McXal's Reviews

As most of the ROH roster prepares to set sail on the inaugural Jericho Cruise, ROH drops the final episode it recorded at it's Death Before Dishonor 16 taping. The main event is a big one; the new team of Jay Lethal and Jon Gresham facing a New Japan dream-team of Kushida and Jushin Liger. On the undercard Bullet Club's Hangman Page does battle with SCU's Scorpio Sky, whilst Shane Taylor comes for revenge on Eli Isom after the youngster nabbed an upset win over him on Episode 367. Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman call the action in Las Vegas, NV.

Straight into the action with these two, who have been at war with each other all year. At Final Battle 2017 Sky aligned himself with The Addiction to form SCU and quickly set off in pursuit of Page and the Young Bucks, who were at that time the Six-Man Champions. They finally took the Trios Title from the Hung Bucks at the 16th Anniversary, also in Las Vegas, so Page won't have forgotten that. 

The opening minute establishes that these two are extremely evenly matched; Page an edge in power but Sky a little quicker. Hangman raises the stakes by putting a boot through Scorpio's face then clocking him clean over the top rope. Next Sky is sent skidding along the arena floor into the guardrails...and not content with that he scoops the SCU member up again to launch him into the ringpost too. When we return from commercials Scorpio has apparently weathered the storm as we see him charging into the running frankensteiner for 2. A stalling backbreaker sends jolts up Page's spine, but the Hangman survives and decks him with a lariat. Impact Explosion Dropkick into a bridging German suplex gets 2! Sky hops up with a double stomp and rolls it right into the slingshot cutter as well. It has Hangman crawling to the apron for safety. He goes for a desperate Buckshot Lariat but it's blocked. REBOUND LARIAT INSTEAD! Rite Of Passage wins it for Page at 08:18 (shown)

Rating - ** - Two of ROH's more reliable performers in 2018 took to the ring here, but the match they delivered didn't resonate with me. It was far from bad, but it all felt a little predictable and completely lacking in ambition. They very quickly established that Page was stronger and Sky was quicker...but didn't do much or go anywhere with that premise and instead traded spots for a while before going home. Clearly filler content from two workers who are capable of much better...

The Kingdom pop in for a brief promo; reminding everyone that Matt Taven is the 'Real World Champion' - and one that offers to defend it against any 'worthy' challenger.

After winning his match Hangman Page marches back into the locker room and tells a passing cameraman that he is 'one of the best heavyweights in the world' and calls on ROH to start giving him title shots...

Eli is still new into ROH, coming out of the ROH Dojo. He already has upset pinfall victories over both Christopher Daniels and Shane Taylor...but it's that more recent win which has got him in hot water tonight. Taylor was furious at the loss (which came in a Four Corner Survival); attacking Eli after the bell and now demanding this rematch looking to regain his lost pride.

Taylor spits at Isom rather than shake his hand and finds the rookie fired up and ready to pepper him with strikes. Even when the big man tries a powerbomb Eli is able to counter and strike again. Finally he tries a springboard...and leaps into an elbow smash. TOWER OF LONDON! Shane doesn't even make a pin after reprising one of former World Champion' Nigel McGuinness' signature moves. After a pause for commercials, we come back to find Taylor steal beating on the youngster - literally dropping him on his head with a brutal lariat. Isom dodges a splash...AND NAILS A SAMOAN DROP! That display of power really pops the crowd! His momentum is short-lived though, as Shane tries to knock him out with a headbutt. Greetings From 216 hands Taylor the win at 04:23 (shown)

Rating - ** - Eli definitely has something about him, but this was largely a squash and a much needed one too. Taylor's credibility and legitimacy has taken a real hit this year. He was in the TV Title picture at the end of 2017, but has spent this year at the bottom of the card with the likes of Isom and Josh Woods. He did a good job here, giving Eli just enough whilst still looking like a monster.

