Ring of Honor
Date: September 27, 2017
Location: Center Stage, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, BJ Whitmer

Dang it we’re at a post-pay per view show and that could mean absolutely anything. Well almost anything as it certainly won’t mean anything about the pay per view itself. Hopefully they keep this part of the schedule short and don’t spend weeks before we get back to the important stuff. Let’s get to it.

QT Marshall vs. Josh Woods

This is fallout from Marshall paying Shane Taylor to attack Woods. Yeah I don’t remember it either. Marshall is billed as God’s Gift so he comes out of a big gift box. An early armbar has Marshall in trouble but he rolls outside, only to have Woods run him over again. Woods runs over a security guard by mistake but just shrugs it off, as he should. A running knee staggers Marshall again but Woods can’t suplex him off the apron. You know, because it would kill him.

Marshall suplexes him onto the apron and we take a break. Back with Woods firing off some shots in the corner but charging into a superkick. Something like an AA into the corner drops Marshall again and a running knee gets two. Marshall gets in a powerbomb but Woods slaps on a triangle choke. That goes nowhere so Woods grabs the kneebar for the tap at 9:36.

Rating: C. As usual, Woods looked like a star who could go somewhere with some more polish. This was a good performance that showed his versatility, which is more than you get from a lot of people around here. Marshall didn’t show me much and was little more than a guy in trunks.

It’s time for Coleman’s Pulpit, with Mark Briscoe (in a tie over his Briscoe Brothers t-shirt) as his guest. Mark doesn’t want to talk about what’s wrong with his brother Jay, but Coleman suggests that the team is over. That’s not cool with Mark, but he does think Jay needs an attitude adjustment. They briefly touch on Jay turning heel at Death Before Dishonor, of course without actually saying what happened. Anyway, Mark says the team isn’t going anywhere.

Video on the War of the Worlds: UK show, which really wasn’t anything special.

Honor Rumble

This is basically a twenty man Royal Rumble with the winner getting a World Title shot at some point in the future. Cody comes out for commentary and Ian mentions that he retained at Death Before Dishonor. Jay White is in at #1 and Sho is in at #2 and will fight for two minutes, though the rest of the intervals will only be one minute.

Sho bows at him to start and even kisses White’s boots. White doesn’t seem to approve of it (jerk) and tries to toss him but settles for a good looking dropkick. That goes nowhere though and it’s Punishment Martinez in at #3. Martinez starts cleaning house but misses a charge in the corner as Jonathan Gresham is in at #4. Rhett Titus is in at #5 as Sho is eliminated. Titus starts to clean house but runs into Martinez, who would rather choke White instead. Frankie Kazarian is in at #6 to what Cody calls a nostalgia pop.

Back from a break with Alex Shelley in at #9, seemingly following Yo and Will Ferrara in some order. Gresham and White are eliminated and it’s Silas Young, the defending winner, in at #10 to eliminate Ferrara. Everyone gets together to eliminate Martinez and it’s Sal Rinauro, who was half of the Tag Team Champions over a decade ago, at #11. Shane Taylor is in at #12 to eliminate Young and Shelley with no effort. Rinauro is gone as well, followed by Yo with little effort. That leaves us with Taylor and Kazarian but Cody hops the barricade to pay Taylor off.

Flip Gordon is in at #13 and he goes right for Taylor. That’s about as successful as you would expect but he skins the cat to stave off elimination. Jay Lethal is in at #14 and we take another break. Back again with Hanson in at #15 and hitting his running corner clotheslines. Kazarian is smart enough to run the corners to avoid taking a shot, which isn’t something you see very often. Taylor runs Hanson over though and it’s Chris Sabin in at #16.

Sabin goes right after Kazarian due to old issues and it’s Bully Ray in at #17. Some right hands to almost everyone has Ray in trouble until it’s Ray Rowe in at #18. War Machine gets together but can’t eliminate Ray. Mark Briscoe is in at #19 for some Red Neck Kung Fu. Finally, in one of those dumb moves for the sake of nostalgia, freaking GLACIER is in at #20. For some reason Cody is terrified of a 53 year old former jobber to the stars as we take a third break.

