McXal's Reviews

Whilst the ROH roster was on tour with New Japan for Honor Rising 2016, the TV show rolls on to the next stop on the Winter Warriors Tour. This is the go-home show for the 14th Anniversary Show pay-per-view so much work is needed to sell that show (beyond the obvious main event hype and obligatory ‘book some New Japan talent, they draw’ stuff). Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness are in Nashville, TN, and in a new building (rather than the old TNA Asylum/State Fairground venue). There are a LOT of visible empty seats which is never a good sign. 

The ‘Roddy vs The World’ series continues, as Strong moves from working world class death match worker Masada to a technical wizard in the form of Jon Gresham. Of course, Gresham comes into this with some momentum after his recent victory over former Roderick Strong rival Cedric Alexander so he certainly isn’t an opponent to underestimate. Before the match Veda Scott comes out and tries to offer Gresham money to hand his title shot over to Cedric Alexander then quit ROH permanently. He declines, so the match goes on…

Gresham has a reputation as a technician, but Strong is experienced and no slouch working the mat and he confidently holds his own with his challenger in that department. Having negated that he is able to pull Gresham to a vertical base where he can pelt him with the signature heavy-handed chops and backbreakers. It forces Jon to go more and more high risk…which ultimately leads to him trying an ill-advised diving headbutt and eating a savage dropkick across the face. The challenger finds a way to work the arm and prevent a cradle backbreaker however, grinding Strong down with a hammerlock whilst snapping the fingers on the other hand. It means that Strong now has a hand injury and can’t throw chops! He goes for his Octopus Stretch…which Roddy tries to counter to Death By Roderick, only for Jon to counter back into an anklelock! HAND-SELLING CHOP TO THE FACE by Strong! JUMPING KNOCKOUT KNEE! He finally retains at 06:07 (shown).

Rating - *** - I was initially sceptical about this Roddy vs The World gimmick. It didn’t seem innovative, and felt like a cover for Delirious to chuck all manner of challengers at Strong without actually having to book any storylines. But the way it has been managed has been very effective. Bringing in guys like Masada and Stevie Richards, convincing Daniels to dust off the Curry Man gimmick, and allowing deserving, under-rated talents like Gresham chance to shine have been inspired choices. And the way that Strong’s arrogance has led to him struggling to retain his belt in each of these matches wound up providing the perfect prelude to his loss to Ishii in Japan (which occurred the night before this episode was broadcast). This, like the Masada and Stevie matches, was a fun made-for-TV sprint. Strong looked dominant but cocky, nearly lost the match because his opponent has heaps of talent…but eventually found a way to retain. I’m amazed that it took until 2017 for ROH to get Gresham under contract given his performances early in 2016.

A graphic announces Strong vs Fish for the TV Title on the PPV, and on cue Bobby hops the guardrail to pick a fight with his 14th Anniversary opponent. They are soon separated, and blissfully unaware of the spanner Tomohiro Ishii will soon be throwing into their plans.

The Briscoes are excited about ROH debuting in a building where people like Johnny Cash and Elvis have performed. They intend to mark their debut in the arena with a win over Shelley and ACH

The Bob Evans/Tim Hughes team now have a name. It sucks like their team. Hopefully they are little more than job fodder for the reigning ROH Tag Champions as they prepare for a rematch with All Night Express in Vegas next weekend…

Evans instructs his protégé to start the match with Rowe whether he is equipped to do so or not. Hughes and Evans full-on screw up an attempt at an illegal double-team (literally, there are three men in the ring all standing and looking at each other like lemons) so badly I’m amazed it wasn’t edited out. Hughes is punished with Hanson’s Bronco Buster, before War Beard turns to clock Brutal Bob with the cartwheel lariat. Hughes has to be dragged like an untrained rookie into the champs’ climactic combo move, and is beaten via Hanson’s flying splash at 03:04

Rating - DUD - I’m not averse to televised squash matches when they serve their purpose, don’t outstay their welcome and don’t start taking too much time away from matches one actually wants to see. On this occasion I understood the goal (crushing win for Hanson and Rowe) and it wasn’t overly long…but it sucked because of how inept the enhancement talent was. Terrible Tim continues to live up to the name. He just isn’t good, and did a horrible job here of making his opponents look good. Evans is more tolerable as the surly veteran, but has nothing to offer ROH as an in-ring performer at this point. If he is half as reputable a trainer/seminar leader/backstage personality as some of ROH’s press releases suggest he is, they’d be as well to keep him behind the curtain and/or in the Dojo permanently from now on.

No chance for War Machine to celebrate, as ANX’s music hits and they arrive on the stage brandishing weaponry. They proclaim themselves to be the ‘linear’ and ‘undisputed’ Tag Champions, and King calls Hanson and Rowe ‘bearded bitches’. It’s a clear message ahead of Las Vegas, and Kenny King did a really strong job with his promo time.

NEXT WEEK – Silas Young and Beer City Bruiser face The Boys in a tag match. The Last Real Man informs them that his patience with the Boys has expired and he is ready to teach them a rough lesson.

The Young Bucks get some interview time, basically to promote the return of Kenny Omega. They promise a Superkick Party at the Anniversary Show.

