Ring of Honor
Date: November 9, 2016
Location: Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts
Commentators: Steve Corino, Kevin Kelly

There’s not a lot going on at the moment with the big story being Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly and a secondary story of the Six Man Tag Team Title tournament. I mean, it’s not like there are enough teams to run such a tournament and a bunch of the teams have been brought in but let’s have it anyway. Let’s get to it.

Toru Yano vs. Michael Elgin

Yano is a GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, which is the Tag Team Title of Pro Wrestling Noah, which is invading New Japan. So yes, we now have TWO Japanese promotions represented here in Ring of Honor and arguably in this one match. Yano, the comedy guy, bounces off Elgin a few times until Elgin shoulders him down with ease.

That means hiding in the corner and offering a left handed handshake. Elgin knocks him outside but misses a charge into the steps. Yano uses the distraction to cut off a turnbuckle pad and smash Elgin in the back (it’s a big CUSHIONED PAD but Elgin sells it anyway) as we take a break. Back with Yano pulling on Elgin’s beard but getting caught in a falcon arrow for two. An atomic drop puts Yano down but for some reason Elgin can’t follow up.

Instead he gets the wire cutters and unhooks another pad, which he uses to hit Yano in the face. See, that first one just wasn’t good enough. A buckle bomb is countered and Elgin is catapulted into the buckle, only to have Yano blocking a signature low blow. Yano hits it a few seconds later and rolls Elgin up for two. The Elgin Bomb finally finishes Yano at 11:23.

Rating: D+. Do you know why this match took place? Back in the G1 Climax Tournament, Yano defeated Elgin and cost him a spot at the top of his block. So to translate: we’re watching a match in November because of a match in a Japanese tournament back in August. Oh and it was comedy. As in the Santino style of comedy: do the same spots every single time because they’re OH SO FUNNY. Like I’ve said: this place is New Japan’s dumping ground and I’m getting sick of it.

Video on Dragon Lee, a visiting wrestler from CMLL.

We look at the Bullet Club going after ReDRagon and specifically Bobby Fish’s TV Title. Fish thinks Page is in way over his head.

Bobby Fish vs. Dragon Lee

This is a Proving Ground match, meaning if Lee wins or goes to a time limit draw, he’ll get a title shot within thirty days. Oh and Lee is the CMLL World Lightweight Champion because we don’t have enough belts floating around. Fish had bad ribs coming in so Lee goes after the arm to start.

An armdrag and a hurricanrana make the ribs even worse (makes sense) and Lee suicide dives him into the barricade to take us to a break. Back with a release German suplex making the ribs even worse. A brainbuster gets two on Fish and we hit an STF to stay on the ribs. You can’t say Lee isn’t wrestling a smart match. Back up and Lee dropkicks the knee, setting up la majistral for the pin at 9:22.

Rating: C. This was a squash as Fish never had any offense and got pinned clean. I get the rib injury thing but they couldn’t do a countout here? Or even the rare referee stoppage? Or, I don’t know, NOT DO THIS MATCH??? This really isn’t doing anything for the reputation that Ring of Honor has of making its own wrestlers look bad against visiting wrestlers. But hey, CMLL looks good and that’s what matters.

Matt Taven says the countdown is on for the end of the Bullet Club.

Recap of the Six Man Tag Team Title tournament.

Six Man Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Kingdom vs. Bullet Club

This is the return of the Kingdom, now comprised of Matt Taven, T.K. O’Ryan and Vinny Marseglia. The Club here is Adam Cole and the Young Bucks so at least they’re bringing out the big names. It’s a brawl to start and the Kingdom actually cleans house early on as we take an early break.

Back with the Club taking over and hitting triple dives. Vinny gets caught in a camel clutch while the Bucks run the ropes, only to have them stop and kiss Cole on the cheek. Things settle down with Vinny fighting off Nick before handing it off to Taven. The Jacksons come right back with Matt kicking the Kingdom down as we take another break. Back again with the Bucks still in control via a slingshot X Factor on….whichever that one is as we’re basically just supposed to know who the other members of the Kingdom are (it was Ryan in case it means that much to you).

We get the Taven vs. Cole showdown that no one was waiting on with Cole starting in on the leg. The Canadian Destroyer is botched so badly that it turns into a sunset flip, leaving the Bucks to fire off a bunch of superkicks. The second attempt at the Destroyer results in Cole landing on his back and Taven’s head going into his ribs. A double Meltzer Driver is broken up and that means a double low blow. Vinny drops a Swanton Bomb on Nick for the pin at 13:56.

Rating: C-. Well that happened. I’m glad the Club won’t be dominating all the titles in an NWO style angle but the Kingdom might be the least interesting stable this side of the Cabinet. Simple questions: who are T.K. and Vinny and why in the world should I care about them? The announcers said they knew who they were and the match was going from there. How does that help viewers at home? It doesn’t help that the match was pretty lifeless with the Destroyers both looking horrible.

Overall Rating: D+. Let me get the important part out of the way: the wrestling here was fine. It wasn’t great or memorable but it was certainly watchable. You had three matches and the action was acceptable. The Proving Ground match was easily the best and told a simple story, despite a questionable ending.

