McXal's Reviews

There isn't much I can add to the plethora of well-written articles, reviews and write-ups about this show. Its origins are now the stuff of legend; namely that Dave Meltzer scornfully dismissed a fan asking whether ROH would draw 10,000 fans 'anytime soon'...drawing the ire of Cody and the Young Bucks. Perhaps realising that as an individual commodity the 'Being The Elite' cast-members were more valuable and more of a draw than Ring Of Honor, it morphed into a self-financed venture (albeit with involvement and support from multiple promotions, in particular ROH and NJPW), a 'love-letter to professional wrestling', and as a culmination to months of skits, storylines and angles on The Elite's YouTube show. When tickets went on sale they famously sold out in less than 30-minutes, despite only one match (plus a host of popular independent talent from all around the world) being announced - becoming the first non-WWE pro-wrestling show in the US to draw a 10k+ crowd since WCW (and the first outside of WWE or WCW in 25 years. 

It said a lot about the landscape of modern professional wrestling - both good and bad. It said more about the overwhelming popularity of the BTE cast. And it kick-started a monumental shift in the very fabric of professional wrestling in the United States; a precursor to the recovery of the NWA under Billy Corgan, a direct correlation to ROH and NJPW being able to sell out MSG a few months later, a snapshot into the future of the business with stars like MJF, Tessa Blanchard, Joey Janela, Bandido and more heavily featured, plus of course the simultaneous rise of AEW, WWE elevating NXT to a true 'third brand' in an effort to combat AEW, and the catastrophic collapse of Ring Of Honor. The card for this show is so well-known most can rattle it off anyway - from the grudge match between Christopher Daniels and Arrow star Stephen Amell, the heavily-hyped NWA Heavyweight Title bout between Nick Aldis and Cody, Hangman Page and Joey Janela in a Street Fight, Omega vs Pentagon Jr in a match that many felt stole the show, Marty Scurll stepping up to the 'Rainmaker' Kazuchika Okada...and of course the squeezed for time main event which saw the 'Golden Elite' of the Bucks and Kota Ibushi face the luchador dream team of Bandido, Rey Fenix and Rey Mysterio. We are in a sold out Sears Center in Chicago, IL. Commentary is provided by ROH's Ian Riccaboni, PWG's Excalibur and NJPW's Don Callis - a completely unique hybrid commentary crew formed from all of the Young Bucks' home promotions...

It is rare that I cover a PPV pre-show in my reviews, but the pre-show for All In was an event in itself. Airing for free on WGN America, it was another exceptionally clever piece of marketing - letting fans get a glimpse and taster of the All In atmosphere in an effort to draw last minute buys. The big hook for the pre-show was the 'Over Budget Battle Royal', where stars from all over the wrestling world will compete for an ROH World Title shot against Jay Lethal on the main show...

The BTE theme hits...and in unison the entire building stands up and starts singing along. It is astonishing visual. Cody and the Bucks come out to standing ovation...and tease blowing the entire budget on pyro before they go to commercial break. They also toss around free merch and decide they need a 'random cameo from a wrestling legend' too - bringing out Road Warrior Animal on a motorbike. RIP Animal...

The Briscoes' ROH Tag Titles aren't on the line tonight, but ever since ROH's Best In The World SoCal Uncensored have been openly hunting down Jay and Mark. Their ROH contracts expire at the end of the year and ROH COO Joe Koff has already announced he isn't re-signing them. Clearly they want the leverage of ROH gold and will get their opportunity at Death Before Dishonor. But for tonight, this is a chance to show a huge, packed crowd exactly what Joe Koff is willingly throwing away at the end of 2018...

SCU are in their Rocky-themed gear from BTE. The Briscoes debut their lousy new music and get huge heel heat just for showing up. Jay starts with Kaz...but makes a break for the SCU corner and blasts Scorpio off the apron so he and his brother can beat down Frankie. Sky does eventually make a save with an emphatic double stomp on Mark. It hits right on Mark's neck, with Kaz poised to capitalise on that with a Russian legsweep as well. Jay storms the ring and DECKS Sky with a lariat! The Briscoes again isolate one of their opponents - getting rough with Scorpio with him deep in their half of the ring. It gets harder and harder for Sky to get his breath back as Jay and Mark tag in and out frequently, almost swarming him for several minutes. Finally Scorpio escapes though, unleashing Kaz for a frenzied hot tag sequence. Jerry Lynn leg drop throttles Jay, as Scorpio launches Mark OVER THE TOP ROPE with a belly to belly suplex! Slingshot rana to the outside by Kazarian. SOMERSAULT PLANCHA BY SKY! Stereo slingshot cutters by SCU, into STEREO DRAGON CLUTCHES! The counter to that is equally brilliant, with Jay raking the eyes of Kaz (who has his brother in the hold), thus freeing his brother to rescue him. The Briscoes quite literally beat Kaz out of the ring, into prime position for the APRON BLOCKBUSTER by Mark. Day One Neckbreaker gets 2, as does the Redneck Boogie. They try to set up an avalanche version of the Redneck Boogie...which Sky breaks by hurling Jay into the guardrails. RUNNING FRANKENSTEINER on Mark! Urinage/lungblower combo gets 2. Frankie wants Celebrity Rehab...which Jay breaks by KILLING Scorpio with a mafia kick. JAY DRILLER! FROGGY BOW! SKY BREAKS THE PIN! The Briscoes set up the Doomsday Device. COUNTERED IN MID-AIR TO THE FLUX CAPACITOR! BIG FAT KILL ON JAY! SCU WIN! Kaz and Sky beat the ROH Tag Champions at 12:33

Rating - **** - Almost perfect as a curtain raiser for a historic night of pro-wrestling. There's an argument to be made that you could have swapped this into the main show in place of Cross/MJF but I think being on the pre-show actually helped them. Time was already at a premium on the All In broadcast itself. By dropping this to Zero Hour they gave the four men a little more time to produce an absolutely spectacular piece of tag team wrestling, but also remind anyone watching for free on TV what they can expect to see by purchasing All In. The four participants looked hugely motivated by being the first guys out and really stepped up; this was physical, exciting and felt like it peaked at just the right time.

