McXal's Reviews

Last week was a welcome return to form for Ring Of Honor, back in front of an audience specifically there to see a Ring Of Honor product and freed of some constraints placed upon them by getting crammed into AEW's crowded schedule. The announced card for this week suggests there is a strong chance we'll see another good show this week too. Zack Sabre Jr. returns to defend his NJPW TV Title, this time against AR Fox, Tag Champion Rey Fenix tackles Gringo Loco in a potentially explosive affair, former Women's Champion Mercedes Martinez makes a welcome return to competition...and our main event will see The Kingdom, Darius Martin and Action Andretti look to settle their rivalry in a Fight Without Honor. Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman and Nigel McGuinness are back in Orlando, FL to call the action.

EARLIER TODAY - Willie Mack and Ninja Mack show each other mutual respect and propose a 'Mack Attack' tag team...

Gringo's impressive performances against El Hijo del Vikingo and Blake Christian have earned him another high profile singles match tonight - this time against one half of the reigning ROH Tag Champions. But he is yet to win in Ring Of Honor and would love to break that sequence at the expense of a high profile name. Fenix, meanwhile, has to worry about the Blackpool Combat Club, with Claudio preparing for the Tag Title shot he earned with a singles victory over Rey on AEW Dynamite.

Gringo strikes Fenix out of the Code Of Honor, showing an aggressive determination to leave with his hand raised tonight. The two men tumble all over the ring; until Fenix hits a DOUBLE SPRINGBOARD hurricanrana to send Loco to the outside. DOUBLE SPRINGBOARD SUICIDE DIVE TO THE FLOOR! Gringo evades a double stomp then PRESS SLAMS Rey out of his tumbling Ace Crusher spot. He then starts choking and pulling at Fenix's mask, which the audience aren't impressed by. Rey rallies with the ROPE-WALK PK! Frog Slash gets 2! Gringo rattles his skull with a couple of big kicks...so Fenix NAILS him with a spinning heel kick, and they both collapse in a heap. FLYING ACE CRUSHER by Loco for 2! Somersault snap rana by Fenix in response, but he is so worn down he has to pause and catch his breath after hitting it. He positions Loco on the top rope and climbs up after for a DOUBLE SPRINGBOARD FRANKENSTEINER! Gringo kicks out! SPRINGBOARD TWISTING DESTROYER BY LOCO FOR 2! INVERTED RANA BY FENIX! ROLLING THUNDER CUTTER! Fenix wins at 08:55

Rating - *** - If you've followed my reviews for a while you'll know I'm a huge fan of the Lucha Bros. I adored Lucha Underground, and the exploits of Fenix and Pentagon in that promotion made me a huge admirer of their work. Having them as ROH Tag Champions is extremely exciting - precisely for matches like this. It was exactly this kind of fast-paced, spot-filled TV-length sprint that made me a fan of his in Lucha Underground, and it's exciting to see it on ROH television now as well. It seems that Gringo Loco is turning into a specialist in this junk-food lucha for television too. I didn't think this was quite as good as his match with Vikingo, but more substantive than his Ep. 9 main event vs Blake Christian. He's been great value in his brief ROH career thus far...

Dasha Fuentes interviews The Wingmen, who make fun of the Iron Savages ahead of their match later. 

TWO WEEKS TIME - Katsuyori Shibata defends the ROH Pure Title against Alex Coughlin

This show broadcasts a few days before NJPW Strong's 'Resurgence 2023' event which will see Willow as part of the four-woman tournament field to crown a first NJPW Strong Women's Champion. She has been on a hot streak in ROH since Athena defeated her all the way back on Episode 2 and won't want her momentum derailed tonight. Wrenkowski has worked AEW Dark/Elevation before and has become a regular in Billy Corgan's NWA so will be a stern test.