Unfortunately, that’s about all the positives there are for this show. This episode was almost every major problem Ring of Honor has rolled into one. We had stories that have nothing to do with ROH, a champion losing clean to someone who is just here on a visit and a completely lifeless main event for titles that don’t need to exist. This was an episode you didn’t need to see as the only thing of note was a first round tournament match with two unknowns joining the weak link in a former midcard stable that isn’t that interesting without Maria around. I need a story to invest in and this show didn’t have one all night.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book, KB’s Complete 2014 Raw and Smackdown Reviews Part I at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

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

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

Ring of Honor
Date: November 2, 2016
Location: Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts
Commentators: Steve Corino, Kevin Kelly

We’re still in Lowell and things are slowly starting to get ready for Final Battle. Kyle O’Reilly is probably on his way through the Bullet Club to get to Adam Cole and that’s likely going to include a tag match with Cole and Adam Page against ReDRagon, which has the potential to be a lot of fun. Let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of ReDRagon vs. the Adam’s.

Opening sequence.

Donovan Dijak vs. Danny Miles

The fans know this is going to hurt. Dijak kicks the handshake away and mauls Miles into the corner with forearms. The chokebreaker and back to back to back Feast Your Eyes wrap this up at 2:17.

Prince Nana says Dijak will never quit.

We look at the Motor City Machine Guns brawling with the Bullet Club after last week’s show went off the air.

The Briscoes are ready for the Addiction.

Briscoe Brothers vs. Addiction

Actually hang on a second as the Addiction is in street clothes. Frankie says they’re too banged up from Ladder War to compete here before going into the Briscoes’ legacy here in ROH. When Kazarian thinks about legacies, he thinks about Christopher Daniels, who has given everything he has to Ring of Honor and it’s Kazarian’s privilege to stand beside him and fight the wars with him. The Addiction leaves as I wonder what has lit a fire under them with these promos lately. I’m not a big Daniels fan but I’d love to see these speeches go somewhere.

The Briscoes say they didn’t lace their boots up for nothing so let’s get the Young Bucks out here right now for a World Tag Team Title shot.

Adam Page/Adam Cole vs. Briscoe Brothers

The Adam’s are here because the Bucks are still banged up. The Briscoes fight off an early ambush and it’s Page vs. Mark to start, only to have Cole jump Mark from behind. It’s Page sending Mark into the corner as the villains take over early on. The announcers use the stomping time to talk about Cole’s long list of challengers, which is one of the better uses of such time that you’re going to see.

We come back from a break with Mark having to fight off the double teaming with an enziguri to Cole. The hot tag brings in Jay (who is oddly booed) for a hard clot and neckbreaker on Page. Jay loads up the Jay Driller on the champ but takes a World Title shot to the head for the DQ at 7:30.

Rating: D+. This didn’t have time to go anywhere but I’m digging Page getting a push. He showed he can go in the feud with Jay Briscoe and it’s not like you can ever have too much talent. The Briscoes are one of those teams who can be fine no matter how many times they lose and I’m sure they’ll get another Tag Team Title feud soon enough.

ReDRagon makes the save despite Fish barely being able to move due to bad ribs.

Matt Taven says the Kingdom debuts next week.

Jay Lethal thinks he’ll get the World Title back in London.

We recap the Six Man Tag Team Title tournament so far.

Caprice Coleman says the Cabinet is ready to win the belts.

Six Man Tag Team Title Tournament Semifinals: The Cabinet vs. ACH/Jay White/Kushida

This is for a spot in the finals, despite the other half of the bracket not even starting yet. The Cabinet does their protest of the handshake but jump the good guys, meaning it’s time to stomp on White. We come back from a way too early break with White still in trouble until he kicks Coleman and Titus off the apron.

It’s off to ACH (now Super ACH apparently, which I actually kind of dig) and everything speeds up in a hurry. The announcers talk about how this is more traditional in Japan, which is as close of an admittance to “we’re doing it because New Japan did” as you’re going to get. The Hoverboard Lock sends Coleman to the ropes for a hilarious “GET HIM OFF ME!” in a high pitched voice.

Coleman’s arm gets worked on with a variety of wristlocks. King low bridges ACH to the floor as everything breaks down again. We come back from another break with King suplexing ACH for two as Corino thinks he and Kelly can get Nigel McGuinness to come out of retirement and win the belts.

ACH sends Coleman and Titus together and brings in Kushida to clean house. Everything breaks down and Titus gets triple teamed until Coleman and King have to save a pin. The Sky Splitter gets two on White and Kushida kicks King and Titus to the floor. A Rock Bottom plants Coleman and the Midnight Star gives ACH the pin at 21:07.

Rating: B-. I really can’t stand this tournament, though the Cabinet being eliminated helps a lot. They’re really not hiding the fact that these titles exist because New Japan has them and that doesn’t do much for me as a fan. You have three guys thrown together against a team with a stupid gimmick and if you win three matches in a row you get titles? These things just exist and I need more than that to care.

Overall Rating: C. This show was kind of all over the place with the tournament eating up a bunch of time, a quick squash and a long segment involving the Briscoes. It’s certainly not a bad episode but it basically comes down to your stance on the tournament. If you like that, you’ll like this show. If you’ve grown sick of all things New Japan like I have solely because of ROH, this probably isn’t your favorite show.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book, KB’s Complete 2014 Raw and Smackdown Reviews Part I at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LY6766K#nav-subnav

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

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

Ring of Honor
Date: October 26, 2016
Location: Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts
Commentators: Steve Corino, Kevin Kelly

We’re getting closer to Final Battle and the big story continues to be Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly. The main event is also suddenly featuring Silas Young after a win in the Honor Rumble for a little twist. On top of that though we have the Bullet Club running roughshod over the company and more titles coming with the Six Man Tag Team Title tournament. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Tempura Boys vs. Colt Cabana/Dalton Castle

Castle and Cabana are the new #1 contenders for the Tag Team Titles and the Tempura Boys are a team from New Japan. Yohei (I’m going to butcher the spelling) and Cabana start things off but a blind tag brings in Castle for a chest thrust. The comedy begins and it’s off to Sho, who is quickly beaten down as well. Yohei kicks Castle in the face but can’t put him down, meaning it’s back to Sho. This continues to go badly for the Japanese contingent as Cabana gets two off a rollup. Castle throws Sho with a suplex and the Bang A Rang wraps up Yohei at 6:20.

