the more interesting careers in Ring of Honor. Castle is someone who should be little more than a comedy guy but has wound up becoming World Champion and a top star. You can’t deny his charisma and he could be worth another look. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Video on Castle.

Castle talks about how strange things have been in quarantine but he has been trying to see what kinds of exercises he can do, plus annoying his cats. He remembers winning the World Title at Final Battle 2017 and we see a few minutes of the match.

And now, Castle makes pizza! Seriously he just makes a pizza.

Castle talks about winning the title and then having a bull’s eye put on his back. That included a huge match at Supercard of Honor XII in New Orleans, where he came in with a broken back and then broke his finger early on.

Ring of Honor World Title: Marty Scurll vs. Dalton Castle

Castle is defending and has more Boys than usual. With NWA World Champion Nick Aldis in the crowd, Castle drives Marty into the corner to start. Marty’s right hand in the corner earns him a chest thrust and Scurll is already looking confused by Castle. An exchange of wristlocks gives us another standoff, which isn’t a good sign given that we’re already to nearly four hours with this show and the crowd is obviously tired.

Scurll flips him off so Marty reaches into his (own) trunks to pull out a middle finger. You don’t offer Marty your finger but Dalton punches his way to freedom before the finger is broken. Instead Marty grabs the golden umbrella but puts it in the corner, allowing Marty to grab a single leg. The chops it out from their backs before going to a standard punch out. Castle goes with the wrestling in the form of some gutwrench suplexes but Marty avoids a charge to send the champ into the post.

As the Boys FAN UP, Marty keeps Castle in trouble with some chops. It’s time to start stomping on the arm as this is definitely going long, no matter what makes sense on this show. Marty snaps the arm back ala Pentagon in Lucha Underground to not much success. That really should be a big deal but here’s it’s just a move. Shows what happens when you get a move over. Castle strikes away and elbows Marty in the face, followed by a simple beal to really get back into this.

Marty sends him outside but Castle grabs a German suplex through the ropes and drops him hard on the floor. Back in and Scurll kicks him in the head (because a GERMAN SUPLEX ON THE FLOOR isn’t a big move) but gets knocked back to the floor. A DDT plants Castle on the floor again (How long are they going to spend out there?) but he powers out of a tornado DDT. The Bang-a-Rang is reversed into a rollup so Castle knees him in the face instead.

The fans finally get into this with some dueling chants but calm back down when Castle can’t hit a gutwrench superplex to the floor. A superkick drops Castle on the floor again (erg) and Marty backdrops him onto the steps in the aisle for a VERY nasty looking bump. Back in again and the already damaged arm is sent into the buckle as the fans have already dropped their short lived interest.

The Ghostbuster gets two and they go outside AGAIN as the match is clearly being extended for the sake of being extended. Castle gets sent into the steps and in the melee, Aldis hands Marty some clippers so he can cut off a turnbuckle pad. A suplex drops Marty though and a deadlift German suplex gets two more.

Marty is back up with a superkick to the back of the head for two of his own….and now it’s time to stop as he looks underneath the ring for something specific. He can’t fine whatever it is so Dalton sends him into the barricade instead. Marty finally finds some powder, which is kicked back into his face. The blindness causes him to break the referee’s hand so there’s no count off the Bang-a-Rang. Well that’s a new way to do a familiar spot so well done.

With the referee on the floor, Marty gets in an umbrella shot for two. The Boys get beaten down and we need a new referee. A brainbuster gets a delayed two from a second referee so LET’S KEEP GOING! The threat of a chickenwing earns Marty another Peacock Pose but he grabs a loose chickenwing anyway. Castle reaches for the rope so Marty BREAKS THE FINGER and stomps away at the champ’s head. Back to back superkicks rock Castle but he pops up with the Bang-a-Rang to retain at 31:41.

The previous match went nearly forty minutes and this should have been cut down as a result. The wrestling was fine and Castle getting a win over a pretty strong name helps him a lot but egads the length just murdered this match. This might have worked better with fifteen minutes cut off on a less overloaded show but as it was, this didn’t work at all.

