McXal's Reviews

I won’t pretend that I was a huge fan of Night One from this double shot Survival Of The Fittest weekend. The card wasn’t that bad, and the field for the SOTF tournament this year was pretty interesting. The issue was that ROH/Sinclair seemed to be on a mission to get through the whole show with as little effort as possible, meaning we got a procession of pointless, horribly rushed 5-9 minute matches which were forgotten almost as soon as they ended. The final quarter of 2016 has, thus far, been a really uninspiring watch, however – once again the card for this line-up looks like it could halt that trend. Obviously the SOTF final is one to look forward to, and already this feels like the most unpredictable instalment of the tournament ever. With two debutants (Jax Dane and CMLL’s The Panther), plus two men with barely a year of ROH combat experience between them (Lio Rush and Punishment Martinez) joining Dalton Castle and TV Champion Bobby Fish it is tough to pick a winner. There are some real stand-out matches on the undercard too, like ROH originals Christopher Daniels and Jay Briscoe locking horns, frustrated rising stars Hangman Page and Donovan Dijak looking to step on each other on their rise to the top, plus the No Rules slug-out between War Machine and the Pretty Boy Killers. Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino provide commentary from San Antonio, TX.

The artists formerly known as The Cabinet come out without music. Kenny King has a microphone in hand and tries his absolute hardest to bring some retrospective logic to the way they abandoned their previous gimmick…and tell everyone that they are leading a ‘Rebellion’ against the ‘way things are’. Tonight they defend ROH turf against the Tempura Boyz and CMLL’s Misterioso Jr. Caprice Coleman ends the introductory segment by ranting like an idiot, calling Misterioso ‘Mysterio’ and trying to get the ‘jive turkey’ being wildly offensive gimmick over some more. Then the ring announcer puts a cherry on top by calling Sho and Yoh the ‘Yakamura Boyz’. I have no words…

Sho and Yoh yakamura the sh*t out of Caprice in the first minute, beating him down with a flurry of double teams and scoring a nearfall. ANX quickly shut that down by attacking Komatsu on the floor then feed him back in the ring to Coleman who unleashes a series of eye rakes. The trio now known as The Rebellion have started develop genuine chemistry working these six man tag bouts. They have a few nice triple team flurries plus a real dynamic with Caprice as the antagonist, Titus as the muscle and Kenny as the top dog. Misterioso gets the tag, rumbling and tumbling through some rather shambolic and horrendously executed generic lucha stuff. He literally almost kills King right afterwards; almost dropping him on his head from an attempted powerbomb. Sky Splitter on Sho for 2! Yoh saves with a Superkick on Kenny…only for Caprice to give him the Mind Trip. Ligerbomb from Misterioso! Tanaka gives Rhett a German, and then gets roundhouse kicked off the top by Kenny! Big Dawg Splash/guillotine leg drop combo from Titus and Coleman is enough to pin Sho at 07:59

Rating - * -This wasn’t good at all, but I didn’t want to drop all the way to a DUD rating because I do think that when you strip all the awful character and gimmick work away King, Titus and Caprice have chemistry as a group. Their blossoming skill as a trios act was really the only redeeming feature of this. The Tempura Boyz are still treated like such a joke that ROH can’t even make sure their stand-in ring announcer gets their names right. Misterioso Jr. was embarrassingly bad in this. And worst of all, their ‘voice of Ring Of Honor’, veteran of the business, Kevin Kelly was sh*tting all over every botch too. Skip straight past this match, there really is very little to see here.

2016 has seen Silas Young do some great things in ROH. His impeccable delivery of his ‘Last Real Man’ character means he consistently remains one of the most over genuine heels on the roster. He has delivered great grudge matches against ACH and Dalton Castle. Against all the odds he and Beer City Bruiser have gotten over as a legitimately entertaining hoss team. And in Florida he played is part in one of ROH’s best matches of 2016 when he challenged (unsuccessfully) for the Ring Of Honor Title. Unfortunately for him, he works in a company with absolutely no long-term vision and no ability to manage or promote it’s midcard talent properly…so despite a great 2016 he’s coming to the end of it almost exactly where he started. He is at least on the Final Battle card, so could use a win as he prepares to face New Japan’s Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger. This is a rematch from the last time we were in this building, back during the Conquest Tour, when Mark beat Silas…

