McXal's Reviews

From an underwhelming War Of The Worlds 2019 Tour we now enter the final stages of the countdown to Best In The World 2019. The final stop is a weekend of debuts in new markets; Washington for a TV taping, then to Oregon for State Of The Art 2019 as an Honor Club VOD (which had aired by the time this episode was broadcast). Tonight's headline bout is Match 2 in the Best Of Three Series between Jay Lethal and Kenny King, with Jay entering at a 1-0 deficit following Kenny's commanding performance in Chicago. We'll also see Colt Cabana put the NWA National Title on the line against Mark Briscoe. Ian Riccaboni provides solo commentary in Kent, WA.

As we saw two weeks ago, not only are the Briscoes chasing the GOD to get back the ROH Tag Titles, they've also decided to pick a fight with the National Wrestling Alliance after their treatment at the 2019 Crockett Cup. Annoyed that they were asked to qualify rather than handed a spot in the tournament, then irritated by the nature of the decision that saw them eliminated at the hands of Villain Enterprises they decided to attack Cabana and NWA Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis in Chicago. It led to Briscoes vs Aldis/Cabana being booked for Best In The World...and tonight we get a preview as Colt defends his NWA National Title against Mark. 

As you might expect, Mark wants to fight whilst Colt wants to grapple. Briscoe is a capable wrestler in his own right, but finds Cabana able to counter and reverse everything he tries on the canvas. The World Of Sport routines leave Mark thoroughly confused and a little grumpy too...so he throws Cabana off the top rope all the way to the floor. When we return from commercials Briscoe is still in charge; now back in the ring and gouging at the champion's eyes. Cactus Elbow nailed, taking the match back to the floor...where Mark sits Colt in a chair. BELLY TO BELLY THROUGH THE CHAIR BY CABANA! Quebrada back into the ring gets 2. Briscoe ducks the Bionic Elbow, only to eat a jumping hip attack instead as Colt unloads on the challenger. Flying Asshole scores, spilling Briscoe to the floor again where he tears up the protective mats. Cabana fights to avoid getting suplexed onto the concrete and successfully takes the match back into the ring where he and Mark trade pinning combinations. GERMAN SUPLEX by Mark! Bionic Elbow COUNTERED to the Urinage for 2. Briscoe is agitated and starts slapping at Colt, eventually planting him with a DVD. Froggy Bow misses...and now Colt lands the Bionic Elbow! Superman Pin! Cabana wins at 10:15 (shown)

Rating - *** - This was as energetic and exciting as any match ROH has presented on TV over the last month or so. Cabana and Mark, two men who at times can be accused of getting lazy and allowing their qualities as wrestlers to be eclipsed by the slightly lower impact style afforded by comedy wrestling, busted their asses here. We got some big bumps, they brawled inside of the ring and out, kept up a lively pace and delivered a super preview for Best In The World (albeit for a match we'd unfortunately not get to see). Cabana and Mark have been wrestling each other in ROH rings for a long time, and it was an enjoyably nostalgic blast to see them do it again at this stage of their careers.

Jay Briscoe comes out and attacks Colt from behind; soon joined by his brother. They lay Colt out with his own National Title belt.

Shane Taylor talks about proving his critics wrong by becoming ROH TV Champion. He discusses Jay Lethal's records with the TV Title, and sets his sights on becoming the most dominant Television Champion in ROH history...

The Allure are excited to make their ROH in-ring debut at Best In The World, a pay-per-view they believe to be aptly named for them.

Clips of Flip Gordon winning an Honor Club exclusive Four Corner Match (which I'll review as a bonus on Episode 407 of ROH TV) are shown. After winning he is then attacked twice by fellow participants in the match; first Dalton Castle, then Rush (the man he faces at Best In The World).

The Last Real Man, also now dubbing himself the 'Technician Of Honor' comes out in a new entrance robe. Once again he is here to take cheap shots at Jon Gresham, who is still in Japan, ahead of their Pure Rules Match at the PPV. After a couple of Pure Wrestling exhibitions in Chicago, he now has another jobber (well, it is again Brian Johnson under the silly squid mask) come out for a thoroughly tongue-in-cheek pure wrestling demonstration.

