McXal's Reviews

The final night of the War Of The Worlds 2017 Tour was a television taping, not released on DVD as in previous years (an indication of the crashing physical media market I imagine). The star names that made the WOTW 2017 Tour a really solid set of shows are all here for TV as well - albeit we won't see any of the big Japanese names in this episode. Cody Rhodes is in the main event though, facing Frankie Kazarian in a grudge match. Speaking of grudge matches, 2017 Top Prospect Tournament winner Josh Woods is booked into what should be a heated encounter with David Starr, who ruined his moment of victory in the tournament. Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana are in Philadelphia, PA.

The Young Bucks and Adam Page come straight to the ring, to a predictably deafening reaction. After a quick shill of their YouTube channel they bring out Marty Scurll as the newest member of Bullet Club. He wants to throw a 'tea party'...but finds Adam Cole on the stage! He tells them all that kicking him out was a huge mistake, prompting Hangman to make a vow to 'run him out of Ring Of Honor'...

Starr has no Carytron video, which probably doesn't bode well for his future employment prospects. He created a big moment back in Baltimore when he crashed the conclusion of the (underwhelming) 2017 Top Prospect Tournament; making a statement by destroying the winner. Woods was that victor and is understandably sour that his career highlight was ruined by a man who wasn't even in the tournament field. The dangerous MMA fighter will now be looking to make the enigmatic Starr suffer...

Big reaction from the Philly fans for Starr; far bigger than for Josh's entrance. David smirks and disrespects Woods...who mauls him in the corner to resounding jeers from the crowd. A jumping knee knocks Starr sideways as he thinks about a dive to the floor, and The Goods is quick to capitalise with a rugged suplex on the floor. His inexperience costs him - a hesitant glance towards the fans gives David an opportunity to drill him with a DDT on the apron. Han Stansen gets 2 for Starr...but he keeps throwing strikes and walks into a judo throw. As if Woods wasn't getting enough heat with the Philly crowd, he lifts Bryan Danielson's LeBell Lock looking for a submission. Starr escapes and hurls abuse at him whilst pummelling him with chops. KNEE STRIKE knocks The Goods out! A rattled Josh tries a Knee Bar and is almost pinned by the cunning Starr. Product Placement countered to the Deenda (Knee) Bar by Woods - earning him a submission victory as Starr taps out at 04:34

Rating - ** - This had the same problem as Josh's matches in the TPT. He doesn't necessarily look comfortable with a character and persona he wants to portray within his matches, meaning everything he does comes off a little goofy. He is bigger, more physically imposing and an experienced MMA fighter, yet his striking came off as desperately unimpressive when compared to the smaller Starr. The one thing this had going for it was a lively crowd. Starr was over, meaning Woods was getting real heat and their otherwise low key encounter was contested in front of a vibrant atmosphere. It's easy to say 'Starr is a better wrestler and should have won'. I agree Starr is better and, to put it mildly, his in-ring work is NOT the reason he isn't getting more ROH bookings. But Ring Of Honor clearly see Woods as a long-term investment. Moose was pretty unpopular and tough to watch when they brought him in, but after a couple of years developing him he'd become a really enjoyable part of the roster (then promptly left). Josh has the look and extensive amateur credentials - clearly Sinclair have invested in him as a developmental prospect. And I don't mind that, it is certainly a more effective use of the TPT than bringing in 40-year old journeymen to waste TV time...

A video package for Punishment Martinez plays - warning the ROH roster to 'prepare to be Punished'

NEXT WEEK - Adam Cole vs Adam Page in the main event...

Silas Young and Beer City Bruiser are out next. Silas complains about Jay Lethal being called the 'franchise' and getting all the opportunities in ROH. He reminds everyone that he defeated Lethal in Milwaukee - bringing out a limping Jay Lethal. He wants a match with Young...but the Last Real Man sends Bruiser in to fight him instead.

Is it just me or is Lethal selling the leg injury WAY more tonight than he did in the War Of The Worlds PPV main event? Either way, it is an injury that Silas has repeatedly targeted during his rapidly escalating rivalry and is something he'll need to battle through this evening. Silas will be hoping that the Bruiser puts Jay out of commission permanently here...