Back with a final group of Glacier, Lethal, Ray, Hanson, Rowe, Kazarian, Taylor, Sabin and Gordon (How is he still in this?). War Machine tosses Taylor and Rowe kicks Sabin out as well. Ray dumps Glacier (turning Ray heel for a few seconds) and gets rid of War Machine without too much effort.

Gordon slugs away at Bully but has to save himself from a backdrop. An enziguri drops Ray but a springboard takes too long, allowing Kazarian to eliminate Gordon. Kazarian and Lethal fight on the top until Frankie is shoved down, setting up What’s Up with Lethal playing D-Von.

Lethal and Ray slug it out with Bully being tossed but Kazarian saves himself on the apron again. A cutter drops Kazarian again but here’s Daniels for a distraction as Kazarian is eliminated. Naturally the referee doesn’t see it so Kazarian gets back in, only to be sent into Daniels. Kazarian bails to the floor so Daniels takes the Lethal Injection, allowing Kazarian to eliminate Lethal for the win and the title shot at 28:56.

Rating: B-. Not bad at all here as I didn’t know who was going to win until the ending and there were several possible outcomes. Kazarian winning is an interesting idea as it sets up a heel vs. heel match (kind of) next week. I didn’t think they would give us Lethal vs. Cody on such a nothing stage, but Kazarian is a fine choice for an opponent. They kept things moving here too and, save for Glacier as a stupid final entrant, there wasn’t anyone who felt out of place.

Post match the Addiction rips on the crowd and promises that Kazarian will take the title next week.

Overall Rating: B. The main event was the focus of the show but they threw in the opener to make things work a little bit better. I can live with something like this over something like a random midcard feud getting way more time than it needs. Good showing this week and having the title match next week is fine, especially with the Death Before Dishonor fallout likely coming the next week.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Complete 2002 Monday Night Raw Reviews in either E-Book or Paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/07/21/new-e-bookpaperback-kbs-complete-monday-night-raw-2002-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: February 22, 2017
Location: Center Stage Theater, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentator: Kevin Kelly

We’re finally ready for the end of the Decade of Excellence Tournament with Jay Briscoe vs. Christopher Daniels in what should be a pretty obvious ending based on the story they’ve been going with. Other than that there’s a good chance we’ll be seeing more Bullet Club because that’s how this place works. Let’s get to it.

The opening recap of course looks at the tournament, as it should.

Opening sequence.

Silas Young vs. Bull James

An early Beer City Bruiser distraction lets Silas get in a few early cheap shots but James puts his feet on Silas’ shoulders and pulls him out to the floor. That was supposed to be an ankle scissors but the lack of ANY grip around Silas’ head made it clear he was flipping himself. Another Bruiser distraction lets Silas hit a flip dive to take James down and we take a break.

Back with Young working on a cravate as the fans tell someone that they’re fat. It’s not a good sign when you can’t tell if they’re yelling at the face in the match or the heel manager. Bull makes his comeback with a Flip Flop and Fly followed by an elbow for two (you’re no Dusty Rhodes kid). James goes up but opts to run (work with me here) at the Bruiser for a tornado DDT off the apron instead. Back in and Misery puts James away at 7:48.

Rating: D-. Matt Borne told Bull James that he would make a million dollars in this business. I think this is proof that Borne wasn’t that bright. This is a rare match where all the good is on one guy and all the bad is on another. James is just big, slow and completely uninteresting. Young was doing what he could be he was limited by dealing with a horrible opponent.

Jay Briscoe was the first man to come through the curtain at a Ring of Honor show and it’s all about the numbers. It’s been fifteen years, ten years, eight time Tag Team Champion, three time World Champion or whatever. All that matters now is one, and that’s Christopher Daniels.

We look back at Bobby Fish’s rise to the main event, including winning Survival of the Fittest and then making Adam Cole tap last week. Those were just steps towards becoming World Champion because that’s the only thing that matters. No one works harder than he does and he promises to win the World Title on March 4. Fish has dominated every title he’s ever set his sight on and this will be no different. He gets in a good catchphrase with “Being Bobby Fish is good enough.”