After losing the World Title, Castle had to take some time off but he came back and things were going ok. Then he lost to Rush in Madison Square Garden in about 16 seconds. There wasn’t much to remember about the match, but he was proud of his seven minute entrance.

There have been a lot of ups and downs during his time with ROH, but he’s always been fantastic. Now his role in Ring of Honor is looking more different than ever because now he has a tag partner. We see some clips of Castle with Joe Hendry and it’s time for our final match.

From Bound By Honor 2020.

Joe Hendry/Dalton Castle vs. PJ Black/Brian Johnson vs. Vincent/Bateman vs. Lifeblood

One fall to a finish. Hendry takes Black down by the wrist to start but Black flips over him into an armdrag. Williams comes in to work on Black’s leg but Black takes him down as well. Johnson gets the tag and is armdragged straight down, allowing Haskins to come in and stomp on the arm. Now it’s Castle’s chance to headlock Johnson, who sends Castle outside.

That’s too much for Castle, who comes back in and hits the Peacock Pose. It’s off to Hendry for the delayed vertical suplex, followed by Haskins getting in a few shots of his own. A blind tag lets Bateman come in though and we take a break. Back with Vincent rolling Haskins into the corner and getting two off a Side Effect. Haskins hits a backdrop so here’s Johnson to stomp away and keep Haskins in trouble.

he belly to back suplex doesn’t work though, meaning it’s a forearm each to Vincent and Bateman. While I’m trying to figure out why those don’t count as tags, Haskins tags Williams in to clean house. A Death Valley Driver plants Johnson so Bateman comes in. This Is A Kill is broken up as everything breaks down. Black hits the big corkscrew dive to the floor, leaving Williams to forearm Johnson for two.

Castle comes in for the suplexes until Williams dropkicks him down. Hendry hits a fall away slam on Black and Williams at the same time but lays down so Vincent can hit Redrum (that looked terrible). Haskins comes off the top with a double stomp to Vincent, leaving Castle to give Haskins the Bang A Rang. A Codebreaker from Hendry into a reverse Sling Blade from Castle is enough for the pin on Haskins at 11:37.

Rating: C+. This was the kind of match that is almost impossible to screw up and they didn’t come close here. They had all eight guys doing something in there at some point and that makes for an entertaining match. You can’t put together much of a story in there but it still works well enough to have a good time. Just go with what works, like they did here.

Castle doesn’t know what his future holds but it’s going to be fantastic. Then he eats pizza.

Overall Rating: C-. Castle is a hard one to put together as so much of his appeal is based on being over the top and eccentric. We got a lot more of that out of the parts at his house instead of his matches, which makes for a weird sit. The Scurll match came at the wrong time on the wrong show but the tag match was a lot more entertaining. Just a weird selection here, but Castle will always get your attention.

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

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

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

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

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

Alex Shelley vs. Mark Haskins

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

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

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

Video on Vincent destroying Matt Taven and the Kingdom.

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

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

Vincent/Bateman vs. Dalton Castle/Joe Hendry

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video on Slex.

Slex vs. Flip Gordon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

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

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

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

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

Clips of Alex Zayne winning his debut match against Bandido.

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

Come to house shows!

Buy merch!

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

Clips of Sakai vs. Nicole Savoy.

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

Lifeblood vs. Vincent/Bateman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Results

Lifeblood b. Vincent/Bateman via DQ when Chuckles interfered

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

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

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

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

Opening recap.

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

The hosts tell us to watch Free Enterprise.

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

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

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

Vincent/Bateman vs. Sal Rinauro/Michael Stevens

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

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

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

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

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

Buy merch!

Clips of Jonathan Gresham beating Josh Woods via countout.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: December 11, 2019
Location: Stage AE, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman
Host: Ian Riccaboni

It’s the go home show for Final Battle and something tells me that isn’t going to matter all that much here. They’re far too late to make the show feel like the big deal that it’s supposed to be and I don’t think I’m being ridiculous to suggest that they likely don’t care much about this TV show anymore. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look at PCO beating Marty Scurll to become #1 contender for Final Battle. This is one of only a handful of stories that has received any attention and we kind of get the concept already.