Rating: C-. This was just a glorified squash to set up the makeshift team before they get to lose to the Young Bucks. It’s kind of amazing how fast ROH has gone from having a deep tag division to throwing together a team to give them a title shot but that happens in almost every promotion at one time or another.

Back from a break with the Briscoes, who almost got into it with Cabana and Castle after their match. Mark doesn’t understand why they’re not getting the next title shot after beating the champions and the #1 contenders. Not that it matters as they want the title shot at Final Battle.

We get back and forth promos from Adam Cole and Jay Lethal to hype up their title match in London.

Kyle O’Reilly is ready for his shot at Final Battle (with a December 2 date confirmed) against whoever wins. O’Reilly has REALLY improved his promos but he’s still needing work.

Jonathan Gresham vs. Kyle O’Reilly

Feeling out process to start as they fight over a wristlock, allowing the announcers to talk about all the different styles in the promotion. True actually and that’s a good thing. They fight out to the floor and get back in with a show of good sportsmanship. That’s rather cute. Gresham goes after the bad shoulder though and that’s not cool with Kyle (no reason for it to not be), who fires off some kicks. A twist of the arm takes us to a break.

Back with Kyle working on the leg until Jonathan kicks him in the shoulder. I hope they don’t try to make him out to be the heel in this match as there’s a difference between being evil and being smart. Kyle takes off his kneepad but opts for a standing choke, setting up the brainbuster for the pin at 8:50.

Rating: C. I liked the idea of both guys being friendly but the match didn’t do much for me. Kyle isn’t the most interesting guy in the world without Cole there to fight but this was short enough and to the point to make him look good. Having that as the main event of Final Battle is risky though and I’m not sold on them being able to pull it off just yet.

Adam Page runs in to go after O’Reilly but Bobby Fish makes the save. This brings out Adam Cole and some chair shots to the ribs have Fish in major trouble. I’m sure a tag match will result and perhaps a TV Title match for Page.

Video on BJ Whitmer/Steve Corino/Kevin Sullivan/Punisher Martinez.

Punishment Martinez/BJ Whitmer vs. Will Ferrara/Cheeseburger

This is the result of Ferrara issuing a challenge. Sullivan sits in on commentary to make this even worse. Martinez throws Ferrara around like a monster throws around a jobber before it’s off to Whitmer, who is in all white like Mark Lewin. Cheeseburger comes in for some palm strikes and a tornado DDT as Kelly and Sullivan keep going on about the father being gone. Martinez hits something like a middle rope Superman punch to put Cheeseburger away at 4:03.

Rating: D. OH MY GOODNESS LET IT GO ALREADY. This story is reaching WWC levels of sticking with one story and I haven’t cared in a long time. They’re not even hiding the fact that these are the same characters that were around years ago and Sullivan going on about whatever nonsense he’s talking this week isn’t interesting no matter what he does.

Sullivan whispers something to Corino, who runs down to the ring to get in Martinez and Whitmer’s faces. Post break, Corino was nearly taken over by the golden spike but shook it off. So is he going to turn one day? That’s what we’re stuck waiting on now?

Video on Ladder War.

Motor City Machine Guns vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon

The Guns are heavily banged up from Ladder War. Evil/Tetsuya Naito here with Evil starting against Sabin. The Japanese contingent tries some double teaming but is quickly taken outside for a double dive from the Guns. Back in and Shelley kicks Evil in the chest (keeping it simple is often a good idea) but Naito is right back in and sends Alex into the barricade. Things settle down with Naito taking over on Alex as Kevin Kelly compares Naito to Kevin Steen (Owens). Corino: “Is that a bad thing?”

We take a break and come back with Shelley DDTing Naito, setting up the hot tag off to Sabin. Both Guns hit double high crossbodies as things speed way up. Evil gets in a clotheslines so Naito can roll Sabin up for two, followed by an STO to drop Shelley. The announcers ignore this match to talk about Kevin Sullivan as Naito destroys Sabin with Destino for the pin at 11:24.

Rating: C+. Kevin Sullivan commentary aside, I’ve seen far worse. I know I’m often annoyed at the New Japan guys winning most of the time but it makes sense when the Guns are so banged up from Ladder War. If Naito and Evil go after the ROH Tag Team Titles out of this then I’ll be fine but odds are it goes nowhere, as is the case so often around here.

Overall Rating: C-. The Kevin Sullivan story is killing what could be an otherwise good show. However, the much bigger problem is the lack of a top story. Cole and the World Title is fine but I really don’t think it’s enough to carry the biggest show of the year. The shows are good enough for a one off week of wrestling TV but they need more of a card for Final Battle.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book, KB’s Complete 2014 Raw and Smackdown Reviews Part I at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LY6766K#nav-subnav

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

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

http://wrestlingrumors.net/kbs-review-in-other-news-boo-edition/

It’s another version looking at some smaller stories because I’d be wasting your time looking at Charlotte vs. Sasha again or complaining about Stephanie being annoying.

