Impact Wrestling
Date: October 4, 2019
Location: Sam’s Town Hotel And Gambling Hall, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Don Callis, Josh Matthews

Suddenly this is a follow up show to Smackdown, which is the bad spot the show is going to be in for the next few weeks. Tonight is a big follow up show though as we need to deal with what happened last week when Sami Callihan hit Melissa Santos with a bottle. Odds are this is going to lead to some dismemberment at the hands of Brian Cage, which should be rather entertaining. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the wedding and reception, where Callihan hit Santos by mistake.

Flanked by security, Jake Crist says Sami will talk about what happened later tonight.

Opening sequence.

Madison Rayne vs. Kiera Hogan vs. Tenille Dashwood

It’s a brawl to start with Hogan and Rayne teaming up on Dashwood early on. Madison gets thrown outside though and Dashwood grabs a butterfly suplex to take over on Hogan. Back in and the double teaming continues and Dashwood is in trouble again. This time it’s Kiera being sent outside and Dashwood stands on Rayne’s hair while pulling on the arms.

Kiera comes back in and starts talking trash to the fans but switches back to double teaming Dashwood again (you may be noticing a theme emerging here). Dashwood fights back and sends both of them outside before throwing Dashwood back inside for two. They all get back in again and Dashwood fights out of a double superplex attempt before sunset bombing Madison onto Hogan for a double near fall.

A double Taste of Tenille gets two on Rayne but Kiera comes back with an enziguri and swinging neckbreaker. We get the required argument over who gets the cover though, allowing Dashwood to send them into each other. Hogan is knocked outside and the Spotlight Kick finishes Madison at 8:52.

Rating: C-. I don’t know what it is but Dashwood isn’t showing any of the fire that made her look awesome in Ring of Honor/elsewhere. Maybe it was her shoulder injury or something but she isn’t the same performer she was not very long ago. Hopefully it’s more of a motivation thing or something, because the talent is there and I’d love to see it back again. The match itself was a formula based triple threat with Dashwood being the obvious winner as she is coming up on the Knockouts Title match at Bound For Glory.

Impact is coming to AXS TV.

Eddie Edwards talks to Tommy Dreamer and says Reno Scum drugged him at the wedding last week (which they did). He picks Kenny the Kendo Stick as his partner to face them tonight. Smart man.

Johnny Swinger vs. Owen Travers

Swinger is a late 90s tribute guy, which is fine for an idea but there was NO ONE else on the roster to play the character? As Callis swoons over Swinger’s Zubaz, Swinger takes over and hits a falling headbutt to the rather lower abdomen. Choking and strutting ensue, followed by more choking for bad measure. Travers fights back but misses a charge in the corner and gets caught in a swinging neckbreaker to give Swinger the pin at 3:10.

Rating: D. I get the idea here and as mentioned, a 90s character is hardly a bad idea. What I still don’t get is how this can be anything anything more than Callis giving a friend a favor. Does anyone think Swinger has any kind of a future around here? This isn’t a character that is going to go anywhere and while it’s fine for a lower card idea, bringing in another ECW name (not legend, but name), isn’t something that is going to make Impact look great at the moment.

The North is ready for Willie Mack and Rich Swann at Bound For Glory. They are not however ready for the match becoming a three way, also including Rob Van Dam/Rhino.

Tessa Blanchard isn’t surprised by what Callihan did last week. She’s coming for OVE.

Bound For Glory rundown.

Flashback Moment of the Week: Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode at Bound For Glory 2011. That was really stupid.

Ace Austin comes up to Alisha Edwards in the back and tries to apologize for what happened last week as the wedding. He thinks Eddie has some kind of a substance abuse problem and offers an ear if needed. Alisha looks confused.

Eddie Edwards/Kenny vs. Reno Scum

Eddie puts Kenny on the apron in the corner, which takes longer than you might think. Thornstowe starts for the team and runs into an atomic drop, followed by an overhead belly to belly. Luster comes in and wants to face Kenny, which is enough of a distraction that Luster can take over in the corner. The double teaming begins as the announcers talk about Alisha’s issues with Ace.

Eddie finally grabs a Blue Thunder Bomb for a breather and even reaches for the tag (he’s a rather confused man). A dive allows the hot tag to Kenny and everything breaks down with Eddie swinging Kenny around to take over. After a pair of dives to the floor (just go with it), Eddie gets slammed onto Kenny back inside. That doesn’t seem to matter though as it’s the Boston Knee Party to finish Thornstowe at 8:27.

Rating: D+. I mean….why not. Eddie continues to be one of the more fascinating wrestlers in the company and I want to see what happens to him. That’s the sign that they’re doing something right and I wouldn’t have bet on it lasting this long. There is a lot more to the story as well, and I’m not sure where they’re going between Eddie and Austin at Bound For Glory, but it could be rather interesting.

The North come up to Konnan and shut the door behind him.

Post break, Konnan is out. Josh: “WHAT HAPPENED TO KONNAN?” Josh….you dolt.

Here is OVE for a chat. Sami says last week was a tragedy but he is here to issue an apology. He means everything he says as he reads an apology off of a piece of paper. What happened last week was an accident and he isn’t happy with anything. He has no reason to destroy a marriage….and here’s Cage to run through security. The Crists and Fulton get taken out so Sami bails. Cage goes after him and throws a fan, which draws out referees to break things up. The cops are there as well and Cage gets arrested. This could work well.

X-Division Title Ladder Match Qualifying Match: Daga vs. Chris Bey

X-Division Champion Jake Crist is on commentary. They start with the flipping and rolling as neither can get much beyond an armdrag here or there. A kick to Bey’s head puts him on the floor but it’s Daga switching places and hitting his own dive. Back in and Daga hits a running forearm in the corner, followed by a dropkick for one. Bey knees his way out of a suplex attempt and dropkicks him outside for a change.

The running flip dive connects and it’s a slingshot DDT for two back inside. Back in and Bey hits a spinning kick to the head and rains down left hands in the corner. A crucifix gives Bey two but Daga is right back with a super Spanish Fly for the same. Daga has had it and double underhooks Bey into double knees to the chest for the pin at 6:40.

Rating: C+. I liked this one with Daga getting to showcase himself in a more impressive performance than I remember seeing from him. I know he’s a respected guy but I haven’t seen much from him so far. This was a good step forward for him though and hopefully that continues to move forward.

Post match the Crists come in to double team Daga but Tessa makes the save.

TJP says he and Fallah Bahh make a great team.

OVE leaves and Sami yells at the Crists.

Some NFL alumni talk about how much they’re looking forward to Moose vs. Ken Shamrock. Scott D’Amore offers his thoughts as well but here’s Moose himself to say MMA is for amateurs. However, he has Frank Trigg to help him train but here’s Shamrock to say he’ll beat Moose up. Ken promises to win but Moose walks out of the press conference, only to come back and start the shoving match. Shamrock looks….old.

