McXal's Reviews

We're back for another Honor Club VOD event, taking place a month after Best In The World and filling a gap between that PPV and ROH's next tour of the UK for Honor Re-United and Death Before Dishonor 16 (plus All In). The show received mixed reviews at the time and was reportedly littered with streaming issues. Given ROH's recent track record of just dumping the VOD feed onto DVD without taking any time to repair glitches I'm a little concerned heading into this review. Two titles will be on the line this evening - firstly with Punishment Martinez defending the TV Title against Scorpio Sky, then Flip Gordon trying to force his way onto All In by taking the NWA Heavyweight Championship (which Cody challenges for at All In) from Nick Aldis tonight. There are big chances for The Kingdom to shine as Cody faces TK O'Ryan and Marty Scurll faces Vinny Marseglia in singles action, in Women Of Honor competition we'll see Karen Q enter the Proving Ground with WOH Champion Sumie Sakai and our main event sees a triple threat non-title tag bout between veteran teams the Young Bucks, The Addiction and the Briscoes. Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana are in Nashville, TN. 

In a pre-match interview Sky vows that he isn't afraid of Punishment Martinez, since he can't do anything that Scorpio hasn't already experienced in his lengthy career. Having survived the violent challenge of Hangman Page at Best In The World, Punisher is now ready to defend against all comers. That starts with Scorpio this evening; a challenger motivated by knowing that SCU are being canned by ROH at the end of the year unless they make themselves indispensable - namely by holding Ring Of Honor championships at contract renewal time.

Sky rushes Martinez from the bell, nailing him with a knee strike and battering him in the corner. Punisher dusts the entire onslaught off though and floors him with a single punch. A stomp to the chest flattens Scorpio in the corner, completely crushing the challenger's early momentum. Release falcon arrow gets 2 before Punisher starts controlling his athletic opponent with submission holds on the canvas. Scorpio fights out and double stomps the back, keenly aware that he needs to quicken the pace. RUNNING FRANKENSTEINER hurls Martinez out of the corner for 2. Punisher blocks the slingshot cutter, but is sent to the floor with a hurricanrana instead. Somersault plancha scores, knocking the champ to the ground but giving Sky a rough landing too. He hits the slingshot Ace Crusher at the second time of asking though. Psycho Driver blocked...but Sky walks right into a big lariat instead. BRAINBUSTER by the challenger! CURB STOMP ON THE APRON nailed as Martinez looks to straight-up murder Scorpio. TURNBUCKLE CURB STOMP immediately afterwards. South Of Heaven gives Martinez a successful defence at 08:32

Rating - *** - A really exciting start to the show. Scorpio's approach to the match made it feel like a really big deal - from the way he confronted Martinez before the bell, his offensive explosion as the match started then his decision to go straight for big offensive bombs to stop Punisher controlling the pace. The stakes felt high almost from the outset, the pay-off being those two brutal Curb Stomps in the closing stretch; brutal moves by the champ necessitated due to the fire and tenacity of his challenger. I can't get over how completely atrocious the visual quality on this DVD is. I had better VQ on RFVideo VHS tapes back in 2002...

The Women Of Honor Title isn't on the line this evening, but this is a Proving Ground Match meaning if Karen wins or takes it to a time limit draw she will earn a future title shot. Her first round elimination from the WOH Title Tournament was something of a surprise, but the fact that she was the first woman to score a victory over Kelly Klein says everything about the talent she possesses and the threat she poses to the veteran champion tonight.

