McXal's Reviews

We enter September and are counting down to Death Before Dishonor 15 in Las Vegas. At the pay-per-view we'll be seeing Cody defend the World Title against curmudgeonly NJPW veteran Minoru Suzuki. To prepare for that he will lock horns with another grumpy vet tonight - teaming with Adam Page to face perennial Bullet Club adversaries Mark Briscoe and Bully Ray. We'll also have a grudge match showdown between Jay Lethal and one of the men that tried to end his career at Best In The World- Beer City Bruiser. Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana call the action from Concord, NC.

The episode opens with these two already going at in the aisle, such is the level of disdain that has brewed between Lethal and the Milwaukee lads. Jay's issues with Silas Young stretch back to 2016, and seemingly reached a head at Best In The World when Bruiser jumped off the top rope to put Lethal through a table on the floor. It was a devastating attack, inflicting a serious rib injury to Lethal which caused him to miss 'more than a month' of competition (through the magic of TV taping schedules). After another brawl backstage a couple of weeks ago Lethal demanded he get to face either of his enemies as soon as possible. Young has sent his partner in crime to punish Jay again...

As mentioned, the show quite literally starts with these two in the aisle trading punches. Lethal is in street clothes but can't disguise that his ribs are still bothering him. He narrowly evades a cannonball against the railing, sits Beer City in a chair...THEN CANNONBALLS HIM THROUGH THE RAIL! That looked insane! He follows it with a tope suicida, without going for the trilogy presumably to protect the ribs. BCB is agitated and chokes Jay with electrical cable...as the camera cuts to security personnel in the aisle preventing Silas Young from getting to ringside. He joins commentary instead and watches as Bruiser rams a chair into Lethal's ribs. In a receipt for the brawl backstage a couple of weeks ago Beer City makes a point of kicking him in the balls - a nice little piece of detail. Meanwhile on commentary Silas Young complains about Lethal's 'stupid commercial with his stupid knee brace', which I absolutely marked out for. Lethal wraps his belt around his fist and starts pummelling Bruiser in the corner. BCB is looking weary now...and staggers at Lethal only to be thrown through a steel chair in the corner of the ring. Hail To The King misses...resulting in more damage to Jay's ribs. LETHAL INJECTION! Jay has it won, but gestures at Silas and uses tape to tie Bruiser to the ropes. BEER KEG TO THE ANKLE! Not content with that he grabs a chair and starts smashing the keg into the ankle with the weapon instead. FIGURE 4 LEGLOCK! Bruiser instantly taps at 10:49 (shown).

Rating - *** - A really strong accompaniment to the Lethal/Silas feud. The brawling was purposeful and intense, Silas was outstanding on commentary and really contributed - and the finish was an excellent piece of story-telling. Lethal faces Silas in one final showdown at Death Before Dishonor. This match set the scene for it brilliantly.

Lethal refuses to release the Figure 4, trying to put Bruiser out of action permanently as Silas desperately tries to pick through the herd of security extras blocking his path.

Cody remains an outstanding promo, playfully calling himself a 'sports entertainer' and referencing Minoru Suzuki's MMA record. He plays to bring Suzuki to his knees in Vegas...

EARLIER TONIGHT - Will Ferrara attacks Cheeseburger during an autograph signing, after posing as a fan in a Jushin Liger mask.

COLEMAN'S PULPIT - Caprice didn't get the set he asked for, but is the only man willing to talk to The Addiction after they ruined the main event last week. Frankie complains about Ring Of Honor, corporate wrestling and ROH's fans. Daniels refutes the idea that they want to be Tag Champions, stating his motivation was solely getting back at the fans. They are going to ruin everything ROH fans love apparently...

Ferrara split from Cheeseburger in pursuit of greater singles success. Therefore failure to beat an enhancement talent would constitute absolute failure. A win tonight is critical...

