McXal's Reviews

The final night of the 2019 War Of The Worlds Tour is actually a television taping, so didn't air live on Honor Club VOD (excluding the main event). To ROH and Sinclair's credit, they have included the TV taping on DVD as part of the four-disc WOTW 2019 box set for which - as a collector of physical media - obviously I am grateful. That said, it is disappointing that once again this DVD consists of nothing more than the TV-edits four episodes taped, rather than unedited matches. Highlights from the taping include Kenny King returning from 'blindness' to face Jay Lethal in the first match of a Best Of Three series, 'Cowboy' James Storm making his ROH debut to challenge Colt Cabana for the NWA National Title, EVIL & SANADA facing Kojima and Nagata in an all-NJPW clash and a main event (which aired as a special on Honor Club, rather than on TV) which sees the Guerrillas Of Destiny defend the ROH Tag Titles against the Briscoes in a real grudge match. We are in Chicago, IL; Ian Riccaboni provides commentary, joined at various points by the likes of Colt Cabana, Nick Aldis and Matt Taven.

This was taped for NWA's YouTube, and sees Kay make her first defence of the NWA Women's Title which she won at the Crockett Cup 2019 - defeating Santana Garrett to take the championship recently vacated by Jazz. She has made a couple of fleeting, forgettable appearances in ROH before but her priority is obviously with the NWA at this point in time. Belle is an extremely experienced competitor in her own right; notching up time in SHIMMER, WSU, AIW, SHINE and an extended run in Impact too. Belle also speaks passionately about wanting to represent Dominican women as a World Champion. She has plenty of history with Allysin, so the champ knows she has her work cut out for her. Riccaboni and Nick Aldis are on commentary for this one.

Kay declines to follow the Code Of Honor and instead drags Marti into the corner and mauls her with body shots. Belle hits back with a neckbreaker...so Allysin hides in the corner, luring her in until she is able to suckerpunch her with another big strike. The champion pursues Marti around the ring, drilling her with emphatic chops in the corner. Belle does her best to throw strikes back in AK's direction but simply doesn't have the firepower to threaten the champion it seems. She tries to switch strategy and build up some speed...so Kay mafia kicks her to the ground before mounting her for more strikes. Still Marti throws shots back in Allysin's direction, then plunges off the top with a scrappy crossbody block for 2. Hells Bells blocked with a roundhouse kick by Kay though. POUNCE by the champion! Roaring Elbow by Kay, giving her the win at 05:30

Rating - *** - A generous rating, but even in five minutes the quality here felt like a step-up from what we've been seeing in Women Of Honor in 2019 from anyone not named Mayu Iwatani. The told a short and simple story, with Kay trying to make a statement in her first title defence by pummelling her experienced opponent into oblivion. Aldis on commentary, himself a long-time NWA Champion, was excellent in providing context to how important a first championship defence is. Marti fought gamely and continually tried things to unsettle Allysin's momentum...but constantly found herself blasted back to the ground with big strikes. I enjoyed this...

Last week on TV, Gordon failed to defeat Matt Taven for the World Championship and is now in a rebuilding phase. He is preparing to head to Japan for the Best Of Super Juniors, but before that is currently 2-0 on the War Of The Worlds 2019 Tour following wins over Bandido and Rhett Titus. 

Fredericks is a big guy and marches straight at Flip, grappling him to the canvas here he stands no chance of using his speed or agility. We follow the familiar NJPW LA Dojo kid match formula with the Young Lion surprising and unsettling the more established star early with their formidable ability on the mat. Flip knocks him out of the ring and scores with a tope suicida as we head into commercials. Upon returning we see Gordon landing a Pele Kick...only for Karl to block the Star Spangled Stunner with a mid-air spinebuster. He unloads a flurry of strikes in Flip's direction, overwhelming the ROH star again with his size and power. Flip creates some distance and hits back with a springboard dropkick. He lands a hanging springboard blockbuster and taps Karl out with the STF at 04:52 (shown)

Rating - * - As a standalone match this was probably better than a 1* rating, but context is everything and contextually this was atrocious. In TV terms Flip was challenging for the World Championship last week. Now a week later Ian and Colt barely mentioned him as a viable World Title contender on commentary, and he has to spend five minutes selling and bumping his ass off for an unknown kid from New Japan's US subsidiary training school? Considering Gordon is one of ROH's biggest names in the way of The Elite exodus this was laughably poor...

