McXal's Reviews

The Unauthorized concept makes a return in 2019. It is a fourth instalment in a series which has seen Truth Martini book his 'Night Of Hoopla', The Kingdom book 'Michael Bennett's Bachelor Party', then two years ago Silas Young and Beer City Bruiser took over for a night of debauchery in their hometown of Milwaukee. Colt Cabana is running the show tonight and has promised us 'eight crazy matches'. Not everything was announced, but we know we'll be seeing a 'Non-Sanctioned Match' between PCO and Dan Maff which should be lively after how things ended last night at The Experience. We've also got Rush and Dragon Lee teaming up to face Lifeblood, The Allure in tag team action, Ultimo Guerrero in a 'dream match' with Jonathan Gresham plus Mark Briscoe wrestling Josh Woods in a match which will see their partners (Jay and Silas) forced to take a shot every time there is a two-count. Ian Riccaboni is at the announce desk, set for a unique night of action in Columbus, OH.

Colt opens the show, promising us a 'pretty weird' night then introduces Joe Hendry, who will be providing 'singing commentary' for the first match. Did ROH seriously fly Hendry out from the UK for this weekend and not have him wrestle on either show? I can't even find him listed as wrestling on any of the matches taped exclusively for TV. Colt has a podium and a camping chair set up on the stage to preside over events...

This should be a lot of fun, if not quite the 'dream match' Riccaboni dearly tries to pitch it as. Guerrero is a veteran in for another weekend of ROH shows, now apparently as the reigning CMLL Heavyweight Champion. As we discussed last night, Gresham is preparing for a Tag Title shot at Final Battle whilst sweating on the condition of his tag partner's broken arm. He continues to push the boundaries of the rules and display real aggression in pursuit of victories, as we saw when he overcame Mark Haskins in a 2/3 Falls Match in Pittsburgh.

Hendry's singing commentary is both impressive and incredibly distracting. Guerrero gets the better of the opening period and unleashes a rolling Mexican surfboard - which gets a bigger pop than pretty much the entirety of last night's show. Gresh isn't so happy and eventually counters to a bow and arrow. These two actually have decent chemistry as opponents; both moving in unorthodox ways, both stocky in stature and extremely comfortable working the canvas. Ultimo has the bigger strikes it seems, so Gresh rips off his wrist tape (forcing the ref to clear it from the mat) before slap the CMLL star in the dick. Cabana gets on the microphone and tells on him to the referee which is quite funny. The Octopus starts to target the arm...only for Guerrero to dropkick him off the apron into the concrete floor. Outside he whips Gresham sternum-first into the guardrails, then brings him back inside to hit a tilta-whirl backbreaker for 2. Gresham goes back to the arm, even aiming a quebrada press at the injured arm and shoulder. It renders Ultimo unable to even Irish whip his opponent...but defies the pain to hit a gourdbuster for 2. They battle over elaborate pinning combinations all around the ring; ended by Gresh who delivers a satellite armbar takedown. Guerrero Special wins it for Ultimo at 12:02

Rating - *** - As a standalone match this was entertaining. They had great chemistry and their work was incredibly easy to watch, regardless of whether they were grappling, striking or even fighting on the floor. In the context of ROH's current product though, it was a horrible decision to have Gresham lose this. I understand Guerrero is a big name in CMLL and currently one of their champions so they may not have had a choice - but in which case I'd argue they would be better off NOT booking Gresham into this match and let him beat someone else. He is in the midst of a big heel turn angle (which he is now having to carry by himself since Lethal is injured), he already put Shelley over needlessly at Glory By Honor - and this felt damaging to his credibility as we head into the big Final Battle Briscoes match. The match wasn't SO good that I could get past my issues with that (or how distracting the commentary was).