Silas voices his disapproval for Mark’s conduct, his ring entrance and his supporters in the crowd…and is emphatically deposited to the floor for his troubles. Briscoe stays on him with a somersault pescado before dropkicking a trash can into his face on the floor. ‘I need to renegotiate my deal, I don’t want to go anywhere where it’s cold this winter’ – Steve Corino making thinly veiled references to his forthcoming change of employer. He and Kevin aren’t missing any action as they make each other cackle with their goofy insider jokes because Mark is taking the lead with the pseudo-comedy stuff that people have seen a hundred times. Young doesn’t like it one bit and tries his best to choke him into unconsciousness in the ropes. And as Mark struggles to catch his breath from that, Silas slingshot double stomps his chest as well. Briscoe can’t be bothered to sell it of course and instead opts to start hopping around with Redneck Kung Fu stuff. Killer Combo by Young, once again trying to take the wind out of Mark’s lungs. Rolling DVD by Briscoe, settling up the Froggy Bow…except Silas moves and gives him MISERY! Huge win for Silas at 08:54

Rating - ** - More ghastly commentary from the Corino/Kelly duo, an autopilot, minimal effort showing from Mark Briscoe, all saved by excellence from Silas Young. Everything about Silas was good tonight, and this match would’ve been SO much better if Briscoe had put over his offence even a little bit. To everyone’s credit, however, at least Silas got booked to win this. The Briscoe brothers are heavily protected, company loyal, Day One veterans and wins over either brother are at a premium. Giving a precious singles win to Silas helps him to rebuild after the Florida title loss…

As I covered during my Night 1 review, somewhere between the Baltimore TV taping and this weekend Dijak appears to have parted company with Prince Nana. I can’t believe that there isn’t footage somewhere, but I haven’t found it (admittedly I didn’t look particularly hard). He and Hangman are at a career cross-roads, as they’ve been spinning their wheels as talented midcard acts that never go anywhere for a long time. A win here could not be more important…

The pops and ovations Page gets in every town just through his association with Bullet Club is remarkable, and tells you all you need to know about why he joined up with the group even if it was to take a role that was, at best, a sideways step for him artistically. Dijak quickly wipes the smile off his face by tossing him around effortlessly. Hangman resorts to running away…and even then gets dragged back in for a standing corkscrew senton. The dismissive toss powerslam, then the Trust Fall splash both score as Dijak’s dominant start continues. Page rakes the face to escape Feast Your Eyes…and scurries out of the ring where he does a does a number on Donovan’s legs against the guardrails. I like that, upon returning to the ring, Page lifts the signature hold of another high profile former ROH country boy in the form of James Gibson’s Trailer Hitch. It leaves Dijak limping heavily – with the commentators smartly drawing parallels between this and his unsuccessfully TV Title challenge against Bobby Fish. The big man gets desperate and MISSES a moonsault which once again splatters his bad wheel into the mat. Time To Fly nailed…but even as he executes it Dijak’s leg gives way underneath him. Spike DDT blocked into the Death Valley Bomb for 2. But the leg buckles again as he tries to set up Feast Your Eyes. CHOKESLAM BACKBREAKER OFF THE TOP! He is killing his own knee to get the win…except Hangman is able to grab the ropes. Martini Killer misses….Chokeslam Backbreaker COUNTERED to a half crab! Once again the battle spills outside, where Dijak catches Hangman jumping off the guardrails. Chokeslam on the apron COUNTERED TO THE SHOOTING STAR TACKLE TO THE FLOOR! Buckshot Lariat gets 2. Page gets cocky and starts slapping the wounded big man…but backs it up by countering the Martini Killer into a superkick! Rite Of Passage blocked! Feast Your Eyes countered! BUCKSHOT LARIAT COUNTERED! FEAST YOUR EYES BLOCKED WITH A SUPERKICK TO THE KNEE! RITE OF PASSAGE! Page wins at 12:07

Rating - **** - Is it a surprise that Ring Of Honor could only find twelve minutes for this? Not in the slightest. And is it a surprise that these two insanely talented individuals, who continue to shine despite chronic mismanagement and poor booking, smashed it anyway? You bet your ass it isn’t. This was a fantastic sprint of match, emphasising the strengths of both men well, and building to a phenomenal closing sequence which was as good as any other finish ROH has done this year. Both of these two are massively under-rated, and the fact that they’d both eventually walk away from Ring Of Honor having never been ROH Champion is almost criminal…

The Motor City Machine Guns chase Bullet Club’s Hangman Page to the back and grab a microphone to put Dijak over. They are still actively recruiting for like-minded individuals of exceptional talent to join them in their fight against the ‘numbers game’ in ROH. They name drop Dijak, Lio Rush, Jay White and Jonathan Gresham as potential candidates…

In the past these two have been on the same page in wars against Bullet Club. However, where the Machine Guns have stayed positive and sought out others to help them in that fight, Cabana has taken a different route. He has grown frustrated at others preventing him from being a success and achieving his dream of being ROH Champion. It led to him attacking Dalton Castle, and he now strikes out on his own in search of wins and championship glory.