Willow is too powerful for Wrenkowski, meaning Madi can't grapple her or withstand her big shoulder tackles. Instead Madi gets resourceful; choking Nightingale in both the ropes and the ring apron to get ahead. Willow powers out of a cobra clutch and starts throwing elbows in the corner. Spinebuster nailed, but Madi COUNTERS a diving powerbomb by Willow into an X-Factor for 2. Pounce by Willow! The straps come down and the Dangerous Babe Bomb finishes Wrenkowski at 03:44

Rating - N/A - Too short to amount to much, but I actually had a lot of fun with this. Willow was her usual, likeable self - but it was actually Madi's performance opposite her which caught my eye. She took some brutal hits and bumps - such was her role in putting Nightingale over here - but I thought her brief spells on offence were incredibly smart. The way she used the ring to get ahead when Willow threatened to dominate her, and the way she went after Willow's neck (a historic weakness for the 'Babe With The Power') were both full of cunning and ingenuity. 

Avalon and Nemeth are looking to make an impression in their Ring Of Honor debut, at the expense of the Iron Savages (who easily won their debut a month ago and are back for more tonight).

Bronson starts with Avalon, with The Wingmen quickly hitting a few combo moves to outsmart the brawn and power of their opposition. It doesn't last however and Bronson soon smashes his way through both opponents in quick succession. Boulder flattens Nemeth with an Earthquake splash for 2. The Wingman drag Bronson back into their corner so they can again work over one of their beefy opponents at a 2-on-1 advantage. Boulder eventually saves by giving Avalon a big boot with such force that it sends him into a DDT on his own partner. MOONSAULT MISSES for Boulder! He flattens both Wingmen with a running crossbody instead then lifts Bronson up for the Elevator Drop. He pins both opponents to win at 05:16

Rating - * - The right team won and there were some fleeting moments of interest, but this was too long and too packed full of cheesy jobber gimmicks to feel like a particularly serious wrestling match. I do enjoy Bear Country/Iron Savages so hope they get more opportunities to shine - but I don't think this did them many favours. Another one of those matches which had a real stench of Dark/Elevation about it.

On Episode 8 we saw Karter team with Lee Johnson in a losing effort against the Dark Order. He has a new partner by his side now and together they are looking to take down former ROH Tag Champions. This is the first time Sydal has been seen on ROH TV since the last batch of Universal Orlando tapings...

Karter pits his skills against the veteran former World Champion and unsurprisingly comes up short. Jawbreaker/Slice combo, followed by a standing corkscrew senton by Sydal gets an early nearfall. They hit a combo move sequence on Clayton as well...so Cole gives Sydal a cheap-shot to the back. It jars Matt's spine and tees them up to work over the midsection for a couple of minutes. Even when Sydal tries to jump off the top the youngsters counter; Karter throwing him off the turnbuckles into the arms of the waiting Clayton to hit a big powerslam. Sydal makes a vital tag to Daniels, who is so good he easily takes the fight to both opponents simultaneously. Karter saves Clayton from Angel's Wings...but eats a hurricanrana by Sydal for his troubles. BME finishes Zack at 06:28

Rating - ** - This was pretty decent. Daniels and Sydal made everything they did look so effortlessly easy, and Cole Karter is young talent who has a strong look and obvious potential (and will only get better working with veterans of this calibre). I didn't think Zack Clayton had quite as good a showing as everyone else, but for a six minute tag match where the only real aim was to get the Daniels/Sydal team back on TV and give the younger guys some time in the ring with them - this was fine.

This is an intriguing match-up. Both women are talented, but usually find themselves fighting against a more established ROH/AEW star and don't have the best win/loss record as a result. The Lucha Baddie is still struggling to replicate the success she had in the ROH Women's Division in 2021, but her status as a finalist in the critically-acclaimed Women's Title Tournament of that year puts a target on her back for women like Lady Frost who also needs wins to lock down a roster spot.

