McXal's Reviews

Considering how dark 2019 became for Ring Of Honor, the year dawns with some promise. G1 Supercard, the promotion's date with destiny at Madison Square Garden (in conjunction with New Japan) is now just a few months away meaning build will soon start for that extravaganza. Although the stars of The Elite were written out at Final Battle - only appearing in an Honor Club-exclusive dark match on their final night with the company - these tapings do feature the last stand for a number of supporting players who will join the AEW exodus, alongside a slew of new talents ROH hope to feature prominently in the coming year. Nothing has been announced for this episode, but Cagematch informs that our first main event of 2019 pits four top competitors - Flip Gordon, Chris Sabin, Dalton Castle and Marty Scurll - against one another with a World Title shot on the line. Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana call the action in Philadelphia, PA.

A new title sequence starts the show which erases departing Elite stars (and SCU) entirely. It does heavily feature the Best Friends though, so I presume it'll need to be edited again pretty quickly. Ian Riccaboni is in the ring to welcome us with Sabin, Flip, Dalton and Scurll alongside him. They are the four men who are currently owed title shots and they meet tonight to determine who gets to challenge Jay Lethal first, at Honor Reigns Supreme 2019. Matt Taven interrupts proceedings to gloat about being the Real World Champion with no worthy contenders. He absolutely BURIES them all; Sabin hasn't been relevant since 2012, Flip is back from having his nose buried in the Young Bucks' asses, Marty is friendless and didn't make the height restriction to 'take the train to Jacksonville', whilst Dalton needs to go away and fake another injury! Jay Lethal tries to shut him up, but Taven spits on his World Title belt kick-starting a brawl in the aisle...

This is a TV Title Proving Ground Match, meaning if the big Luchasaur can beat Cobb or take him to a draw he will get a title shot. He makes his second broadcast appearance for the company after debuting at Survival Of The Fittest 2018 in a fun but unsuccessful effort versus PJ Black. He has size, athleticism and power to rival Cobb meaning this is a real challenge for the dominant TV Champion...

Lucha almost decapitates Cobb with a spinning heel kick in the first five seconds. Chokeslam blocked so he lands a headstand facebuster followed by another crushing kick to the skull which almost knocks Cobb out cold. Jeff catches him going for knee strikes in the corner though and dumps him with the Athletic-Plex. They fight to the top rope where the champ muscles Luchasaurus up for a superplex - then a standing moonsault as well when the top rope bump barely keeps the dinosaur down for a 1-count. Luchasaurus shakes that off, chokeslams Cobb to the ground and lands a standing moonsault of his own for 2. Tombstone Age blocked with a savage running uppercut...no sold by Lucha to land still more vicious kicks to the head. SSP blocked by Cobb, who throws Luchasaurus off the top with a belly to belly superplex. PILEDRIVER! TOUR OF THE ISLANDS! Cobb wins at 04:26 (shown)

Rating - *** - Spotty and silly, but undoubtedly entertaining as well. Having read subsequent interviews it appears that Luchasaurus had real interest in working with ROH on a longer-term basis but was told by Delirious they didn't have any plans for him, which lead to him heading to AEW. It's a shame because, whilst obviously a Lucha Libre dinosaur gimmick is quirky, he is unbelievably athletic and really would have added something to the roster. In a company where 'Lizard Man' Delirious once thrived, where 'Generic Luchador' El Generico became a legend and where, by the end of the following year, the Vampire Danhausen would be a cult star I find it amazing that they'd be so quick to write off someone of Luchasaurus' talents. This bout was what both men do best: a brief, big boy offensive splurge spot-fest.

The Gatekeeper returns to TV after defeating all three of her opponents on the way to becoming the new Women Of Honor Champion at Final Battle. She has been the woman to beat for so much of her ROH career and assumes what she believes is her rightful place at the top of the division. Before the bout she gets on the microphone and announces that every singles match she contests will now before the WOH World Championship starting tonight. Her opponent doesn't even get an entrance but is a veteran of the East Coast independent scene with a decade or more of experience to suggest that she won't be a pushover. 

Nikki refuses to shake hands and instead jumps Kelly with a barrage of elbows. Mafia kick misses though and by the time we go to commercials Klein is firmly on top with her challenger grounded. When we return we see Adams breaking free of a bearhug and belting Kelly again with a spinning back fist. This time she nails the Mafia Kick and gets a nearfall. To the top rope goes the challenger, but she is BRUTALLY dragged off by Kelly! K-Power blocked...so Kelly knocks her the f*ck out with a knee strike to retain at 02:01 (shown)

Rating - DUD - What an appalling way to present Kelly as the new champion. I'm actually shocked at how bad this was. I wasn't comfortable with the idea of turning her babyface after Final Battle to begin with, but everything about this was so awkward to watch. Having her defend the title every time she wrestles I can get past...but the ensuing match proceeded to shoot her credibility to hell. Why have her offer to shake hands (something she rarely does) if you were going to let the enhancement talent ignore it and cheap-shot her making her look like a tool? Why edit this match so all of her offence was in the commercial break and the portions which made air featured Adams on offence? Hell, she couldn't even hit her own f*cking finishing move! 