James Mitchell yells at Havok for messing with Su Yung. Now YOU KNOW WHO is going to deal with her for messing with his favorite bride. Taya Valkyrie comes in and offers to take care of Su if they’ll take care of Dashwood. Mitchell doesn’t seem impressed and says Havok should just take the title for herself.

Michael Elgin vs. TJP

This could be interesting. TJP hammers away to start but gets picked up with straight power. The kneebar is blocked as well as TJP isn’t sure what to do against this kind of strength. Elgin runs him over and blocks a crossbody with ease. TJP is sent to the apron but slingshots in for a headscissor faceplant and we take a break. Back with Elgin being low bridged to the floor but countering a dive into an apron bomb. Elgin chops him so hard that he hurts his own hand but charges into raised boots in the corner.

The delayed apron superplex is broken up with a knee to the head and a hurricanrana takes Elgin down. TJP goes for the Fujiwara armbar but Elgin powers over to the rope without much effort. Another armbreaker is powered up with a powerbomb for the break and a discus lariat gives Elgin two. TJP sends him outside for the suicide dive but Elgin reverses it into a powerslam for a sweet counter. Back in and a Falcon Arrow gives Elgin two more, followed by a heck of a buckle bomb. A spinning backfist sets up a spinning Elgin Bomb to finish TJP at 13:50.

Rating: B. I liked this one quite a bit with both guys doing what they could and Elgin cutting him off every chance he could. The powerslam counter to the suicide dive was awesome and Elgin’s offense has the kind of power that makes him look dangerous (in a good way) every time he’s out there. Good stuff here, as they took two talented people and had them do their stuff at a high level.

Post match Bahh checks on TJP and glares at Elgin, likely meaning we’ll be getting a future match.

Santos talks to Cage on the phone but Sami cuts them off. What happened last week was a mistake, but he really enjoyed it.

Overall Rating: C+. Impact is up and down at times but this was a solid show for the most part and you can see the stories coming together as we move towards Bound For Glory. They’re starting to peak at the right time and that is what matters more than anything else. The action was mostly good here and while I could go for some adjustments in their personnel choices, we had a mostly good show here and a solid main event. Not bad at all and I liked it well enough. Check out TJP vs. Elgin if you have time.

Results

Tenille Dashwood b. Kiera Hogan and Madison Rayne – Spotlight Kick to Rayne

Johnny Swinger b. Owen Travers – Swinging neckbreaker

Eddie Edwards/Kenny b. Reno Scum – Boston Knee Party to Thornstowe

Daga b. Chris Bey – Double underhook double knees to the chest

Michael Elgin b. TJP – Spinning Elgin Bomb

Remember to check out my website at kbwrestlingreviews.com 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: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: September 27, 2019
Location: Sam’s Town Hotel And Gaming Hall, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Don Callis, Josh Matthews

It’s time for a wedding! We’re in Las Vegas and that means we need to do something big, which may or may not work out very well. I mean, it’s a wrestling wedding so I wouldn’t expect it to go well but you never know. It’s a big night for Brian Cage and Melissa Santos so let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at Brian and Melissa’s relationship, which is just so well documented around here. I mean, it’s known outside of Impact but it’s not something that has been focused on around here.

We have a special correspondent and GAIL KIM is the first guest. She’s excited to be here, believe it or not.

Here’s the North, in LAX gear and to LAX music. Ethan Page talks about how the fans were expecting something else. They came out here looking like idiots and fans cheered for them anyway. Josh Alexander talks about how this is a serious place and sacred ground but the fans are making him sick.

They are the Tag Team Champions and they’ll make you forget who LAX was. You CANNOT have LAX back so stop talking online about how much you miss them. Konnan doesn’t have the power to overturn the North so here’s Konnan to interrupt. He rants about how stupid they are but has some new people to come after the titles. Cue Rhino and Rob Van Dam so let’s ring the bell.

Rob Van Dam/Rhino vs. The North

Non-title I believe. The champs get sent outside and we take an early break. Back with Van Dam monkey flipping Alexander and hitting Rolling Thunder for two. It’s off to Rhino to punch Page in the corner and run him over with a shoulder. Van Dam comes back in and gets taken into the champs’ corner with Alexander hitting a suplex for two of his own. Some right hands and a kick to the face get Rob out of trouble and Rhino comes back in for the running shoulders in the corner. Everything breaks down and Rhino runs Alexander over, setting up the Five Star for the pin at 6:42.

Rating: D+. There’s your Bound For Glory title match and as long as the titles don’t change hands (which they shouldn’t), everything is fine coming out of this. The ECW guys are going to be around no matter what and hopefully we still get what should be Willie Mack and Rich Swann’s spot at the pay per view. A triple threat makes sense here, at least after this match.

Impact moves to AXS TV on October 1….for some specials, with the real show beginning on October 29 but close enough.

Gama Singh yells at the Desi Hit Squad and praises Mahabali Shera as the savior of the team.

Mahabali Shera vs. Cousin Jake

Jake swings away to start but gets knocked down and chokes a lot. Shera misses a charge in the corner so Jake throws a running shoulder into the corner, only to have Shera come right back with a World’s Strongest Slam for the pin at 2:34.

Post match the beatdown continues as this feud must continue.

TJP and Fallah Bahh argue about their wedding attires. Eddie seems drunk.

Madison Rayne vs. Tenille Dashwood

They fight over a wristlock as the announcers argue over how many times Rayne has been Knockouts Champion. Rayne takes her down and brags a lot, earning herself a basement dropkick. They slug it out on the floor with Dashwood kicking her in the face, only to miss a charge into the corner back inside.

Rayne tells a fan to “shut up old lady” and grabs the chinlock to keep things slow. Back up and a cutter gives Rayne two but another missed charge lets Dashwood hit the Taste of Tenille. The Spotlight Kick misses so it’s a neckbreaker for Rayne instead, setting up the Spotlight Kick to give Dashwood the pin at 8:12.

Rating: D+. Nothing to see here with Dashwood winning a match that she was almost guaranteed to win. Rayne is fine as a midcard heel and the Locker Room Leader deal is growing on me a little bit. They need someone to go after the title though and Dashwood would seem to be the best option.

Rob Van Dam and Katie Forbes arrive at the wedding and are greeted by Rich Swann and Willie Mack. A discussion over the Tag Team Title shot at Bound For Glory ensues.

Dashwood gets the Knockouts Title shot at Bound For Glory. As she should…..I think.

Here’s Ken Shamrock (looking rather aged) for his big return. He has some great memories of being in this ring and he thanks the fans for their support. Shamrock was talking to Brian Cage when Moose interrupted and bragged about all of his skills, but Ken isn’t impressed. Now Moose isn’t here, meaning his whereabouts are like his resume: NOTHING. We get the call out but Moose comes up on screen from Shamrock’s gym. Some yelling ensues and Moose beats up a guy in a cage. This is totally different than when he did the same thing at the American Top Team gym when he was feuding with Bobby Lashley.