Karen takes a cheap-shot at Sumie, but that only provokes the champion to drop her with a bulldog. Missile dropkick flattens Q again for an early nearfall. Karen is wounded but hits back with a facecrusher then starts using her power and aggression to press home her advantage. That power is emphatically demonstrated when she decks Sakai with a lariat right after the champ thought she'd escaped a snug ground submission. Sumie blocks the Spring Roll...so Q cartwheels into a Buzzsaw Kick to the head instead. Mafia kick in the corner nailed, setting up a capture suplex for 2. Sakai fights desperately to evade a superplex and finally launches her entire body off the top with a flying crossbody block. Fisherman neckbreaker gets 2...but Karen scraps out of Sumie's clutches (even with Sumie grabbing handfuls of hair) and dumps her with a full nelson slam. Spring Roll locked in - but too close to the ropes. She kicks Sakai in the face to block Smash Mouth...so Sumie SLAPS HER IN THE FACE! BUCKLE BOMB by Karen! Q starts losing her temper and tries to bring a steel chair into the ring...but with a trick up her sleeve. She allows referee Paul Turner to confiscate the chair, then tosses the WOH Title belt to Sakai - trying to convince Turner that Sumie used it as a weapon and should therefore be disqualified. Paul isn't persuaded and Sumie pins Karen to win at 08:25

Rating - *** - Karen Q is one of my favourites on the WOH roster now that Deonna has left. She isn't the most popular, the most famous or the most spectacular but I really dig her tenacity and aggression. She comes off as one of the better workers in the division currently and that shone through here. Although nowhere near on the same level as the matches Sumie has just had with the Stardom girls, Sakai always steps up her game against better opponents. For the most part this felt aggressive, it felt intense and it felt like two women genuinely scrapping over a coveted prize. I didn't particularly like Karen deviating into Eddie Guerrero territory in the final few moments (particularly as she was heavily 'winning' in the match at that point) but it wasn't enough to detract from what was another thoroughly decent Women Of Honor bout.

Ian Riccaboni does a good job setting this match up as a battle between four guys who are fighting for a renewed sense of direction within their careers. Taylor is torn between progressing up the card and continuing to accept paydays as a hired gun for all comers. Gresham has been a breakout star in 2018 but is still lacking a signature high profile victory to hang his hat on. King is recovering from high profile losses against Silas Young at Supercard Of Honor then Austin Aries at Best In The World. Sabin, meanwhile, will be competing in singles action for a while since Shelley is out with serious injuries - but comes in fresh from his commendable showing in the 2018 NJPW BOSJ...

Sabin and Gresham get us started - which is significant because they are (or were) stable-mates in Search & Destroy. Sabin tries to trade holds with his friend, and of course Gresham is very up for that. They go back and forth on the canvas quite brilliantly, earning a loud ovation for the quality of their work. Former Rebellion stable-mates King and Taylor tag in, shake hands...then turn on their heels and lay out their old rivals! Kenny throws up the old Rebellion hand signal until Shane punches him in the face and lays him out with a spinebuster. Gresham blocks a chokeslam, distracting Shane for long enough to allow King to land the capoeira kick. Taylor scoops up both Sabin and Gresh for a fallaway slam/Samoan drop combo. The big man tries to nullify The Octopus with brute force. He chokes him in the ropes, he manhandles him around the ring and almost crushes him with a standing frog splash for 2. Jon tries to fight back by mounting his back with a sleeper hold...only for both Sabin and King to break that before Taylor gets close to being choked out. Flying headscissors COUNTERED into a sit-out powerbomb by Shane! Tags all round, and Sabin takes out Kenny with a PK. Chin Checker nailed in response, then he dumps Sabin on his suspect neck with a spinebuster for 2. Royal Flush blocked right before Taylor punches King's lights out. Sabin blocks Greetings From 216 but doesn't have the strength to give him the Cradle Shock. Tornado DDT instead - leaving both men down. Yakuza Kicks by Gresh! He tries to choke Taylor out again...except once again big Shane scoops up both he and Sabin! King springboards in...ONE NIGHT STAND/FALLAWAY SLAM/SAMOAN DROP COMBO! Sabin and King hoist Taylor up for a double DVD. King misses a corkscrew pescado...and Taylor PUNCHES Sabin off the apron. ROLLING CANNONBALL TO THE FLOOR by Taylor! TOPE SUICIDA INTO THE SLEEPER ON THE FLOOR BY GRESHAM! With an Octopus on his back Taylor climbs from the floor back into the ring...but then collapses! THE REF S STOPS IT! Gresham finally has his big victory; choking out Shane Taylor at 13:50