WAR OF THE WORLDS TORONTO - Highlights of Matt Taven's memorable, chaotic and controversial title defence against PCO are shown, followed by further clips of Shane Taylor's TV Title win. 

Jeff Cobb gets a chance to address the live crowd in the wake of his TV Title loss, and is quick to remind everyone that Shane Taylor didn't beat him to take it from him. Nobody in ROH has beaten him, so for that reason he won't be pursuing a rematch...because he wants Matt Taven's World Title instead. Taven appears on the stage at mention of his name, calls himself the 'greatest World Champion in ROH history' and says he is happy to defend the belt against Cobb...but not tonight. 

Kenny King is backstage, having recovered from the surgery to repair his ocular injury inflicted by Great Muta at G1 Supercard. He plans to sweep Jay Lethal 2-0 in their Best Of 3 Series...

Elsewhere Jay Lethal, unsurprisingly, doesn't agree. He thinks King wants to share the ring with him as much as possible because Lethal considers himself one of the best wrestlers in the world...and thinks the main event tonight will end with another victory for The Franchise.

Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana preview State Of The Art 2019 weekend, including Taven vs PCO, Haskins and Flip (the three men he has successfully defended against thus far) in a Defy Or Deny Match. 

Silas Young comes to the ring with a jobber and plans to deliver a live 'seminar' or pro-wrestling exhibition. He stretches and takes liberties with the random guy, making a bewildered Bobby Cruiser hold the microphone so he can narrate proceedings. In the end he kicks the guy in the balls and tosses him out of the ring, thus ending his demonstration of 'Pure Wrestling'. This whole segment is obviously intended to piss off Jonathan Gresham...

King has been targeting Jay Lethal for a long time. After a successful summer in 2018 he pursued Lethal as World Champion, eventually getting his shot in Toronto during the Global Wars Tour. On that night he got a visual pinfall on Jay, but only by cheating, and wasn't able to beat him. Still in the hunt for the top prize in the promotion, he insisted on entering the 2019 Honor Rumble at #1. It turned into one of the biggest nights of his career as he outlasted the entire field of competitors in Madison Square Garden to become #1 contender to the World Title - albeit controversially. After that match Great Muta sprayed the Red Mist into his eyes and since then Kenny has not wrestled, supposedly struck with an ocular injury as a result of the poisonous mist. He has provided guest commentary (with the help of timekeeper Amy Rose)...but curiously been able to see certain things, or use his visual aid stick to choke Lethal. Having now had surgery to correct the injury, he is back in action and now has a three match series to prove he is better than Lethal.

King reaps the benefits of all the scouting of Lethal he has done, countering the hiptoss/dropkick sequence inside the first minute and dumping Jay on his ass. He then leaves the ring to frustrate and stall before the Franchise can retaliate. Lethal tries the hiptoss for a second time...and this time Kenny grabs the arm and almost converts it to a Crossface, sending Jay scurrying to the ropes. In the corner he starts ducking Lethal's signature chops...and when Jay tries his springboard dropkick King ducks to the apron and watches as the former champ eats the mat. It's an impressive start, and it continues as Lethal looks for a tope suicida, only for King to CATCH HIM then shunt him back-first into the ringpost. A tackle into the side of the ring follows, before he escorts Lethal back into the ring and applies a surfboard to further punish the back. For a third time Lethal tries the hiptoss/dropkick...and again King counters, this time into a camel clutch! When Lethal escapes that, Kenny gets dirty and pokes him in the eyes. It has been a dominant display from King and he ups the ante again by stealing Lethal's springboard dropkick to the apron spot. He teases doing the Tope Trilogy too only to piss off the fans by refusing to do it. The momentary distraction is enough - allowing Lethal to pounce with a DDT ON THE FLOOR! Finally he hits the hiptoss/dropkick combo, and when Kenny tries to escape to the apron he lands the springboard dropkick. TOPE SUICIDA NAILED! Hail To The King gets 2! But Kenny recovers, pulling Lethal's tights to block the Injection and hitting a Blue Thunder Driver. Royal Flush countered with a jumping enzi to the neck! Lethal Injection ducked repeatedly...until Kenny grabs the chance to kick him in the balls out of the referee's line of sight. Lethal Injection by King! That looked terrible! But it is enough to see Kenny go 1-0 up in the series at 13:26 (shown)