At the announce table Riccaboni, Excalibur and Callis put over how unprecedented the talent roster is for this show. Stars from NJPW, ROH, Impact, CMLL, AAA and more all in attendance and all wanting to be part of history.

Alicia Atout is backstage with Kenny Omega, poking fun at traditional female interviewer techniques for making their male interviewees seem taller. Kenny puts over Pentagon, reminds everyone that he is the IWGP Heavyweight Champion...and wants to produce a 'match for the ages' tonight.

A brilliant video package hyping the Aldis/Cody NWA Title Match airs next.

This is a classic Battle Royal format, with stars from all over the world of pro-wrestling competing for a chance to challenge for the ROH World Title on the main show. It means we could see someone like Moose returning from Impact as ROH Champion. Or what about Jordynne Grace becoming the first female ROH Champion? Other notable entrants include Brian Cage, Colt Cabana, Brandon Cutler, Jimmy Jacobs, the Best Friends, Billy Gunn (and his son Austin), Marko Stunt, Bully Ray...and the mysterious Chico El Luchador from the BTE series. Dalton Castle joins commentary (and gets a lovely ovation from the crowd too).

Billy Gunn and Punishment Martinez are the first men to hit the ring, whilst outside we see Bully grab Chico and POWERBOMB HIM THROUGH A TABLE! He then makes a beeline for Chuck Taylor, another man he's had issues with in ROH. HEAT SEEKING MISSILE from Jordynne to Trent! MAFIA KICK from Ethan Page to Grace! ASAI MOONSAULT TO THE FLOOR by Cabana! Tommy Dreamer and Billy Gunn are alone in the ring...and get big pops for refusing to hit big dives to the floor! Moose starts punching the lights out of all comers...so when he tries a rebound crossbody a whole bunch of guys catch him and deposit him on the apron. Moose thinks he's landed safe - and doesn't see MARKO STUNT ready to dropkick him off the apron! Moose is the first man out. Ethan Page refuses to let the Best Friends hug. Hurricane Helms almost eliminates Bully on one side, as on the other Cutler is beating down Stunt. Quebrada from Cutler to Brian Cage! Bully almost breaks Marko in half, and legit pulls him out of the air by his hair to keep beating on him rather than eliminate him. Cutler is tossed on the other side of the ring! Ethan Page is still continuing his battle with the Best Friends...so Rocky Romero saves them! He pulls his old friends back into the ring...and they celebrate by giving Jacobs the Lawn Dart. They start hugging...and Punishment tosses them out! Forever Clotheslines all round the ring by Rocky! DISCUS LARIAT by Cage to stop that, right before he launches Romero out of the match. Cheeseburger starts giving all the big guys Shoteis...so Cage F-5's him over the top rope! Martinez and Cage start beating the sh*t out of each other...and trading RANAS! HURRI-CHOKESLAM from Helms to Martinez and Cage! Page and Hurricane battle on the apron...where Ethan mafia kicks Helms to the floor. FLYING ASSHOLE from Cabana knocks Ethan out as well. Tommy Dreamer takes his moment to go hardcore, filling the ring with weapons and bludgeoning opponents with trashcans and cookie trays. SPICCOLI DRIVER on Martinez! BULLY RAY TOSSES TOMMY! He is supposed to be Bubba's best friend! Marko gets in Bully's face, and this time has both Billy and Austin Gunn to back him up. Testicular Claw from Jacobs to Austin! He follows that with a Five Knuckle Shuffle, and tries to give Austin the Pedigree as well before his father (and HHH's friend) Mr Ass breaks it up. Billy throws Jacobs to the floor. AUSTIN LARIATS MARTINEZ TO THE FLOOR! But his big moment is immediately ruined by Bully Ray. FAME ASSER from Billy to Bubba! CAGE PRESS SLAMS BILLY TO THE FLOOR! SATELLITE CODEBREAKER BY STUNT! BULLY THROWS HIM STRAIGHT OVER THE TOP! The final four seem to be Cage, Cabana, Bully and Jordynne Grace! BUCKLE BOMB from Cage to Grace! NO SOLD! RUNNING POWERBOMB BY JORDYNNE! SHE ELIMINATES THE MACHINE! Then she gets right in Bully Ray's face too, so he rakes her eyes. Cabana grabs Bully! WASSUP HEADBUTT by Jordynne! Sadly for her Bully no-sells that and eliminates her, apparently leaving him alone with his ROH rival Colt Cabana. Colt starts wailing on Bully with a chair...and he no sells that too, eliminating Cabana. The Chicago crowd HATE that and it seems like Bubba is getting the title shot...but there's one man left! Chico El Luchador is still on the floor, having been put through the table and not entered the ring officially. He pulls off his mask. IT'S FLIP GORDON! FLIP ELIMINATES BULLY! FLIP IS ALL IN! He wins the Battle Royal at 17:04

Rating - **** - Surely one of the best booked and laid out Battle Royals in the history of professional wrestling. Some of it was admittedly messy, but it was also riotously entertaining and literally didn't stop being fun from start to finish. Bubba Ray Dudley - as in ROH - probably got a more prominent spot than he deserved, but he did at least do a good job as the super-villain of the bout. Popping up to destroy every feel-good moment - from putting Chico through a table before he could enter, to eliminating his own best friend Dreamer, stealing Austin Gunn's spotlight, trashing Stunt and Jordynne as the whole building was going nuts for them, and referencing his ROH feuds with Cabana and Flip too. Clearly the pay-off was Flip finally finding a way to get booked; the pop for his unmasking was deafening. A huge moment to give away for free on TV, and a clear indication of how ravenous this audience are to see the oddball angles from Being The Elite paid off tonight. If you can find Zero Hour online it is worth it for this match alone...

