McXal's Reviews

Tonight we feature more filler content as we await G1 Supercard reaction making TV, on an episode that broadcasts a couple of days before the Masters Of The Craft 2019 Honor Club VOD show. We already know our main event - it sees the Briscoes facing ROH TV Champion Jeff Cobb and NWA National Champion Willie Mack with a spot in the 2019 NWA Crockett Cup at stake. Beneath that Shane Taylor faces Luchasaurus, looking to build on the momentum gained in his sensational hoss-fight with Cobb at the 17th Anniversary. Women Of Honor World Champion Mayu Iwatani will also be in action. Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman are in Las Vegas, NV.

The menacing figures of the Briscoe Brothers open the show, venting their frustration that the NWA expects them to qualify for the 2019 Crockett Cup. They plan to defeat Jeff Cobb and Willie Mack, then leave a 'pile of bodies' in their wake at the Crockett Cup itself...

These big monsters crossed paths in a Six Man Mayhem Match back in Atlanta, and now spin-off into a singles battle. Taylor is looking to rebound after failing to take the TV Title from Jeff Cobb at the 17th Anniversary - but does come into this match with the momentum that comes from producing a star-making, break-out performance in that match. Luchasaurus is still scrapping for a regular roster spot, despite impressing every time he has stepped into an ROH ring...

Taylor loudly disrespects Luchasaurus before the bell...and takes great pleasure in punching him right in the face! Lucha retaliates with some kicks, so Taylor drags him off the apron for a Tower Of London. Back from commercials, and Shane drops Lucha with a pop-up chokeslam too. 'Shining Lizard' gets 2 for the Lucha dinosaur...which impresses Shane T so little he clobbers him to the mat with a lariat. Chokeslam/standing moonsault combo by Lucha, but Taylor gets the knees up to block. He delivers a urinage slam and hoists Luchasaurus up for Greetings From 216. Taylor wins at 05:38

Rating - * - This didn't click for me. I liked some of Taylor's intensity and we did see some cool moves, but far too much of the match consisted of clunky transitions and thigh-slappy strikes which looked pretty terrible. I am a huge advocate for both of these performers. Taylor is one of my favourites in ROH and one I've been championing since he was the best part of 'The Rebellion'; Luchasaurus is someone I felt had huge potential to become an El Generico-esque babyface character and added something totally different to the roster. Unfortunately this would be his last ROH appearance - and he was announced as an AEW signee in May 2019.

LAST WEEK - Silas Young, still covered in blood, gloats about his victory over Jon Gresham. The Octopus interrupts and slams the Last Real Mean for having to cheat to beat him. Goons have to separate them before their argument becomes heated...

Tenille Dashwood joins commentary for our next match. I thought she'd already left, so it's nice to see her pop up once more. She announces that she has been cleared to wrestle...

Two new Women Of Honor debut here and yes, this would be the same Katie Forbes who is married to Rob Van Dam and appeared with him on Impact. It is a huge opportunity for her and her partner, because they are stepping in the ring with two former WOH World Champions (Mayu still had the belt when this was taped). A victory here makes them immediate players in the rather shallow Women Of Honor division...

Iwatani starts with Mazzerati...who saunters across the ring and slaps her in the face. Mayu isn't remotely impressed and effortlessly outwrestles her, driving her back to her corner and a tag to Forbes. Sumie goes nuts with Mongolian chops on her, but Katie retaliates with a hip attack, a handspring elbow and a Stinkface. That provokes Ian and Caprice to say this isn't 'what they want to see in Women Of Honor' so throw it to commercials. When we return we see Mazz stomping Sakai's leg in the ropes and hitting a floatover suplex for 2. Sumie wants to make a tag, but finds Katie in her corner dragging Mayu around and throwing her into the ringpost. Mazzerati misses a martial arts kick; spinning herself into the TJ Neckbreaker. Iwatani tags and DESTROYS Mazz with a dropkick. Rope run DOUBLE lucha armdrag! Double basement dropkick taking out both opponents! Missile dropkick/flying crossbody combo by Iwatani and Sakai gets 2, with Forbes breaking the pin. SQUATTING DOUBLE SAMOAN DROP from Katie to both opponents! That was a cool spot, ruined slightly by all four just standing around looking at each other afterwards. Smash Mouth from Sumie to Mazzerati, winning the match for her team at 07:30 (shown)

Rating - ** - A strange and slightly uncoordinated spectacle, but certainly not all bad. Mayu was so vastly more talented than anyone in the ring with her that it did become rather uncomfortable watching her slumming it with them though. There was a LOT going on here; Mayu's brilliance, Mazzerati showing flashes of speed and potential, Forbes' gimmick was a lot to take (even in 2019), but that Samoan drop was killer...and Sumie was there too. 