Ring of Honor
Date: October 19, 2016
Location: Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts
Commentators: Steve Corino, Kevin Kelly

It’s FINALLY back to the main storylines which are…..actually I can barely remember. That’s the problem with this company: it’s been multiple weeks since All-Star Extravaganza and I really don’t remember most of what happened last time. I know we’re gearing up for Final Battle and that means Kyle O’Reilly vs. Adam Cole for the ROH World Title. Let’s get to it.

We open with a montage of Ladder War with the Young Bucks winning the Tag Team Titles. As much as I can’t stand them, it makes sense to put the titles on them.

Opening sequence.

Here’s the Bullet Club en masse for an opening chat. Matt says All-Star Extravaganza was a FIVE STAR Extravaganza and Nick says they’re the best team in the world. Adam Cole declares STORY TIME, which means it’s time to hear about how great the Club is. They’re going to get the newly created Trios Titles as well and the Club is going to be stronger than ever. Really not much to this one but I’d much rather have a short opening promo than something needlessly filling time.

We see a clip of Silas Young winning the Honor Rumble.

Jay Lethal is ready for Young tonight and promises to get the World Title back.

Shane Taylor/Keith Lee vs. War Machine

War Machine dives through the ropes to take out Taylor and Lee as we start fast. Rowe is slammed onto Lee as the announcers acknowledge a lack of countouts or disqualifications here. Hanson beats on Taylor as we’re still waiting on the first count. They head inside for the first time, only to have Lee backdrop Rowe onto both partners. A big cannonball from the apron has Lee crushing everyone as we take a break.

Back with the brawling continues and all four guys actually in the ring. Rowe tosses Taylor with an exploder suplex but Lee POUNCES ROWE ACROSS THE RING. A double chokeslam plants Hanson for two and he’s busted open off something in there. Now it’s Lee left alone but Taylor trips Hanson from the floor. An AA powerslam gets two on Hanson and THEY ACTUALLY BOTHER WITH A TAG. Like, why?

Hanson takes Taylor out with a Whoopee Cushion (sure why not) out of the corner and brings Rowe back in. Fallout gets two on Lee and Taylor’s sitout powerbomb gets the same on Rowe. Hanson misses a top rope splash as there’s nothing between these big moves. For some reason Lee tries a moonsault, only to have Rowe roll out of the way, setting up a Canadian Destroyer for the pin on Lee at 12:42.

Rating: B-. This was out of the Masato Tanaka vs. Mike Awesome playbook: take some big, strong guys and have them beat on each other for an extended periods of time. I’m not sure if there’s any need for them to fight again and it’s good that War Machine got the win here after losing so many times.

Taylor and Lee wipe War Machine out post match.

Caprice Coleman says the Cabinet is ready to win the election for the Six Man Titles.

We finally get a bracket for the tournament.

ACH/Kushida/Jay White

Jason Kincaid/Leon St. Giovanni/Shaheem Ali

The Cabinet

Addiction/Kamaitachi

Team CMLL

The Kingdom

Bullet Club

So yeah: this REALLY doesn’t need to exist but Japan has them and that makes it awesome.

Six Man Tag Team Titles Tournament First Round: Jason Kincaid/Leon St. Giovanni/Shaheem Ali vs. The Cabinet

The introduction says this is Block A. Please, PLEASE tell me that this is just an eight team tournament and not double that. Maybe Block A is another attempt to make this sound like a Japanese tournament. It’s still stupid but it would make me feel better. Oh wait we can’t start yet because, I kid you not, the Cabinet needs to take a knee during the Code of Honor. Ali and King miss a variety of kicks against each other and it’s time for more kneeling in protest.

The Kingdom triple teams Ali and poses AGAIN (we’re less than three minutes in and that’s three times they’ve done the same bit), this time earning themselves dropkicks to the back. The makeshift team does some big, complicated triple team leg stretch spot on Coleman but Kincaid gets distracted off the top.

Back from a break with King missing another kick and allowing the hot tag to Shaheem. Everything breaks down with Leon coming in to spin into clotheslines. The former All Night Express cleans house until Kincaid slingshots in with a spinning cutter. A coast to coast dropkick gets two on Titus, who also blocks Leon’s Phoenix splash. The Sky Splitter ends Leon at 9:50.

Rating: C. At least the Cabinet is finally doing something other than getting on my nerves with their stupid promos. This wasn’t bad and did something to keep the tournament going but the kneeling continues to get on my nerves. I’ve never been a fan of current events characters and this made the Cabinet even worse than they were in the first place.

Jay Lethal vs. Silas Young

Feeling out process to start with Young flipping out of a wristlock and grabbing a rollup for two. A quick springboard dropkick knocks Young out to the floor and hits the back to back suicide dives because WE HAVE TO HAVE A SUICIDE DIVE. Lethal even hits a third because we need to kill a few more minutes. Adam Cole comes out to commentary and we take a break.

Back with Young driving a knee into Jay’s back and slapping on a chinlock. It’s too early for Misery though and a kick sends Silas sprawling across the ring. The Lethal Combination sets up Hail to the King but Jay tries one too many finishers, meaning the Lethal Injection is broken up. A cutter gets two for Young and it’s time for Cole to head down to ringside. That means Kyle O’Reilly needs to do his regular run-in to cut the champ off but he gets on the apron to distract Young by mistake. A quick rollup gives Lethal the pin at 11:07.