This was a late addition to the card, and brings together two men with contrasting styles at wildly different points in their career. M-Dogg, Matt Cross, is a veteran high-flyer who has worked for almost every major promotion out there. He's worked for ROH, Lucha Underground, Wrestling Society X, AIW, IWA-MS, XPW, appeared on Tough Enough and more. On the other hand, MJF was only just starting to take off at this point. Strong runs in MLW and CZW had significantly increased his profile, and he'd now started travelling widely and working multiple prominent independent promotions. Will it be the veteran athlete or the smart-talking and brash younger guy who take the win in our All In opener?

M-Dogg is absolutely jacked, but almost takes a back seat as MJF plays to the huge crowd. Unsurprisingly it ends up with Friedman taking a cheap shot and tossing Cross out, with the cutting comment that he doesn't 'need to flip to get over'. Matt's response is to cartwheel off the ropes, toss MJF then wind up halfway up the aisle after a Sasuke Special. MJF hides in the corner so Cross can't dive off the top...then pops out behind referee Todd Sinclair to throw Cross into the ringpost. He starts working over M-Dogg's arm to set up his Armbar finisher. HAMMERLOCK gutwrench powerbomb gets 2. SPRINGBOARD SUPER RANA by Cross...but he lands hard on his shoulder and is as injured as MJF is in the aftermath. Now fighting with one arm, he actually busts out some nifty athletic spots to take the fight to Friedman temporarily...before getting absolutely shut down with a PACKAGE SHOULDERBREAKER for 2. Perhaps showing his inexperience, MJF starts getting frustrated at not being able to put Cross away though. He starts belting him with strikes...but takes his eye of the ball and is rolled straight into a double stomp across the chest. He goes for a cover...only for MJF to grab his arm and lock in the Armbar! M-Dogg escapes, right into the HEAT SEEKER Piledriver for 2. Moonsault misses! SSP by Cross! The veteran nabs the win at 10:07

Rating - *** - As a late addition to the show, without a great deal of build from Being The Elite, the live audience weren't necessarily red hot. But, even in defeat, there is absolutely no doubt who the star of this particular bout was. In what was undoubtedly the biggest match of his career, MJF confidently and competently filled the Sears Center with a big, vibrant and technically sound performance. His stock was already on the rise before All In so this is in no way responsible for 'making' MJF. But it heralded his ascension to the next level as far as independent wrestling talent goes, and serves as a great prelude to the impact he'd make upon arrival in AEW. Cross was solid, sold his arm well and did everything asked of him...but this was the MJF show.

Veteran broadcaster Sean Mooney is backstage ready to interview Nick Aldis. He proclaims the NWA Title to be the reason All In has sold out, and thinks his match with Cody is the most hotly anticipated on the card. He doesn't feel like stepping aside for Cody anytime soon.

Jerry Lynn is the special guest referee for this one (the 'New Reffin' Show'), whilst Amell has Arrow co-star Josh Segarra in his corner. Back at ROH's Survival Of The Fittest 2017, Daniels actually put Amell through a table in a 5-vs-4 handicap tag match - but far more of the build for this comes from Being The Elite. Daniels framed Amell for the 'murder' of another character and upon his release, the Arrow star demanded a match against the Ring General for All In. Amell is a friend of Cody and a passionate fan of pro-wrestling...but is he even remotely equipped to hang with someone like Daniels in a one-on-one match?

Daniels trash talks Amell and spits at him with a big smile on his face...before dismissively taking him down to the mat. The Arrow star knows he can't trade holds with the veteran so tries to trade chops instead...but ends up on his ass in the corner. Dropkicks and an enzi knock Daniels out of the ring though, and Amell is much more comfortable on the floor in a fight. He pulls a table from under the ring looking for some payback from the ill-fated 2017 ROH event in Texas, but Daniels of course slithers away before anything happens. They go back to the ring where Amell gets into an argument with Jerry Lynn then dumped on the mat with a back suplex. The Ring General starts targeting the ribs and back; knowing that for someone that doesn't wrestle regularly Amell is susceptible to blow up quickly. Arabian press squashes all the air out of his lungs and almost leads to him going through the table. Incredibly, Amell blocks that by going for Cross Rhodes and when Daniels blocks that he hits a falcon arrow instead. Amell climbs the ropes...VAN TERMINATOR NAILED! But that almost takes as much out of Arrow as it does from Daniels, meaning the veteran (even on wobbly legs) is able to land the BME. Amell knocks Daniels out of the ring, causing him to lie prone over the table. SPRINGBOARD ELBOW DROP THROUGH THE TABLE ON THE FLOOR...MISSES! Amell eats table and floor grotesquely! Jerry Lynn decides he doesn't want to count them both out though and tosses them both back in! Daniels is irate and was happy to take a double count-out it seems! He and Jerry almost come to blows as the desperate Stephen Amell somehow gets back to his feet - waving middle fingers at his opponent! Angel's Wings blocked...ELI ISOM COUNTER GETS 2! BME nailed a second time, giving Daniels the win at 11:43

Rating - *** - Amell took the Shane McMahon approach to being a part-time wrestler and it got over HUGE with the live crowd. I thought the three-pronged announce team did a terrific job of putting over just how difficult Amell's task was - even as an admittedly gifted athlete - in trying to work a pro-wrestling match at this level with barely any experience. I've seen actual professional wrestlers do far worse. Everybody already knows that Chris Daniels is one of the best of all time, but for him to lead Amell to something this good was an astonishing accomplishment. Working Amell's midsection was incredibly smart; giving the audience an accessible entry-way into believing how blown up Amell would get. In fact, 'smart' probably describes this whole match (unnecessary Jerry Lynn interlude aside). They could have relied on Amell's two big blockbuster bumps to get by, but instead worked in multiple smart references to their exchanges in ROH - Amell using the counter that caused Daniels to drop a fall to rookie Eli Isom in New York earlier in the year was a GREAT deep cut. 