They start at a frantic pace, with Alize hitting a headscissors and punting Frost in the ribs. Facewash in the corner almost decapitates Lady F, and sets up a double underhook suplex as well. Alize starts talking smack, but is quickly silenced as Frost flattens her with a handspring cannonball senton for 2. Tiger Driver by Miranda gets 2 as well. CARTWHEEL AIR RAID CRASH by Frost! TEMPERATURE DROP! Frost wins at 03:18

Rating - N/A - Both of these women deserve a more prominent spot than they've been getting on ROH television. Alize has so much potential and carries her character extremely well. Frost probably has more flashy spots but doesn't always connect with audiences as much as she did here (where she was aided by a strong antagonistic display by Miranda). I thought they brought an incredible, dynamic energy to this even in just three minutes - and I'd love to see a more substantial rematch.

Ian Riccaboni informs us that this is Eli's comeback match after a hiatus training at Bandido's Gym in Mexico. He teams with his old mentor Cheeseburger, and the Shinobi Shadow Squad are looking for their first win since Tony Khan bought out the company. Angelico and Serpentico don't win very often either, so both teams will view this as a real opportunity to get ahead.

Cheeseburger impresses Nigel with some World Of Sport-inspired chain-wresting at Serpentico's expense, but that is soon curtailed when Angelico cheap-shots him from behind. SAP beat CB down in the corner, but he wriggles out and makes the big tag to Isom. He spears Serpentico in the corner and drills him with a pop-up neckbreaker for 2. Tope suicida wipes Serpentico out in the aisle, leaving CB and Angelico as the legal men inside the ring. The ref doesn't see Luther take out Eli with a big boot...and Angelico forces Burger to submit with Cruceta Invertidas at 03:39

Rating - * - As with the Savages/Wingmen match, this was too fully of goofy jobber gimmicks for me to feel particularly invested or take it seriously. I've said it a few times, but the timing of the Khan/ROH buy-out really hurt Eli Isom, who in 2021 was being pushed hard as one of ROH's brightest stars (going to the finals of the Survival Of The Fittest and spending time in the ring with all the top names in the company). He still has obvious potential, but he needs something fresh if he wants to stand out in the obscenely crowded AEW/ROH roster...

ZSJ returned to Ring Of Honor at the last Universal tapings and looked imposing as always in defence of his NJPW TV Title against Blake Christian. He is back and once again puts his New Japan championship on the line against a man who stylistically clashes with him in every way. Fox and ZSJ will have crossed paths in Evolve, and the British technician will be in no doubt that someone as explosive, talented and experienced as Fox poses him a serious threat this evening. 

Fox escapes ZSJ's opening attempt's to break his arm, leaving the champion visibly annoyed already. The announce team talk about Fox carrying a neck injury into this from his high-impact encounter with Anthony Henry last week, and Sabre tests that out with a series of headlocks. Sling Blade by Fox, tossing the champ outside so AR can hit a SUICIDE DIVE! Sabre blocks a Fox-Catcher though and drops right into an armbar, once again trying to injure the challenger. AR slumps in the corner, but even when he covers up ZSJ just relentlessly boots him in the injured shoulder! Fox clings to the ropes to evade a cross armbreaker and clocks Zack with a running elbow...but can barely drag himself off the canvas to follow up. Twister Suplex gets 2! PELE KICK TO THE SHOULDER by Sabre! With Fox still reeling from that Zack stomps the arm into the canvas then rattles him with a PK for 2. He verbally disrespects Fox, and is surprised when the challenger has enough in the tank to fire back with chops, kicks and a hanging DDT in the ropes for 2. He takes ZSJ to the top rope, but Zack counters with a TOP ROPE COBRA TWIST! LO MEIN PAIN BY FOX...FOR 2! Zack tries to crawl away, so Fox boots him to the floor and lands a SOMERSAULT PLANCHA! 450 Splash dodged...jumping enzi ducked...and Sabre almost pins Fox with his bridging Genie pin. STOMPS TO THE KNEES BY ZACK! It means Fox has one arm and can now barely stand as well! Fox slingshots once more...but Zack rolls through into an arm-capture/Stretch Muffler/weird-ass submission which looks disgusting! Fox has no choice but to submit at 12:17