Rating - **** - Maybe if the Rebellion vs Search & Destroy feud had been allowed to produce more matches like this it would have gotten over with more fans. There was something almost old-fashioned about this one. It reminded me of the early years in ROH where undercard talents would get chucked into four corner matches and given fifteen minutes to get over on a regular basis. This whole set-up felt like four hungry talents trying to steal the show - which I really respected. Gresham is utterly brilliant. Arguably the least 'over' at the start, you could visibly see him winning the crowd over with the quality of his work throughout the bout - and by the time he hit that incredible tope suicida/sleeper hold spot at the end the place went nuts for him. He has been 'ready' for this opportunity for a long time and it was wonderful to see him get a moment like this. Gresham and Taylor were, for me, the stars of the show here - which bodes very well for ROH's future. This genuinely felt like an attempt to start creating new stars for when The Elite leave. Too little too late you may say (and would be correct to do so)...but at least we are finally seeing some effort made to start elevating deserving talents.

Up next we are scheduled to see Bully Ray take on Chuck Taylor. But Bubba gets on the microphone and says he has no problem with Chuckie. He knows Chuck isn't a disrespectful young boy - he is a veteran who has been grinding for more than a decade and even liked some of his work in PWG. Taylor rejects his kind words, makes some fat jokes about him and tells him that nobody wants him in ROH! 

That brief promo from Chuckie has to be one of ROH's best moments of 2018 so far. Whether Bully was being sincere or not it doesn't matter - Chuck has confirmed he is here representing an ROH locker room which doesn't want to be associated with the former ECW star. How will the temperamental Bully Ray react to those verbal shots at his expense from the Kentucky Gentleman?

Taylor starts hot...but can't help but goof off and give the unsuspecting Bully Ray a hug. Bubba responds by shoving Todd Sinclair into the ropes to crotch Chuck on the top rope. He then punts Chuckie in the balls, meaning he suffers yet another DQ loss at 01:18

Rating - N/A - Echoing the sentiments of every other review of this show that I've read - at least this time they kept it brief. I'd love to know how much Bully Ray is getting paid to show up, promote himself, get nobody but himself over and work these bullsh*t non-matches over and over again. 

Bubba flogs Chuck with the metal chain, provoking Colt Cabana to once again leave commentary and charge into the ring to fight him. Bully knows it is coming this time though and starts beating on Cabana with the chain as well. Another person comes down the aisle though...Trent Beretta is back! He spears Bubba causing him to leave the ring. The Best Friends hug as Colt seeks medical treatment and Bully skulks back through the curtain. Caprice Coleman replaces Cabana on commentary...

We were originally scheduled to see a World Title Match between Silas Young and Jay Lethal this evening. However, Lethal was quietly pulled from the show, reportedly whilst Sinclair undertook an investigation into allegations made against Jay Lethal by former a former ROH female talent. Instead Silas teams with his 'drinking buddies' the Bruiser and The Dawgs. They face perennial rival of The Dawgs, Cheeseburger, alongside three guys who Burger helped train in the ROH Dojo. 