Yes, more squash match action now – although it is notable as being BJ Whitmer’s return to the ring. Brown looks like another dirty, unwashed hillbilly talent. There are some incredible, unsigned independent wrestlers available right now. I understand they may cost money, but I refuse to believe it isn’t more worthwhile than letting these horrific looking dudes who have bought their spot via attending endless ROH training seminars loose on TV. Brown has a dreadful bleached comb-over and mullet, a pot belly and is nicknamed ‘Cauliflower’. Appearances can be deceiving (Gresham is tiny but crazily talented), but how many of these indy-riffic, amateur-looking white dudes (Bruiser, Hughes, Evans, Chase Brown – the list goes on) can ROH possibly put on television?

Whitmer vocally complains to Nigel about the calibre of his opponent even as they initially lock-up. He lands the Exploder inside the first minute and scores a comeback victory at 00:56

Rating - N/A - Short enough to be inoffensive. I stand by my comments that ROH needs to think about the look of the wrestlers they are allowing onto their show. I’m not trying to be old-fashioned, or Jim Cornette-like and petition for every guy to be tall, muscular and athletic. But the sheer volume of out of shape, hick-looking white guys ROH have floating around right now damages their brand. I mean that with as little disrespect to Chase Brown as possible. I’ve not seen him before, and for all I know he may well be a better worker than Bruiser, Bob Evans or Tim Hughes (and if he is, I’d be all for him taking their spot).

Whitmer wants to talk, but is interrupted by Steve Corino coming out. BJ tries to ignore him and calls out Adam Page…who obliges by running in through the crowd to attack him. Corino simply smiles from the stage as Page punches his arch-enemy’s lights out.

Adam Cole is out next (how many in-ring segments are we getting tonight!?). His entrance with ROH’s huge new entrance set looks superb. He has strong words for both of his 14th Anniversary opponents and ends with a defiant promise to become World Champion next weekend. Jay Lethal interrupts to disagree and they almost come to blows. Kyle O’Reilly doesn’t want to miss out so enters the ring and throws the first shot. Lethal is decked with Cole’s Last Shot, but in turn Adam eats O’Reilly’s brainbuster. When the dust settles it is Kyle standing tall posing with the belt in a scene he hopes will be replicated on pay-per-view.

The Briscoes and Alex Shelley have fought under numerous different circumstances in an ROH ring going back more than a decade. When Shelley formed Generation Next, it was the Briscoes who stood across the ring on the team opposing them. The MCMG/Briscoes series under Gabe Sapolsky’s tenure are must-see matches (particularly the first one on Cabana’s farewell show). We’ve also seen Jay and Mark battle the Time Splitters (Shelley’s most recent team with Kushida). Now they lock horns again in search of a victory before heading to Vegas to face Michael Elgin and Hiroshi Tanahashi. Christopher Daniels is back from suspension tonight apparently, and joins commentary for this. It is announced that he’ll be facing Shelley on pay-per-view. ODB is back and in the Briscoe corner too.

Daniels is so good on commentary that it’s almost distracting. I’d forgotten what an amazing promo guy he is since he gets to talk so rarely these days. The Briscoes takeover on ACH, driving him back to tag Shelley who enjoys more success than his partner. It’s actually aerial moves that bring success to Shelley, as they keep him out of the grips of the marauding style of the multi-time Tag Champs. It is only when Jay and Mark finally get hold of him and manage to land a few strikes that his momentum slows. AIR JORDAN BY ACH! Avalanche facecrusher by Shelley! Roaring Elbow by Jay! Then we go back where we started as ACH floors him with a brainbuster! KUNG FU DUEL between Mark and ACH! Mark ends it with the urinage, only to receive the turnbuckle Shellshock from Alex. Chris Daniels hops onto the apron to get into an altercation with Shelley, as inside the ring ACH misses the Midnight Star. Doomsday Device nailed by the Briscoes, and with Daniels restraining Shelley on the outside, they get an unsatisfactory victory at 06:59 (shown).

Rating - *** - This is the second week in a row that ACH has been in a tag main event that got screwed for time. Just like Sydal/ACH vs the Bucks last week I thought these guys worked with great energy and did their best to pack as much into their slim time allocation as possible. The structure was really good, with the Briscoes using their brawling style to dominate but the speed, resilience and skill of their opponents meant they were never able to break one off, isolate them or press home an advantage. It meant that Shelley and ACH were on the brink of an unlikely victory over the veteran Briscoes before Christopher Daniels interjected.

Daniels is joined by Frankie Kazarian and Chris Sabin in the ring, but only Kaz helps him put a beating on Shelley. Sabin stands by in the corner and refuses to lay a hand on his fellow Motor City Machine Gun. ACH rescues Shelley and helps him to the back and the episode ends with the KRD trio bickering inside the ropes…

Tape Rating - ** - One cannot deny that ROH worked damn hard to pack as much into this show as possible. It is practically bursting at the seams with content, all largely geared towards promoting the 14th Anniversary (as it should be). As a go home show this hit the right notes, but as a standalone wrestling episode it wasn’t memorable and doesn’t offer much re-watch value. Strong/Gresham was a very decent start at least, and I also thought Kenny King’s promo on War Machine made for superb television. The rest was mostly a box-ticking exercise, with as many 14YA matches as possible getting a mention. Strong/Fish, War Machine/ANX, The Elite trios tag, Whitmer/Page, Daniels/Shelley and Briscoes vs Elgin/Tanahashi all good promoted on this broadcast – which may not necessarily be entertaining but is excellent work in a commercial sense.