Rating: C+. I liked this better than I was expecting to but the ending was messier than it needed to be. It’s a good move to start elevating some fresh names into the main event and Young hasn’t exactly been doing anything else lately. I’d assume we’re getting a fourway at a house show at some point and that’s fine as a way to bridge us to Cole vs. O’Reilly.

Kyle brainbusts Cole to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Good wrestling, interesting stories and no need for the New Japan guys. Ring of Honor is a fun promotion that can do a lot of things when they act like themselves for more than five minutes and that’s what we got here. That main event scene has me intrigued and it’s nice to have the focus be back on the stuff that ROH does well.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book, KB’s Complete 2014 Raw and Smackdown Reviews Part I at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LY6766K#nav-subnav

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

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

Ring of Honor
Date: October 12, 2016
Location: MCU Park, Brooklyn, New York
Attendance: 1,500
Commentators: Kevin Kelly, Bobby Fish, Steve Corino

It’s week two of Field of Honor, meaning we’re only a week away from moving forward on the pay per view from the end of September. By Ring of Honor standards, that’s actually a pretty big improvement. I’m not sure what to expect from this show but last week’s edition was rather entertaining. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

We’re back at Field of Honor on August 27.

Katsuyori Shibata vs. Kyle O’Reilly

Shibata’s Never Openweight Title isn’t on the line. Kyle is taken down to start and the fans give Shibata a polite golf clap. Back up and Shibata blocks a right hand, only to be taken down into a cross armbreaker attempt. I could go for some mat grappling and it’s cool to see Kyle getting to hang with a big name like Shibata. Kyle ducks a big kick and looks terrified at the near miss.

Instead it’s off to a pretty weak chinlock from Shibata before switching it over to a triangle choke. We take a break and come back with Shibata starting in on the arm to stick with the submission skills. Back up and we get the forearm exchange and it’s Kyle taking over for the first time. A backdrop suplex sets up a kneebar, followed by some hard kicks to Shibata’s chest, which are completely no sold as part of the fighting spirit or whatever it’s called this time.

Shibata goes for the arm again but settles for another triangle choke as we take a second break. Back with Shibata grabbing a guillotine which is countered into something like a reverse sleeper. Shibata puts both guys down with an STO, followed by rolling German suplexes from Kyle to put both guys down again. Back up and Kyle hits two straight brainbusters. An Omoplata has Shibata in trouble and the referee stops it to give Kyle the win at 17:30.

Rating: B-. The match was entertaining but I don’t care for this style. It also doesn’t help that there’s nothing on the line other than bragging rights. Shibata’s tough guy style doesn’t do much for me either, though you kind of have to expect it at this point. Kyle winning is nice though as you almost never see the New Japan champions losing.

Video on the rest of Field of Honor.

ROH World Title: Adam Cole vs. Jay Lethal vs. Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Cole is defending and this is one fall to a finish. Thankfully there are tags here so Lethal wants Naito to start. Instead he gets Cole, who immediately tags in Tanahashi. Now Naito and Cole tag themselves in as we’re over a minute in with no contact. And wait a bit longer as Naito isn’t ready yet. We’re over two minutes in with no contact because ADAM COLE BABY!

That earns him a kick to the ribs before they hit the mat for all of ten seconds. More posing ensues as we’re somehow over three minutes into this. Lethal comes in for a staredown with Naito, who tags out to Tanahashi. Cole and Naito are knocked off the apron and it’s time for Jay to do some dives.

Back from a break with Lethal putting Tanahashi in the Figure Four. Cole tags himself back in and Naito does the same so we can have a heel battle. Naito sends Tanahashi outside and does his signature pose as this is really, really going through the motions so far. Jay comes back in and takes a slingshot dropkick in the corner from Naito, who tags Cole back in to stay in control. The announcers start talking about the January 4 Tokyo Dome show as Cole almost superkicks Naito.

Lethal knocks them both down and we take a break. Back again with Tanahashi cleaning house and getting two off a slingshot senton splash. Naito breaks up the High Fly Flow and takes Tanahashi out, leaving us with Cole vs. Lethal again. The Lethal Injection gets two and it’s time for the parade of secondary finishers to leave all four down. A Tower of Doom is broken up and another Lethal Injection drops Tanahashi but Cole hits Lethal with a Last Shot to retain at 18:32.

Rating: B. I wasn’t feeling this one either but it was still entertaining. The problem here is it felt like your standard house show main event: a lot of action with little drama and none of the guys going out of their comfort zone. It’s still good enough and fun live, which is the point of something like this, but it’s not the best to sit through at home.

Overall Rating: B. This is a weird show as the matches were both good but I didn’t get a lot of entertainment out of them. They were both just there and didn’t show me anything I haven’t seen before. The main event is better and the show is definitely worth watching if you have the time but it’s just not my style. I’m pretty sure we get the regular shows back next week and that’s the best news I can hear every time we go through this weird taping cycle.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book, KB’s Complete 2014 Raw and Smackdown Reviews Part I at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LY6766K#nav-subnav

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

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

I don’t normally do this but there was so much news yesterday that I had to take a quick look at some of it.

1. TJ Perkins Replaces Hideo Itami in Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

Itami is out for awhile with a neck injury so Kota Ibushi needed a new partner. In this case, there really isn’t a better option than Perkins. I’m very glad they didn’t go with a random Japanese wrestler for the sake of having a Japanese team. Instead it’s two guys with a history together and something like a dream team.

2. Mickie James to Face Asuka at Takeover: Toronto.

This is a very smart idea and the best thing NXT could have done. It’s no secret that the rest of the women in NXT aren’t ready to challenge Asuka and it would have been a waste of a Takeover match to have her squash one of them. James can come in and give Asuka a good match while the other women get ready. I know I say this a lot but it show thinking, which is where NXT specializes.