Titus starts with Josie...and bunches him right in the face. FR hits back with a kick (which noticeably misses Rhett by a distance), causing Titus to tag Young in. Isom steps in with the Last Real Man and showcases some of his athleticism before Silas knocks him on his ass. Eli hits a northern lights suplex on Ferrara, leaving him on the ground so Nova can work a couple of holds. Burger wants a piece of his former partner Ferrara...who of course slides out and leaves him to Beer City Bruiser. Cheese hits a couple of springboard strikes on the big man to minimal effect. He calls in his students to help him out; it needs all four of them to successfully Irish whip Bruiser across the ring. BCB easily shakes it off and flattens Ryan with a body avalanche after Silas Young trips him from the outside. The Milwaukee boys and The Dawgs isolate Nova from his partners for a few minutes - but the kid shows real heart and finally dives out of the corner into a swinging flatliner on Silas. Burger tags and makes a beeline for The Dawgs. Titus blocks the Shotei only to eat a springboard missile dropkick from Isom instead. Frog crossbody from Eli to Bruiser! Yakuza Kick by Rhett...only for Burger to save Eli from the All Seeing Eye with a Superkick. Chris Daniels pin gets 2 for Isom! Nova tags...right into a swinging DDT. Shotei from Cheese to Bruiser and Ferrara! Killer Combo from Silas to Burger. FR tries to steal Silas' move! MISERY by Young. He powerbombs Josie into the KEG SPLASH! Bruiser pins FR to win at 12:24

Rating - ** - Beer City Bruiser is going to absolutely destroy his knees, Kobashi-style, if he keeps doing that crazy frog splash as a finish. For a late addition filler match, added to the card under less-than-ideal circumstances this was fine. Good on ROH for letting their Dojo squad have a half-decent time allowance too. Eli Isom is already a big step up from any of his partners (including Burger) as far as a hot prospect for the future. Clearly this wasn't a perfect match, had a few flaws and won't live long in the memory - but there were some inexperienced talents out there who worked hard and held everything together well.

Matt Taven is here, but not dressed to compete in his scheduled match with Marty Scurll. He has made a 'Real World Title' championship belt for himself (which he keeps in a bag and doesn't reveal) after pinning the World Champion in Fairfax, which went unseen by the referee. He decides that The Villain isn't worthy of a 'Real World Title' shot, so will be facing Vinny Marseglia instead...

Was Taven injured for this weekend? This was scheduled to be a first-time ever bout between two top contenders for the World Championship. Instead Taven joins commentary and watches as his Horror King henchman tries to put a beating on one of his rivals in the case for a shot at Jay Lethal...

Marseglia successfully breaks up Marty's attempt at making this a chain-wrestling exhibition and drops him with a few big strikes. Predictably when Scurll does make it more of a British-style encounter he is vastly superior to the Six-Man Tag Champion. He arm wrenches Vinny to the canvas with such force that he retreats under the ring to recuperate. Scurll is confused - and doesn't see Vinny pop up behind him to drive him into the guardrails then suplex him on the floor. Back in the ring Marseglia sweeps him off the ropes into a backbreaker for 2, and stomps repeatedly on the exposed, now injured, back immediately afterwards. The Horror King pops a balloon against Marty's ear, allowing him to ground the technical wrestling expert and work more submission holds aimed at the back. Scurll finally counters to a lungblower but at the cost of further injuring his own back. Superkick from the apron scores even though the back is still clearly bothering The Villain. SUPERPLEX nailed by Marty, causing him to rocket up from the canvas upon impact clutching at this injury. Marseglia acts quickly to punish it again, this time with a Russian legsweep. Elbows and lariats by Scurll; ditching his more elaborate offence and looking to escape with victory. His back is too injured to hit the Ghostbuster. BRAINBUSTER instead gets 2. Just Kidding follows that, but when he tries to set up the Finger Snap Marseglia creeps him out and hits a DIVING HEADBUTT TO THE BACK! SNAP PILEDRIVER by Scurll! Finger Snap blocked with knees to the ribs, Scurll counters The Shining...so Vinny hits a Side Effect instead. Redrum COUNTERED with knees to the neck. Russian Legsweep INTO THE CHICKENWING! Marseglia taps at 15:37

Rating - **** - By an absolute mile this is Marseglia's best singles match in ROH. Nothing else is even close. Much of the credit goes to Marty; his popularity and his willingness to sell to give credibility to Vinny's often-goofy offence made this match far more of a spectacle than you might expect. HOWEVER, Vinny definitely held his end up here. He toned down some of the more annoying elements of his Horror King character, took the match a little more seriously and came up with a great game-plan centred around Scurll's back. Stripped back and simple in structure - this really worked to get the best out of both of these interesting characters. Don't sleep on this one...