Daniels and Amell shake hands after the match. Meanwhile at the announce desk Tenille Dashwood and Mandy Leon replace Don Callis for the next match...

I believe Deonna Purrazzo was originally going to be a part of this match, before signing with WWE and being forced to drop out. It is a veritable who's who of independent women's wrestling talent though. Baker is, to some, considered the underdog as she has the least experience (albeit getting a huge pop for using boyfriend/ghost Adam Cole's entrance theme). Green and Tessa have worked extensively for Impact (although Chelsea had left by this point), whilst Madison has competed all over in 2018 and is the veteran of the group. Blanchard has Magnum TA and Tully as part of her entrance...

Tessa almost knocks Madison out rather than shake hands before the match! Then she almost caves in her chest by smashing her into the guardrails. It leaves Baker and Green alone in the ring, trading nearfalls at a frantic pace. Rope-walk lucha armdrag by Chelsea, even as she struggles to contain her 'Hot Mess' persona! Sadly for her she is mowed down with an emphatic tackle from the returning Blanchard. HANGING MAGNUM gets 2 for Tessa, only for Rayne to return and try to overwhelm Tessa with repeated pinning combinations. Blanchard's response is to press slam her to the outside! Bicycle kick from Green to Britt. TOPE SUICIDA NAILED! RUNNING PESCADO by Tessa! Madison is creeping up the ropes now! TOP ROPE PLANCHA TO THE FLOOR! Sling Blades back into the ring by Baker, taking out all three opponents. Ripcord Cutter by Rayne...who turns into a stalling vertical from Tessa. Chelsea topples Blanchard into the ringpost and runs through her face with a facewash. BACK DROP DRIVER from Britt to Chelsea! Rainbaker countered to a flatliner by Blanchard. Missile dropkick from Chelsea to Blanchard! This is frenetic stuff now. DIVING SUPER CUTTER BY RAYNE! All four are down! I'M PRETTIER by Chelsea! MAGNUM BY TESSA! SUPERKICK BY BRITT! Blanchard blocks the Rainbaker, only to walk into a Crucifix Driver by Madison. I'm Prettier from Green to Baker gets 2. CANADIAN DESTROYER on Blanchard for 2! Buzzsaw DDT by Tessa - pinning Chelsea for the win at 12:42

Rating - *** - The finish felt a little weird, as if someone was supposed to break it up but didn't (or if it was the planned finish, someone should have gotten out of the way, but didn't). Aside from that this was a great, exhibition-style spotfest which got a hell of a response from the live crowd. Tessa's aggression and Chelsea's charisma particularly stood-out but all four women really excelled. 

All four women hug and get a thunderous standing ovation for their efforts...

Chico El Luchador and Fat Ass Masa are shown in the front row, whilst Brent Tarring replaces the Women Of Honor on commentary with Ian and Excalibur for the next bout.

This is one of the marquee matches on the card, and arguably the one with the most build. Cody laid down the challenge for the NWA Title months earlier, wanting to reclaim the championship which once sat on his father's desk in his office when the young Cody was growing up. Initially the idea was that Nick would put the NWA Title on the line, whilst Rhodes would defend the ROH World Title after winning it at Best In The World. Cody failed to win the belt, but instead handed over his beloved 'Ring' Of Honor and reminded Nick that, even without the ROH Title, All In was the biggest platform the NWA has received in decades and that, after Nick beat a part-time teacher (Tim Storm - who is in Aldis' corner), his name brings the kind of prestige that he needs to be respected as a genuine World Champion. In a word, 'legacy' is what these two fight for tonight. Cody wants to continue the legacy of the Rhodes family name and the NWA World Championship. Aldis wants to continue his work rebuilding the reputation of his championship and needs a win over Cody to cement his own legacy as one of the best in the world. Cody's entrance entourage includes his wife, his father-in-law and brother-in-law, Tommy Dreamer, Dallas Page, Glacier and Pharaoh the dog (who gets a bigger pop than some wrestlers). Aldis' includes Storm, Shawn Daivari and Jeff Jarrett. Earl Hebner is the ref as well. Everything about this presentation makes it feel like a huge deal...