3. Roderick Strong Debuts in NXT.

Strong is one of my favorites in ROH so again I have few complaints here. He’s teaming with Austin Aries in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, which means it’s possible they’ll feud in the future. They’ve got history together so why not put them in the tournament and see where it goes from there? It’s worth a shot and there’s nothing wrong with having another veteran on the roster.

Ring of Honor
Date: September 28, 2016
Location: Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Steve Corino, Kevin Kelly

We’re at the end of a taping cycle and it’s the final show before we’re off to All-Star Extravaganza this coming Friday. It’s hard to say what the big story is at the moment as the main event will be ROH World Champion Adam Cole defending against Michael Elgin so odds are that gets some attention here. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Silas Young vs. Toru Yano

Young makes sure to yell at a fan holding an “it’s my birthday” sign. Now that’s what being a heel is all about. Yano is a comedy guy who tries to sell some DVDs before the match. Silas goes after him to start so Yano hides in the ropes before offering a handshake. It’s time for a chase around the ring and it’s very clear we’re in a comedy match. Perhaps one of the wrestlers being a comedy guy should have been a hint.

Back in and Yano atomic drops Young to the floor and Silas takes a breather. A low blow via a kick to the rope doesn’t seem to hurt Young that badly as he hammers on Yano. Toru goes for a turnbuckle pad but Young takes him down because he doesn’t understand American pads.

Back from a break with Yano throwing him outside and going back to the buckle pad, this time with wire cutters. Yano hits him with the pad and they trade forearms but Yano’s second low blow is blocked. A quick cutter gets two for Silas and a suplex into a swinging neckbreaker gets the same. Yano sends him chest first into the buckle for another two, followed by a low blow for the fourth near fall in a row. Silas kicks Yano low for a change and since Americans are better at hitting people low, it puts Toru away at 10:12.

Rating: C-. Yeah it’s a comedy match and that’s fine. I’ve long since reached the point where I understand that the two promotions are co-promoting in this company and that’s not going to change anytime soon. Yano is a good enough comedy act and he did fine here, though Silas winning was the important thing as it’s really tiring to see the New Japan guys winning more often than not.

Silas stays on him post match but the Briscoe Brothers (Yano’s six man tournament partner) comes in for the save.

Christopher Daniels gives a very serious promo about what he’s willing to give up to continue being a champion in Ring of Honor. He’s been a father and husband for thirteen and twenty three years each and he’d give them both up to keep his title. Wrestling and championships are his life so he’s going to spit in the face of cliches. This was really good and like nothing I’ve heard from Daniels in years. Why can’t he do this kind of thing more often?

Cheeseburger vs. Punisher Martinez

Martinez has BJ Whitmer and Kevin Sullivan with him and Sullivan gets on commentary to talk with Corino. Cheeseburger gets his head taken off with a spinning kick to the face as Sullivan talks about Corino trying to circumvent evil. The palm strike has no effect and Punisher’s sitout chokeslam finishes Cheeseburger at 1:39. This would be so much better with Sullivan as a complete non-factor. What is this supposed to lead to? More Corino and Whitmer?

The beating continues with Will Ferrara coming in and taking a beating of his own as Kevin tells Corino to embrace what he is.

Post break, Corino is looking at the golden spike that was driven into his head at Best in the World. Now Whitmer wants Corino to meet him in the desert and of course Steve will do it.

We go to the break where Whitmer called Corino Mizar and told him to accept the guidance of the father (Sullivan) and they can be each others salvation. This is still stupid.

We run down the All-Star Extravaganza card and get some promos from some people on the card.

Bobby Fish is ready for Donovan Dijak and promises that Dijak will wake up a much wiser man after All-Star Extravaganza.

Jay Lethal wants to beat Tetsuya Naito to make a statement. That statement will be LOSS because Naito is now the IWGP Intercontinental Champion so the result is almost guaranteed.

Adam Cole is going to prove that he’s better than Michael Elgin, who took the title from him two years ago. Elgin held the title for a few months and then went back to Japan like a coward. Now it’s time for Cole to show that he’s the best in the world, just like his title proves.

Hiroshi Tanahashi/Michael Elgin vs. Adam Page/Adam Cole

Kyle O’Reilly is on commentary again. As expected the fans are behind Tanahashi because the guy not even on Friday’s show is more important than this company’s World Champion. Page hammers on Elgin’s back to no avail so it’s time for the long delayed vertical suplex. We take a break and come back with Tanahashi playing some air guitar. Cole sends him outside and Page scores with a running shooting star off the apron. When did he start getting good?

The double teaming begins as the Adams take turns stomping away until Tanahashi finally drops Page. It’s off to Elgin to clean house with a good looking falcon arrow getting two on Page. A DDT gets two on Elgin and it’s off to the second break of the match. Back again with Cole’s Destroyer being broken up with a Samoan drop. It’s off to Tanahashi vs. Cole, which sounds like an interesting match that we’re not likely to see for a variety of reasons.

They strike it out until Cole gets caught with a Sling Blade to put both guys down. Another hot tag brings Mike back in and everything breaks down. Well stays broken down but close enough. The Rite of Passage doesn’t work so Elgin takes Page’s head off with a clothesline for two instead. The Elgin Bomb puts Page away at 14:19.