Rating - **** - A really enjoyable clash of styles. At first I was a little concerned that it was going to be a Zack Sabre Jr. exhibition match with Fox just along for the ride, but they actually did a great job making this feel genuinely competitive even when the result was a foregone conclusion. Watching Sabre at work is always a privilege and I loved the closing stages here when he reacted extremely defensively after Fox used his athleticism to string a series of high impact moves together. Knowing he had already incapacitated Fox's arm, he brutally dismantled the legs as well - and in doing so broke down the last of the challenger's resistance and was able to submit him. If you enjoy Zack's work I think you'll get a kick out of this, since Fox made for a really game opponent.

Dasha Fuentes grabs an interview with the victorious Sabre Jr., who calls himself 'the most active TV Champion in all of professional wrestling'. Almost before the words leave his mouth Samoa Joe's music hits and the ROH legend stomps to the ring. Joe says that he understands that NJPW/ROH officials don't want 'anybody to lose face in this wonderful cultural exchange'...but doesn't see why he and Zack can't have a fight right now. Before they get the chance to do so, they are interrupted by Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal - with the latter petitioning for a title shot at either TV Champion. ZSJ (calling Joe 'Samoan Joseph') suggests that the TV Champions unite to face Daniels and Sydal in tag team action - with a title shot on the line if either are defeated. He does dangle the possibility of a Joe/ZSJ singles match in future too 

Brent Tate (the 'other Boy') is still MIA after being attacked off camera last week. The Mogul Embassy denied responsibility (but boastfully reveal his mask to the camera)...but are nevertheless in action against Dalton and Brandon tonight. Kaun has developed a first name since we last saw him in ROH and now goes by 'Bishop Kaun'... 

Dalton has 'Baby Chicken' Boys back for the first time in a while, and is incredibly fired up in his quest for vengeance for the missing Boy. Brandon eventually starts for the team though, and after some initial resilience is swarmed by both Gates and quickly finds himself getting tossed around the ring with ease. They bully Tate around, causing Castle to get increasingly edgy on the apron. The fans chant 'wash your feet' at the bare-footed Liona...who responds by jamming his feet into Brandon's mouth instead, which is a great heel move. Brandon gets some retribution by jamming his knees into Toa's groin when the big man looks for a butt splash...and The Boy crawls desperately across the ring to finally release Dalton for the first time. Liona blocks his signature bulldog, then smashes through an attempted exploder suplex as well. Castle retorts with a nipple cripple then flurry of body splashes...all for a count of one. German suplex on Kaun as he tries to run in and interfere too! He tries to launch Tate into a tope suicida...but Liona catches him! Nana distracts Castle, allowing Kaun to KO the Peacock with a big gutbuster (the old Death By Roderick). He and Toa hit a double gourdbuster on Brandon (which Riccaboni dubs 'Open The Gates') to win the match at a lengthy 09:29. Dalton vociferously protests the result as he feels he was the legal man.

Rating - ** - I really did appreciate that this got a decent amount of time; longer than many main events during the weeks they were taping on the road with Dynamite. Everyone benefited from spending more time out there too. It was nice to get more familiar with the Gates Of Agony as a tag team (since they mostly work squashes, or trios matches where Brian Cage gets more spotlight), and some of their work brutalising Brandon was really fun to watch. Similarly, I thought as an individual performance - Castle was utterly fantastic. He was getting insane reactions from the crowd, despite barely featuring in the match at all (but did look really potent as an in-ring force during his brief spells as the legal man too). The downside of giving them ten minutes is that they really didn't seem to have anywhere to go with it. The match was essentially eight minutes of the GOA f*cking up Brandon (and looking progressively more inept for failing to put him away), a minute or so for Dalton to get his sh*t in...before the emphatic win. It won't go down as a great match and probably could have been shorter, but in this instance I do think the pros of a ten minute time allowance outweighed the cons. I am very ready for this Dalton & The Boys vs Embassy rivalry to end however.