Taya Valkyrie asks Rosemary for help against Dashwood but doesn’t like Taya’s whining attitude. Until the old Taya is back, Rosemary will be no help. Taya even offers her a dress, which is thrown onto the floor.

Bound For Glory rundown.

Flashback Moment of the Week: Eric Young marries ODB.

OVE is not allowed into the reception.

Tommy Dreamer gives Brian Cage a pep talk about the wedding when Cage’s brother Ryan comes in. Dreamer finds his rather normal appearance amusing.

Rayne coaches the bridal party on how to walk down the aisle. Taya comes in and says she needs help with Dashwood.

Tessa Blanchard vs. Dave Crist

Jake Crist and Madman Fulton are here too and the winner goes on to an X-Division Title ladder match at Bound For Glory. Tessa hammers away to start so Dave kicks at the leg to no avail. A trip to the floor lets Fulton choke Tessa a bit, which is good for a quick ejection. Back in and Dave chokes in the corner and hits her in the back of the head, allowing Jake to get in his own choking. Tessa rolls him up for two but gets caught in something like a Go To Sleep for the same. A missed double stomp out of the corner misses as well and Tessa grabs the buzzsaw DDT for the pin at 6:20.

Rating: C-. The interference got annoying but it’s nice to see Tessa get the pin off a move instead of a fluke rollup. There is little to no reason to not put the X-Division Title on her at Bound For Glory now that her World Title chances are done. It might not be the coolest moment in the world but it’s a big deal and another step forward now that she has nothing left to do in the Knockouts diviison.

Post match Fulton is back in for a chokeslam.

Rayne tells Alisha Edwards to keep a better eye on her husband so Ace Austin can escort her at the wedding.

It’s time for the wedding with the Rascalz coughing a lot and the Deaners hitting on Jessika Havok. Rohit Raju is crying and Gama Singh has to glare at him to break it up. Taya glares at Rosemary for not wearing the dress she brought her but gets told to keep walking. In something that absolutely shouldn’t surprise me, Dreamer walks Melissa down the aisle.

Ryan is officiating the ceremony but hang on as Taya needs to brag about everything she has done. Ethan Page has objections….to how the company is run and wants royalty money. Eddie Edwards staggers in and vomits on Ryan before trying to beat up Austin. Dreamer asks if anyone can run the wedding. Cue James Mitchell to say you asked for a minister. He goes through their vows, gives Melissa his card just in case, and pronounces them man and wife. The reception is in the ring. Dreamer: “Right after this commercial break.”

Overall Rating: C-. The big angle at the end helped a lot and felt like a big deal, which is really the first time that has happened in a long time. That’s been the biggest problem for Impact for a long while now: nothing they do feels like it matters and it needs to change in their busy season. Maybe the move to AXS can help, but there are some things holding them back, with some of their roster being near the top of the list. Not a bad show, but it needs more of the latter than the first half.

Results

Rhino/Rob Van Dam b. The North – Five Star Frog Splash to Alexander

Mahabali Shera b. Cousin Jake – World’s Strongest Slam

Tenille Dashwood b. Madison Rayne – Spotlight Kick

Tessa Blanchard b. Dave Crist – Hammerlock DDT

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: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: September 13, 2019
Location: Fronton Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Commentators: Don Callis, Josh Matthews

The Mexico run continues after last week’s big engagement between Brian Cage and Melissa Santos. That means he’ll be gone for another few weeks as we continue the Brock Lesnar style title reign. Sami Callihan is getting a title shot in about five weeks though and that could make for an interesting Bound For Glory. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Kiera Hogan vs. Tenille Dashwood

Dashwood finds the early shoving amusing and they trade early arm control attempts. A kick to the back annoys Dashwood again so Kiera hides in the corner. That earns her an elbow to the face and a basement dropkick, meaning it’s time for some bailing to the floor. Back in and Kiera gets in her own kick to the face, followed by some choking in the corner.

There’s a running clothesline in the corner but Kiera can’t get her feet on the ropes to properly cheat. Dashwood makes her comeback with a variety of shots to the face and the Taste of Tenille. Kiera’s kick to the head gives her two of her own so Dashwood snaps off a wheelbarrow suplex. A high crossbody sets up the Spotlight (pretty much a Claymore) to finish Hogan at 8:58.

Rating: C-. Fine little win for Dashwood here, though I can’t imagine she’s going to be around that long. She seems almost perfect for one of the bigger stars in AEW and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her being the next short term Impact import. Just do something with her while she’s around, please? It would be nice for some company to get that idea right.

Sami Callihan promises to cause some trouble in Mexico tonight.

The North is proud of getting rid of LAX and wants to know why more people aren’t talking about them. They should be more people’s favorite tag team. These guys are getting better and better at an alarming rate.

Announcers’ preview.

Michael Elgin vs. Dinastia

Dinastia is the reigning AAA Mini Champion. Elgin shoves him down to start so Dinastia tries a waistlock for the usual unfunny visual. A high crossbody is caught in a one arm tilt-a-whirl backbreaker as the fans are starting to get behind Elgin. There’s the apron bomb and an Emerald Flosion, the finisher of Naomichi Marufuji, who will be having a match against someone to be named at Bound For Glory, for the pin at 3:11.

Rating: D. Well at least it didn’t last long. Elgin is a good addition to the roster, yet somehow he’s in a one off match at Bound For Glory against a Japanese guy who will appeal to hardcore fans but does very little long term for Impact. I’m sure the match is going to be good but it’s never been a kind of booking I care for. As for the point of this….I’m going to hope it was lost in translation somewhere and move on.

Elgin talks about the things he has done over his career (without mentioning names) but there was one man in Japan he never faced. Marufuji is coming to Chicago and they’ll see each other.

In Rosemary’s….whatever it is, Taya Valkyrie complains to Rosemary about Tenille Dashwood getting the spotlight. Rosemary: “How do you keep getting in here?” Taya gives her a phone and suggests they have mimosas. Rosemary: “MOSAS??”

TJP steals Fallah Bahh’s lunch and tries to teach him to find his voice.

Flashback Moment of the Week: LAX vs. OVE from Bound For Glory.

James Mitchell warns Havok to leave Su Yung alone. Even he is scared of what Yung is going to do next.

Moose congratulates Ken Shamrock for getting a match with him at Bound For Glory. Enjoy your time now though because at Bound For Glory, Ken is stepping into the ring with the World’s Most Dangerous Man.

Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. El Texano Jr.

Wagner’s son, El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. I presume, is here with him. Texano jumps him during the pre-match speech and Wagner loses his mask, which he isn’t supposed to be wearing anymore anyway. After a quick trip to the floor, it’s time to start working on Wagner’s leg but the referee won’t let Texano use the bull rope.