Colt Cabana vs. The Boys

Yes this feud is still going. Before the match, Cabana laughs off the idea of Dalton Castle (on commentary here) thinking he’s the better man. Cabana: “I’m a legend!” Dalton names them #1 and #2 as the beating begins, despite the lack of an opening bell. Colt easily works them over until a double pose sends him outside. Back from a break (In this match?) with Cabana doing some Bionic Elbows and hiptossing #1 over the top for a big crash. Colt throws #1 into Dalton, hits the Chicago Skyline on #2 and grabs the Billy Goat’s Curse for the tap out at about 6:00. Not enough to rate but it was a long squash.

Daniels lists all of his accomplishments but none of them matter without winning the World Title. It is his destiny to win the title and it will cement him as the best instead of the best that never was.

Video on the history of the Top Prospect Tournament, which starts up next week.

Mark Briscoe and Frankie Kazarian come out for commentary on the main event. That’s a good idea actually.

Decade of Excellence Tournament Finals: Jay Briscoe vs. Christopher Daniels

The winner gets a World Title match at the Fifteenth Anniversary Show. Before the match, Daniels says Briscoe is the last obstacle between him and destiny. Briscoe says this isn’t personal at all. Feeling out process to start and both guys fail at an early finisher. Back from a break with Jay having to fight out of a headlock with the announcers keeping things calm.

Briscoe starts swinging and kicks Daniels in the face to take over as it seems he’s playing the default heel, though it’s not like the fans dislike either guy. Daniels gets in an STO and scores with a Lionsault for two. There’s a Koji Clutch (love that move) for a good bit until Jay makes the rope.

Angel’s Wings have to be broken up and Kazarian is quoting Karate Kid. Back from a second break with Jay hitting a suicide dive but getting caught with a springboard moonsault to put both guys down on the floor. The seconds both head to ringside and it’s a double crossbody to put both guys down inside. Double clotheslines have no effect so it’s time for a slugout. A quick Angel’s Wings gets two on Jay and frustration is setting in.

Jay is slow to get up but grabs the Death Valley Driver for a breather. Daniels misses the BME and gets his head taken off with a clothesline for two more. The drama is getting really strong here and the fans are split, as you might expect. With the Jay Driller not working, Jay takes him to the top but gets crotched for his efforts. A super Angel’s Wings is enough to give Daniels the tournament at 18:03.

Rating: B. Good, clean ending here and that’s all it should have been. This didn’t need to be an angle filled match because Daniels is going to be the mega face going into the title match and you don’t need some stupid cheating to get him there. I’m actually wanting to see Daniels win the title and that’s not something I expected. I’ve never been a big Daniels guy but they’ve nailed the story here and that’s what matters.

They shake hands to end the show.

Overall Rating: D. That main event was good but it’s not enough to make up for the rest of the show being such a disaster. It really is telling to see how horrible the rest of the show is compared to the one good thing they have going at the moment. Ring of Honor is a mess at the moment and I can’t imagine things getting much better anytime soon. We’re coming up on Wrestlemania season, which should be the biggest time of the year for any promotion, but there’s nothing even lukewarm right now around here and that’s a very bad sign.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the History of the WWE’s Big Four Pay Per Views, now in PAPERBACK. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/01/27/kbs-reviews-now-available-in-paperback/

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

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

Ring of Honor
Date: March 9, 2016
Location: Nashville Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee
Attendance: 675
Commentators: Kevin Kelly, Mr. Wrestling III

It’s another stand alone show as we wait the first tapings from after the Anniversary Show. This week is a big week as we have the finals of the Top Prospect Tournament, though the most interesting prospect has already been eliminated. Other than that we don’t have a lot going on but one big match is better than none. Let’s get to it.

Dalton Castle talks about drawing a bath the other night when he realized he was hungry. Not for food though, but rather victories. He’ll be taking the moon starting tonight with Christopher Daniels.

Opening sequence.

Top Prospect Tournament Finals: Brian Fury vs. Lio Rush

They take their time to start with the bigger (though still average sized) guy shoving Rush around with ease. Rush takes him to the mat for some technical stuff as the crowd is eerily silent here. It’s almost like there’s no reason to care about either guy and it’s based entirely on their work. Fury gets knocked to the floor for a suicide dive as commentary is gone for some reason. A hiptoss counters a charge to send Rush into the barricade as we take a break.