Jenny Rose interrupts Kelly's celebrations, as she still has a score to settle with The Gatekeeper. They are scheduled to meet at Honor Reigns Supreme...and she challenges Klein to make it a Street Fight. 

Beer City Bruiser is in the bar drowning his sorrows, still sad at the demise of his friendship with Silas Young. Brian Milonas tries to console his friend and tells BCB to confront Silas if he wants answers...

HONOR CLUB EXCLUSIVE - To promote Honor Club they show clips from The Elite's farewell 8-Man Tag, as well as the aftermath where Bully Ray, Silas Young, Shane Taylor and the Briscoes all attacked them on their way out. Sadly this makes the point that Bully will very much still be around as we move into 2019...

Christopher Daniels enters the 2300 Arena to address the apparent end of his career after losing to Marty Scurll. He lists some highlights from his lengthy ROH career and thanks the fans before saying farewell. Joe Koff interrupts his standing ovation to thank him for defending Cary Silkin from Bully Ray at Final Battle...and to offer him a new contract. Shane Taylor hops the guardrail and jumps Daniels from behind. This is Taylor's return from a European excursion and he is annoyed that Daniels is the guy getting sweet new contracts and not him it seems. GREETINGS FROM 216 ON A CHAIR! He then rips up Daniels' contract before leaving...which judging by the reactions of Ian and Colt couldn't possibly be reprinted.

NEXT WEEK - Zack Sabre Jr makes his ROH TV debut against Tracy Williams.

As was established earlier in the episode, all four of these man have legitimate claims to a World Title shot, so this is to determine who gets to go first (at Honor Reigns Supreme). Gordon earned a shot after winning the Sea Of Honor Tournament aboard Chris Jericho's Cruise. Sabin earned an opportunity by taking champion Lethal to a time-limit draw in a Proving Ground Match in Toronto. Castle is still waiting for his contractually obligated rematch after losing the belt to Lethal in Fairfax last year. That leaves The Villain, who won Survival Of The Fittest 2018 to earn the opportunity then defended it against Daniels at Final Battle. Jay Lethal is on commentary, although he admits to being distracted by the brawl with Matt Taven earlier in the show.

Tornado rules in effect it seems as all four start in the ring...albeit only briefly since Marty villainously leaves so the rest have to fight each other. After a noticeable edit he trips Dalton from the outside, getting into a heated debate with the Peacock and not realising that Sabin and Gordon are lining them both up for tandem tope suicidas. Duelling springboard dropkicks back into the ring by the same duo as well! Castle opts to pose to the crowd rather than hit a dive to the floor...but then absolutely murders Flip with a gutwrench powerbomb. PK from Sabin to Dalton, before Marty knocks him out and delivers the Superkick from the apron. Flip and Scurll come to blows but before The Villain can put his future stable-mate in a submission Dalton and Sabin invade the ring and put both Scurll and Gordon in submission holds of their own. Roaring Elbow by Scurll, only to turn into a big boot from Sabin leaving all four men on the ground. Sabin is up first and takes out all three men with a flying crossbody. Capture back suplex from Castle to Sabin! Kinder Surprise by Flip, into the Samoan Pop for 2. ROPE RUN frankensteiner by Sabin...but Gordon rolls through, nips under on the apron...only to be lifted onto Marty's shoulders for a DOOMSDAY PK TO THE FLOOR! Bang-A-Rang on Sabin! Castle wins at 08:02 (shown), so it will be Lethal vs Dalton at Honor Reigns Supreme

Rating - ** - The last few minutes got really exciting. Sadly before that it felt cluttered and rushed...and in no way becoming of a World Title contendership bout. Scurll getting cheered despite spending the entire match playing a heel was somewhat entertaining, whilst Flip (fatigued and battle-scarred from his 'I Quit' Match with Bully at Final Battle) provided occasional moments of magic but nothing about this was particularly special. Lethal/Castle is the right choice for Honor Reigns Supreme (Lethal/Flip and Lethal/Scurll being potential box office bouts for ROH in 2019), whilst Sabin got injured at the first TV taping of 2019 and left ROH before he got a shot at all. 

Jay Lethal and Dalton Castle shake hands and face-off as attention turns to their title match in Concord.

Tape Rating - ** - The show started brightly enough. Taven's blistering promo at the expense of the main event participants was certainly memorable and culminated in a heated brawl with Jay Lethal which should be enough to get people interested in their inevitable showdown. Cobb and Luchasaurus' four minute hoss fight delivered a strong start to ROH's in-ring year as well. From there it was more of a mixed bag though. The presentation of Kelly Klein in her match was diabolical, the main event was flat and forgettable and whilst the Taylor invasion of Daniels' 'farewell segment' was necessary, it really didn't get over with the live crowd at all meaning that moment was actively diminished too. At least we start 2019 giving the impression that the World Title scene is really jumping...