Wagner grabs a cutter for a breather and a delayed two, followed by a missed charge to send Texano outside. The dive to the floor takes Texano down again but he grabs a hanging DDT on the way back in. Texano goes up top but gets superplexed back down, setting up a hammerlock lariat. The Dr. Driver (Michinoku Driver) finishes Texano at 5:55.

Rating: C-. This was your run of the mill “here are two stars from the host country” match and it worked just fine. Wagner is the bigger star of the two and will be at Bound For Glory (one of the four matches so far have all Impact talent, which isn’t a good sign) so giving him more exposure here made sense. Short match but they put some stuff into it and the fans cared so I’ll take it.

Ace Austin is scared of Eddie Edwards hurting him and wants Alisha to stay in the back during their match tonight.

LAX is packing up the clubhouse when Rich Swann and Willie Mack come in. Respect is shown and Swann/Mack want to have LAX’s last match around here. Konnan promises to get it made.

Ace Austin vs. Eddie Edwards

Eddie charges in and they trade chops in the corner with Austin being knocked outside. That means the big dive as Josh talks about how horrible of a human Ace really is. Callis: “If Ace kills Eddie Edwards, it saves Alisha the cost of a divorce.” Eddie crotches him against the post but Ace is fine enough to get in a kick to the head. The playing card slices open Eddie’s finger but Eddie Hulks Up.

The Blue Thunder Bomb gives Eddie two and he hammers away in the corner like he’s in a match with a wrestler who wants to steal his wife. Ace gets in a baton shot to the face to knock Eddie silly and we take a break. Back with Eddie fighting out of a dragon sleeper and grabbing the tiger driver for two. Ace tries to bail so Eddie hits the suicide dive and stomps on the chair Ace tries to grab. The handstand on the apron avoids a chair shot so Eddie just throws the chair at the arm for the DQ at 13:15.

Rating: C+. Eddie has become one of the most consistently strong performers around here as I want to see where his trip into madness goes. He has settled down in the loony land at the moment and that makes for some interesting developments. I’m curious to see where this Ace/Alisha stuff is going and you don’t get that around here very often.

Post match Eddie stays on him and beats up some security to go further over the edge. Ace is clutching his arm on the floor.

Brian Cage and Melissa Santos are getting married in two weeks and Cage isn’t vacating the title.

Johnny Swinger is coming.

Watch Ken Shamrock’s bare knuckle boxing promotion!

Eddie and Alisha yell at each other as Ace is put in the ambulance. She yells even more and leaves with the ambulance as Eddie is stunned.

Big Mami/Nino Hamburgesa vs. Desi Hit Squad

The Deaners are here with the Squad, who are in Deaner style gear. There is no Gama Singh, who was last seen on the farm. Nino flips over Singh to start and runs him over with a shoulder before it’s off to Mami vs. Raju. Mami manages a Matrix and a clothesline gives her two. It’s already back to Singh to dropkick Nino’s knee, only to miss a middle rope elbow. We get the required double Stinkface and the rather rotund Nino hits a suicide flip dive. Mami dives off the middle rope to take all three of them out again. Back in and some Squad miscommunication sets up Nino’s top rope splash for the pin at 5:27.

Rating: D. I know these two are better known in Mexico and the fans cared about them but it’s not exactly my style of humor with a bunch of spots based on their size and nothing else at all. I’m not exactly thrilled with having them around but they play a role on the show and they won’t be here next week so I guess I can live with it. Just get on to something else.

Post match Mahabali Shera returns to beat up the Deaners and officially join the Squad. Gama Singh is very pleased.

Tessa Blanchard/Tommy Dreamer vs. Sami Callihan/Jake Crist

Street fight. They start on the stage with OVE getting knocked down the ramp. Crist gets sent face first into the apron and hurricanranaed down, leaving Tessa to stare at Sami. Another knockdown has Callihan in trouble and we take a break. Back with weapons in the ring and Tessa planting Jake with a tornado DDT. Sami and Dreamer take their places in the ring and fight over the staple gun with Sami taking a shot to the chest. OVE gets tied in Trees of Woe for almost stereo baseball slide dropkicks into chars to their faces.

Stereo cutters get a double near fall but Dreamer gets sent hard into the corner. Tessa fights both of them at once but it’s a double big boot to take her down. A cutter gets two on Tessa to put her in trouble until Dreamer gets back up for the save. Sami gets in a baseball bat to Tessa’s ribs but Dreamer hits him with a kendo stick. Cue Madman Fulton for a distraction though, allowing Callihan to get in the Cactus Special to pin Dreamer at 9:23.

Rating: D+. Just a quick match here as Tessa’s main event push takes another hit. That being said, I fully expect her to get a shot at Sami’s title before the year is out and winning it isn’t an impossible option. Sami getting the pin is good, even if beating Dreamer hasn’t meant anything in about fifteen years (or more).

Post match Tessa beats up OVE, including Fulton, but Sami gets in a shot from behind to take her down. Rob Van Dam and Rhino run in for the save because ECW LIVES!!!

Overall Rating: D. Another not very good show down south, which has become too much of a trend around here. The good news here is they’ve started the build to Bound For Glory early and they should be ready for the show. The problem though is how many matches are going to need outside help. That shouldn’t be the case with the biggest show of the year, but it’s not like they have a lot of stories that can be blown off there. Bad show tonight, but maybe there is some hope for the future.

Results

Tenille Dashwood b. Kiera Hogan – Spotlight

Michael Elgin b. Dinastia – Emerald Flosion

Dr. Wagner Jr. b. Texano Jr. – Dr. Driver

Ace Austin b. Eddie Edwards via DQ when Edwards used a chair

Nino Hamburgesa/Big Mami b. Desi Hit Squad – Middle rope splash to Raju

Sami Callihan/Jake Crist b. Tessa Blanchard/Tommy Dreamer – Cactus Special to Dreamer

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor

Ring of Honor
Date: January 2, 2019
Host: Ian Riccaboni

Now this one could be interesting and the focus is going to be on the Women of Honor. Why is that interesting you may ask? Well for once we might actually get to know what is supposed to be interesting about some of them. There are several women in the division, but I’m still not sure what is supposed to make a lot of them stand out. Hopefully we can find some of that out here. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We open with a quick video looking at the division as a whole, plus some of the bigger names over the year.

From Honor Reigns Supreme in Philadelphia.

Tenille Dashwood/Mandy Leon vs. Kelly Klein/Stacy Shadows

This is Dashwood’s in-ring debut and I believe Shadows appeared a few times on TV over the year. Shadows and Leon start things off with Mandy hitting some pretty weak chops to the much bigger Stacy. That just earns her a forearm to the face and it’s off to Dashwood in a hurry. Tenille gets her to miss a charge over the ropes and fires off some kicks, followed by a Stunner to send her throat first into the middle ropes.