The loser of the decisive fall will be forced to remove their mask. Villainisto and Cobo are two 'masked newcomers' whom Colt Cabana thinks 'are from Argentina', although their identities are easy to identify for comic effect (their Cary-tron graphics in particular are hilarious, as is just piping mariachi music over Cobb and Marty's existing entrance themes). It's even easier to identify Mini-Delirious, as he has 'Swoggle' on his tights meaning this is indeed an ROH debut for the former 'Hornswoggle'. 

Cobb is unfortunately not wearing the Matanza Cueto mask, whilst Scurll is wearing a Matt Classic mask and is announced as from 'somewhere in Europe', which presumably rules out the UK post-Brexit. He also shakes hands to prove that he definitely isn't The Villain. Mini-Delirious quickly blows up doing Delirious' ringbell freak-out...so rings the bell again to make him stop! Villainisto hits some 'lucha' moves then insists he is a 'heavyweight' in a manner very similar to current ROH wrestler Marty Scurll. That is until Mini-D decks him with a shoulder tackle. El Jefe tags, and battles to an unlikely stalemate with Mini...so El Villainisto attacks the miniature Lizard Man from behind. More hilariously inept lucha from El V follows, somehow sending Mini-Delirious to the floor. Apron Superkick lined up - but misses because Mini is too short! Cobbo and Villainisto tease some dives instead, but lose confidence and instead have to start hunting around under the ring for the Delirious'! They don't find their opponents...but do come out wearing Delirious masks of their own! Everyone returns to the ring for a prolonged argument in Lizard speak, until the confused original Delirious asked in clear English 'who's my partner'!? Finger Snaps by El Villainisto, which makes Mini-Delirious cry...so El Jefe gives him a hug. Team Delirious rally by BITING THE ASSES of their mysterious opponents. GERMAN SUPLEX by Mini to counter the Chickenwing. MINI-GERMAN SUPLEX ON COBBO! Villainisto gives Delirious the Cheeky Nando's Kick...but then finds himself tied up in the corner and give the same move by Swoggle. Superkick flurry by Villain and El Jefe (including Marty's 'Just Kidding' spot - but into Mini-Delirious' face). Leaping Lariat by Delirious and his team look for a Doomsday Device. Countered with a 619 by Villain...and El Jefe pins Mini-Delirious with a standing moonsault at 13:28

Rating - *** - I laughed a lot, which is obviously my measuring stick for an outright comedy match like this. It makes them so hard to rate though, because comedy is so subjective and others may not have found this remotely funny. It did go far too long, and they spent much longer than they needed to in the 'all wearing Delirious masks' portion of the bout, but as mentioned I thought there was some genuinely funny stuff here too. Swoggle loudly calling Cobb 'Jeff' on multiple occasions really had me in stitches, as did any of Cobbo/Villainisto's attempts to do lucha moves.

Mini-Delirious is forced to unmask and is revealed as Swoggle, whilst Cabana bemoans the fact that we'll never find out who Jefe Cobbo and El Villainisto were.

This is a 'Punderful' Six-Man Tag as Cabana has booked Cheeseburger to team with 'Double Cheeseburger' Beer City Bruiser and 'Triple Cheeseburger' Brian Milonas to face Dalton 'White Castle', Kenny 'Burger King' and 'Burger Flip' Gordon. Rhett Titus is on commentary, once again casting an eye over Kenny King...