Rating - **** - A fun, feature-length TV bout and actually one of the most enjoyable matches on the 2019 War Of The Worlds Tour. The simple premise, namely Kenny countering all of the signature moves and combinations that Lethal has used repeatedly over the last decade or so, made this easy to relate to and extremely watchable. We saw King grew in confidence to the point of arrogance, and we saw Lethal get more and more irate. It meant that the pay-off - i.e. Lethal getting to hit all his signature moves - became a really rewarding sequence that the crowd really rallied behind. The whole encounter did a great job of putting Kenny on Lethal's level...until Delirious and his inability to book heel victories properly strikes again with a stupid overbooked finish. We didn't need a low blow here. The match was good enough that Lethal would have lost nothing in putting Kenny over clean. King, though, would have gained enormously from a clean win over Jay to complement the comprehensive and dominant performance he produced. 

The Allure are out first this week, with Velvet Sky calling them the most 'credible' Women Of Honor wrestlers ever. Angelina reminds everyone she is a 'six-time' recognised former Women's World Champion, whilst Mandy claims credit for the fact that the Women Of Honor division was reborn in the first place. Jenny Rose and Kelly Klein come out and get into a fight with Love and Leon, whilst Velvet runs away. Security tries to separate everyone, but it's Velvet and the hairspray into Jenny's eyes which finally ends the brawl. Kelly says she'll team with Rose to face The Allure 'any time, any where'

This match throws together eight guys with lots to prove but without much direction at present. The Kingdom are very much back-up dancers in the Matt Taven show right now so would love some success for themselves. The Bouncers are big, brawling monsters...but somehow remain stuck drinking beer and cracking jokes at the bottom of the card. Connors and Coughlin are NJPW LA Dojo Young Lions who would love to pull off an upset win. C2C had a strong 2018 but found their momentum disrupted after an injury to Shaheem Ali and are struggling in 2019 - and we've seen those emotions spill out in their matches with a more pronounced edgy and violent streak in recent weeks.

LSG demands to start with Milonas and gets right in his face...only for the Kingpin to smear him into the mat with an emphatic shoulder tackle. Marseglia has a go, but he too is crushed. Bruiser in but Marseglia rakes his eyes and starts trying to pull out his remaining teeth! Coughlin and Connors tag in and out rapidly, working together to put O'Ryan on the defensive. Ali tries to brawl with Coughlin on the floor...and they both take their eyes off the action and eat a cannonball senton off the apron by Beer City. In the ensuing chaos St. Giovanni bounces Milonas' head off the ringpost as well. The Kingdom and C2C take turns working Connors over. That is until LSG gets too aggressive, loses control and allows Clark to make the hot tag to Coughlin. Everyone piles in; an environment which clearly favours size of The Bouncers. They steamroll Ali over the top rope and lay out TK with a mafia kick/sidewalk slam combo. Bossman Slam on Marseglia as well! Flatliner/Paydirt combo by C2C! Spear/spinebuster combo by the Young Lions! House Of 1000 Horses by The Kingdom! Bruiser has to throw LSG at his own partner to break up the pin as C2C try to steal a victory...and The Bouncers flatten Coughlin with the big elevated leg drop to win at 07:52 (shown)

Rating - * - Inoffensive, and it did have some good action in the last couple of minutes, but considering this got nearly ten minutes of TV time including entrances and exits this really wasn't particularly good or memorable. I felt no sense of progression for any of the four acts involved before, during, or after the match. The Bouncers win, but you suspect will be doing the same routine in the same spot at the next show. Coast 2 Coast are 'angry'...but other than being slightly more aggressive in their matches that 'angle' really doesn't go anywhere either. That leaves Marseglia and O'Ryan, who remain little more than Taven's henchmen but don't appear good enough to survive on their own without him...and the Young Lions who have spent all of 2019 working almost the exact same match. It was hard to escape the overwhelming sense of pointlessness exuding from this whole segment.

Quinn McKay is backstage with Lifeblood, wanting their thoughts on their growing rivalry with Bully Ray. Williams points out that they are 'low on numbers' with Juice and Bandido in Japan, Finlay injured and Bully having taken Tenille out of ROH. PJ Black strolls in and reminds them that he is impressed with Lifeblood's ethos...and says if they need back-up he is happy to stand with them.