Colt is in his usual jovial mood and playfully suggests that Shelley should ditch Sabin just like he dumped Castle. That begins an extremely enjoyable opening minute of wrestling which sees Sabin surprise a few people by going hold-for-hold with Colt. Kelly and Corino put it over by talking about Adam Cole nailing Steve Corino’s wife. They go full World Of Sport in the early going and the Detroit native doesn’t look out of place at all…meaning in the end Cabana has to ball up his fist and punch him out. He starts cheating; hitting Chris with unseen closed fists and attacking him on the outside because his usual weapon of choice – the freaky European style – has been made redundant by Sabin’s skills. Sabin dodges Cabana’s top rope fake-out splash (which Cabana fantastically sells as the most annoying thing anyone has ever done to him in a wrestling ring)…then the Machine Gun quickens the pace and kicks Colt from multiple directions. Missile dropkick rocks Cabana backwards…but Colt hits back with a jumping ass attack for 2. Flying Asshole misses, allowing Sabin to land a tornado DDT. Cradle Shock blocked with thumbs in Sabin’s eyes! In a panic Sabin tries to give referee Paul Turner the move, allowing the jerk Cabana to knee him in the balls (just like he did to Dalton) then finish it with the Billy Goat’s Curse on Sabin’s bad knee. Sabin taps at 09:31

Rating - *** - This won’t win any MOTY awards, but it may well have been the most unexpectedly enjoyable match of the entire weekend. I do enjoy Colt Cabana’s smiling jerk comedy heel routine I will admit, but it was Sabin’s performance which amazed me here. There have been points during this ROH run that he has seemed well past his best. His movement has been slow, his execution has been sloppy and the golden years of the mid-00’s in TNA before injuries slowed him down seemed well behind him. But every so often he does something like this. The attack, pace and fluency of his mat wrestling with Cabana was remarkable. It led to a brilliant story of Colt not being able to wrestle circles round his opponents as usual, forcing him to cheat instead. I had been expecting a total non-event here, but this was a very fun little match.

The lights in the arena darken, leading to Kenny King, Rhett Titus and Caprice Coleman running out and attacking the Machine Guns. Donovan Dijak makes the save despite his bad leg, leading to a six man brawl. The Rebellion use duck tape to tie their foes to the ropes and taunt them using more incoherent nonsense. I think the idea was that MCMG and Dijak should join their cause? 

This is the match we’ve been building to since Road To Best In The World when the Pretty Boy Killers set out to make a name for themselves at the expense of War Machine, costing them a Tag Title match against The Addiction. Subsequently we learned that Ray Rowe and Shane Taylor go back a long time, and that Taylor felt abandoned by Rowe when he turned his back and formed a new team with Hanson to earn his spot in Ring Of Honor. Lee and Taylor are still far from regulars on the roster, but when they are booked these four enormous men have brawled, attacked each other in locker rooms and traded victories. It was almost going to take something substantial to end it – and we’ll see that tonight as rules go out the window and they settle things in as violent a manner as they see fit.