The fans chant for Cheeseburger and politely applaud as Timberche uses his size to take the fight to Will early on. Howie clowns around, sings and fances...and still drives Ferrara out of the ring. Will fights back out there - and scores with the tope tornado DDT on the floor. Back in the ring Howie puts Will in a tree of woe then propels himself at his opponent with a handspring elbow. Ferrara snaps, low blows Timberche (out of sight of the ref) before landing a tornado DDT to win at 04:24

Rating - DUD - I don't really get the point of this. They are trying to get Will Ferrara over as a more serious and credible wrestler...so have him need to cheat to beat a singing, dancing job guy? Don't get me wrong, Timberche was charismatic and could certainly sing (I can't find any record of him wrestling past 2018 - is he still active?). But this was completely wrong for what they are trying to do with Ferrara. Perplexingly tone-deaf booking

Cheeseburger is here - and challenges Ferrara to a match next week.

Jay Briscoe has been told by ROH doctors that The Kingdom gave him a concussion and thusly are preventing him from competing in the main event. But he is here...and plans to be a 'liability' for ROH

Mark and Bully don't like Bullet Club. The Briscoes have issues stretching back more than a year with Bullet Club, whilst Bully debuted at Manhattan Mayhem and attacked the faction's then-champion Adam Cole too. With the Briscoes and Bully struggling to stay on the same page a win over Bullet Club (with current World Champion competing) would be most welcome. There are questions here over how focused Rhodes will be considering he has Minoru Suzuki looking on the horizon for Death Before Dishonor. And what part will the dangerously unhinged Jay Briscoe play?

Once again Cody is insanely over with the fans. It's not so much of a problem for me tonight because hopefully it will mean less 'EC-Dub' chants! Briscoe starts hot and takes out Hangman with the blockbuster off the apron. Cody smartly tries to slow Mark down...distracting him so Page can return with the Buckshot Lariat. Cabana points out that Bubba is making no effort to save his partner whilst he is double teamed by the Bullet Club. Indeed, the match has been going on for some time and Bully hasn't entered the fray once. Mark finally drops Hangman with a German suplex and gets the tag to Bubba. Fans boo as Bully hits his usual nostalgia spots, and cheer when Cody comes at him with the Dusty Rhodes jabs. Froggy Wassup nailed...and it's time to randomly get some tables. Marty Scurll runs in to stop the table action, quickly followed by Jay Briscoe to drag him away. Bully smacks Rhodes with Marty's umbrella. The Villain runs into the crowd to escape going through a table - taking Jay with him for a brawl. Doomsday Device on Hangman! Cody bashes Bully's head against the ringpost, but then comes perilously close to losing the match after Briscoe gives him a Fisherman Buster. The Kingdom appear to shove Mark off the top rope...feeding him into Cross Rhodes. Cody pins Briscoe to win at 10:08 (shown).

Rating - * - This is the second week in a row where Delirious has booked a dumb finish that I just haven't understood. What is the deal with The Kingdom? What are they doing with Jay Briscoe? And how did Bully get through an entire match with the World Champion on the other side of the ring and still barely take a bump? This was aimless filler at its worse as a main event and everything I don't like about watching any one of these four in ROH. Cody half-assing it, Mark lazily playing the hits, Bully ego-tripping and Hangman Page being the most talented guy in the ring and getting totally ignored.

The Kingdom beatdown Mark and Bully...and when Jay runs back to help Matt Taven whacks him in his concussed skull with his cane. Rock Star Supernova bounces Jay's head off the canvas as the show ends...

Tape Rating - ** - Lethal/Bruiser was a great way to start the show - the best bout of the entire taping. Unfortunately, save a couple of promos, it was also the only thing worth watching. The main event was terrible, Ferrara/Timberche didn't make any sense. This whole taping has felt weird and totally lacking in a focused creative direction.

5) Kushida vs Kenny King (*** - Episode 308)

4) War Machine vs Jay White/Jonathan Gresham (*** - Episode 310)

3) Young Bucks vs Motor City Machine Guns (*** - Episode 310)

2) Jay Briscoe vs Matt Taven (*** - Episode 309)

1) Jay Lethal vs Beer City Bruiser (*** - Episode 311)