Punches thrown by both men, but Lethal's knee is noticeably bothering him. He opts not to hit his signature tope suicida right before BCB clobbers him around ringside. Unable to use his knee, Jay instead flings his body into a CANNONBALL SENTON against the guardrails! Sadly he still can't stand, leaving himself vulnerable to a malicious chopblock from Beer City. He starts attacking the bad leg in the ropes but then misses a body avalanche in the corner. Somehow Jay hoists him up for a suplex...and when Bruiser bails Lethal hits TOP ROPE SUICIDE DIVE TO THE FLOOR! He and Silas get into a punch up at the announce table...and Todd Sinclair has no choice but to throw the match out at a time of 05:21 (shown)

Rating - N/A - The wrestling was good, even though it served more as a means to advance the Lethal/Silas storyline than it did deliver a standalone match. Bruiser actually produced one of his best singles efforts here; working really smartly with a slick pro like Lethal. 

Silas and Bruiser take turns attacking Lethal's knee until Bobby Fish comes out with a chair to make a save. 

Cody berates ROH officials and Sinclair for being terrified at the prospect of having an non-contracted free agent as World Champion and thinks he had Lethal's shoulders down in the WOTW main event.

There are some layers to this main event. Kazarian is a known enemy of Bullet Club having infiltrated their ranks as part of a plan to oust Adam Cole as World Champion back at the Anniversary Show. As a result he still has issues with the 'problem solver' of Bullet Club, Hangman Page. But Kaz is also the tag partner and best friend of World Champion Christopher Daniels. The ROH Title is a belt Cody desperately wants, even though he isn't a contracted full-time member of the roster. A win against the champ's best friend sends a stark message that he isn't finished with Daniels - even after being pinned in the War Of The Worlds PPV main event. Kevin Kelly is out on commentary for no apparent reason. Did he just show up late or something?

SLINGSHOT RANA TO THE FLOOR by a fired up Kazarian! Rhodes ducks into the ring to avoid the same move a second time...only for find Frankie coiled and waiting to Jerry Lynn him in the ropes. Cross Rhodes countered to a swinging neckbreaker by a rampant Kaz. Cody nabs a beer from a fan and tosses it into Kazarian's eyes to stunt his momentum before dropping him on his face with a stalling gourdbuster. Alabamaslam, signature of his old pal Hardcore Holly, gets 2. The pace is slow and Rhodes starts to target the back and neck to set up his finisher. Kevin Kelly is being a f*cking idiot on commentary and indicating that victory here makes Cody #1 contender...despite being pinned by Daniels at literally the last PPV. Disaster Kick nailed...but the ROPE RUN DOUBLE SPRINGBOARD DIVE TO THE FLOOR MISSES! Frankie capitalises to splash him into the guardrails, leaving them both in a heap on the ground alongside a hapless ringside crew goon. Kazarian is up quicker...until Cody hits the Bob Holly kick to the lower abdomen then another Disaster Kick. Tomikaze by Frankie gets 2 and is quickly followed by the slingshot cutter for another nearfall. Cross Rhodes nailed, and Cody picks up a big win at 09:31 (shown)

Rating - *** - Commentary got substantially worse after Kevin Kelly arrived, but thankfully this was actually a pretty decent main event. It won't be close to any MOTY awards but made for solid, free television. Both men worked hard, took some pretty serious bumps on the floor and kept up a brisk pace. Some of Cody's matches since he arrived have felt meandering, casual and dull. This one always felt urgent - and I'm glad Delirious resisted the temptation to have run-ins from the likes of Page, Daniels, Cole or anyone else in favour of giving us a clean match.

Speaking of Hangman Page, he arrives after the match and is invited to take some cheapshots at Frankie. Of course, Christopher Daniels (in a dreadful suit) is quickly on the scene to make a save. 

Tape Rating - ** - Lots of talking and vague attempts to move the product forward after War Of The Worlds, but this didn't feel like an episode you needed to see. Silas and Lethal were intense in their segment, but didn't really do much more than retread old ground for their feud. Marty and the Young Bucks said almost nothing of any relevance and were only out to pop the crowd and set up the endgame for Adam Cole's (televised) ROH career with a match against Hangman. The main event was the highlight for me - but a solid, competently wrestled nine-minute bout probably isn't enough to recommend this show with any real fervour.