War Machine have full war paint applied tonight, and are greeted in the aisle during their entrance by the ominous presence of the PBK. Keith Lee’s knowing ‘sh*t is going to go down’ smile is perhaps the scariest facial expression of them all…and with the ringing of the bell fists start flying and the brawl explodes into life. War Machine stack their opponents against the guardrails for Sledgehammer strikes, then Rowe is the first to bring weaponry into play by whacking Taylor with a garbage can. DOUBLE POWERBOMB THROUGH THE TIMEKEEPERS TABLE destroys Lee! The match is three minutes old! Hanson follows it with a Bronco Buster against the guardrails to wipe Shane out again. With Lee incapacitated it leaves Taylor on his own taking a violent beating from Hanson and, in particular, his old friend Ray Rowe. Taylor is a big dude too so he quickly looks completely spent – eventually collapsing on the floor giving his opponents the time to set up another table at ringside. Taylor is such dead weight that War Machine can’t actually get him up to throw him through the second table and before they know it Big Keith is back to even the score. RUNNING ELBOW SENDS HANSON OFF THE APRON THROUGH THE TABLE! Double chokeslam from the PBK to Rowe gets 2. The tables are now turned as, with Hanson out cold on the floor, Taylor is able to lead his team in a vicious beat-down on his hated enemy Rowe. Cement Mixer out of nowhere on Lee! POP-UP SUPERMAN PUNCH off Lee’s back onto Taylor! But then Shane counters Rowe’s judo throw knee strike to deliver a knock-out punch to the jaw. Hanson comes to the rescue with the Cartwheel Lariat, but still limps badly after going through the table earlier. Keith wants to superplex Hanson….but as he does so Ray powerbombs him simultaneously, leaving everyone in a heap on the canvas. Shotgun Knee/Bronco Buster combo on Taylor! Hanson to the top rope…HANSON-SAULT CRUSHES LEE! WHO KICKS OUT AT 2! FALLOUT NAILED! TAYLOR BREAKS THE FALL and brains Rowe against the guardrail again. Hanson is pissed off at that and starts hunting under the ring for more tables. He takes too long though, allowing Keith to recover and hit Ground Zero on him. To the top goes Hanson again, coiled to unleash the SOMERSAULT SENTON TO THE FLOOR! The brawl continues, storming through commentary and thankfully taking Kevin Kelly off the air for a few moments. ELBOW SUICIDA BY HANSON…F*CKING DESTROYS KEVIN KELLY! YES! F*CKING YES! HOLY SH*T! Kelly is toast! EXPLODER THROUGH A TABLE FROM ROWE TO TAYLOR! Ray screams and Taylor…and Shane appears to beg for mercy and offer a handshake. Before Rowe can accept Taylor blasts him with a headbutt, propelling him towards Keith for a SPIRIT BOMB THROUGH A TABLE! Lee pins Rowe at 20:58

Rating - **** - I’d heard good things about this match, but after how poor some of the shows have been recently I couldn’t believe it until I’d checked it out for myself. This was fantastic, and the match we’ve been waiting to see since the feud between these four guys started back in the summer. Rowe and Taylor actually did a hell of a job, and for the first time truly sold me on their hatred/rivalry. For the first time this transcended the idea of four dudes hitting crazy moves, and truly felt like a war or battle for pride and honour. It’s sad that this is effectively the conclusion of this rivalry, when we could’ve been watching months of these four guys beating the sh*t out of each other like this for months if they’d only been booked better and been given the opportunity or match-time to do so. It is completely baffling to me that ROH didn’t write whatever number they needed to on the check to get Lee under contract. His under-stated, smiling, take no prisoners ruthlessness (along with a fearless willingness to take crazy bumps so everyone else could get over) made him the star of the match in my opinion.

INTERMISSION – Kevin Kelly has been taken to hospital, so Alex Shelley replaces him on commentary

O’Reilly is in the final stages of preparation to challenge for the World Title in New York City on pay-per-view. Last night he produced a hell of a performance to overcome the cunning veteran Chris Daniels. It was a show-stealing bout that ended with the surprising admission from The Addiction that Kyle was the better man. Tonight Kaz tries to even the score, coming for the victory that his partner failed to score over Kyle in Arlington yesterday…