NEXT WEEK - Colt Cabana defends the NWA National Title against 'Cowboy' James Storm, making his Ring Of Honor debut. 

TWO WEEKS - The Allure make their in-ring debut to face Kelly Klein and Jenny Rose

Ian Riccaboni confirms that it will be Taven vs Cobb for the ROH Title at Best In The World. Jeff gets a sit-down interview, talking about his upbringing in the Philippines and Guam, his introduction to amateur wrestling and representing Guam at the 2004 Olympic Games. 

Woods made his ROH comeback on TV three weeks ago, easily defeating Flex Simmons. He continues his return to pro-wrestling after a six-month sabbatical to focus on MMA with another enhancement talent this evening. He will be aware that he needs another comprehensive victory

Boone is a slightly gangly figure...and crumples in a heap after Woods boots him in the stomach. A gutwrench powerbomb follows, then the 'Seismic Toss' gives Josh an easy win at 00:52

Rating - N/A - Exactly what it needed to be. They minimised the amount of TV time this took up, kept it short and ensured Woods looked as dominant as possible. I'm curious to see where this latest attempt to build Woods goes...

Our TV main event is a special attraction presented by New Japan. It pits the veteran former IWGP Champion duo of Kojima and Nagata against the powerful rising stars of Los Ingobernables de Japon; EVIL & SANADA. LIJ are 3-0 on the War Of The Worlds Tour so will have their eyes on a clean sweep to position themselves at the front of the line for the GOD's IWGP Tag Championship when they get back to Japan.

Nagata and Sanada start, with the veteran evading all of Sanada's villainous tricks. It's only when Sanada starts actually wrestling that his natural speed and athleticism even the match up...to the point where he can take his first cheap-shot of the night. Evil strikes at Nagata from behind, so Kojima does the same to Sanada on the other side of the ring. Koji and Sanada then start distracting each other by flexing their pectoral muscles. Paradise Lock applied as we cut to commercials, and when we return LIJ are in full control with Kojima isolated and Nagata beaten down on the floor. Koji spikes Sanada with a DDT though, just as Nagata returns to the apron for a hot tag. Exploder Suplex from Nagata to Sanada gets 2. Quebrada misses for Sanada, allowing Nagata to drop him into a Fujiwara Armbar. Evil dives in to break the hold...and Sanada slithers straight to the ropes for a springboard dropkick. Kojima and Evil tagged, and the LIJ man is escorted into the corner for Machine Gun Chops. Diving elbow drop gets 2 for the veteran. Evil has to take the eyes to kill his momentum, followed by the thrust kick into the guts. Evil Lariat gets 2! Nagata saves his partner from the Magic Killer, and feeds Evil into the Koji Cutter...with Sanada breaking the pin at the last. Brainbuster nailed, and this time Evil kicks out. Koji Lariat blocked...Everything Is Evil blocked! Magic Killer! LIJ win at 11:11 (shown)

Rating - ** - This was like someone picked a random NJPW tour show undercard match and made it the main event on ROH TV. It isn't a bad match at all; with all four performers completely capable of working this kind of encounter in their sleep. But it never felt like they were doing much more than playing the hits on autopilot, or looking do to any more than the absolute minimum. Which is fine for NJPW live events. For me personally, I'd like to see ROH's TV main event spot given to people who wrestle like they give a sh*t...

The episode isn't over though, as after the final commercial break Dalton Castle's music hits and he struts down to the ring. He has found a way to accept the nature of his loss to Rush at G1 Supercard - because he now realises that Rush is a 'dirty, filthy cheater'. To get payback he challenges Rush's brother, Dragon Lee, to face him at Best In The World...and says he is going to break every bone in his body to punish Rush. The Tate Twins (formerly The Boys) hit the ring and attack Dalton. That goes well for a few seconds until Dalton fires up and starts beating the sh*t out of them. The episode ends with him trying (and failing) to put them through the timekeeping table, and then the hapless twins being left slumped against the rails as it topples over on top of them...