We've seen an alliance formed between The WorkHorseman and Shane Taylor, and last week the trio looked set to assault AR Fox (until they were thwarted by AEW Tag Champions FTR as well as the returning Eddie Kingston). Now they are teaming up again; will we get any answers as to what the purpose of this alliance is?

Gibson and Pearl start strongly and hit a couple of double-teams on Henry, but before long the bruising power of Drake is on display and me flattens Eddie with a Vader Bomb for 2. Lungblower/double stomp combo nailed by the WorkHorsemen. Taylor tags...and absolutely obliterates Schaff with a lariat. Stereo brainbusters from Drake and Henry take out Pearl and Gibson, whilst Shane T sets Schaff up for the Package Piledriver. He wins at 02:43

Rating - N/A - I don't know that I like the Shane Taylor/WorkHorsemen alliance. Something about it feels a little forced and like it is three dudes without much direction being thrown together, but individually I like the Henry/Drake team and am really keen to see more of Taylor in the 'new ROH' so if this gives them a purpose and direction then so be it. It was an effective squash match if nothing else.

Dasha asks The Righteous what their obsession with the Dark Order is, with Vincent stopping her to call Stu Grayson 'inspiring'. Grayson interrupts, but Vincent calls him a 'dog on a chain' being held back by Dark Order. Uno, Silver and Reynolds cut his pitch short...but Stu berates them for 'speaking for him', then leaves saying he is giving Righteous 'one chance'...

The 'OG Badass' of SHIMMER and former ROH Women's Champion returns to the ring here for the first time since she lost the title to Athena at Final Battle 2022. Much has changed since then; Athena has cemented herself as the dominant force in Ring Of Honor's women's division, and young talents like Ashley D'Amboise are now signed with AEW/ROH and hungrier than ever for opportunities. Can Mercedes re-establish herself quickly, or will age and ring-rust leave her vulnerable to a star on the rise?

Martinez smiles and tries to impose her will on Ashley but the height, strength and agility of D'Amboise do make her a formidable foe. Mercedes looks to assert herself with a huge slap, but again Ashley retorts with a flurry of strikes herself. Roaring Elbow by Martinez, then the Three Amigas for 2. D'Amboise is clearly rattled, but she shows real tenacity as she tumbles into a swinging neckbreaker. Sadly for her, Martinez blocks her attempt at a torture rack and drills her with a spinebuster. Ashley blocks the Bull Run though, elbowing Martinez in the back of the head and giving her a BURNING HAMMER for 2! She tries to put Mercedes on her shoulders for a second time...but this time the OG Badass slides free and blasts her with a CURB STOMP! Brass City Sleeper applied, tapping D'Amboise out at 06:24

Rating - *** - I'm probably biased, because as a long-time SHIMMER fan I have an affinity for Mercedes Martinez, but I thought they accomplished a lot with this match. It walked a really fine and fragile line; giving Martinez an imposing and impressive return match without ever feeling like a squash or like D'Amboise wasn't a tough opponent. You were left with the impression that maybe Ashley could beat Mercedes, but tonight wasn't her night and the returning former ROH Champion was too powerful for her. It was a really tightly structured TV-length bout as well, packing a real punch into a relatively short run-time and building to an exciting, satisfying conclusion.

For the first time under the Khan administration, the historic 'Fight Without Honor' stipulation is brought out to settle this rivalry between the ROH veterans in The Kingdom and the new blood that they feel have disrespected them and tried to take un-earned spots in the company Taven and Bennett have worked so hard for. Even when Darius' brother Dante suffered a horrific injury at Supercard Of Honor, there was another rising young star (and friend of Darius) waiting in the wings in the form of Andretti. Top Flight beat The OGK in their big return match to ROH at Final Battle, and since then Bennett and Taven have only really managed to get tainted victories over their rivals. Tonight - with the rules tossed aside - these four men look to settle the score once and for all.