Castle is excited to start but Flip rather cruelly forces him back to the apron. Deservingly, Gordon then struggles to cope with Bruiser's size. He gets smeared into the canvas before Bruiser goes on a biting rampage. Kenny doesn't make the same mistake; calling out Cheeseburger and ripping the burger hat from his head. CB sensibly scurries back to his corner to tag in Milonas, to which Kenny responds by running away and forcing Dalton in. He makes an ill-advised attempt at a body slam (which Titus and Ian inexplicably back him to pull off even though his back is shot to pieces) before deciding on a better strategy of forcing Kingpin into his corner for a 3-on-1 attack. Unfortunately a kick to the back of the head from Flip KO's Milonas causing him to collapse directly on top of Castle. Kenny and Flip make it worse by adding their body weight to the flattened Dalton when trying to rescue him. Beer City Bruiser is still drinking but eventually ambles in (after finishing his beer) to hoist his partner off of Dalton. The Bouncers run through the field hitting combo moves onto everyone, including a Kingpin senton splash onto both King and Castle simultaneously. Flip levels Burger with a Superkick, triple-teaming him in their corner whilst Milonas and Bruiser argue with referee Todd Sinclair. Cheeseburger escapes but Flip proves too illusive for either Bouncer. That is until Bruiser blocks the Kinder Surprise and throws him back into the ring for the Bossman Slam. KEG SPLASH by Bruiser gets 2. ASSISTED BURGER DESTROYER from CB to Flip gets 2. Amy Rose hops onto the apron, distracting Bruiser just as he looks set to win. The Bouncers recover fast and hit a double suplex. ARABIAN PRESS to the floor by King! Burger and Flip brawl on the stage, but when Gordon tosses CB off Milonas simply catches him on the floor. Gordon pisses everyone off by refusing to do a dive off the stage - throwing middle fingers up to the crowd then walking out on the match. Not one to disappoint - Bruiser charges into a crossbody off the stage instead. But he's drunk and accidentally delivers a cannonball to his own partner moments later. King sneaks up behind Burger to pin him for the win at 16:55

Rating - ** - Delirious has spent most of his tenure as booker stiffing matches for time, yet somehow he found nearly seventeen minutes for this? There were enough moments of legitimate entertainment to ensure this wasn't a complete bust, but they could have accomplished the exact same match with half the time they got. Flip reverting to his villainous ways and walking out on the match was one of the highlights for me as it was a brilliant play off the last time ROH ran this building where he DID pop the fans by diving off a wall into the crowd. The worst part about this was that it stands as a living, breathing example of how little progression and development there really is on ROH's undercard. Dalton actually got to the main event, but is now back basically doing the exact same act as when he started (minus the jumpsuits and The Boys). The Bouncers delivered a career-best match at Death Before Dishonor, but are back at the bottom of the card being drunk morons. Cheeseburger has been a smarter wrestler and a leader in Shinobi Shadow Squad all year...but for some reason has been back to playing the fool this weekend. Fans have lost interest in Ring Of Honor precisely because the product is so static and NONE of these guys ever go anywhere. All of their matches bleed together and seem so futile.

Rhett Titus leaves commentary and tries to continue an actual storyline by trying to attack Kenny King. Kenny ducks his attack and runs away. Don't worry folks, since this is a legitimate angle and a storyline you might be interested in - using characters with a relatable disagreement building on a back-story which goes back almost a decade in ROH - it is all building to a match on the f*cking pre-show for Final Battle.

With Kelly Klein (and the WOH World Title) now out of the picture after Honor United, it leaves the rest of the division in even more of a rudderless mess than it was before. Rose and Sakai do have an ongoing issue with The Allure though, since they too - like Klein - have suffered repeated attacks at the hands of Leon and Love, and want to put them out of Ring Of Honor. They get the opportunity to do just that this evening, with no rules to stop them. 

Sumie and Jenny jump The Allure during their entrance, beating them both to the ground before they can even make the ring. Inside the ring they deliver the absolute worst 'double clothesline' I may have ever seen to get a two-count on Mandy. Angelina saves with a chair, setting Leon up for the Panic Attack on Rose. Mandy tries to throttle Rose with a metal chain, taking her out of action. The Allure then hilariously mis-time a double dropkick to Sumie (Leon hitting her move about a week after Angelina did). Sakai clearly wasn't impressed either, since she no-sells that and pulls out a Hiromu Takahashi/Daryl-inspired stuffed cat. She beats on The Allure with the cat, who bump around for a stuffed toy. FISHERMAN BUSTER ON A CHAIR! Angelina shows her toughness by kicking out at 2, whilst Rose drags Leon up the stairs for a suplex on the stage. Sakai looks for a moonsault...but misses and flies into a chair. Meanwhile Jenny SPEARS Mandy on the stage, presumably ending her night. Botox Injection on Sakai gives Love the win at 05:44