Dashwood charges into a boot to the face though and Kelly comes in for a cravate with knees to the face. The headscissors into the Russian legsweep gets Dashwood out of trouble and we take a break. Back with Kelly sending Leon into the corner and kneeing her in the face again. Stacy comes in for more of the same and throws Mandy down by the hair as the boring match continues.

Mandy does the big dive towards the corner but can’t quite get there until a DDT gets her out of trouble. The diving tag brings Dashwood in to clean house, including a shotgun dropkick to send her into the corner. The Taste of Tenille connects and the reverse layout DDT plants Stacy again. Mandy dives on Kelly and the yet to be named Spotlight Kick finishes Stacy at 9:00.

Rating: D. This was every boring tag match that you can imagine with the only good part being Tenille coming in for the big win in the end. I wouldn’t have had her in there against someone like Stacy who Dashwood can’t do a lot against, but maybe they didn’t have anyone else. It wasn’t terrible but it was dull, and that’s worse.

We see the end of Sumie Sakai vs. Kelly Klein for the first Women of Honor Title in a pretty lame ending with Klein kicking out of Sakai’s regular finisher and then getting pinned with a regular DDT. The big celebration is included.

From May 30.

Women’s Title: Sumie Sakai vs. Jenny Rose

Sakai is defending and Rose is another one of those interchangeable women that Ring of Honor thinks is important or interesting because they’ve been around for a while. Sumie takes her into the corner for some fast stomping and Rose is sent outside as we take another early break.

Rating: C. And the problems for the division continue. I’ve been watching Ring of Honor for a good while now and I still couldn’t tell you anything significant about either of these two. Rose trained with Sakai and wants the title. Fine. Now tell me something about Sakai or Rose. Let them have some promo time or a character or something, but what we’re getting right now is just people having not great matches.

From Honor United in the UK on May 27.

Women’s Title: Sumie Sakai vs. Chardonnay

Sumie is defending and shrugs off a cheap shot attempt. That means some stomping in the corner before Chardonnay gets tied in the ring skirt for a quick spanking. Back in and Chardonnay hammers her down before sending it right back to the floor. That means a baseball slide to send Sakai into the barricade but Sumie is right back with chops to the neck. A crossbody off the barricade misses though and Sumie crashes hard.

Chardonnay gets two off a chop and the Boston crab goes on. Sumie grabs the rope and we take a break. Back without much having changed as Chardonnay chokes in the corner and yells at the crowd. Sumie fights back with a running knee and Smashmouth gets two with almost no reaction on the kickout.

A bridging German suplex is good for two more on Chardonnay, who comes back with a spinebuster for the same. Chardonnay’s signature butterfly suplex gets two more but the Tower of London is broken up. Sumie misses her moonsault and gets caught with a running knee to the face for two more. Another butterfly suplex is countered into Smashmouth for the pin to retain at 10:46.

Rating: C-. Chardonnay had a good look and moved well in the ring but the lack of drama and crowd reaction really pulled the energy out of this. Sumie was her usual uninteresting self and that’s not exactly a good thing for a match like this. You can only do so much with these international house shows and this was no exception to the rule. Not terrible, but pretty dry.

From Best In The World.

Sumie Sakai/Jenny Rose/Mayu Iwatani/Tenille Dashwood vs. Hazuki/Kelly Klein/Hana Kimura/Kagetsu

Kagetsu is the Stardom Champion and we get a staredown over the titles. Sakai wants to start for the team and gets kicked in the face by Kugetsu. Well that’ll teach her. Kimura comes in and wants Dashwood, meaning the brawl is on. Before that has a chance to go anywhere, it’s Klein coming in to throw Jenny around. Of course the fourth pairing comes in with Iwatani Sling Blading Hazuki. I might be a bit more excited if you didn’t know the tags were coming as soon as the sequence started.

The villains (Klein’s team in case you get confused by the teams with a bunch of names thrown together because you don’t do your Stardom homework) come in and triple team Sakai with three boots on her face at once, allowing Kimura to hold up the Oedo Tai (stable) sign for a cute visual. Sakai DDTs Klein and the hot tag brings in Dashwood to clean house, including a double Taste of Tenille in the corner.

A high crossbody gets two on Dashwood and Sakai comes back in with a missile dropkick. Everything breaks down again and Sakai gets a guillotine choke on Kimura. That’s muscled into a delayed suplex for two on Sakai but Kagetsu hits Kimura with the sign by mistake. Sumie dives onto a pile and hits a dragon suplex for the pin on Kimura at 10:27.

Rating: C. I say this a lot and I’m going to keep saying it until it’s no longer a problem: I have no idea who these people are and I don’t know why I’m supposed to care about them. It’s a bunch of Stardom talents and some names from Ring of Honor, who I don’t know either for the most part. The division does exist, but it’s not going to go far if I have to do outside research to figure out who these people are or what they’re doing here. Give us some quick videos or translated promos if necessary, but find a way to let us know what’s going on.

Overall Rating: D+. Everything that has been bad about this division since its inception was on full display here: the non-existent characters, the not great wrestling, the matches that just come and go, and the incredible uninteresting Sakai at the top of the division. It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever seen by a mile and there are some perfectly watchable matches at times, but the complete lack of character work kills any positives that could come from the whole thing. Highlighting the year is fine on paper, but was this really the best they could do? Boring show, but it went by quick.

IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: August 15, 2018
Location: EagleBank Arena, Fairfax, Virginia
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana

Your guess is as good as mine about what we might be getting this week. This show could be about wrestling, it could be about storytelling, or it could be about setting up some show for the Honor Club that doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. The company is all over the place anymore, mainly due to not having a big show to build towards at the moment. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Bouncers vs. Briscoe Brothers

Non-title and the Bouncers are the Beer City Bruiser/Brian Milonas. Brian catches Mark’s crossbody and throws him hard with a belly to belly suplex. Jay comes in and gets rocked as well, with the Bouncers running the Brothers over without any trouble. Another hard shoulder knocks Jay down but the Brothers are back up with a double knockdown to the floor. That means a big flip dive from Jay, followed by a Whisper in the Wind from Mark as we take a break.

Back with Mark in more trouble and Milonas hitting his falling backsplash for two. A Trash Compactor of all things gets two on Mark with Jay having to make the save. Bruiser misses a Cannonball off the apron though and the Briscoes start the running corner clotheslines to put Milonas in trouble. A missed charge sends Bruiser into Milonas and an impressive Death Valley Driver gets two on Milonas. There’s a Blockbuster from the apron to Milonas, followed by the Froggy Bow for the pin at 9:27.

Rating: C+. I came into this one ready to not like it but the Bouncers were much better than I was expecting. They were in there working hard and doing a strong big man style, which is where they do have value. Granted it helped to be in there against a team as good as the Briscoes. I’m not sure how well it would have worked without them, but that’s how any better match works.