I don't think I've watched a complete James Storm match since the days of America's Most Wanted. He is here as a representative of the NWA of course, but this does mark his ROH debut and a sight few who watched ROH at the height of their 'rivalry' with TNA would have pictured. He came out at the Crockett Cup following Cabana's victory over former champion Willie Mack and laid down the challenge - and now comes to Colt's hometown in search of NWA gold. Obviously Colt won't want to lose his belt here, and he'll also like to issue a timely reminder to ROH's officials as well that he wants to wrestle rather than commentate...

Storm is all business and looks in no mood for Cabana's games. He quite literally stands in the corner of the ring and refuses to engage whenever Colt tries to be silly. Cabana tries to control him with headlocks, but the Cowboy hiptosses him with such authority that the champ bounces across the ring. Cabana leaves the ring altogether to avoid the Last Call...but when he returns he almost locks in the Billy Goat's Curse, forcing the challenger to flee as well. Storm continues to stay close to the ropes and corners, negating Colt's usual chain-wrestling chicanery and peppering him with strikes. He exposes Cabana's head over the apron and starts drilling elbows and kicks right into the neck. He also scrapes and the face and nose when Colt tries to get back up - making the match an ugly fight which is far more suited to his strengths. Eye Of The Storm blocked when Cabana tosses him aside then levels him with a satellite headscissors. Bionic Elbow nailed, followed by the Flying Asshole. During the commercials James blocks the Billy Goat's Curse by kicking Cabana through the ropes to the floor, and we rejoin with the champ down and the challenger tearing up the protective mats. Storm starts gesturing in the direction of Aldis at the announce desk...and gives Colt the opportunity to hiptoss him on the concrete. Moonsault gets 2 for Cabana! Last Call by Storm, into a Texas Cloverleaf! It's another shot at Aldis (since he uses the Cloverleaf as a finish too)...but the 15:00 time-limit expires (at 11:14 shown).

Rating - *** - I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this. I've not watched James Storm wrestle in years and I certainly wasn't desperate to see him come to ROH to wrestle Cabana...but the match was genuinely very enjoyable. Colt doesn't wrestle often in ROH, but more often than not he delivers a thoroughly decent match and this was no exception. I loved the story they told through the first two thirds of the match as it played to the strengths and characters of both men so well. Storm no-selling Colt's goofy sh*t and World Of Sport routine by staying in the ropes and making it a brawl was a brilliant strategy. Unfortunately the commercial breaks did break up their rhythm and the final act of the match, where they veered away from the strong wrestling match they'd been having to progress an NWA Aldis/Storm angle derailed things a little. There was enough quality here to make this worth ten minutes of your time though...

Cabana calls for five more minutes...but before the bell can ring is jumped from behind by the Briscoes. They have no beef with Colt it seems, they just want to f*ck the NWA over. Jay starts goading Aldis, who leaves commentary and marches down the aisle to brawl with them. The Briscoes are on the receiving end of a few shots but finally gang up on the NWA Champion before choking him to unconsciousness. They spit on the National Championship as they leave...

Before Part 2 of the sit-down interview feature with Jeff Cobb, Riccaboni announces that Shane Taylor vs Bandido for the TV Title has been added to the Best In The World card. Cobb says it was meeting War Machine on a New Japan tour which helped him get into Ring Of Honor, and from there we see his destruction of Punishment Martinez in his debut match. The interview ends with him reminding Taven that he is undefeated in ROH...

The Last Real Man is clearly trying to get under the skin of Jonathan Gresham. He has cheated to beat him, he has christened himself the 'Technician Of Honor', and two weeks ago gave an 'exhibition' in pro-wrestling which consisted mostly of showing off all the ways he has cheated with Gresham. Now he faces an enhancement talent branded 'The Squid' which is clearly a dig at 'The Octopus' moniker of Gresham, or his past in CCK. If you're interested, under the 'Squid' hood is future 'Mecca' Brian Johnson.

The 'Squid' mask looks like something they found at the dollar store earlier in the day when this idea popped into their heads. Young spends the first minute showcasing his technical skills, whilst 'not' Brian Johnson's main interest seems to be keeping the silly Squid mask on his head. Young finally taps The Squid out to an abdominal stretch at 02:01

Rating - N/A - I nearly gave this the DUD treatment, but according to Riccaboni Gresham was in Japan for the BOSJ, so I decided to give this a pass since these segments have been decent way to allow Silas to showcase his personality and build up to an eventual rematch with Gresham without Gresh actually having to be in the building. 