Rating - ** - The stuff with the cat was stupid, and there were some AWFUL timing issues on a couple of double-team spots, but actually this was one of the better Allure matches of 2019. There were some really big bumps and hard hits and we got an actual clean finish. Obviously that typifies just how low The Allure (and the entire WOH division booking) have set the bar in 2019, but this was pretty decent.

Angelina appears to want to cut a Hulk Hogan promo...but Maria Manic's music hits and she marches right into the ring. She steals Angelina's microphone and tells her she is 'dead' at Final Battle. 

We know that Woods and Silas are on a hot streak as a tag team and will be moving closer to getting a Tag Title shot. Obviously if Josh can beat Mark Briscoe (avenging the singles loss he suffered to the same opponent back at State Of The Art) he and his partner move even closer to that title opportunity. But the belts may not be the main focus of attention here. Colt has included a stipulation that every time one of these guys fails to successfully execute a pinfall attempt (i.e. every time someone kicks out) then their partners - Jay and Silas - have to do a shot. Plus Jay and Silas are doing live commentary

Jay and Silas yell incoherently into their microphones, and the match is barely thirty seconds old before Jay has to do his first shot. Apparently his wife will kill him if he gets too drunk, putting the pressure on Mark. Moments later Josh fails to pin Mark, so Young finds himself drinking too. Inevitably, they go into a duelling battle of pinning attempts, rendering Jay and Silas unable to keep up. The match then has to basically stop whilst Silas pours out shots. They fight on the floor, giving us a break from the drinking at least. Josh BODY SLAMS Mark into the wall...but then return to the ring for more nearfalls and shots. Froggy Bow misses and Woods nails a Chaos Theory...for 2. Silas thought that was the finish and starts yelling at the ref, until the two drunk partners start arguing and have to be separated. Mark does then hit the Froggy Bow to win at 08:25

Rating - * - The concept sounded funny on paper, but didn't lend itself to any kind of high quality wrestling. As a match this was a bust, even with the vaguely amusing ramblings of Jay and Silas on the microphone throughout. It was also a little disappointing that they couldn't but Josh over here. Mark really doesn't gain much through victory, but getting a win over Mark would really enhance the angle that Woods and Silas have going as a team right now.

There are no silly gimmicks with this one, Colt says he wants a hard-hitting 'Ring Of Honor style match'. The only addendum is that it will be lucha rules, as a nod to Rush and Dragon Lee. El Toro Blanco is the World Champion and is on an undefeated tear through ROH which includes victories over both Haskins and Williams. He and his brother are also undefeated as a team, possessing a victory over the reigning Tag Champions the Briscoe Brothers no less. It's been a tough year for Lifeblood; Haskins and Tracy are the last two members standing, and Mark is still potentially distracted by the looming spectre of an inevitable showdown with Bully Ray...