Just like last night O’Reilly goes right to headlocks and submissions as he looks to control the mat. They spend minutes working that theme in front of an appreciative crowd with Kazarian persistently unable to engineer a situation whereby he can break Kyle’s dominance on the canvas. He tries to go strike-for-strike with Kyle too…then retreats to the floor when O’Reilly kicks him back twice as hard. In a repeat of what we saw with Daniels last night, luring Kyle outside works to his advantage – as he crunches O’Reilly’s dodgy shoulder into the ringpost. That is the same body part that was injured back in August, and the same one that Daniels targeted yesterday. Unlike yesterday, however, Frankie uses it as a gateway to start attacking O’Reilly’s neck. The damage he inflicts is quickly demonstrated as he is now able to start using submission holds of his own, yet again targeting the shoulder and neck of the #1 contender to the World Title. Lungblower sets up a springboard swinging DDT for 2, briefly positioning Kyle for an abdominal stretch which again targets both injuries. MMA strikes by O’Reilly, taking Kaz down so he can apply a heel hook…which Frankie instantly breaks by kicking at the shoulder. Heel hook again COUNTERED into a Sharpshooter by Frankie! Jerry Lynn rope leg drop nailed next…but when Kaz tries to follow it with his signature slingshot DDT Kyle counters with Arm-ageddon! When Kazarian escapes Kyle delivers repeated armbreakers in the ropes and a flying knee strike to the arm when his opponent leaves the ring. Slingshot cutter by Kazarian to crush the neck again. Tomikaze blocked…leading to the two of them smacking the sh*t out of each other. Axe & Smash COUNTERED with a jumping enzi to the neck! NO SOLD…so O’Reilly can kick the legs out and knee him in the face. Brainbuster wins it for O’Reilly at 15:06

Rating - *** - I didn’t think this had the pace or excitement of the O’Reilly/Daniels match yesterday, which is why I didn’t rate it quite as highly. However, this was still a really good match that I thoroughly enjoyed sitting through. The way they incorporated themes established from the Kyle's match yesterday was extremely intelligent – especially since they used it to inform the NEW story they were telling here, not simply rehashing the same material for a second night. Kyle is an extremely gifted technical wrestler and it is a major shame that ROH left it until far too late to get serious about a top tier singles push for him. This felt like just another match for him, yet he elevated Frankie to one of his best ROH singles efforts so far…

When the Era Of Honor began back in February 2002 these two both had a role to play. Daniels was in the first ever main event, setting the tone for Ring Of Honor as an organisation with a legendary triple threat that also featured future champions Low Ki and Bryan Danielson. With less fanfare, Jay Briscoe was in the first ‘official’ match the promotion ever had – losing to Amazing Red. Neither would remain unbroken on the roster ever since; Daniels of course has split his time between ROH, TNA, NJPW and numerous other promotions, however the Briscoes too took a hiatus from ROH between mid-2004 and early-2006. Daniels, a top star in this company since the first show, and a man who once recruited Jay’s own brother Mark to join his villainous ‘The Prophecy’ stable, has never held the ROH World Title. Whilst Briscoe, despite jerking the curtain on opening night, would go on to become a two-time champ. It means bragging rights, singles title contention, Tag Title contention (the Briscoes could be Tag Champions after Final Battle) are all up for grabs in this clash of the Day One veterans…

Shades of The Prophecy right away as Daniels declines to follow the Code Of Honor. Just like the previous match the opening exchanges are intensely mat-based and, unlike yesterday, Daniels enjoys an advantage over his opponent once again. Jay doesn’t let that pattern last for too long before he starts punching, kicking and choking the Ring General in the corner. Frankie steps in to distract Jay, and Daniels instantly pounces to hit the Arabian Press to the floor. Briscoe is rocked on the floor, struggling to get back to his feet as Daniels repeatedly drives his ribs into the apron, ringpost and guardrails. It means that by the time he gets back inside he is carrying a major midsection injury which Daniels is able to use to continually shut him down anytime a comeback is imminent. It means he is also able to push away when Jay attempts the Day One Neckbreaker, causing Briscoe to make a rash decision and miss an insanely stupid flying crossbody. Blue Thunder Driver crushes the ribs again for 2. Somehow Jay lands his snap DVD, but comes up gasping for air and holding his stomach. Day One Neckbreaker lands…and he can’t even muster up the energy to make a cover. Daniels stays on the ground to make it as difficult as possible for his wounded opponent to get him up – eventually countering him with the STO slam. Best Moonsault Ever misses! JAY DRILLER! Briscoe gets the big win at 14:58

Rating - *** - This was very reminiscent of the Kazarian/O’Reilly match which preceded it. The work was solid and engaging, whilst the story was relatable and easy to follow. But it lacked the pop, sizzle and genuine excitement which kicks a match to the next level. Daniels is a master at working a body part, so of course that element was on point. But I felt Briscoe’s selling of the rib injury was patchy, and given the style and pace they were working this felt like it could really have used another five minutes or so in order to build up some actual tension. The Addiction post-Ladder War slump continues, and I am happy for it to continue if it means we get more feature-length Daniels singles bouts…