Holy sh*t do these guys ever have the crowd as the bell rings. Aldis looks the more stoic and composed, despite Cody's big match experience. In contrast Cody is jittery, agitated and constantly moving. Nick is bigger and stronger too - meaning he is able to use headlocks to control the challenger and repeatedly tackle him down. Rhodes recognises it too and quickens the pace to hit a tope suicida. Aldis again shows his composure by grabbing Cody on the floor and dumping him with a suplex. He inflicts more damage to the back by shunting it into the ringpost. Even when Cody fights back he is now visibly in pain. Out of desperation he goes for the Cross Rhodes, only for Nick to escape...and they then collide mid-ring going for simultaneous crossbody blocks. Rope run springboard suicide dive COUNTERED WITH AN ELBOW TO THE FACE! Earl Hebner checks on Cody and calls for medical assistance, with DDP running back down the aisle to check on him too. Shawn Daivari comes back out and shoves Page aside, trying to convince Hebner to throw the match out. BANG! DIAMOND CUTTER on Daivari! Cody appears to have been busted open by that elbow...and since the match is continuing Aldis drives closed fist strikes right into the head wound. Cody is so woozy he struggles to get his grip when executing that powerslam spot he hits in every match. MOONSAULT PRESS MISSES! That's more damage to the midsection too, which Nick capitalises on with knees to the ribs and an avalanche fallaway slam. Diving body press gets 2 for the champ...then takes his eye off the ball and walks almost right into a Figure 4 Leglock by the stricken American Nightmare. Aldis makes the ropes on that and hits a running powerslam on the floor to decimate Cody's injured spine. Rhodes tries an Alabamaslam...but the back gives away and he cannot swing the champ over. He screams defiantly, scoops the National Treasure back up and gives him a spinning Alabamaslam instead! Disaster Kick misses...FOLDING POWERBOMB by Aldis! King's Lynn Cloverleaf! Brandi runs around the ring and does all she can to encourage Cody to make the ropes. In a brilliant visual, Nick drags Cody out of her clutches for a JUMPING PILEDRIVER! Brandi actually gets into the ring and tries to convince Aldis to stop. He refuses and dives for the flying elbow drop. BRANDI SHIELDS HER HUSBAND! She forms a human shield and took the brunt of Aldis' top rope elbow drop! Disaster Kick! CROSS RHODES! ALDIS KICKS OUT! Din's Fire blocked...Cross Rhodes by Aldis blocked! Cody holds Nick's shoulders down...AND WINS! New NWA Champion at 22:01

Rating - **** - Big, silly, overbooked...but wickedly fun as well. A sports-entertainment influenced heavyweight, main event level bout that absolutely delivered. They gave the fans exactly what they wanted, taking them on a journey and telling a terrific story amongst the madness. On CODY's big night, surrounded by HIS fans, it seemed that Aldis had the strategy, poise and confidence to outclass the American Nightmare. At the bell it seemed like a formality that Cody, one of the stars who sold out this building, would follow in his legendary father's footsteps and become NWA Champion. The quality of Aldis' work cast real doubt on that and therefore created real drama as the blood spilled, the bombs dropped and various characters got involved. They delivered a moment of history, and one of the stand-out bouts of this legendary show...

Janela is the perfect fit for All In. A little out there, but someone who has busted his ass, put the miles in and built a name for himself on the back of his own hard graft and impressive body of work. Fans were thrilled that he was announced as a part of All In...but, 'Bad Boy' though he may be, many believe he is in danger tonight. He faces the 'Joey killer', the Hangman, and another member of the core BTE cast looking to make a big impression on their big night...

Page opens up with a violent boot to the head and tosses Janela from the ring in the opening seconds. They trade tope sucidas with wilful disregard for their own physical wellbeing - quickly establishing how violent this could get. HANGMAN-SAULT TO THE FLOOR NAILED! This match is barely 90-seconds old! They open a chair inside the ring. PUMPHANDLE SUPLEX THROUGH THE CHAIR by Page! With Joey incapacitated, Page leaves the ring and unveils a Cracker Barrel...barrel! STEP UP SOMERSAULT PLANCHA OFF THE BARREL INTO THE CROWD by the Bad Boy! Back at ringside he tries to Donkey Kong the barrel at Page, who jumps it like Super Mario...right into a roaring elbow by Janela. BUCKSHOT OFF THE GUARDRAIL! Hangman sets up a table on the floor, giving Joey precious seconds to recover which he uses and delivers a running DVD to the turnbuckles. He summons some assistance from Penelope Ford and drags a ladder from under the ring - propping it between the Cracker Barrel and the apron. That in turn gives Page recovery time, which he uses to pull Janela down from the turnbuckles. INTO A BURNING HAMMER OFF THE APRON THROUGH THE LADDER! Penelope realises that Joey is in trouble and gives Hangman a big slap across the face. BACK FLIP, MATRIX STUNNER from Ford to Page! TOP ROPE SUICIDE DIVE TO THE FLOOR! She isn't done either - battering Page down so Janela can hit a flying elbow THROUGH THE TABLE! The fight gets nasty now, raging up the aisle where Janela takes a comically large run-up to clothesline Hangman onto the stage! He and Penelope set up a pair of tables in the aisle...but take so long about it that Joey walks into a superkick. AWESOMEBOMB OFF THE STAGE THROUGH THE TABLES BY PAGE! Janela's landing on that looked brutal, and it's almost amazing that he gets back up so Page can give him a Rite Of Passage. Penelope jumps into the ring to break the pin though! She hands him a bag...containing his talking boots! Page freaks out and Superkicks the sh*t out of her! Superkick by Janela for 2! The Bad Boy goes out one side of the ring and tosses a ladder into the ring, quickly followed by a table as well. He sets up the table and heads up the ladder, with Hangman in pursuit. HANGMAN HAS THE MURDER PHONE! He blasts Janela in the head! RITE OF PASSAGE OFF THE LADDER THROUGH THE TABLE! Page wins at 20:08

Rating - **** - In the days after watching the live broadcast of All In, this match felt like the sleeper hit of the whole show. These three (and I do mean three, Penelope Ford was a big part of their success here) beat the sh*t out of each other, at incredible speed, for a full twenty minutes without relenting. It took them out into the crowd, onto the stage, up ladders, parodying Donkey Kong. It was zany, whacky and absolutely brutal. Perhaps most crucially, they produced a match which was immensely fulfilling for Being The Elite fans but still absolutely enthralling for the casual viewer. 

All Party Parliamentary Group to discuss how best to promote, support and improve the professional wrestling industry in the UK 

Jay Lethal is walking towards the curtain for his match when an unseen hand passes him a pair of Macho Man glasses. Looks like Black Machismo will be joining us tonight...