Haskins starts with Dragon, going straight for an armbar and trying to tap him out. He frustrates the masked man, rendering him completely unable to build up any speed through the opening minutes. Even when Lee does quicken things up, Mark matches him every step of the way. He tags out to Tracy after completing an impressive showing to start the bout. Rush and Williams in; and the champ's speed is too much for Hot Sauce who is battered out of the ring. Tracy trips Lee when he tries to hit a dive though, immediately putting Lifeblood back on top. With Rush down on the floor Haskins and Williams unleash a flurry of double-teams on his brother, with Haskins still targeting the arm as well. He also mocks Dragon by mimicking his signature springboard basement dropkick in the corner, again aimed right at the shoulder too. Dragon tries to fight back with a double clothesline...but only Haskins goes down since Williams was hit with the bad arm! That was AWESOME! Dragon tags in the World Champion who immediately almost knocks Tracy out with a running knee strike. Double dropkick levels Haskins (and shows The Allure how it should be timed)...clearing the ring for stereo Tranquilo poses whilst Lifeblood try to recover. Rush goes to the floor with his brother, both dishing out some of his usual chaotic guardrail runs. It's noticeable that Lee is showing plenty of his brother's 'Ingobernable' attitude too; breaking rules, raking the eyes of his opponents and more. Rush and Lee isolate Williams, giving him almost constant double-team moves whilst repeatedly hurling Haskins to the floor. Overkill does finally force his way in...but is quickly on his way out again as he and Williams land STEREO DIVES TO THE FLOOR! Lee saves his brother from the Infusion Piledriver and hits DRAGON'S FIRE on Tracy! SOLDIER ROLL POWERBOMB by Lifeblood in response gets 2. TURNBUCKLE DDT on Rush! DOUBLE STOMP by Lee to break the pin though. Haskins no-sells a German suplex, so Lee POWERS HIM INTO A BRAINBUSTER! RUNNING INSIDE-OUT RANA TO THE FLOOR! BULL'S HORNS ON TRACY! Rush wins at 15:53

Rating - **** - I believe this is the final Lifeblood tag of 2019, and it could not be more fitting that Haskins and Williams sign off from tag team competition with another blistering performance. Matches like this are what is keeping Ring Of Honor (just about) alive; great athletes given just enough leeway to deliver something really special. Dragon Lee in ROH on a regular basis is particularly exciting, and after an off-night against Jeff Cobb yesterday, he was back to his best here. It was a thrilling showing from him, bumping and selling to make Lifeblood look fantastic before rattling through some of his astonishing trademark moves to the delight of the crowd. The structure of the contest was smart as well; Lifeblood using their technical skill to dominate for the first five minutes...but slowly losing all control then getting battered into defeat as the ungovernable Rush and his spectacular little brother kept dropping bomb after bomb. This stole the show, and probably the entire weekend.

Colt Cabana drags Bobby Cruise into the ring, apparently to address some discontent on Bobby's part that he has been left out of all the fun tonight. He conducts a light-hearted interview with Bobby, which is interrupted by Shane Taylor and Soldiers Of Savagery. He is pissed off that Colt has cancelled his match...so challenges Colt. Cabana accepts, but demands a 4-on-4 tag to face the entirety of Taylor's crew (SOS and Ron Hunt) - and is so confident of victory that he could pick 'literally anybody' to be his partner. He summons 'Camera Man Gator' as his first partner (who legit still holds the camera whilst standing on the apron), then Ian Riccaboni as his second. Are fans chanting for Joe Koff to wrestle?! Colt instead summons Gary Juster as his final partner (who gets pyro). That is until Brian Johnson invades and rightly complains about this when there are guys like him in the locker room who don't get the chance to wrestle. He demands to be allowed in...so Colt books him onto the Shane Taylor Promotions side, and hastily calls upon Todd Sinclair to be his fifth member. 

The fact that someone in ROH signed off in investing this much time and expense (they even have Cary-tron videos) for an on-screen in-joke which only the guys in the office and locker room will really find funny says a lot about the mess Ring Of Honor finds itself in. The fact that they are going to drag Shane Taylor, who has as much potential as anyone on the current roster, into this mess says even more. Brian Johnson delivering a pretty savage promo demanding he be included in the match was great at least. This is also the first time SOS (and 'CEO' Ron Hunt) appear officially with Taylor, although I didn't hear if Moses and Kaun were officially acknowledged as members of Shane Taylor Promotions or not.