Marty doesn't get much of a chance to celebrate. Matt Taven has left commentary and jumps him from behind, driving repeated shots into his already-injured back. TK O'Ryan arrives as well to make it 3-on-1...but before they can hit Rock Star Supernova Cody charges the ring. Security has to separate everyone as Cody and Scurll continue to brawl with The Kingdom.

In Texas during State Of The Art weekend we saw TK produce the first noteworthy singles bout of his ROH career in a commendable effort against Jay Lethal. Here he faces the American Nightmare, looking to make a statement and boost his reputation with a victory over an international star. Rhodes has history with The Kingdom and in particular Taven...but could be forgiven for being distracted what with All In around the corner and Nick Aldis in the building, defending the NWA Heavyweight Title he so covets later on in the evening...

The bell rings with Rhodes and O'Ryan still swinging punches at each other. TK quickly leaves the ring after taking a big gourdbuster, and as he licks his wounds Cody calls out his wife Brandi and Burnard The Bear. TKO gives Cody a taste of his own medicine by trying to stall on the outside and avoid physical confrontations for as long as possible. He actually hides behind Brandi to prevent Cody from hitting his big dive to the floor, before countering an attempt at Cross Rhodes by shoving Cody into the ringpost. Burnard is shoved onto his ass for good measure, then TK sucks up to Conrad Thompson (who is in the front row as Cody's guest). He parodies former Kingdom member Adam Cole by taking a big run-up into a crowd fake-out rear chinlock only for Cody to escape and trap him in a Figure 4. O'Ryan has the punching power to batter his way free...and he lays Rhodes out with a Pele Kick soon after. Disaster Kick knocks him to the outside, where Brandi slaps him into an ELBOW SUICIDA by the American Nightmare. TK crotches Cody in the corner though, before pulling him back into the ring with a super powerslam for 2. He makes a few lurid comments at Brandi, who dives into the ring creating a distraction which allows O'Ryan to lay out her husband with one of the Six-Man Title belts. Cody kicks out at 2 though...and hits Cross Rhodes to win at 11:21

Rating - ** - This match fell flat with me and wound up being one of those where I check Cagematch to find out what the time was then constantly check my stopwatch to see how long until it is over. It wasn't the case that the participants weren't working hard...but nothing they produced had any emotional resonance with me. I didn't buy into TK as a heel (or any kind of threat) and his work came off as generic and unimaginative. Cody can be such a unique and intuitive performer when it comes to live audiences, but similarly it felt like he was dragged down by O'Ryan into playing a one-dimensional babyface. 

Cody joins commentary and confirms that if Flip wins the title tonight he will indeed be booked for All In. Whether you're comfortable or not with that booking being framed as perhaps more coveted by Flip than the NWA World Heavyweight Title itself depends on the esteem with which you view the NWA Title by 2018 I guess. Regardless, Gordon has chased that All In spot since the show was announced and has the opportunity to secure it here. Cody is currently scheduled to challenge Aldis at the big show in Chicago...and relations between them (which have been respectful thus far) have started to become strained, particularly after Cody failed to hold up his end of the deal by winning the ROH Championship and making it title vs title. Nevertheless, he awaits the winner of this one...