Here ends Flip's year-long quest to get booked for this show. He left it to the very last second, pulling the ultimate heist to win the Over Budget Battle Royal on the Zero Hour pre-show. A great night for him could become legendary if he can leave Chicago as the new ROH Champion. He even has his friend Brandi Rhodes in his corner...but to counter that Lethal has Lanny Poffo with him and is apparently wearing Randy Savage's gear.

Lethal hops out of the ring and starts acting like Brandi is Ms. Elizabeth, which the crowd think is brilliant. Flip is noticeably thrown off by having to face Black Machismo, rather than the version of Jay Lethal he'd been expecting. He gets unceremoniously dumped out of the ring...so Lethal can start doing Savage/Elizabeth poses with an unwilling Brandi. She slaps Lethal, snapping him out of 'Black Machismo' mode apparently, right into the one-legged standing moonsault from the challenger. Adding insult to injury, Gordon knocks the champ out of the ring and rips off the Tope Trilogy - concluding the sequence with a twisting somersault plancha. Twisting frog splash back in gets 2. The attack has opened up an injury to Lethal's ribs which is apparently so severe that the champ starts going to flash pins just to escape. He hits a jumping enzi, injures his own body more and slouches forward - right into another standing moonsault by Flip. Next Jay tries to escape by going to the top rope, but ducks his head right into the Kinder Surprise! 450 Splash misses...Lethal Combination nailed! Gordon grabs around the bad ribs to block the Lethal Injection, and drops him down onto the injury again with a Falcon Arrow. Star Spangled Stunner COUNTERED to the Lethal Express. Lethal wants to finish the match, only for Lanny to appear on the apron to slap the Black Machismo back into him. Hail To The King...three times over! Flip kicks out and starts Hulking Up. Lethal jumps up before the Leg Drop so gets a Pele Kick instead. Springboard Sling Blade nailed, setting up the Samoan Pop - all impact on the bad ribs. CORKSCREW MOONSAULT gets 2! To the corner they battle, where Lethal counters the Kinder Surprise with a SUPER ACE CRUSHER! LETHAL INJECTION! Lethal retains at 14:23

Rating - *** - Watching live this was my least favourite match on the show. Revisiting it a couple of years later that feels harsh, but as someone who has repeatedly pointed out that I just don't enjoy Lethal's 'Black Machismo' gimmick I still struggle to relate to big chunks of this. I understand why they went this route though. This isn't an ROH show, it's an Elite show. Even with the love they have for Flip getting booked, a straight-faced wrestling match on the back of the drama of Cody/Aldis and the violence of Page/Janela would have risked tanking. What I appreciated more on second viewing (and at a more reasonable hour here in the UK!) was that there was a really good match in amongst the Randy Savage tribute act. Flip being thrown off his game by Lethal's antics, then using his own spots to kick-start a targeted attack to Lethal's ribs was a strong central premise. In short, the wrestling behind the pageantry was better than I remembered...

Bully Ray runs down the aisle trying to get some payback on his arch enemy Flip Gordon. Lanny Poffo tries to help out...and gets kicked in the balls for his trouble. He sets up a table, but doesn't see Colt Cabana running down the aisle, roared on by the Chicago crowd. He joins Flip and Lethal for a TRIPLE POWERBOMB through a table! Bully's night at All In ends unceremoniously...

On a night which has seen many of the BTE regulars pay-off recurring storylines from the YouTube series, they group adopted a far more simplistic approach to booking Kenny's match at the big show. There's nothing complicated here - simply unleashing the 'Best Bout Machine' and reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion into a dream match with the fearsome AAA luchador, the former Impact and Lucha Underground Champion, Pentagon Jr. This cross-promotional, international dream match is emblematic of everything that All In represents...

As you'd expect, the crowd are absolutely on fire before they even touch. Pentagon savours the atmosphere and plays to the crowd...until Omega slaps him in the face! So Penta punts him in the chest! The Cleaner rolls out but Penta goes right after him, pummelling him with big strikes. DIVING lungblower nailed! Omega bails before he can land the tope con hilo though, and tosses him with a running rana. Rise Of The Terminater COUNTERED with a Sling Blade! SOMERSAULT PLANCHA by Penta! Callis, Riccaboni and Excalibur do a great job putting over Kenny's poor physical condition after the G-1 Climax, and he curls up in extreme pain when Pentagon gives him a savage powerslam on the floor. The intimidating luchador is dominating the IWGP Champion and centrepiece of NJPW at this point. You Can't Escape COUNTERED with big boots right into Omega's face, so The Cleaner leaps into a tornado DDT instead. SPRINGBOARD CROSSBODY TO THE FLOOR! Omega dives back in with a missile dropkick to the head and lands the Aoi Shoudou for 2. V-Trigger blocked with a Superkick...so Omega absolutely hammers him with a roaring elbow then the Dragon Rush instead. One Winged Angel countered to a lungblower for 2! But Omega survives that, dodges a double stomp and almost breaks Penta's neck with a snap DVD. V-TRIGGER! Pentagon clings to the turnbuckles and kicks Omega's legs out for a GHETTO STOMP! Fear Factor COUNTERED TO THE V-TRIGGER! NO SOLD! CERO MIEDO! V-TRIGGER AGAIN! NO SOLD AGAIN! Omega powerbombs Penta ON HIS NECK! V-TRIGGER GETS 2! Again Pentagon refuses to play ball on the One Winged Angel and instead dumps him with the PENTAGON DRIVER! Kenny is in major trouble and saves himself by crawling out onto the apron. Penta hurls Spanish-language abuse at him even whilst Omega repeatedly kicks him in the head. FEAR FACTOR ON THE F*CKING APRON! Penta takes an age getting Omega back into the ring, and after a lazy ass cover is helpless as Omega pops up and gives him a SWINGING PACKAGE PILEDRIVER! V-TRIGGER! NO SOLD AGAIN! Penta will not die. ONE WINGED ANGEL...COUNTERED TO THE SACRIFICE! FEAR FACTOR! OMEGA KICKS OUT! Both of these guys are beaten senseless, but Omega is astonished to find Pentagon still posing, still yelling and still getting in his face! V-TRIGGER AGAIN! POISON RANA! Still Pentagon gets up! V-TRIGGER! ONE WINGED ANGEL NAILED! OMEGA WINS in 17:47