This is the final of the Survival Of The Fittest tournament. As is tradition, the winner earns a guaranteed Ring Of Honor World Title shot. Former World Champions Bryan Danielson, Roderick Strong, Tyler Black, Eddie Edwards, Michael Elgin, Jay Lethal as well as current champ Adam Cole all have an SOTF tournament victory on their resume, so despite going more than a decade this remains a prestigious and high stakes part of the ROH calendar. Panther, Dane and Martinez are all total wildcards – particularly CMLL luchador Panther and former NWA Heavyweight Champion Dane who are both making only their second appearance. As TV Champion, Bobby Fish arguably has the most to lose (a pin on him would theoretically nab the beneficiary a future title shot), but his veteran status and lengthy track record of success puts him amongst the favourites. Kevin Kelly’s prediction to win was Lio Rush – with smart logic that not only has he already won the Top Prospect Tournament this year, but he is also a multi-time Shane Shamrock Cup winner. The Shamrock Cup was actually the tournament SOTF was set up to emulate way back in 2004 (when ROH was supposed to host the Cup, only for the Feinstein scandal to cause their Baltimore promoter to pull it and stop them using the license to run in Maryland at all). Lio celebrates his Shamrock Cup success with facepaint…which looks less intimidating than a little kid rocking leprechaun facepaints to a birthday party but I appreciate the effort nonetheless. This is the most wide open SOTF final in a LONG time…

Colt Cabana attacks Castle from behind during his entrance, throwing the Party Peacock off his game before he even makes it to the ring. Rush and Panther start, and the young ROH star struggles to get a grip on Panther’s classical luchador style. The way they keep getting quicker and quicker as the minutes tick by is very enjoyable to watch. Friends and former TV Title rivals Fish and Castle tag in next to reprise their Best In The World encounter. Rather than wrestle they take a more jovial approach; running comedic skits and trying to one-up each other in that context instead. In the end Dane gets bored of them being clowns and stomps in looking for a fight. He decks both of them before standing in the middle of the ring waiting for Martinez to join him for a bruiserweight brawl. It isn’t long before they start beating the sh*t out of each other – brilliantly put over by Rush and Panther who hop down from their respective corners to make sure they don’t have to tag in and stop the violence. Jax catches Martinez looking for a Stinger Splash and legit dumps him with a belly to belly suplex. Lio slides in looking for a fight with ‘Godzilla’…and actually dropkicks him out of the ring. Fish tosses Panther into a tope suicida onto a pile of guys! BELLY TO BELLY OVER THE TOP ROPE from Dalton to Fish! SPRINGBOARD CORKSCREW SENTON INTO THE CROWD by Rush! He tries another dive too…but is caught by Punishment for a LAST RIDE INTO THE APRON! Castle sensibly ducks out to leave Dane and Martinez battering lumps out of each other again. He is happier to mix it up with Panther…who quickly floors him with an Asai Moonsault. Everest German COUNTERED into a roll-up pin by the luchador for 2. Springboard lucha dive by Panther…but that’s instantly countered back into Bang-A-Rang. Castle eliminates The Panther at 12:36. Everyone tries to gang up on Dalton…who goes full Taz and starts suplexing them all! EVEREST GERMAN ON DANE! 

Cabana is back out to piss Dalton off some more…by ripping up his entrance cape! SOUTH OF HEAVEN! Martinez profits, eliminating Castle at 14:22. RUNNING SUICIDE DIVE OVER THE TURNBUCKLES BY PUNISHER! He retrieves Bobby…only to find the TV Champion fully equipped to work a man of his size as Fish savages his legs. He also throws Lio Rush at him with an exploder suplex! Hangman Page is out! He launches Fish head-first into the ringpost! Inside the ring Jax walks into SOUTH OF HEAVEN! DRAGON’S CALL! Incredibly it’s the much-smaller Lio Rush who eliminates Dane at 17:53. With Fish temporarily incapacitated it leaves Rush and Martinez alone in the ring together to re-run their phenomenal Top Prospect Tournament semi-final! They go full Red/Low Ki on a near-miss strike battle with Lio’s evasiveness meaning Punishment can barely lay a glove on him. They battle up the ropes…culminating in Rush hitting Dragon’s Call! NO SOLD! SOUTH OF HEAVEN…COUNTERED TO A PIN! IT’S THREE! Rush eliminates a second monster; Martinez is gone at 20:07 – giving us a final two of Bobby Fish and Lio Rush, both of whom have taken heavy punishment thus far in the contest. Martinez freaks out and obliterates Rush with a South Of Heaven, followed by a high angle Curb Stomp…before weirdly taking a seat right in front of Steve Corino. Neither Fish nor Rush are particularly equipped to continue fighting…but fight they do – trading weak strikes as the crowd roars them on. Lio tosses Bobby out of the ring, into position for a FLYING SOMERSAULT PLANCHA! Dragon’s Call misses…NECK DROP RUSH HOUR INSTEAD! FISH KICKS OUT AND COUNTERS TO A CHOKE! Lio refuses to quit, so Fish f*cking MAULS him with knee strikes and kicks. He attacks the ribs and back which were injured when Martinez powerbombed him into the side of the ring, until Lio quickens the pace and drops him on the injured neck again with a satellite DDT. SLAP TO THE FACE! Bobby looks at him like ‘what the f*ck did you just do kid’…and takes his head off with an elbow. Leg kicks by Bobby, putting Rush in position for the Falcon Arrow. Lio kicks out…FISH HOOK DELUXE! Neatly applied with a twisted body position to attack the midsection too. Rush taps, making Fish the 2016 SOTF winner at 29:57