Cody is quick to point out that Flip's shoulder is heavily taped up. The opening exchanges are interesting; Aldis tries to work the mat to keep Flip grounded, but Gordon is similarly keen to pursue a grounded match because it negates the significant size and power advantage that the champion enjoys. Aldis delivers an emphatic body slam, only for Gordon to nip up and get right in his face. The champ slaps him about and stomps him into the corner, trying to put the precious Flip in his place. On commentary Cody is doing a GREAT job actually explaining why he doesn't want to book Flip by the way. Gordon keeps trying to quicken the pace but finds Nick easily able to cut him off with powerful suplexes and slams. A fallaway slam rockets Gordon across the ring and leaves him feeling his back and injured shoulder. Aldis tries to polish it off with bullying sleeper holds, then counters a Superkick into the King's Lynn Cloverleaf. Gordon thrashes around wildly to make the bottom rope. In the end it is a mistake from the champ that presents Flip with an opportunity. Aldis makes an ill-advised trip up to the top rope...where Gordon meets him with the Kinder Surprise. Springboard dropkick nailed, even if Flip struggles just as much as Aldis to get up afterwards. He doesn't have enough in the tank to hit the Samoan Pop so bounces into the springboard spear instead! Flip Crossface applied and now it is Aldis writhing in pain and reaching for the ropes. Gordon nips under a lariat into a Pele Kick! Samoan Pop nailed! MOONSAULT gets 2! 450 SPLASH GETS KNEES...and Aldis profits by giving him a piledriver. Macho Elbow nailed - giving Aldis the win at 11:55. Riccaboni, Cody and Caprice insist that Gordon had his feet on the ropes though - although the sh*tty camera work and horrible picture quality mean I couldn't see that on the DVD. Cody runs down the aisle and starts arguing with the referees to restart the match. Todd Sinclair agrees and restarts it - even though Aldis was basically back in the locker rooms. Cody actually cheers Flip on as he launches himself over the top rope into a somersault plancha. STAR SPANGLED STUNNER gets 2! Gordon looks for the 4-Nifty, but the leg (injured by the Cloverleaf earlier) gives way causing him to collapse to the canvas. ROLLING POWERBOMBS by Nick...rolled into the Cloverleaf again. Flip fights it for as long as he can but passes out from the pain. Todd calls the match; Aldis has won it this time. It's over at 14:32 (total).

Rating - *** - Matches like this demonstrate why Flip Gordon is wasting his time working a program with Bully Ray. It simply isn't needed; he is already both good enough and over enough to be far more valuable a talent to ROH than Bully. This was far from a perfect match, but Flip's individual performance was superb. Full of heart, brilliantly sympathetic selling and the kind of fiery babyface tenacity which fans readily buy into. I didn't love the restart gimmick, I didn't really enjoy Cody's weird involvement (albeit I appreciate he has All In PPV buys to shill) and it did feel odd that it seemed more like Flip was fighting for a spot on All In than one of the most historic and respected championships in all of professional wrestling. There are plenty of things you could criticise Aldis for - but he has a great look and carries the NWA Title with genuine poise. Few would deny that he has done enormous amounts to restore some credibility to the championship and even if you don't like his work; the way he carries himself like a champion gave this a genuine big match feel.

Both Cody and Aldis help Flip to his feet and congratulate him on his performance this evening. Cody raises his arm to the crowd and leaves so he can take a standing ovation. That ovation is interrupted by Bully Ray, running down the aisle and hammering Flip in the balls (then creepily not moving his hand out of Gordon's crotch for a LONG time). 

This is quite a triple threat to headline the show. It is the current ROH Tag Champions facing two sets of former champions. The Bucks will still be smarting following their loss to Jay and Mark at Best In The World but currently hold the IWGP Tag Championship (belts the Briscoes have held in the past). What this match represents is an opportunity. For Daniels, Kazarian and the Bucks a win over the Briscoes puts them at the front of the queue for an ROH Tag Title shot. But a win over the Young Bucks puts you squarely on NJPW's radar too. The chemistry between these three veteran teams should be very interesting to watch tonight. Remember at Best In The World the Briscoes wanted to administer a post-match beatdown on the Bucks...but were prevented by SCU (whom everyone had assumed had come to help, given their own acrimonious history with the Bucks and Bullet Club)...