Gator is participating in the match whilst also performing his camera man duties. Joe Dumbrowski has been rushed through the curtain to replace Ian on commentary. Johnson demands that he start for his team, only to be floored by Cabana. Shane Taylor is so unimpressed that he grabs his TV Title belt and leads a Shane Taylor Promotions walk-out. He, SOS and Ron Hunt all leave meaning The Mecca is left on his own. Todd wants in...so Johnson puts him in a headlock which Dumbrowski does a hell of a job selling as a potential finish. Colt helps him escape...and Sinclair LEAPFROGS into some kung fu strikes! Bionic Elbow by Cabana...who tags in Ian and sends him to the top rope! FLYING ELBOW DROP by Riccaboni! Cabana pins Johnson to win at 04:27

Rating - DUD - This was a long ass segment, which harmed a LOT of active competitors, with the only pay-off being a few giggles for the ROH staff, a Todd Sinclair leapfrog and an Ian Riccaboni elbow drop. Yes those moments were funny, yes Gator filming the match whilst participating in it was amusing...but it is hard to see past how arrogant and short-sighted this was. ROH was on its knees by this point in 2019. Attendances were flat-lining, interest in their product was at an all-time low. They were in NO position (even on an 'Unauthorized' event) to be running haha comedy skits for the benefit of a few guys in the office, at the expense of wrestlers with genuine upside like Taylor, SOS and Johnson (and even Cabana, although I think most people could see by this point he had no interest in sticking around to be ROH's commentator for much longer). I'm happy Colt, Ian, Gary, Gator, Todd and Bobby Cruise had fun. I hope the locker room and office found this funny. Watching as a distant, DVD-viewing fan it popped me a couple of times. But there was something VERY rotten about this too...

Maff returned to ROH after more than 14 years away, last night in Pittsburgh. He was appointed as partner to Marty Scurll and PCO for their Six-Man Title defence...and duly won the match for the team, albeit after a confrontation with PCO. He was scheduled to return here, booked by Cabana into a 'non-sanctioned match' against the #1 contender for the World Title. Putting aside the controversy and rumours around regarding Maff's 2005 departure (whilst still holding the ROH Tag Championship with BJ Whitmer), newer fans of Ring Of Honor may not be aware that he is one of the most violent wrestlers to ever step foot in the company. A veteran of bloody wars with Carnage Crew, Da Hit Squad, the Second City Saints and more; he has competed in Street Fights, Boston Massacre Matches, Fights Without Honor, Falls Count Anywhere Matches, Bunkhouse Matches and more. In short - he is more than equipped to deliver some serious damage to PCO on the road to Final Battle...

PCO wins the early battle of the shoulder blocks and drives Maff to the floor...but isn't as fast as the former Da Hit Squad member who almost breaks the f*cking guardrails hitting a tope suicida. But PCO totally no-sells that and walks back into the ring for a TOPE CON HILO! Unable to be separated, they instead start hunting under the ring and pulling out concrete blocks. They take turns bouncing each other's heads off the guardrails with seemingly no-effect...SO THEY START RAMMING THEIR OWN HEADS INSTEAD! PCO is still a Villain of course - so pokes Dan in the eyes. BURNING HAMMER ON THE FLOOR BY MAFF! Somehow PCO isn't finished from that, returning to his feet to spear Maff through a table...for 2. The Monster fills the ring with more tables, but is seemingly unaware that Maff is now playing possum and lying in wait. As soon as PCO is done putting another table in the corner he pops up and spears him through it. RUNNING DVD THROUGH ANOTHER TABLE gets 2! Furious at PCO's kick-out, Maff fills the ring with chairs - but takes so long about it that PCO has time to recover, and deliver a Canadian Destroyer into the chairs. He climbs the ropes but MISSES THE QUEBEC CANNONBALL TO THE APRON! PCO is barely moving - yet rather than finish it Maff stacks up eight concrete blocks in the ring. He also dumps a bag full of thumbtacks on the canvas...which inexplicably provokes PCO to REMOVE his Uncle Fester jacket. CHOKESLAM IN THE TACKS! Maff's torso is like a pin cushion...but he gets up and back drops PCO in the tacks as well! He shoves tacks into PCO's mouth before booting him across the jaw, before draping his spasming torso over the concrete blocks. Still PCO won't stay down. He PRESS SLAMS Maff into the concrete...for 2. Maff gets up! BURNING HAMMER ON THE CONCRETE BLOCKS! PCO KICKS OUT! Maff is incredulous and just starts whacking PCO with a chair trying to make him stay down. PCO grabs one of the concrete bricks and thuds it into Maff's skull. He's out - but just to make sure we see the PCO-Sault. He wins at 17:52