Johnson is in the same squid mask as last time, and Riccaboni immediately points out that it is the same guy as Chicago. We begin with some crisp technical wrestling...and Squid actually makes a move by hitting an atomic drop on Silas. Young doesn't like that and immediately taps out the jobber to his abdominal stretch submission hold (the 'Cobra Twist') at 01:13

Rating - N/A - Silas is one of the best 'characters' on the ROH roster, and this feud with Gresham (despite Gresham being absent for the last few weeks of television) has given him another brilliant outlet for his creativity. These 'exhibition' segments are intentionally a little silly, but they never go long, they are genuinely entertaining and they are increasing anticipation for Young/Gresham at Best In The World. I think that speaks volumes for the skills of Young as a performer, and demonstrates what an asset he continues to be to Ring Of Honor.

A split-screen graphic shows Kenny King and Jay Lethal warming up for the main event in their respective areas backstage...

Lifeblood get some promo time, and Haskins acknowledges that they've lost a lot of members. Tracy welcomes the opportunity to team with PJ Black, and together they look forward to challenging Villain Enterprises for the Six-Man Championship at Best In The World

In Match 1 we saw Kenny King deliver a masterful performance. He had all of Lethal's signature moves scouted, he had counters for all of his trademark combinations and he eventually won the match with Jay's own finishing move, the Lethal Injection. He now carries a broom out to the ring to signal his intention to end the series tonight with a 2-0 victory. Lethal is not to be underestimated though. He is one of the most successful ROH Champions of all time, he has victories over Kenny in the past and he too is desperate to get back into the World Title picture so will know the value of a win over the man who himself has a title shot in his back pocket (King won the 2019 Honor Rumble at MSG and still hasn't claimed his shot)...

Kenny is full of confidence after their Chicago match, whilst Lethal appears determined to wrestle the match on the canvas and not go for some of the predictable combo sequences that were his undoing last time. King leaves the ring out of frustration, and perhaps trying to lure Lethal into going for one of those big tope suicidas which he was able to counter last time. Eventually Jay loses patience and tries to give chase...and in a flash King is on him with knees and kicks to the head. Lethal takes a swing at King's leg and instantly starts looking for the Figure 4 Leglock. Kenny doesn't like that and blocks it by hitting a springboard dropkick (one of Lethal's moves). CORKSCREW PESCADO nailed with authority! King goes back to bombing on the head and neck, perhaps to set Jay up for another Lethal Injection. He goes so far as to hurl Lethal throat-first into the turnbuckles. Inverted neckbreaker to the knee scores, but Lethal then counters the Lethal King-jection with his own Lethal Combination to leave them both down on the mat. Figure 4 Leglock by Lethal...but King is right in the ropes so isn't held in the hold for too long. It does leave him on the apron and in position for Lethal to hit the springboard dropkick though. TOPE TRILOGY! Kenny considers not getting into the ring to break the count, then instead gets himself disqualified by clocking Lethal with the microphone. Lethal wins at 10:51 (shown)

Rating - *** - I thought the finish to Match One was weak and didn't have the impact in putting King over that it could have...and this finish was even worse. Once again the match before it was really good though. In particular the way they wrestled a completely different match, yet made it very clear everything was a reaction and adjustment to Match One in the series. Lethal stayed away from his signature combinations out of fear of Kenny countering them. King was a cocky prick, but now confident and composed enough to target Lethal's neck to try and hit him with his own finish. Ultimately, if Delirious lets these two men wrestle with the handbrake off in Match Three, and lets them go to a clean finish in a great wrestling match, then you can accept some shenanigans in Matches One and Two. Unfortunately nothing Delirious has done as booker inspires confidence that he will let these two athletes deliver the climactic showdown that the quality of wrestling over the last two bouts suggests they are capable of. I hope I'm proven wrong.

Back in the ring Kenny kicks Lethal in the dick then gives him the Lethal King-jection again (executed a little better than in Chicago). Ian Riccaboni confirms that Match Three will take place at Best In The World...as King wraps a chair around Lethal's arm and STOMPS IT! 

Matt Taven ends the episode by complaining about the amount of time dedicated to sit-down interviews with 'Jeff Slob' over the last few weeks on television. Like Jeff, he decides he'd like to list his accomplishments in professional wrestling, and promises that his World Title will be going nowhere at Best In The World, after he ends Cobb's undefeated streak...

Tape Rating - *** - As a package this episode was much better. Compared to the lethargic, lifeless and utterly bland content that came from the War Of The Worlds Chicago taping, this was a significant improvement. No segment was wasted, we started and ended the evening with some really energetic and high quality wrestling and every moment was geared towards promoting Best In The World; THIS is the kind of hour of television which will entice viewers back for more.