McXal's Reviews

Contendership is very much the name of the game this evening. Our main event will see the Best Friends and The Addiction compete with a Final Battle Tag Title shot on the line. This episode will also see the start of a three-match mini-series to determine the three men who will join the reigning TV Champion (whomever that may be) in a four corner TV Title Match at Final Battle. Mark Briscoe has also demanded his shot at TV Champ Kenny King tonight, despite suffering a serious injury during the Global Wars Tour. Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana are in Philadelphia, PA.

This is the first in the series of matches to determine the TV Title challengers at Final Battle. Both men competed unsuccessfully in a TV Title Proving Ground Instant Reward Six Man Mayhem in Pittsburgh recently, and Josh also failed to defeat Kenny King in the title shot he earned by winning the 2017 Top Prospect Tournament. Both of these men have broken out (to varying degrees) in ROH this year - and both would dearly like a high profile championship match on one of the biggest PPV's of 2017. Martinez comes in hot after high profile wins over the likes of Jay White and Will Ospreay recently.

The Goods uses his strike power and grappling background to throw Punisher around the ring - then driven him out of it. A wild knee strike off the apron rocks Martinez against the railings too. Punishment has to use his agility to regain his footing in the match, scoring with a springboard twisting senton right before the commercial break. Woods' response is to climb up his back and try to choke him out with a dragon sleeper. That is broken by Punisher's release falcon arrow though. Springboard punch countered with a belly to belly by Josh, who senses his opportunity and comes off the top rope with a forearm strike. TWISTING suplex gets 2 for The Goods. He looks for his springboard knee strike...but is hammered into the canvas with a lariat. Super spinning heel kick by Martinez (connecting more with his ass than his foot). Josh blocks the chokeslam again with a cross armbreaker, but can't keep the monster at bay forever. South Of Heaven wins it for Martinez at 05:11 (shown).

Rating - ** -There were some really good ideas here. Woods' MMA style and power created problems for Punishment where others have struggled to look threatening against him. Watching someone of Punisher's size try to interact with someone like Josh was interesting. Unfortunately there were some REALLY ugly parts as well. I think the limitations of both men were badly exposed at times...but the core story was good, the action was intense throughout and the right man progressed. 

For the second week running Jay Briscoe interrupts a Mark Briscoe promo. He is clearly still sour about Mark prioritising singles competition...but agrees to be in Mark's corner for the match.

Jay Lethal is out for some promo time. As he did last week, he reiterates his desire to be World Champion again - and reminds everyone that he has a victory over current champ Cody on his record. Marty Scurll is here - coming to the ring and criticising Lethal for becoming a bland, cookie cutter babyface. He is in ROH to face the best in the world...and he doesn't think the current version of Lethal is in that class. The Villain preferred it when Lethal broke the rules and did whatever it takes to win, reminding him that when he wasn't such a nice guy he was World Champion and TV Champion...and suggesting he go back to being Black Machismo so he can at least be entertaining. Scurll points out how many fans have purchased his merch because he is a villain and how few shirts there are for the 'franchise'. In the end he challenges Jay Lethal to a match at Final Battle, which Jay immediately accepts, with a brilliant line implying that he used to break the rules because he 'wanted to', whilst Marty does it because he 'has to'...

NEXT WEEK - Cody has enlisted the Bullet Club's 'problem solver' Hangman Page to take out Dalton Castle before he even makes it to Final Battle.

Up next is the TV Title Match between Kenny King and the one-armed Mark Briscoe. He comes out in full-arm cast with his brother in his corner - despite the cracks in their brotherly relationship apparently growing, almost for the first time in ROH since 2003. However, just seconds after the bell rings Jay throws in the towel, forcing the ref to stop the match and award it to King. Mark is furious and argues with his big brother all the way to the locker room. Meanwhile in the ring Punishment Martinez is back and looks to pick a fight with Kenny King. They are soon joined by Shane Taylor, Cheeseburger. Silas Young and Jon Gresham, the other four men in the race to join Martinez and King in the TV Title bout at Final Battle. The situation quickly escalates into a mass brawl around ringside...

COLEMAN'S PULPIT - Another of Caprice's old Rebellion friends is his guest this week; Shane Taylor. He wants to know more about Taylor acting as a hired gun, and whether there is a place for that kind of attitude in ROH. Taylor says he has a family to take care of and is fed up of waiting for opportunity. Now he is making his own spot, accepting pay-offs along the way to ensure he and his family have the best life possible.

At Global Wars 2017 Pittsburgh The Addiction refused to wrestle the Best Friends and walked out. This week on ROH TV we'll get another chance to see this match, with Daniels and Kaz rewarded for their atrocious conduct of late as a Final Battle Tag Title shot is on the line. The Machine Guns are on commentary to scout, but will know all about their long-time rivals The Addiction. Beretta and Taylor are far from outside bets too - already possessing a win over the Young Bucks (in a trios bout) despite Chuckie only recently coming into the promotion.

Frankie attacks Beretta from behind as the bell rings but the Friends are quick to recover and start unloading double teams on Daniels. Kazarian returns to interrupt them before they can hug though. Still, they get 2 with a double stomp/northern lights suplex combo on the Ring General. The Kingdom appear on the stage to remind everyone that they want into the Tag Title picture too. SLINGSHOT RANA TO THE FLOOR by Kaz! The experience of The Addiction sees them effortlessly turn the match in their favour, trapping Trent in the ring for a prolonged period. Chuckie is desperate for a tag and gets it at last. He tricks his opponents into knocking each other over...and remains in prime place to capitalise and hit The Deal for 2. Powerbomb/neckbreaker by Daniels and Kaz acts as a sobering reminder of The Addiction's quality though. Lawn Dart Cutter combo by the Best Friends! Finally they get to hug it out! Lungblower by Kaz to block the double chokeslam attempt, right before he gives Taylor a slingshot DDT. TOPE ATOMICO by Beretta! War Machine come out looking for revenge on The Addiction for costing them the Tag Titles last week - distracting Daniels and setting up the Awful Waffle by Chuck. Best Friends win at 08:54 (shown).

Rating - *** - For the second week running we got a perfectly good tag match ruined by a ghastly and depressingly unoriginal finish. The Best Friends have been a terrific addition to the tag ranks and giving them the title shot at Final Battle is wholly deserved. Their victory felt incredibly hollow and undeserved thanks to how the match was booked to end unfortunately.

NEXT WEEK - Jay White makes the final ROH TV appearance of excursion, wrestling Matt Taven.

Tape Rating - ** - Once again, this episode of ROH's TV broadcast does an adequate job of hitting the right beats and developing stories going into Final Battle...but offers very little as an in-ring production. Having said that though, the Lethal/Scurll promo segment was outstanding and definitely worth checking out if you are selectively making your way through 2017 ROH skipping what you don't need to see.