Rating - **** - I can’t hype this one as one of the greatest SOTF final matches I’ve seen because it wasn’t, but it was far from the worst. I’m not the biggest fan of the six-man elimination format in general, but I’ve seen these matches really drag in the past. You could level plenty of criticisms at this match, but the one thing it didn’t do was drag or feel tedious. Despite running almost thirty minutes, it was full throttle for the majority of the contest, with everyone (possibly except Panther) getting a chance to shine and do something meaningful. The amount of outside interference was excessive, but in the case of Colt Cabana I could at least see the point. His angle with Dalton Castle has been one of the few interesting things about ROH’s product following All Star Extravaganza, so this felt like a neat way to get some last minute heat on their Final Battle showdown. Martinez and Lio were probably the stars of the match – it almost felt like it was designed to promote them. Sending Lio to the final two was a tremendous little story as he survived a luchador, some incredible beatings from the two big men before finally doing all he could to defy an intense beating from the reigning TV Champion before succumbing to defeat. I really liked the climactic moments as Rush frantically tried to attack the neck Bobby had injured in his exchange with Adam Page…but just didn’t have the skill or gas left in the tank to do it. Fish put him over hard too, morphing from the jovial, hand-shaking comedy guy at the start of the match to a KILLER in the final moments – kneeing, elbowing and kicking the youngster for all he was worth. I’m convinced the plan here was to build to Fish/O’Reilly for the World Title in 2017 (maybe Supercard weekend)...until Kyle derailed that idea.

Tape Rating - **** - It has been a bleak couple of months for Ring Of Honor. Inconsistent it may have been, but up to All Star Extravaganza I was ready to call ROH’s 2016 the best year the promotion has had in a long time. But the rails have fallen off since that PPV, and the product has become a real slog to get through. Thankfully this show bucked that trend, standing out as one of the best live event/VOD-exclusive shows of the entire year. After the crap first half an hour, this is a really great night of wrestling. The SOTF final can usually be counted on for some fun wrestling and drama, and the 2016 instalment didn’t disappoint in that regard. But beneath that there was some shockingly good stuff. War Machine vs Pretty Boy Killers was an incredible brawl and the undoubted highlight of the night. Dijak and Page absolutely killed it in their all-action sprint on the undercard. Daniels/Briscoe, Kazarian/O’Reilly, Cabana/Sabin…they were all very decent bouts too. There is a LOT of ROH content between All Star Extravaganza 8 and Final Battle 2016 which you can skip. This show isn’t included in that and is definitely worth checking out…

3) Adam Page vs Donovan Dijak (****)

2) Bobby Fish vs Lio Rush vs Punishment Martinez vs Jax Dane vs Dalton Castle vs The Panther (****)

1) Keith Lee/Shane Taylor vs War Machine (****)

5) Kyle O’Reilly vs Frankie Kazarian (*** - Night 2)

4) Adam Page vs Donovan Dijak (**** - Night 2)

3) Bobby Fish vs Lio Rush vs Punishment Martinez vs Jax Dane vs Dalton Castle vs The Panther (**** - Night 2)

2) Kyle O’Reilly vs Christopher Daniels (**** - Night 1)

1) Keith Lee/Shane Taylor vs War Machine (**** - Night 2)