Back with Rush doing the same kind of strike sequence that almost every indy wrestler does. Fury nails a headbutt to set up the Pop Up Powerbomb, only to be countered with a hurricanrana. A DDT gets two for Rush but Fury grabs a Gory Special into a faceplant for two of his own. Fury reverses a sunset flip and puts his hand on the rope for two but gets caught by an actually competent referee. The Pop Up Powerbomb gets two on Lio so he comes back with the C4 for the pin and the tournament at 9:02.

Rating: C+. The match was fun and if they’re so obsessed with Lio then so be it but I still don’t get it. Fury wasn’t much better as an option due to his age but I would have liked to see someone different instead of someone who screams INDY WRESTLER. It’s not a bad match or anything here so good enough, just nothing that interests me due to the names in there.

ReDRagon is ready for a tag team gauntlet match next week.

Moose vs. Kongo

Kongo is overweight and his singlet looks torn. No Stokely Hathaway for Moose here. They slug it out to start with Moose getting the better of it off a dropkick. Kongo is sent hard into the barricade but he sidesteps Moose to send him in as well. Back in and Kongo crushes him with a pair of splashes as this is WAY more competitive than it should be.

Moose headbutts him a few times before no selling a suplex. A discus lariat gets two on Kongo but he comes back with a Pounce of all things (minus the actual pouncing) for his own near fall. Moose bicycle kicks him in the face and runs the ropes for a cross body which was more like a standing splash to the face. The spear puts Kongo away at 5:04.

Rating: D-. Horrible stuff here as Kongo was a horrible option here. This should have been Kongo hitting a few fat man forearms to the back and then getting speared down for the pin in thirty seconds. Not every match needs to be some drawn out affair that wastes this much of our time on a boring match. Bad booking here and it showed horribly.

The Young Bucks are ready for the gauntlet match.

Earlier today, Mike Posey and the Get A Long Gang (seriously) rapped a lot until Cheeseburger came out to beat them down with a bunch of palm strikes.

Ad for War of the Worlds and all the New Japan stars who are coming in again.

We recap Jonathan Gresham turning down Veda Scott’s offer of money in exchange for a TV Title shot and his departure from the company.

Cedric Alexander vs. Adam Page

Scott is in her wrestling gear here which is rather fetching. Never mind as BJ Whitmer comes in and beats Page down. Alexander joins in until Gresham runs out for the save, possibly setting up a tag match next week.

We recap Silas Young/Beer City Bruiser beating the Boys last week which lead to Dalton Castle being beaten down.

Dalton Castle vs. Christopher Daniels

Silas Young is on commentary. They shove each other around to start until Silas stands up for a distraction. Young: “I’m just adjusting my pants!” Castle offers a clean break in the corner but stops Daniels in his tracks with a peacock chest thrust. They trade shoulders and it’s a standoff over who can bend backwards further.

Daniels can’t get as deep so Dalton gutwrenches him down before slowing down again. Castle’s running knee puts Daniels on the floor but he drives Dalton back first into the barricade. Kazarian offers an unnecessary distraction and we hit the waistlock to keep Dalton in trouble.

Back from a break with Castle hitting a running clothesline, followed by a pair of suplexes. A bridging German suplex gets two on Daniels as they’re still just trading moves with no particular rhyme or reason. Dalton misses a high cross body but Kazarian punches one of the Boys. That goes nowhere so Daniels grabs Angel’s Wings for the pin at 11:11.

Rating: D. I really wasn’t feeling this one as Young and Kazarian screwed up whatever they might have gotten going. It doesn’t help that these two have no reason to be fighting, much like Castle has no reason to still be fighting Young. Those two have been feuding for months and there’s really no reason for it to keep going. It’s not like it’s done Castle any good either as he was one of the hottest acts on the show and now he’s just there.

Post match Castle says everyone knows he’s better than Silas and it’s time for some titles. That can’t happen though because Castle can’t stop focusing on Silas. They should be done with each other so let’s have a Fight Without Honor.

Overall Rating: D. This was pretty easily the worst show they’ve had in months and there’s little to blame other than the way the show was put together. I’m really not sure why the tournament opened the show when the announcement of the Fight Without Honor wasn’t the strongest ending in the first place. Just a bad show with only one watchable match and very little interesting as far as storyline development. I expected a lot better than this from ROH.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of the Complete Monday Nitro Reviews Volume IV at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AXP08DK

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

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