Rating - ****1/2 - I am an unashamed fan of this match. It remains one of my favourite bouts of 2018 even on multiple viewings. It isn't clever or cerebral - but in a Kobashi/Sasaki Tokyo Dome style delivered everything fans wanted from them. The occasion didn't call for Omega working marathon matches. It was a dream match, a collision of styles and a unique setting for two wildly divergent wrestlers. I can't deny it is spot-heavy and reliant on no-selling - but it is the personalities that make it. The JOYOUS response of the crowd as Omega blasts Pentagon with a V-Trigger only for the enigmatic Luchador to no sell it completely and throw up a 'Cero Miedo' will stay with me forever. The sight of Pentagon diving off Kenny's shoulders, avoiding the One Winged Angel and trying to break his arm with one of the most feared moves in all of Lucha Underground was stunning. These were incredible moments, and great moments make great matches, and great shows. In less than eighteen minutes these guys stole the show. Even though they now work together in AEW I don't know if they could ever recapture the magic and the atmosphere they had here. It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. And all of that is before the notorious post-match...

As Kenny's hand is raised in victory the lights go out. When they come back on, 'Pentagon' gets back to his feet and puts the boots to Omega. The announce team twig that his tattoos look different. CODEBREAKER NAILED! CHRIS JERICHO IS ALL IN! He pulls off his Penta mask and batters Omega with another Codebreaker before leaving him with a warning that they'll meet again on the Jericho Cruise...

Marty Scurll walks towards the curtain, with the hand guys from BTE belittling his prospects as both a musical artist and a heavyweight wrestler. He breaks their fingers!

Getting the Rainmaker over from NJPW was one of the biggest pieces of talent recruitment the team behind All In pulled off. I believe he is friends with the Bucks, but his presence adds legitimacy and star power even amongst all the names they brought in for the show. This has received plenty of build across multiple formats. On BTE Scurll has had to cope with countless people telling him he doesn't stand a chance with Okada. He has trained with his friend, the now-former NWA Champion Nick Aldis, and now attempts to emulate the Young Bucks by ascending to the NJPW heavyweight scene. Can he pull off a monumental upset? Or will Okada prove his star-power on yet another major platform?

Okada steps into the middle of the ring and stares down at the junior heavyweight across from him. He is almost dismissive of Marty, depositing him in the ropes and patting him. He makes the mistake of trying to trade wristlocks with Scurll though - and quickly finds The Villain's British style too hot to handle...so goes back to trying to intimidate him with his size and power. Try as he might Marty isn't able to get Okada up for a suplex and is deposited on the ground. Instead Scurll creates distance - drilling the Rainmaker with repeated European uppercuts which drive him to the outside for a Heat Seeking Missile. He chases Okada around ringside, blistering his chest with chops. He makes his move to start picking apart Okada's arm too - which the Rainmaker noticeably sells after dumping Scurll with a flapjack. DDT ON THE FLOOR by Okada! It leaves Marty nursing his neck and in real pain. Now when he tries to throw chops the former IWGP Champion simply laughs in his face and DECKS him with an elbow strike. The Villain fights for all he is worth to escape a punishing stranglehold - then showcases some heavyweight strength to counter into a stranglehold lungblower. The crowd start to rally behind Scurll, but he sees the Graduation easily countered to another DDT by Okada, crunching down onto his injured neck once again. Air Raid Crash blocked...Just Kidding blocked...REBOUND LARIAT by Marty! BRAINBUSTER NAILED! Okada is down! He desperately tries to block a piledriver - which he does with the Air Raid Crash on the bad neck for 2. Scurll refuses to back down and keeps getting in Okada's face even when the Rainmaker bludgeons him with elbows. SUPERPLEX by The Villain. HEAVYWEIGHT POWERBOMB gets 2! Still Okada blocks the Graduation though, and almost breaks Marty in half with a shotgun dropkick, followed by a brutal missile dropkick variant too. Yet still Scurll fights - countering the Tombstone into a tornado DDT. Only for Okada to roll immediately through and back into the Tombstone second time around! Rainmaker...COUNTERED TO THE FINGER SNAP! NO SOLD! DROPKICK! RAINMAKER...DUCKED INTO THE F*CKING CHICKENWING! Okada is too big for Scurll to lock his fingers though. He actually stands up and splashes backwards, bouncing Marty's head off the mat. CHICKENWING AGAIN! Okada barely escapes second time around and is shoved into referee Tiger Hattori on the way out. Scurll grabs the umbrella...AND SMASHES OKADA IN THE FACE! RAINMAKER BY SCURLL...GETS 2! That was SO close! Chickenwing COUNTERED TO THE RAINMAKER! BOTH MEN DOWN! They get back to their feet and start battering each other with elbows (as Paul Turner can be seen at the side of the ring loudly yelling at Marty to 'go home now'!) ROLLING RAINMAKERS BY OKADA! He finally puts Scurll away at 26:05