Andretti comes out armed with a copper pipe and is confronted by The OGK on the stage...but they don't see Martin come out through the crowd and attack them from behind! They hit stereo suplexes on the hard stage to take an early advantage over the veterans. They fill the ring with weaponry, and join forces to double-dropkick a chair into Bennett's face. STEP-UP RANA OFF TAVEN'S BACK by Andretti! They then deposit a trash can over Taven's head and repeatedly bash it with pipes and chains. They try to bring a ladder into the fray as well...but are delayed by a frantic Maria and get it kicked into their faces! Darius ducks Kick Of The King, but takes a low blow from Maria and CHAIR-SHOTTED OFF THE APRON ONTO A LADDER ON THE FLOOR! Bennett then gives Action a spinebuster through the trash can (despite blood now pouring down his face). JUST THE TIP INTO A LADDER AROUND MARTIN'S HEAD! Caprice makes a great point on commentary, reminding everyone that Taven has had serious knee injuries in the past so must viscerally hate his opponents to do that. They set up the Air Taven Doomsday Device on the floor...BUT DARIUS DUCKS! ARABIAN PRESS by Andretti! Darius has a hard time setting up a table though, leaving himself vulnerable to a decisive Taven chair shot. The OGK make a platform out of three open chairs, before Taven heads upstairs. HAIL MARY THROUGH THE CHAIRS on Martin - saved only by Action breaking the ensuing pin. Andretti blocks the Proton Pack to lay the ailing Taven out on a table. SPRINGBOARD 450 THROUGH THE TABLE! And since it doesn't break properly Action gets right back up for a JACKHAMMER THROUGH THE TABLE AS WELL! Bennett saves his partner with a Spear then scoops Action up for a RUNNING DVD THROUGH A TABLE! PURPLE THUNDER DRIVER THROUGH A CHAIR from Taven to Darius gets 2! The fight spills to the outside again, with Maria Kanellis joining in and smacking Martin around with a metal pipe. BENNETT INADVERTENTLY KNOCKS HIS WIFE OUT WITH AN ELBOW STRIKE! Andretti gives Taven a low blow and is then joined by his partner for a gruesome double spinebuster through another open chair. DOOMSDAY DEVICE OFF A LADDER! Martin pins Bennett to win at 15:10

Rating - **** - They deserved a platform like this to conclude this rivalry, because it is one of the few things which has felt pretty unique to Ring Of Honor and distinctly different to AEW television. Bennett and Taven are steeped in ROH history; former champions, former Top Prospect Tournament winners, veterans of multiple ownership regimes...but in 2023 they need to fight for their spot in this company once more. It feels like an authentic, organic story to have two young starlets - projects of All Elite Wrestling and no doubt earmarked for big things in AEW's future - come to ROH and collide with a legacy team like The OGK. The match itself was suitably violent and plunder-filled, albeit a little messy and scrappy at points. It is by far the most violent the Honor Club show has gotten thus far and it was a fitting finale to a rivalry which has bubbled along for several months. It possibly didn't feel quite as impactful as it would have had it been Top Flight winning here unfortunately (as was the original plan presumably). In fact - in the absence of Dante - I'd have been tempted to put The Kingdom over to establish them as villainous opposition for the Lucha Bros - but this felt like the end of the story they'd started telling last December. I hope the result is a high profile Penta/Fenix vs Action/Darius Tag Title Match (on ROH, not Dynamite/Rampage/Collision)...

The fans give the match a standing ovation, and The Kingdom show their respect to the victors by shaking hands with them.

Tape Rating - *** - It didn't quite hit the highs of last week, and the middle portion of the show sagged under the weight of some excess filler...but between the lively opener, the excellent ZSJ/Fox TV Title Match and the violent main event there was plenty to like about this episode. Even matches which I didn't like quite as much - like the Gates Of Agony tag - felt more substantive and significant because they had more time in the ring and weren't sprinting through everything so they could get out of the ring and pack up the ROH banners before Dynamite starts. The step up in quality of the show over the last two weeks is pronounced - and episodes like this deliver far better value for money on the Honor Club subscription fee. I hope they can maintain this progress.