Post match the Briscoes say no one is taking these belts from them, especially So Cal Uncensored. Cue So Cal Uncensored to talk about how they need gold to stick around at the end of the year. The fight is on and referees are breaking it up as we take a break.

Karen Q. vs. Madison Rayne vs. Kelly Klein vs. Tenille Dashwood

The winner gets a future Women’s Title match and it’s one fall to a finish. All of them get an inset promo on their way to the ring. Believe it or not, they all want to be champion. Way to show the awesome levels of character depth from this division. Karen bails to the floor to start and Klein is proud of ducking an early double clothesline, only to be knocked to the floor.

Madison rolls Dashwood up for some near falls and lets her know how close that was. That’s enough to bring Karen back in but she gets suplexed upon arrival. Ian says there are supposed to be tags here, which is quite the news to Colt. Fair enough actually. Karen is back up with some running forearms to Madison and a snap suplex gets two. Dashwood puts on the Tarantula and takes Karen up top, only to have Kelly come back in with the Tower of Doom on everyone as we take a break.

Back with Dashwood taking over but Klein breaks up a near fall on Karen. Klein puts Karen up in a fireman’s carry and easily catches Madison in a fall away slam at the same time. No matter who does those things, they’re always impressive. A high crossbody gives Dashwood two on Klein and the Spotlight Kick connects, only to have Karen steal the near fall. Madison is back up though and the Rayne Check finishes Karen at 9:36.

Rating: D+. Just a big collection of stuff here without much of a flow or story being told. Madison as the next challenger is a good idea as you need someone with some name value to the more common wrestling fan (Madison isn’t a star but she’s better known than the Stardom women in America). I’m a bit surprised given that Madison is in the Mae Young Classic but this feels like a one off title shot anyway.

Here are Cody and Brandi Rhodes to take issue with the way his World Title rematches have gone. Yes he’s had two shots, but neither of them have been on on one. He needs someone to come out here who is all business so here’s NWA World Champion Nick Aldis, who Cody will be defending against at All In. Aldis talks about agreeing to their match at All In, but where’s the upside for him? What does Cody have to offer him? There’s no ROH World Title on the line so Aldis has nothing to gain, and that doesn’t sound like good business.

Cody offers up the ring of honor as collateral, which Aldis accepts and leaves. Hang on a second though, as Cody calls out Aldis for beating a 53 year old history teacher for that title while Cody was beating Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi. Aldis gets back in and holds up the ring but here’s the Bullet Club to break things up. Nice segment here, especially for a match with the most obvious ending in the world.

Cheeseburger/Flip Gordon/Josh Woods vs. Bully Ray/Punishment Martinez/Shane Taylor

The Club is defending but hang on a second as here’s Bully Ray to post Flip and take him out. Post break, Bully and company say Cheeseburger and Woods need a partner so the fans chant for Colt Cabana. Cheeseburger says they’ll do it 3-2 so let’s hit the bell.

Cheeseburger/Josh Woods vs. Bully Ray/Punishment Martinez/Shane Taylor

Woods and Taylor start things off but Shane tags out to Martinez instead. That’s fine with Josh, who slugs away in the corner and a suplex has Martinez in trouble. Martinez stomps him out of the corner though and now Taylor is willing to come in so Woods suplexes him as well. Bully comes in and Cheeseburger comes in for the not very well done staredown. Cheeseburger slips out of a powerbomb and avoids a charge but Ray hides in the other corner.

The distraction lets Taylor crotch Cheeseburger and we take a break. Back with Ray talking a lot of trash as Cheeseburger tries to crawl to the corner. Shane knocks Woods off the apron with the running right hand and with Cheeseburger alone, Cabana runs in to be the third man and clean house. Cheeseburger tags himself in for a top rope double stomp and Cabana dives onto Ray. Taylor comes back in with Greetings From 216 and the pin at 7:41.

Rating: D. Good. I liked watching Cheeseburger’s head bounce off the mat and I was smiling when he got pinned. The character wasn’t creative in the first place and I’m sick of having the same stories pounded into my head for years now. It’s really annoying to watch him in there so often and even occasionally getting the better of people nearly 200lbs heavier than him. I can’t stand the guy and it was nice to see him get beaten up and pinned. Do it less often though, because it would mean Cheeseburger isn’t wrestling as often.

One positive: a thrown together team was fighting people they have issues with and not getting a random Six Man Tag Team Title match. I had just glanced at the graphic earlier and thought this was a title shot for Cheeseburger and company so the match we actually got was a bit of a relief.

Post match the beating is on but Flip Gordon comes back out with a chair for the save. Ray and company bail to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. Like I said, this was another show where it was a total guessing game of what you were going to see. The wrestling wasn’t great to say the least (though the opener was good) and the main event angle is one of my least favorites in wrestling for the last year minimum. Building towards All In is better than nothing and gave the show its best segment. Other than that though, it feels like they were just throwing stuff out there and hoping for the best this week.

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

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IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: June 6, 2018
Location: Odeum Expo Theater, Villa Park, Illinois
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana

With less than a month to go before Best in the World, it’s time to start cranking up the card. We don’t know much about it at the moment other than the triple threat main event, which should be little more than Cody’s coronation. Other than that, there isn’t anything major announced but maybe that can change tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Here are Cody and Bernard the Business Bear to open things up. Cody talks about how ironic it is that he’s called the American Nightmare when the last six months have been a dream. He’s going to be the next Ring of Honor and NWA World Champion but he’s not thrilled with Marty Scurll being in the Best in the World match with him.

Cue Scurll to a big reaction to say the fans know how great he is, which Cody knows too. Cody is threatened and intimidated by him and at Best in the World, Cody will see how good he is. Scurll has no problem going through him to win the title but Cody thinks he has more to say. They shake hands and Marty teases breaking the fingers but leaves without getting violent.

Silas Young wants no excuses when he beats Austin Aries tonight.

Karen Q vs. Tenille Dashwood

Dashwood cranks on the arm to start and takes her down, allowing a little trash talking for fun. A headscissors is botched a legsweep gives Dashwood two instead. Karen trips her right back and we take a break. Back with Karen slowly pounding away and shouting a lot, which the announcers call a change of attitude. That would be interesting if we knew a bit more about Karen but that might mean personalities for these women.

Dashwood gets slammed face first into the mat but comes right back with a Tarantula to slow Karen down. A loud boot to the face keeps Karen in trouble and the Taste of Tenille gets two. Karen pulls her down into a Liontamer but a rope is grabbed to avoid any longer damage. Dashwood doesn’t get up so she sunset flips Karen from the mat for the pin at 10:36.

Rating: D. Dashwood is a star with great charisma (I really don’t get what WWE didn’t see in her) and Karen is one of the better Ring of Honor women but, as I say every week, PLEASE give us some characters. Dashwood’s identity is that she has something to prove and wants to be the best but Karen….well her middle/last initial is Q. That’s about all I’ve got on her and that’s not enough.