Taylor wants to send a message to Isom by stomping a chair into his head. But Cheeseburger - in absolutely hideous Liger-inspired gear - makes the save. He sees his attempt at a Shotei easily blocked with a Knockout Punch and is sent packing with another Greetings From 216. Flip Gordon is here as well! He starts beating on Taylor with the steel chair looking for payback after the multiple times Taylor has helped Bully Ray attack him. He says he'll fight Bully 'anywhere, at any time'. Bully comes out...and refuses to wrestle since Flip is a 'bottom-feeding young boy' and a 'nobody'. Instead he challenges Flip to go find someone to fight on his behalf, to face Bully's 'best guy' Silas Young. Whoever picks the winning representative gets 'to do whatever [they] want' to the other. That sounds as creepy as Bully Ray's gross low blows...

Cody has issued a tweet to remind ROH officials that he is still waiting for his singles rematch for the ROH World Championship...

The Lethal/Gresham team have hit the ground running and produced some big performances already (and have a win over the Young Bucks to boot). This is another step up tonight as they face a dream-time from NJPW. Lethal is no stranger to either man and has recorded wins over both during his ROH career. The renewal of his rivalry with Kushida is an interesting one, given that we know how Kushida covets the ROH World Championship. Kenny King joins commentary for our main event.

Lethal and Kushida start, keen to return to their multi-year rivalry. The champ fights hard to start Kushida attacking his arm, before they both make way for their partners. Liger seems like he's having fun trading holds and testing his skills on the canvas against The Octopus. Even Gresh is powerless to prevent being swept into Liger's trademark bow and arrow stretch. Lethal tags in and actually disrespects Liger by playing with the horns on his mask! SNEAK GERMAN SUPLEX by Gresham, after Jay had battered Kushida off the apron. The ROH team get to work isolating Liger and working his ageing back over. But the masked veteran still has a LOT of power. He escapes by outright THROWING Gresham at his own partner, then levelling Lethal with a Shotei. Handspring elbow from Kushida to Gresh! He goes straight into a phenomenal sequence of familiarity counters with Lethal as well. Gresham and Kushida go NUTS with pinfall counters that really get the place rocking. Mexican Surfboard by Liger...FLYING ARMBAR by Kushida to stop Lethal from making the save! Both the New Japan stars target Jon's arm, meaning Kushida is able to drop The Octopus to his knees with a single kick. Gresham wisely tags out, setting up his partner for a Lethal Combination on Kushida. RUNNING PUNT by Kushida to block the Lethal Injection, with Liger diving on top of Jay with a frog splash before he has a chance to get back up! Gresham saves his partner from a Ligerbomb with a running enzi! Flying knee to the floor by Gresham! Shotei blocked...so Lethal can batter Liger with kicks. Lethal Injection nailed, giving the ROH Champion a win at 11:36 (shown).

Rating - **** - Generously graded for the television, but if you take out the Cody/Willie dark match, this was the best bout of the tapings. They weren't given a generous time allocation...however everything they did to fill it was incredibly smart. Lethal and Kushida referenced their previous encounters brilliantly. The dynamic with Lethal and Gresh almost turning heel to work the ever-popular Liger over was fun, Similarly Liger provided arguably his best in-ring ROH performance for a couple of years too. My issue with Sky/Page in the opener was that it felt like they'd told their story in the first minute of the match, then had nowhere to go after that. These four always felt like they had more story to tell and packed every single exchange full to the brim with significance. A pretty under-rated little free TV match if you ask me...

Tape Rating - ** - The main event saved the show for me. Before that there wasn't much worth checking out at all with Sky/Page and Taylor/Isom being rather predictable, middle of the road bouts and topped off with another tedious Bully Ray promo segment. Lethal/Gresham vs Liger/Kushida was, however, extremely good. I can't remember it getting much buzz at the time, but it's eleven minutes of silky smooth, world class professional wrestling. If you've not seen it and you're missing Liger now he's retired, the main event of this episode is well worth hunting down.

5) Young Bucks vs The Addiction vs EVIL/SANADA vs Best Friends (*** - Episode 369)

4) Jay Briscoe/Mark Briscoe vs Coast 2 Coast (*** - Episode 370)

3) Marty Scurll vs Chris Sabin (*** - Episode 370)

2) Jay Lethal/Jonathan Gresham vs Jushin Liger/Kushida (**** - Episode 371)

1) Cody vs Willie Mack (**** - Episode 369 DARK)