Rating: C+. This was the only way they could have had this match end as Elgin gets a bit of a rub going into his title match. Cole vs. Tanahashi has the potential to be something good but there’s no secret about the fact that Cole vs. O’Reilly is headlining Final Battle. That’s not a bad thing but I’m getting a little tired of the two of them fighting with Kyle seeming pretty far beneath Page.

Cole and Elgin stare each other down to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Sullivan stuff aside (as always), this actually felt like an authentic go home show. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that about an ROH show and it’s something that they really needed to fix. The opener was fine for a one off match and the main event actually went somewhere (albeit down the dead end that Cole vs. Elgin is going to be) and that’s a step up over the clip shows we’ve gotten before.

This was an easier sit and that’s a positive sign for Ring of Honor. That and them finally saying on their website that New Japan is presenting the pay per view as well. It’s been New Japan’s subsidiary for months now and they’ll be better off as a promotion that gives New Japan what it needs if they’ve given up standing on their own two feet.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book, KB’s Complete 2014 Raw and Smackdown Reviews Part I at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

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

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

Ring of Honor
Date: September 14, 2016
Location: Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Steve Corino, Kevin Kelly

We’re getting closer to All-Star Extravaganza and for once they’re actually setting up some stuff for the pay per view in advance. Now that being said, a lot of the card is going to be built around the Six Man Tag Team Title tournament so they can throw a lot of it together at their own leisure. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Steve Corino gets his own entrance to do commentary. As expected, he’s rather happy to be back.

Guerillas of Destiny vs. All Night Express

The announcers call them the All Night Express but they’re part of the Cabinet because that’s still a thing. Tama and Titus get things going and a pull of the hair takes the monster down. Loa tags himself and it’s time to start the beating. The Tongans snap Titus’ throat across the top and we take an early break. Back with Loa suplexing Titus as this is still one sided. We hear about a four way for the #1 contendership to the Tag Team Titles at All-Star Extravaganza (with the Express as the only team mentioned) as it’s off to King for some house cleaning.

A string of kicks to the head have Tama in trouble but it’s time for the big two on two slugout. King takes over with a slingshot corkscrew plancha but it’s Tama with a jumping neckbreaker on Titus. A powerbomb/neckbreaker combo gets two on Titus and the Tongans have to deal with Caprice Coleman. Not that it matters as a double inverted DDT (Guerilla Warfare) puts Titus away at 10:38.

Rating: C. This was fine while it lasted but as usual I have no interest in the Cabinet as I’m sick of the election being part of everything and how almost everything in ROH has to be some kind of a stable or a group. The match was fine enough for a TV match and it’s always good to see the Cabinet take a beating.

Coleman says they’re not done with the Bullet Club.

We look back at Tetsuya Naito and Evil turning their backs on Jay Lethal last week.

Lethal calls last week the second worst day of Naito’s life. The worst is going to be All-Star Extravaganza when Lethal gets his hands on Naito.

Shane Taylor talks about Ray Rowe teaching him to wrestle in Cleveland. Then War Machine happened and Taylor had to deal with all of the enemies Rowe had created. I’ve heard worse.

Shane Taylor/Keith Lee vs. Ken Phoenix/Ricardo Rojas

The much smaller Phoenix goes after Lee and is picked up with one arm. A dropkick to the side of the head only ticks Lee off so he headbutts Phoenix in the chest. Rojas comes in and hits Lee in the back but it doesn’t actually change anything. Taylor adds a middle rope splash to crush Ken at 1:53.

Taylor and Lee want War Machine while the fans chant for the Young Bucks. Cue War Machine with Rowe talking about taking care of Taylor for years. Tonight isn’t about that though because War Machine is here for violence.

War Machine vs. Keith Lee/Shane Taylor

Rowe knees him in the face to start but discuses into a right hand to actually put him down off a single punch. You don’t see that happen too often. Rowe gets beaten into the corner and blasted with big forearms and right hands. Sometimes you don’t need to do anything other than keep it simple.

More right hands get Rowe out of trouble and the hot tag brings in Hanson to fire off even more right hands. Hanson gets in a reverse powerslam on Lee and Rowe runs in with the shotgun knees to take out Taylor. They start trading the suplexes with Lee hitting an AA into a powerslam to put Hanson on the floor. A chair is brought in for a LOUD shot and that’s a DQ to give Lee and Taylor the win at 4:25.

Rating: C+. I like this feud more and more every time as it’s just so different than everything else they do on this show. They’re not trying to be the Bullet Club or flying all over the place because they’re just beating the heck out of each other for full matches with big power moves and that makes for entertaining TV.

The match is called a no contest for reasons unclear. Rowe gets powerbombed through two chairs to put him out.

Matt Taven is on commentary for the main event and says the new Kingdom will be part of the Six Man Tag Team Title tournament. Partners to be announced.

Roppongi Vice/Kazuchika Okada vs. Kamaitachi/Addiction

Kamaitachi and Romero start things off but we get an Okada request. That’s fine with Okada who puts Kamaitachi up against the ropes and calmly pats his chest. Addiction charges in and get a flapjack each to send us to a break. Back with Romero hitting a long string of running clotheslines on the Addiction and it’s off to Beretta for his running flip dive onto the Addiction (and piles of Okada Bucks). Things finally settle down with Daniels driving knees into Beretta’s head and Kamaitachi getting a very fast head start for a running seated dropkick.

Daniels hammers away at the head and we take a second break. Back again with the hot tag bringing Okada in again for the house cleaning. A top rope elbow crushes Daniels but Kazarian breaks up the Rainmaker. White Noise onto a knee gets two more on Daniels, only to have Kazarian come in with a slingshot DDT. Kazarian cuts off Strong Zero and it’s the Best Meltzer Ever (a moonsault spike tombstone) to put Beretta away at 12:45.