Video on Hangman Page vs. Punishment Martinez. That could be a heck of a match and I’m hoping to see it at Best in the World.

Page vs. Martinez is confirmed for Best in the World. Also set for the show: the Briscoes vs. the Young Bucks for the Tag Team Titles. That could be great.

TV Title: Austin Aries vs. Silas Young

Young is defending and in a coincidence, they’re both from Milwaukee. Aries hasn’t has a title match in Ring of Honor in over eight years. Aries gets driven into the corner to start and Young throws a shirt at him to a big reaction. A takedown gives Aries a rollup for two but it’s way too early for the Last Chancery. That’s enough for Young to give him a round of applause and a shot to the face makes things a little more serious.

Some nice armdrags can’t set up an armbar as Young keeps rolling out so Aries dropkicks him in the face instead to cap off a fast sequence. The middle rope elbow to the seated back gives Aries two and Young bails to the apron. That goes badly as well with Aries ramming him into both buckles over and over as we take a second break. Back with Aries being whipped into the barricade as things slow down a bit, partially due to the pace they’ve been keeping.

Young grabs a quickly broken chinlock back inside before going with the backbreaker into a clothesline for two more. A full nelson of all things has to be broken with Young being sent to the floor and there’s the suicide elbow. Young is right back with a series of shoulders in the corner but neither guy can hit their finisher. Instead it’s a Death Valley Driver on the apron to knock Young silly as we take a break.

Back again with Young getting caught in the Last Chancery but a foot is quickly on the ropes. A frustrated Aries grabs a belt (come on you’re smarter than that) but we’ve got a ref bump. Cue the Beer City Bruiser, though Kenny King is out just a second later to cut him off. With the referee still down, Young tries to grab a title, which Kenny steals right back to knock him cold, allowing Aries to score the pin and the title at….whatever time the fall went down because we have a Dusty Finish. Another referee comes out to tell the downed one what happened and that’s a DQ win for Young at 16:48.

Rating: B-. Is it just me or does Ring of Honor REALLY love their ref bumps in recent months? It’s almost to the point where you expect it every single big match and that’s not the best way of doing things. If the fans are expecting it, the shock and awe that come with it go away. The match itself was fine and it makes sense to keep the title on Young, who needs the boost far more than a major star like Aries.

Post match Aries shoves the referee with King pulling him off. That doesn’t work for Aries, who lays King out with a brainbuster and the Last Chancery to end the show.

There was supposed to be a Jay Lethal announcement but nothing ever happened.

Overall Rating: C. Well one was good and long and the other was slightly less long and much worse. I’m not sure where a lot of Best in the World is going but the fact that we have anything with three weeks left is quite the accomplishment for Ring of Honor. The top of the card is looking very strong and that’s really what matters the most. Give us a solid lower half and maybe we can forget how underwhelming Supercard of Honor was.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the NXT The Full Sail Years Volume III (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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IMG Credit: Ring of Honor

Ring of Honor
Date: April 25, 2018
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana

So I had a full introduction written up talking about how this is the start of a new taping cycle and we finally get some storyline advancement before War of the Worlds. Then I started watching the show….and it’s a special on the Women of Honor tournament. Yes indeed, we’re going to go nearly a month between storyline advancement shows because Ring of Honor is really weird sometimes. Let’s get to it.

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

Ian and Colt welcome us to the show and explain what we’ll be seeing tonight. You know, as in stuff we’ve seen before.

We see highlights from some of the opening round matches, mainly focusing on Kelly Klein.

From the Supercard of Honor pre-show.

Women of Honor Title Tournament Semifinals: Kelly Klein vs. Mayu Iwatani

Feeling out process to start and they hit the mat for some grappling to no avail. Iwatani sweeps the leg and kicks her in the chest as they’re still in first gear. Kelly kicks her in the face to take over and drives some knees into the head. A clothesline turns Iwatani inside out and we take a break.

Back with Kelly choking in the corner and going up, earning herself a kick to the head. A super hurricanrana brings Klein down and Iwatani gets two off a top rope double stomp. That’s not enough for a cover so Iwatani drops a frog splash for two instead. Klein grabs a front face DDT and something like a Samoan driver for two of her own. Instead it’s the guillotine choke and Iwatani is out at 11:35.

Rating: C. Not bad here and Klein continues to look like she’s a few miles ahead of everyone else in the tournament. That makes me expect someone to beat her in the finals, just for the sake of the surprise to wrap things up. Iwatani was working here and the match was entertaining, though it’s odd to see her brought in for a loss on the Kickoff Show.

We look at more early round matches, including Tenille Dashwood debuting.

Again from the Supercard of Honor pre-show.

Women of Honor Title Tournament Semifinals: Tenille Dashwood vs. Sumie Sakai

Sumie grabs an early fisherman’s suplex for two but Tenille is right back with the Tarantula. It’s time to go after Sumie’s knee with a leglock but she’s right back up with a cross armbreaker. Tenille stacks her up for two so Sakai reverses into a Crossface. That’s reversed as well and Sumie’s misses charge hits turnbuckle.

The Taste of Tenille gets two but Sumie is right back up with Smashmouse (reverse Cross Rhodes) for two of her own. Sumie gets caught on top with a release German superplex for two and you can see the frustration setting in. The Spotlight Kick misses though and Sumie grabs a crucifix for the pin at 7:57.

Rating: C+. Well that happened. This whole thing was screaming Dashwood vs. Klein in the finals but instead we’ll go with the uninteresting choice because she’s been around for a long time or something. I’ve seen Sakai on and off for a few years now and I still have no idea why I’m supposed to be interested in her. She’s not that great in the ring and doesn’t have a character, but she’s been around for a long time so I’m supposed to be interested I guess.

Post match Klein comes in for the photo op and decks Sakai with a forearm during the handshake.

From Supercard of Honor.

Daffney is ringside for the finals.

Women of Honor Title: Kelly Klein vs. Sumie Sakai

Sakai jumps her during the entrances and stomps away in the corner to rock Klein. A release German suplex drops Sakai though and Klein is confident enough to put in the mouth guard. They head outside with Klein sending her into the barricade and we take an early break.

Back in a hurry with Klein getting two but getting powerbombed off the top. Klein’s fall away slam and release German suplex put them both down and here’s the women’s division to watch from ringside. They slug it out from their knees, which doesn’t work so well about five minutes into the match. Kelly’s kick to the chest gets two but Sakai is right back with a fisherman’s buster. A moonsault (more like a moonsault headbutt) doesn’t do much damage to Klein so Sakai goes with a DDT for the pin and the title instead at 8:40. That’s Klein’s first pinfall loss in Ring of Honor.