Mark Haskins is out next, with some words for Bully Ray after he cost Mark the World Title in Grand Rapids. He calls Bubba out and encourages Bully to leave ROH and retire, which Bubba smirks at since he 'tried to retire' in 2017 in this same building. The Hall Of Famer doesn't think Haskins has what it takes to finally 'shut [him] up', then has Shane Taylor come out to join them. Tracy Williams sprints out to even the numbers then challenge them to a match. That lasts less than thirty seconds before the Soldiers Of Savagery run in to attack Lifeblood again. Bully wants to put Haskins through a table, but PJ Black tries to come to Lifeblood's aid. The numbers are too much...and it's PJ who is fed to Bubba and powerbombed through the table as the episode ends...

Goto has a lot of history with Bullet Club, so will relish the opportunity to fight the younger brother of the Guerrillas Of Destiny. But the match marks an opportunity for Hikuleo also. Defeated twice already on the War Of The Worlds Tour, he will have his eyes set on attracting the attention of the New Japan office with a shock win over a respected, established act like Goto.

Hikuleo swats at Goto then tosses him on his ass in an attempt to make an early statement. His height and long limbs make it difficult for Goto to lay in any of his signature offence early...forcing the veteran to sneak up behind and level Leo with a lariat. Ushigoroshi blocked, so Goto lands another lariat to deck his opponent for a second time. He tries to go to the top, but it brings him into range for a man of Hikuleo's height and the big Tongan captures him to deliver a superplex for 2. The youngster hits a lariat of his own that spins Goto through the air and gets another nearfall. Goto is literally on his knees gasping for air yet somehow rallies to headbutt Hiku in the face! Ushigoroshi nailed this time, followed by the GTR, giving Goto the win at 06:00 (shown)

Rating - ** - Spirited and surprisingly energetic given how lethargic some of the other New Japan stars have been at this taping. It wasn't necessarily an exciting match, nor was it pretty...and you could be forgiven for questioning whether this is even remotely relevant or worthy of a place on ROH television when their own roster is in such a dire state of disrepair and disinterest. But it did deliver an easily relatable story with Hikuleo's height making it difficult for Goto to lazily hit his usual spots on auto-pilot, it ended at the right time and didn't waste too much TV time.

Kenny King talks about winning the first encounter in his Best Of 3 Series with Jay Lethal. He says he has been studying Lethal to the point of obsession and thinks he knows how to completely shut 'The Franchise' down. His closing point is that he doesn't think we'll be making it to Match Three...

Up next should be the promised tag encounter between The Allure and rivals-turned-partners Kelly Klein and Jenny Rose. Unfortunately that doesn't take place as Angelina and Mandy attack them from behind and lay them out - all during the commercial break so we don't even see it. Ian Riccaboni quickly announces that it has been rescheduled and that we'll now see Klein/Rose vs Love/Leon at Best In The World 2019.

Briscoes vs Nick Aldis and Colt Cabana is also announced for Best In The World, accompanied by a video package documenting some of the Briscoe Brothers' transgressions towards the NWA, it's fans and their shows...

Clips of Bandido defeating Shane Taylor on TV a few weeks ago are shown, and the rematch has been signed for Best In The World. This time Taylor's newly-won TV Title will be on the line as well. Flip Gordon vs Rush and Silas Young vs Jon Gresham (in a Pure Rules Match) have been signed too.

Last week we saw PJ come to the aid of Lifeblood's Williams and Haskins as they brawled with Bully Ray, Shane Taylor and the Soldiers Of Savagery. Now he teams with Lifeblood - the group he credits with changing his attitude towards Ring Of Honor - for the first time. Shinobi Shadow Squad are their opponents and although, as usual, they will be underdogs, Burger and his crew have put together a commendable record in trios tags this year...