Rating: C+. This was fine and a decent enough way to build towards the six man tournament where the matches will have almost no stories to them but at least they’ll be for titles that the company doesn’t want but it makes them more like New Japan and that’s the point of the whole thing. It’s a watchable enough match but I have little reason to care about most of these people.

Overall Rating: C. Not bad for a show with the B crew this week and assuming you can accept that the New Japan guys are the norm instead of a special attraction, this was more than watchable. All-Star Extravaganza isn’t exactly looking like anything interesting but it’s hard to say what you’re going to get on one of their shows these days. This didn’t do much to set up the pay per view but it’s fine for an hour of wrestling.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book, KB’s Complete 2014 Raw and Smackdown Reviews Part I at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LY6766K#nav-subnav

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

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

Ring of Honor
Date: September 14, 2016
Location: Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Kevin Kelly

All-Star Extravaganza is in a few weeks and we only know a few matches so far. These monthly pay per views are really hard to book when Ring of Honor has so many stand alone TV episodes just after the pay per views as they’re basically booking a huge show in just a few weeks. Hopefully this makes things a bit better. Let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of last week’s Bullet Club segment and Jay Lethal interrupting to set up a six man tag with Los Ingobernables de Japan backing him up.

Opening sequence.

Bullet Club vs. Jay Lethal/Los Ingobernables de Japan

That would be Adam Cole/Hangman Page/Yujiro Takahashi vs. Lethal/Tetsuya Naito/Evil. Takahashi and Evil get things going here with Evil easily taking him down. That means it’s off to Cole vs. Lethal with Adam bailing out to the floor as we take an early break. Back with Naito sending Page to the floor and doing his signature take it easy pose. We get more Cole vs. Lethal and yet again Adam tags out to Takahashi.

The fast tagging continues as Naito comes back in, only to get jumped from behind by Cole. A blind tag allows Lethal to finally get his hands on Cole and the brawl is on until a double right hand puts both guys down. Naito gets annoyed at Lethal’s attempt at a tag so Los Ingobernables both walk out. That means another break and we come back to Lethal in real trouble thanks to the triple teaming.

Cue Michael Elgin to get in Lethal’s corner and Nigel says it’s all cool (thank you for actually having the boss approve something). House is quickly cleaned with Elgin powerslamming Page and Takahashi at the same time (that’s not normal) to take over. More triple teaming has Elgin in trouble so here’s Kyle O’Reilly to really make this a six man tag again.

The tag brings in Kyle to slug it out with Adam until a brainbuster gets two on a champ. We take a ridiculous third break and come back with Kyle’s rebound lariat taking out Page and Takahashi. Kyle and Adam strike it out again until a low superkick from Cole puts both guys down. The double tag brings in Lethal and Takahashi and a quick Lethal Injection ends Yujiro at 19:20.

Rating: C+. This was more than I was going to like as they threw in so much stuff that it was hard to focus on anything. Elgin isn’t much of a title challenger as Kyle is pretty clearly the real contender to Cole’s title. Kyle needs a big win to get him into the title picture though and I’m not sure who they could put in that place.

Bobby Fish is ready for Katsuyori Shibata, who is getting a title shot because he’s from New Japan and that’s important.

Addiction is ready for Ladder War.

Lethal is still by the ring (nice of him to wait through all the taped material) and says he wants revenge on Naito. That earns him a match at All Star Extravaganza, though Nigel points out that Lethal’s last request cost him the title. The match makes sense as you have to completely confirm Lethal’s face turn.

TV Title: Bobby Fish vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Fish is defending and Shibata’s Never Openweight Title isn’t on the line. The threat of an early Penalty Kick sends Fish into the ropes as the fans are almost all behind Shibata. We get a Figure Four on the champ and the turn escape isn’t working for Bobby. A rope break gets him out of the hold and sends us to an early break. Back with Shibata’s knee in trouble and Fish getting two off a snap suplex.

We hit the chinlock and here’s Prince Nana for commentary as his client is #1 contender to the title. Fish starts in with the kicks to the chest but Shibata tells him to bring it on. Shibata wins a slugout and hits a running dropkick in the corner. It’s off to a rear naked choke on Fish but he reverses into the heel hook.

Shibata gets in a leglock of his own at the same time so both guys are in trouble. They roll into the ropes and we take another break. Back from a late break with Shibata using fighting spirit (Nigel’s words) to get in a German suplex. Another slugout goes to Shibata with an STO getting a one. Armbars don’t go anywhere so Shibata gets in a triangle, only to have Fish roll him up to retain at 16:33.

Rating: C+. I still don’t get the appeal of Shibata but that’s probably a Ring of Honor thing as I’m sure he’s different here than he is over in Japan. I’m fine with the one off match here as that’s the idea behind the TV Title, even though it’s basically treated as a regular midcard title most of the time.

Fish and Shibata go nose to nose to set up their rematch in Japan.

Nigel tells us that Steve Corino is back on commentary next week.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a good enough way to set up All-Star Extravaganza, which still doesn’t feel like an important show. At least the card is starting to fill in and they can put in more Six Man Title tournament matches to really pad things out. The wrestling was fine here if a bit uninspired but we got a big match set up and some build towards a few other matches so this did its job.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book, KB’s Complete 2014 Raw and Smackdown Reviews Part I at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LY6766K#nav-subnav

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

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