Rating - **** - This match has sort of gone down in infamy; blamed as the reason that the Young Bucks only got eleven minutes to main event their own PPV - with Scurll in particular very much being portrayed as the 'Villain' of the piece (fuelled by his being omitted by the post-PPV BTE cast Curtain Call). I've always found that criticism to be a little unfair. It isn't Marty's fault that they booked the totally unnecessary MJF/Cross match which took up ten minutes, when they could have slid into the Battle Royal just as easily. There are other matches on the show which could've achieved the same with slightly less time as well. Did this go a little longer than necessary? It probably did - but here's the thing; it's a GREAT match, with an awesome narrative. They ran a whole angle coming into this with nobody giving Marty a hope in hell. The way he and Okada gradually built Scurll up, layer by layer, to the point where he got a couple of absolutely scorching nearfalls was masterful to watch. They needed time to tell that story; it wouldn't have worked if they'd have gone out and smashed each other to pieces from the outset like Omega and Pentagon. Sure it was a slow burner and it took the audience a little while to get into it coming after Kenny/Penta and Jericho's appearance - but I am a real apologist for this match. I loved it more than most live and on repeat viewings I actually liked it even more. I did enjoy seeing Paul Turner at ringside literally SCREAMING at Marty to go home. I missed that first time around!

We end the night with a dream trios tag, pitting the 'Golden Elite' of the Bucks and Ibushi against a lucha all-star line-up. Bandido is very much a star on the rise thanks to his work in AAA, The Crash plus appearances for PWG, Dragon Gate and more. Fenix is more established, and more recognisable in the US thanks to his time with Impact Wrestling, and being one of the breakout superstars of Lucha Underground where he held all three championships. Their partner is the great Rey Mysterio; the man credited by many as helping popularise the Lucha style to US audiences, and assimilate that style into American pro-wrestling. With precious little time left in their PPV window, these guys have no choice but to put the accelerator pedal down from the outset...

Mysterio's Wolverine gear is dreadful. Matt starts with Bandido, predictably at insane speed. Bandido hits a tornillo then a RUNNING MOONSAULT to the floor! The Bucks realise they need to buddy up to kill Bandido's momentum...but don't see Fenix coming. He back flips off Nick into a rana on Matt, then grabs Nick for the repeated springboard lucha armdrags. Fenix Driver blocked though, allowing the introduction of Ibushi and Mysterio. The crowd goes apesh*t, as they work back and forth struggling to lay a strike on each other. That is until Kota kicks the absolute sh*t out of the legend! Matt tries to take over, but walks into a tumbling DDT by Rey. Worst Case Scenario from Matt to Fenix! DOUBLE PELE from Ibushi to Bandido and Fenix. ROPE RUN CORKSCREW MOONSAULT TO THE FLOOR BY NICK! GOLDEN TRIANGLE BY IBUSHI! ASAI MOONSAULT TO THE FLOOR BY MYSTERIO! STEP UP CORKSCREW PLANCHA BY FENIX! TORNILLO BY BANDIDO! Matt is on the stage! RUNNING SOMERSAULT PLANCHA OFF THE STAGE NAILED! In the ring Matt and Kota get 2 with a powerbomb/German suplex combo. TRIPLE RANA BY BANDIDO to make the save! Mysterio knocks Matt into the ropes. 619 BLOCKED! FENIX ROPEWALKS TO BLOCK THE MELTZER DRIVER! RUNNING RANA OFF THE APRON BY BANDIDO! SUPERKICK 619 COMBO by Mysterio and Fenix! DESTROYER NAILED! REVERSE RANA! STEREO TOPE CON HILOS BY FENIX AND BANDIDO! FROG SPLASH BY MYSTERIO FOR 2! This is crazy and so, so fast! Bandido chases Matt up the ropes. REVOLUTION FLY...GETS 2! SUPERKICK! SUPERKICK ON MYSTERIO! GOLDEN ELITE MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK! FENIX SAVES! MELTZER DRIVEEEEEEER! The Golden Elite pick up the win at 11:43

Rating - **** - The logistics behind this match are really astonishing. Guys from all over the world, who work for all kinds of promotions, speaking multiple languages, having to work together on the fly to put together an unbelievably intricate, complex and exciting spot-fest with absolutely no time at all. It is brilliant, breath-taking viewing from the mayhem inside the ring to the frantic panicking of camera men, ring crew and officials buzzing around ringside audibly yelling time cues, pleading with the Bucks to go home (and hopping around in disbelief when they thought the match was ending but instead they decided to shoehorn in Bandido's Revolution Fly spot as well). I feel awful for the Bucks that they didn't get longer in front of the packed audience to enjoy what they created. But, in truth, the tough spot they were put in and the quality of the match they produced speaks volumes for just how good they are and how much they deserve the success and fame they now have. There isn't much more I can say that hasn't been written about this main event. It's eleven minutes of six of the best wrestlers in the world going nuts on each other. In adversity you'll witness how truly great performers can make the best out of the most difficult situations. I can't praise them highly enough. 

Tape Rating - ****1/2 - I won't go on for too long with this concluding paragraph. This show is iconic. This show is hugely influential. This show is responsible for a seismic shift in professional wrestling as we know it today. But above all else...it's a f*cking fantastic wrestling show. It caters to all tastes and styles, it delivered MOTYC's, shocking moments, titles changing hands, hardcore thrills, great women's wrestling, one of the best Battle Royals EVER...and all while acting both as a showcase for future stars and a platform for current ones. Perhaps most unfathomably, the team behind it managed to combine pay-offs for all the zany, off-the-wall Being The Elite skits with superb in-ring action for the casual fan. It is impossible not to be happy for Cody, the Bucks and the BTE cast for what they achieved with All In - it is stunning. If you're one of the few wrestling fans out there who haven't yet checked it out, you owe it to yourself to do so. 

3) Nick Aldis vs Cody (****)

2) Kazuchika Okada vs Marty Scurll (****)

1) Kenny Omega vs Penta El Zero (****1/2)