Video on Vincent vs. Matt Taven. Someone attacked their Kingdom teammate TK O’Ryan, with Marseglia eventually revealing himself as the villain. He turned on Taven and busted him open, setting up Final Battle. I believe this is the first time the Vinny Marseglia heel turn has been mentioned in any kind of detail on this show.

Video on Bully Ray vs. Mark Haskins, which is Ray bullying someone else in the exact same way he has ever since he turned heel in the first place. I would ask who thinks this is a good idea, but Ray as the booker tells you all you need to know.

We go to a live event where Haskins, with a table in the ring, calls out Ray. Cue Ray, but he won’t get in, as instead it’s Flip Gordon jumping Haskins from behind with a kendo stick. Ray pays Gordon off (because that feud is already forgotten) and puts Haskins through the table. Oh and he calls Haskins and his family trash, just to be extra nasty.

Dalton Castle finds Joe Hendry on a couch and they get into a discussion of being a big band. Castle gets confused and thinks they should be superheros. Uh, yeah.

Bateman vs. PJ Black

This is Bateman’s debut and Black isn’t on Final Battle. Black works on an armbar to start but gets reversed in a hurry. A forearm to the face puts Black in the corner but he comes right back out with his own shots to the face. Bateman gets knocked to the floor and hit with a slingshot dive as we take a break.

Back with Bateman faceplanting him and hitting a running kick to the face for two. Bateman sends him face first into the buckle as he certainly seems to have a target. Black hits a spinwheel kick but has to bail out of the Placebo Effect. The second attempt connects for two but Bateman slips out of what looked like a reverse DDT.

A headbutt sets up a Snow Plow for two on Black, who is right back with a kick to the face of his own. Black’s top rope hurricanrana into a moonsault gets two more, followed by a crucifix driver for the same. Black goes up but gets crotched, allowing Bateman to hit a Tombstone (This Is A Kill) for the pin at 10:52.

Rating: C. Bateman looked good here and it means someone to beat Black. The match wasn’t anything special but it was a good way to make Bateman look good in his debut. The company needs some fresh talent so maybe Bateman can mean something before he is signed somewhere else.

Joe Koff comes in to see Silas Young and Josh Woods. Josh has some interesting requests for his new contract, but they are all turned down. Koff leaves and Young talks about how they could be Tag Team Champions.

TV Title: Shane Taylor vs. Danhausen

Taylor is defending and this is Danhausen’s (has a painted face, talks strangely) TV debut as well. The Soldiers of Savagery are here with Shane as well, just in case this was in any doubt. Hold on though as Shane needs to talk about how awesome it is to be from Ohio and to list off the stats of his title reign. Danhausen confuses Taylor to start so Shane throws him down without much trouble. For some reason Danhausen tries a chokeslam before going with a slap to the face.

Taylor gets low bridged to the floor so Danhausen shouts before kicking him in the face. There’s a superkick from the apron but Taylor powerbomb him onto the apron. We take a break and come back with Dak Draper watching from the stage. Taylor hits him hard in the face but Danhausen grabs a tornado DDT for two. A running kick to the head gets the same but Taylor blasts him in the face. The package piledriver sets up Greetings From 205 to retain at 6:36.

Rating: C-. Danhausen is someone entertaining enough but at the same time he just got dropped on his head for the pin. It feels like a gimmick that has been done before and that isn’t the best result for a first match. Still though, he has charisma and the fans reacted to him, which is more than some people can say.

In the back, Shane says he doesn’t know who the thirteenth challenger is going to be but they’re unlucky to face him.

Dragon Lee gets the TV Title shot at Final Battle.

Video on the Briscoes vs. Jay Lethal/Jonathan Gresham, which has been covered in full on here more than once.

We run down Final Battle.

One more Rush vs. PCO video wraps us up.

Overall Rating: D+. I know it’s better than nothing but the build to this show has been so worthless and last minute that it was almost insulting. The exclusive matches were fine here but they felt like annoying detours that we had to get through before we could get back to the Final Battle hype. Final Battle still looks ok at best, mainly because PCO vs. Rush feels like a big house show main event. Could have been worse, but it’s just WAY too late to make a difference.

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