Rating - *** - Full of plunder and undoubted entertainment value, this was at times astonishingly violent. Neither of these two are young men yet they absolutely brutalised their bodies. I liked the premise that Maff is one of the few men with a similar 'pain threshold' to PCO; it gave them a lot of scope to no-sell the sh*t out of everything and go to town with one car crash spot after another. The problem comes with the fact that ROH has 'gone to the well' with these hardcore main events SO many times in 2019. In previous reviews I've described as a symptom of their business being down, so trying to draw fans/buzz with gimmicks and stipulation matches. It means that, by November, we've seen much better hardcore main events, with far more mobile and exciting wrestlers, and with much better back stories to make you care. It's a great watch to see these two big, burly dudes mangle each other - but I don't see the long-term gain or purpose here and it makes me slightly uncomfortable that Delirious doesn't have ANY better ideas than going all the way back to 2002 and chucking Maff out into hardcore brawls...

Marty Scurll comes out to put over PCO as the next World Champion of Ring of Honor. Whilst doing so he also talks about his own ROH career in the past tense, which I found interesting. 

Tape Rating - ** - The positives from the weekend were that the crowds were definitely better than the UK Tour. In terms of numbers they might have been similar, but these venues felt a little more intimate and kept the sound in better - meaning the whole experience felt more lively and enjoyable. Unfortunately both shows stand as pretty stark indicators as to where ROH's business is in 2019. Fans weren't buying tickets, they was hardly anybody talking about Ring Of Honor on social media, the angles and storylines are almost non-existent, the promotion is run by people who will sign off on a twenty-minute pat on the back/rib on the office segment yet still refuse to give matches fans actually want to see enough time on pretty much EVERY show...and the whole thing booked by a guy who has totally burned out and has nothing left to offer but endless hardcore main events with ever-diminishing returns. This isn't a terrible show by any means. It was quirky, we got to see a lot of Colt Cabana cracking jokes (hardly a bad thing), there were some very funny moments and a couple of great matches. However, by November 2019 I cannot believe that ROH officials and management couldn't see the worrying trends developing in fan engagement/attendance...yet they don't seem to be taking any steps to address that. Given that it was hidden behind the Honor Club paywall I presume very few people actually watched this - and I defy anybody to make a case that even if new fans did somehow did see this, it would be enough to convert them to die hard ROH viewers in the crowded 2019 wrestling landscape. Rush/Lee vs Lifeblood is fantastic, PCO/Maff is violent...but the biggest joke on display at 'Unauthorized' is the creatively barren, directionless and weirdly soul-less place that the one-great Ring Of Honor promotion had become...

3) El Villainisto/El Jefe Cobbo vs Delirious/Mini-Delirious (***)

2) PCO vs Dan Maff (***)

1) Rush/Dragon Lee vs Tracy Williams/Mark Haskins (****) 

5) PCO vs Dan Maff (*** - Unauthorized)

4) Marty Scurll/PCO/Dan Maff vs Jeff Cobb/Colt Cabana/Cheeseburger (**** - The Experience)

3) Flip Gordon vs Tracy Williams (**** - The Experience)

2) Jonathan Gresham vs Mark Haskins (**** - The Experience)

1) Rush/Dragon Lee vs Tracy Williams/Mark Haskins (**** - Unauthorized)