Mark and Daniels start, instantly hitting a fierce pace and dropping bombs on each other. Kazarian joins his partner for a couple of double teams...so Mark tags out to Nick Jackson and leaves! Kaz hits a brilliant legsweep to block a Superkick as they fight to a stalemate and then both get blind-sided by the Briscoes before they can receive the applause. The Jacksons hit a couple of double teams on Daniels but are forcibly tagged out by Jay before they can please the crowd by hitting some Superkicks. Kaz meets Jay with a lungblower, then northern lights suplexes him for 2 with Mark pinned underneath them as well. But the numbers don't lie and he can't fight off both Tag Champions at once for too long. They overwhelm him and drag him right back into their corner for a prolonged attack. Frankie escapes and makes a desperate tag to the Young Bucks - with Nick grounding both of them with a flying crossbody and dropkick combo. Stereo Sharpshooters, with The Addiction poised to break those holds before anyone submits. SUPERKICKS to the Briscoes! Mark blocks the Indytaker by urinage suplexing one Jackson brother into the other! Running STO on him by Daniels though. ANGEL'S WINGS! Nick Superkicks Daniels into a Sharpshooter - but doesn't spot him draping an arm over the fallen Mark Briscoe and almost winning the match behind his back! Powerbomb/neckbreaker from The Addiction to Jay. Slingshot rana TO THE FLOOR from Kazarian to Matt! SUPERKICK ON THE FLOOR by Nick! BEST MOONSAULT EVER! SUPERKICK TO BREAK THE PIN! Daniels and Jay, the Era Of Honor Begins veterans, start teeing off on each other with big right hands...until Jay drops his fellow ROH original with a DVD. He scoops Daniels onto his shoulders. SPRINGBOARD DOOMSDAY DEVICE BY JAY AND NICK! JAY DRILLER! FROGGY BOW! But Matt throws Kaz and Jay on top of Mark to break the pin. Nick misses a moonsault off the apron. BLOCKBUSTER TO THE FLOOR by Mark! SOMERSAULT PLANCHA BY JAY! ROPE RUN CORKSCREW MOONSAULT BY NICK! MELTZER DRIVER! Bucks beat Mark to win at 14:37

Rating - **** - Every bit as fun as you might expect given the calibre of the three teams involved. It wasn't particularly cerebral but was incredibly enjoyable to watch these six extremely savvy and experienced workers riff off each other. These guys have worked each other in various combinations, across multiple promotions, for years and years so with that body of work and experience behind them this felt slick and almost effortless. The Briscoes were great as thuggish brawlers, The Addiction were devious and cunning, whilst the Bucks were spectacular daredevils. They touched some great beats; like the little slug-out between Daniels and Jay, or Nick stealing Mark's spot in the Doomsday Device, but almost nothing about this one will take you by surprise. Yet still it came off as a thrilling main event. I can't speak highly enough for how good everyone in this match is to produce something of this quality even on a low-key VOD show...

Tape Rating - *** - This show doesn't have the greatest of reviews, and some of these VOD shows since Honor Club launched have been really rough to sit through. So I'm pleased to say that I was really pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable this one was. It is an uneven watch, it isn't worth going out of your way to see if you aren't a completist - and if you're a physical media guy like me the quality of this DVD release is atrocious. But the show is a breezy three hours. No match goes long, but similarly most things get time and I didn't come out feeling like there were any bouts I was really desperate to see get longer. Martinez/Scorpio was a great opener, the four corner survival came out of nowhere to steal the show, and the second half (although uneven) gave us Vinny Marseglia's finest hour in a great match against Marty Scurll and a couple of decent main events in Aldis/Flip and Briscoes/Bucks/Addiction. If you have the time and are so inclined, use your Honor Club membership to cherry pick the best matches from this show. It is a little under-rated in my opinion...

3) Marty Scurll vs Vinny Marseglia (****)

2) Young Bucks vs Jay Briscoe/Mark Briscoe vs The Addiction (****)

1) Jonathan Gresham vs Shane Taylor vs Kenny King vs Chris Sabin (****)