Burger is all taped up and Tracy competes in his usual shoulder brace, meaning neither of the two men who start look particularly healthy. Tracy almost applies the Crossface in the first minute, forcing CB to be at his illusive best just to stay alive in the match. Black and Isom in next and Eli's pace actually sees him take the advantage from the veteran. Nova tries to trade strikes with Haskins in a thrilling little near-miss sequence...which ends when Williams and Haskins team up on the 3S member. Pendulum stretch by Black, made worse when Hot Sauce hits a diving leg drop to Ryan's exposed neck. Eli comes to the aid of his partner by knocking Haskins off the apron and FLATTENING him with a springboard moonsault to the floor. Cheesburger barely connects with a springboard senton bomb for 2, but Haskins retaliates with the shoulder roll into Samoan Driver on Nova seconds later. DVD/WILDNESS COMBO from Williams and Black, earning Lifeblood the win at 06:17 (shown)

Rating - ** - For my personal taste there was a little too much 3S offence to sit through here, but thankfully most of it was at least from Isom. Black wasn't doing anything of note in ROH anyway, so I have no issue with him being moved into an alliance with Lifeblood to at least keep that stable on life support whilst Haskins and Williams establish themselves on the main roster. Working tag matches also allows PJ the chance to pick his moments and hit his signature offence without his ageing body and lack of speed being exposed in the way it tends to in singles matches.

Tracy gets the microphone challenges Bully Ray 'and his goons' to a match any time, any place...

Matt Taven joins commentary for this, getting a prime seat to scout all of his top competitors for the World Title in a single match. Cobb is his next challenger, with those two set to meet in the main event of Best In The World. Lethal is the man he took the title from at G1 Supercard (and whom is yet to receive a rematch). Taven actually beat PCO in Toronto earlier in the War Of The Worlds Tour, but only after outside interference and cynically attacking PCO's only good eye. That leaves Rush; undefeated in singles matches, already at odds with The Kingdom after how they attacked him in his early ROH appearances and already with a strong dislike for Taven. The World Champion has to know that sooner or later he'll have to defend against El Toro Blanco too...

Rush declines all handshakes and gets us started by punching PCO in the mouth. Undeterred, PCO plods into Lethal's hiptoss/dropkick sequence then gets dropkicked to the floor - Jay enjoying hitting all his spots again after Kenny King countered them all on Episode 401. Rush tries to do a Tranquilo pose, but gets dropkicked in the stomach by Lethal, who starts diving all over ringside hitting tope suicidas onto everyone. PCO blocks one eventually by chokeslamming him into the apron though. Vader Bomb gets 2 for The Monster...who then turns and gives Cobb a chokeslam as well. Jeff gets his mojo back with a stalling suplex on Rush then almost drops PCO on his head with a belly to belly suplex. Athletic-Plex on Lethal nailed! Tour Of The Islands blocked with a hurricanrana by Lethal, who captures Rush as well to hit a flatliner/DDT combo. Everyone piles up on the turnbuckles, culminating with Rush powerbomb Cobb into a double superplex for Lethal and PCO. The camera zooms in on PCO's eye which is bleeding again, much to Taven's delight. He still hits a Pop-Up Powerbomb on Lethal for 2 though. Standing moonsault by Cobb, who clears the ring to go strike for strike with Rush. El Toro Blanco drops HIM on his head with a belly to belly as well! PCO drapes Rush over the edge of the ring. TOP ROPE CANNONBALL SENTON ON THE APRON MISSES! But Rush rolls straight into the Lethal Injection! Jay has it won, but is distracted by Kenny King appearing in the aisle annoyed that Lethal has 'stolen his move'. Cobb pounces and hits Tour Of The Islands on Jay to win the match at 10:40 (shown)

Rating - *** - This taping hasn't yielded a great batch of episodes as far as in-ring quality goes, but this was certainly enjoyable. They didn't get particularly deep, nor did they deliver much substance but the four men really did go at it full pelt and dropped non-stop bombs on each other for ten minutes. Two or three times it felt like guys were almost dropped right on the top of their head. Rush was a lot of fun as an antagonistic brawler just looking to fight anyone, the finish protects him and PCO whilst progressing the Lethal/King rivalry...and also gives Cobb the big win to rebound from his TV Title loss going into Best In The World. It wasn't a main event which will live long in the memory, but it was fun whilst it lasted... 

This match aired live as a standalone Honor Club special, and is a match we've been having teased since way back at Honor Rising 2019 when the Briscoes challenged the GOD for G1 Supercard. That wound up being a four way in MSG, and it wound up being the night that the Guerrillas captured the ROH Tag Championship, before duly sh*tting on the belts and taking them back to Japan. The Briscoes have had to wait all tour to get their hands on Tonga and Loa, but now at last do get the opportunity to regain the titles they are entirely synonymous with and have held ten times previously. If such things are of interest to you, it's worth noting that the DVD version of this match has cut the entrances for both teams entirely (whilst they were included as part of the Honor Club live edit).