Rating: C+. So after all that, the final was (without the commercial) less than eight minutes long? I know they were going for the big epic moment here but egads let them have a little more time here. I’m not getting Sakai winning the title but they backed themselves into a corner here as there’s not much interest in having the champion be this undefeated monster. Sakai doesn’t do anything for me though and putting the title on her because she’s been here for a long time isn’t the best thinking in the world.

Sakai celebrates and shakes Klein’s hand.

Overall Rating: C-. The wrestling wasn’t bad but this was the wrong time to air a best of/recap show. By the time we get to next week’s show, nearly a month will have passed since Supercard of Honor. I’m really not sure why we have to wait this long and that gets really annoying after awhile. The show was fine for what it was, but it was the wrong time to air something like this.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the WWE Grab Bag (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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IMG Credit: Ring of Honor Wrestling

Ring of Honor
Date: March 14, 2018
Location: Center Stage Theater, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana

This is one of those weird weeks where a pay per view has come and gone but we’re not to the next taping cycle yet. Therefore, tonight is probably going to be a standalone show, which have very mixed results around here. There aren’t likely to be any results from the Anniversary Show, which works well as I haven’t seen it yet. Let’s get to it.

Here’s last week’s show if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Battle Royal

Chuckie T., Barretta, Shane Taylor, Josh Woods, Will Ferrara, Leo St. Giovanni, Flip Gordon, QT Marshall, Caprice Coleman, Shaheem Ali, Kid USA, F.R. Josie

I think I got everyone in there. They waste no time with this as the sequence ends and the bell rings with everyone sliding into the ring. The final two in the ring will face off in a regular match for a shot at the TV Title at a date to be announced. Chuckie and Barretta are thrown out by Shane at the bell, followed by Josie and Ferrara being tossed out soon thereafter.

Kid USA gets knocked off the top and Coast to Coast can’t get rid of Taylor. Coleman shoves St. Giovanni out by breaking up a springboard with Ali and Woods being thrown out a few seconds later. We’re down to Marshall, Taylor, Coleman and Gordon with QT offering to pay the others off.

We take a break less than five minutes into the show and come back with all four still going. Coleman kicks Gordon in the face but gets cut off with a springboard spinning spear. Marshall hits Taylor by mistake and that’s it for QT. Gordon has to springboard back in from the apron and takes Coleman down with a clothesline. Taylor throws Coleman out and it’s Gordon and Taylor moving on at 8:55.

Rating: D. Well, it was certainly short. The problem here was they didn’t have the time or the star power to really make things work. They made it clear that these are people who have never held the title, which doesn’t exactly give you a lot of star power. Taylor and Gordon could make for a good singles match, but the battle royal wasn’t the best way to get there.

The Kingdom is sick of hearing about the Bullet Club when the Kingdom is on fire. So Cal Uncensored comes in to say they’ve been conspired against for years. An alliance is suggested and the Kingdom seems intrigued. Post break, TK O’Ryan doesn’t like the idea but Matt Taven says it’s worth it. Vinny Marseglia just wants violence against the Bullet Club.

Stacy Shadows is a good sized woman who wants to go through everyone to make history.

Tenille Dashwood is tired of being overlooked. She’s beaten Shadows before in a non-televised ROH match so this might not be the biggest surprise. I mean, the winner gets Brandi Rhodes in a match that already aired on the PPV pre-show so it’s kind of spoiled in advance.

Women of Honor Title Tournament First Round: Stacy Shadows vs. Tenille Dashwood

Dashwood is better known as Emma and Deonna Purrazzo is on commentary. The much bigger Shadows blocks an armdrag attempt and drives Dashwood into the corner. Some kicks to Stacy’s legs set up a hurricanrana into a Russian legsweep for one. The running corner crossbody is shrugged off and Shadows scores with a spinebuster as we take a break.

Back with Stacy still in control and the announcers taking about the dangers of Dashwood’s Spotlight kick. A Vader Bomb misses though and Tenille grabs the Tarantula. Dashwood gets two off a high crossbody and the Spotlight Kick (a running kick to the side of the head) is good for the pin on Shadows at 8:41.

Rating: D+. Shadows was every bigger woman you’ll see and there was no reason to believe that Dashwood was losing here. This is a good example of a match that would have been better suited in a shorter form as it came off like they were stretching things out for the sake of stretching things out.

The Bullet Club is in the back and Cody seems worried about the Kingdom and So Cal Uncensored teaming up. Cody is tired of being told that he’s the bad guy and the team isn’t going anywhere. Can we just name this the Bullet Club Hour already?

Beer City Bruiser/Brian Milonas vs. Ryan Nova/Eli Isom

I think you get the idea here. Bruiser forearms Nova down to start and Nova’s kick to the ribs has as much effect as you would expect. A crossbody crushes Nova (Colt: “IS HE STILL ALIVE???”) and Milonas does his reverse splash. Nova gets crushed between the two big guys and it’s actually off to Isom to keep things going. That means a hard right hand to knock him silly, followed by a superplex into a frog splash to give Bruiser the pin at 3:48.

Rating: D. They’re certainly hammering you over the head with the idea behind Milonas and Bruiser, but that makes sense in this case as it’s not like they have anything else to do. Bruiser is at least decent but Milonas….my goodness no. This was a long squash but at least they got the idea down.

Shane Taylor vs. Flip Gordon

Bully Ray is on commentary and the winner gets a future TV Title shot. Gordon strikes away at the monster and the chops actually have an effect. A superkick does a bit more damage but Taylor pulls Gordon HARD out of the air with a spinebuster for two. Taylor goes with the heavy forearms to rock Gordon even more as the pace slows quite a bit. One heck of a legdrop gets two and we take a break.

Back with Taylor blasting him in the face for two more with Bully being stunned on the kickout. He’s so stunned that we cut to the announcers for a chat about Supercard of Honor. Taylor even hits a Bubba Bomb and Bully is now full on behind Flip. An enziguri rocks Taylor and there’s a second to stagger him…..until a hard clothesline takes Flip’s head off for two. The middle rope splash misses though and the Star Spangled Stunner into the 450 gives Flip the pin at 9:31.

Rating: C+. This was another story that didn’t need much laying out, though I’m not sure how smart it is to do very similar matches three times in a row. Gordon has some good charisma and all of the flipping does him some serious favors. If that’s how he keeps going, he’s going to be fine for a long time to come.

Post match Scorpio Sky runs in for the beatdown on Gordon but the Young Bucks make the save. They seem to be interested in Gordon but he doesn’t quite know what to do.

Cody wants to know where the rest of the Club is but he can do this himself because he knows all of their parts. Bullet Club is fine as they head into a ten man tag, presumably next week.

Overall Rating: C-. For a standalone episode, I’m not sure how well this one worked. Setting up a future TV Title shot is a good idea but having a first round match after the winner already had her quarterfinal match? Really? Other than that, having three big vs. little matches in a row felt like a really weak presentation, but maybe it was all they could put together. Not a bad show, but the Bullet Club stuff is getting old.

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