NEXT WEEK - Bandido vs PJ Black in a rematch from Honor Reigns Supreme 2019

The winners here get a spot in the 2019 NWA Crockett Cup. As we've learned, the Briscoes have a chip on their shoulder about having to qualify and feel like their career-long record of success should be sufficient to grant them immediate injury. They may have a point, but becomes less potent when you consider that standing across the ring from them are the current ROH TV Champion and NWA National Champion - also needing to qualify despite being a current title holder in the NWA itself. Obviously this airs after G1 Supercard, which became an extremely disappointing night for the Briscoes too. Nick Aldis returns to commentary again for this one.

Even Aldis isn't sure why the Briscoes are having to qualify for the Crockett Cup. Mack and Mark open up strong with some ferocious chops. Willie boxes Mark's ears after a Thesz Press, earning control for his team. One-arm stalling suplex from Jeff, with such force that the younger Briscoe falls out of the ring and needs assistance from his brother to get back up. Jay is anxious to get in with Cobb and makes a REAL statement by out-wrestling the former Olympian on the canvas. Of course, he then takes a cheap-shot at him to put the Briscoes on top. Their experience as a team shows as they run through rapid-fire tags and smooth combo moves to ensure Cobb never gets close to his partner. Eventually they toss him to the floor, and when Willie checks on him Mark is poised to unleash a CORKSCREW SENTON FROM THE TOP! Cobb has such power that eventually he does manage to fire his way free, making way for Mack who quickly crushes Mark with the inverted cannonball senton. Once again the Briscoes double up though and hit another double-team to put Willie down. The pattern of the match reverts to total dominance from the Briscoes; their prowess as a team too much for even their two massive opponents to overcome. POP-UP FLATLINER by Mack! CAPTURE BELLY TO BELLY from Cobb to Jay! The Briscoes try to mob Cobb...so he picks them up for a DOUBLE wrist clutch suplex! Standing moonsault on Mark gets 2. Pele Kick by Mark, setting up a running lariat by Jay! Day One Neckbreaker blocked with a Superkick...and Willie rushes the ring for the Samoan drop/standing moonsault combo. Jay lures Willie out of the ring, so Mark can boot him in the head. APRON BLOCKBUSTER ON COBB! Mack counters the Jay Driller with an exploder suplex for 2! He tries to go upstairs...only to be caught for the DOOMSDAY DEVICE! COBB BREAKS THE PIN! Redneck Boogie blocked with an uppercut from Jeff. STUNNER/ATHLETIC-PLEX COMBO! FROG SPLASH! MARK KICKS OUT! Jay saves his brother from Tour Of The Islands, giving Cobb a MAFIA KICK ON THE FLOOR! Mark and Willie absolutely wail on each other inside the ring, until Jay runs in and hits a JAY DRILLER! FROGGY BOW! Briscoes win at 17:41 (shown)

Rating - **** - A third straight killer main event from this taping. It started slow, but that wasn't because it was aimless or through lack of effort. The participants were given time, so used it to meticulously establish the concept that the Briscoes are MUCH better tag team wrestlers - but that individually both Cobb and Mack have the punching power to overcome them. That meant that in the second half of the match, they were able to create moments of real peril and drama. The Briscoes having an opponent isolated for a big move meant a potential end to the match. Cobb or Mack brutalising a Briscoe with the other brother on the floor again meant a real possibility of the match ending. The fact that the winner gets a spot on an NWA show meant that calling a winner really was hard to call until the very end too. Super tag team wrestling all round.

Tape Rating - *** - This episode started slow, and the sight of Tenille Dashwood providing monotone commentary on Katie Forbes twerking around the ring isn't something I'm particularly keen to see repeated. BUT, as I just said, this is the third straight week where we've seen a superb main event. Again, 2019 Ring Of Honor is heavily criticised, but I'll call out praise where it is due and those in charge have made a clear effort with this taping to deliver high quality wrestling in feature-length bouts on their television show and I appreciate it. Briscoes vs Cobb/Mack was a hell of a tag team encounter...