Jay starts with Tonga, fists flying and the ring barely able to contain the brawl. On the outside Mark and Loa involve themselves as well, the younger Briscoe flying off the apron into a blockbuster to the floor! The Briscoes manage to temporarily incapacitate Tanga, meaning they get an opportunity to work Tonga over inside the ring. Jay promised that he and his brother would pick the GOD apart in Chicago, and they live up to their word as they cut the ring in half and prevent Tama from getting even a sniff of a tag for several minutes. Redneck Boogie nailed, prompting Loa to dive in from the floor to break the pin. Tonga capitalises and tosses Jay all the way over the top rope to the floor! Stinger Splash rocks Mark and finally he can tag out to Loa. Running powerslam flattens Mark whilst Jay is still recovering on the outside. The Guerrillas hit their own version of the Briscoe double shoulder tackle spot, sold brilliantly with a sarcastic smile from Tanga too. The GOD then take turns choking Mark behind referee Todd Sinclair's back. Jay gets some payback by diving in illegally to wipe out Loa, and soon enough all four men spill back to the outside brawling. Loa counters Mark's dropkick through the ropes with a version of a spinebuster on the apron, before tackling Jay almost through the guardrails! TOP ROPE SOMERSAULT SENTON TO THE FLOOR by Mark! Tonga hits back with a snap suplex on the floor, as blood starts to pour from Mark's mouth. He and Jay exchange profanities before returning to the ring to trade blows. In the end their brothers have to separate them...before taking each other out with simultaneous clotheslines meaning everyone is down on the mat. LARIAT by Jay! Powerslam by Loa! Urinage by Mark! Tongan Twist by Tama! The Guerrillas climb to opposing turnbuckles for a diving headbutt/frog splash combo. Loa tries an Awesomebomb but Mark COUNTERS WITH A FRANKENSTEINER! Gun Stun blocked...Jay Driller blocked! Day One Neckbreaker scores, into the Froggy Bow for 2. Loa tosses Mark off the top rope to block the Doomsday Device, and as he bounces to the ground Tanga blasts Jay with one of the Tag Title belts as well! Tonga rolls Jay up with the tights, pinning him for the GOD win at 17:12

Rating - **** - Not for the first time on the 2019 War Of The Worlds Tour the quality of the match deserved a far more inventive finish than it got. This was outstanding. Not because it was full of elaborate spots, world class technical wrestling or the like...it was brilliant because of how aggressive it was. Every second of the match oozed hatred. You never felt for one second like these four didn't absolutely despise each other. It really was just four big, angry dudes in the ring caring more about hurting their opponents than they do following the formulas and traditional formats of tag team competition. I've never been a huge fan of the Guerrillas Of Destiny, but their performance here was outstanding. Arrogant, brash, violent and anarchic for the duration - this stole the show and is well worth spending twenty minutes of your life seeking out if your an Honor Club member.

Tape Rating - ** - A dour, unmemorable television taping with a few bright spots, to end what has been a pretty dour and unmemorable War Of The Worlds Tour in general (with a few bright spots!). Briscoes/GOD was great, but didn't air on television...so this taping really did amount to a very long, unremarkable and uninteresting procession of short matches with moments of genuine excitement being at a premium. I'm pleased for the Chicago fans that the main event was good, because this can't have been a fun night to sit through live. The general malaise that has set in around Ring Of Honor's product has felt impenetrably bleak all tour and this final night wasn't an exception.

3) Colt Cabana vs James Storm (***)

2) Kenny King vs Jay Lethal (****)

1) Guerrillas Of Destiny vs Jay Briscoe/Mark Briscoe (****)

7) Jay Lethal vs Satoshi Kojima (*** - Toronto)

6) Kenny King vs Jay Lethal (**** - Chicago)

5) Marty Scurll/Brody King/PCO vs Jeff Cobb/Satoshi Kojima/Yuji Nagata (**** - Buffalo)

4) Guerrillas Of Destiny vs Jay Briscoe/Mark Briscoe (**** - Chicago)

3) Matt Taven vs PCO (**** - Toronto)

2) Matt Taven vs Mark Haskins (**** - Grand Rapids)

1) Flip Gordon vs Bandido (**** - Buffalo)