McXal's Reviews

This show airs against ROH's own Best In The World pay-per-view so won't serve much purpose as a promotional vehicle for that show. Will it fall into the familiar realm of forgettable, mediocre episodes filling the gaps in the schedule whilst we await fresh post-PPV content, or will this episode stand up and provide some quality wrestling on its own? The card is intriguing; Jay Briscoe in a grudge match against PCO, a battle of two top contenders for the World Championship as well as the latest instalment in a violent rivalry which has spanned most of 2019. The main event sees Jeff Cobb square off with Lifeblood's Mark Haskins, in the same weekend that Cobb main events Best In The World challenging Matt Taven for the World Title. Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana are in Kent, WA.

This feels like a big match to give away on free television. The Briscoes have had issues with Villain Enterprises going back to early 2019, and had their tenth ROH Tag Title reign ended by PCO and Brody King at the 17th Anniversary. They've brawled on multiple ROH shows, and even went to the NWA and beat the sh*t out of each other at their Crockett Cup show too. Now we have these two in singles action; a battle of two tough fighters, and a battle which pits one former World Champion (Briscoe) against one of the top contenders for Matt Taven's title currently (PCO)...

The match doesn't make it through the first minute before they start bombing on each other with big strikes. PCO's size means he can run through Briscoe early...only for Jay to showcase his speed with a back body drop over the top rope. But PCO gets right back up and drags Briscoe out after him! BACK BODY DROP INTO THE SIDE OF THE RING by Jay! How does PCO not get seriously injured taking these bumps?! Indeed, after commercials we see him back on his feet and delivering an Air Raid Crash for 2. Running knees to Briscoe's jaw  follow, then a diving elbow right into the neck. SOMERSAULT SENTON SPLASH gets 2! Jay tries to kick him in the head, so PCO dragon screws him then lands an insane Cactus Clothesline to the floor. TOPE CON HILO NAILED! He tries to follow up as Briscoe scurries away...and Jay FLAPJACKS him sternum-first into the guardrails. Briscoe then sits PCO in an open chair, wide open for him to deliver a running crossbody block straight through it. Jay teases using the chair as a weapon, but is convinced not to by the ref...and the delay opens the door for PCO to hit the POP-UP POWERBOMB! Northern Lights Bomb nailed too! He thinks about the PCO-Sault...but as he gets to the top rope Briscoe grabs the chair and f*cking BELTS him with it! Briscoe is disqualified at 08:20 (shown)

Rating - *** - Put a finish on this and I'd have gone higher on my rating. This was ludicrously fun, a complete mess and compelling viewing all at the same time. Both guys put their bodies through a lot (PCO in particular of course), and the match felt wild and at risk of veering completely off the rails at any point; the aura of unpredictability really enhancing things. The Briscoes/Villains matches in 2019 have all been incredibly under-rated, and this is another that falls into that category...

Mark Briscoe shows up so he and his brother can beat on PCO. Ian and Colt say they are trying to send a message to the Guerrillas Of Destiny ahead of their Street Fight at Manhattan Mayhem. FROGGY BOW THROUGH A TABLE! PCO NO SELLS IT AND GETS BACK UP! He clobbers both Briscoes and has to be held back by security...

Mark Haskins plans to beat Jeff Cobb tonight and rejuvenate his Ring Of Honor career. Meanwhile in his locker room, Cobb is just excited that he's getting to suplex a brand new opponent...

Brian Johnson (not quite calling himself 'The Mecca' yet) approaches Josh Woods and accuses him of killing the credibility of the Top Prospect Tournament. He tells Josh that he is entering the 2019 TPT to restore the honour and prestige to the tournament...

We've seen Ali and LSG showcase a more aggressive, edgy side to their personalities in recent weeks. This will be a real test of their new attitude tonight as they face loudmouth Hall Of Famer Bully Ray and the new TV Champion Shane Taylor. Bully calls Taylor 'an upgrade on what I'm used to' as a partner...

Taylor and Ali start, with Bubba stealing the attention by yelling at and threatening dissenting fans in the crowd. Eventually they get to wrestle...and Shaheem starts slapping the TV Champion. C2C double up on Taylor, until he needs Bubba's help to fight back. Ray trips Shaheem from behind and crotches him against the ringpost. Taylor hauls him up and then almost knocks him clean out with a headbutt. Ali levels Bully with a superkick, dodges a splash and makes the hot tag to St. Giovanni. He dives in with a blockbuster on Shane, followed by a flying crossbody for 2. C2C climb the ropes for a double frog splash combo...but Taylor kicks out. They set up Coast To Coast...only for Bully to toss LSG off the top rope. Greetings From 216 on Ali, giving Taylor the win at 07:55 (shown)

Rating - * - Maybe I'm hypersensitive to these things because I really don't enjoy Bully Ray's work in ROH, but an awful lot of this match felt like Shane Taylor in the ring bumping and absorbing most of Coast 2 Coast's offensive work whilst Bully just stood around. And to me, I don't want to see the new TV Champion, whom ROH are already struggling to get over because he's been booked so inconsistently throughout his entire run with the company, as the one taking the majority of the punishment against lowly ranked competitors like C2C. Other than that the match was just there; predictable, unimaginative and sucking time out of the episode that could have been dedicated to letting Briscoe/PCO or Cobb/Haskins go longer...

NEXT WEEK - Tracy Williams challenges Matt Taven for the World Championship...

This airs the same weekend that Cobb, still yet to be pinned or submitted in ROH, challenges Matt Taven for the World Title. As we know this was taped earlier, this match represents one of his final chances to build momentum before the pay-per-view. It's also a final chance to prepare for Taven, but facing the man he last defended the title against. Haskins seemed on the cusp of actually taking the belt from Taven in Grand Rapids, with only interference from Bully Ray preventing him from accomplishing that. He knows how to beat the champ...and Cobb needs to learn that skill fast.

Haskins tries to lock up with Cobb, and the Olympian instantly drags him down to the canvas and throws him around with ease. Quickly changing tactic, instead Mark drops and applies an anklelock which sends Jeff crawling to the ropes quickly. He keeps trying to execute the European, World Of Sport style sequences...but Cobb just resists all efforts and starts bludgeoning him with chops and a body slam. Standing moonsault COUNTERED with kicks by Haskins, and when Jeff tries to drop him with a spinebuster instead Haskins clings to the arm and applies a triangle choke. SO COBB SWINGS HIM INTO THE BUCKLES! Cobb got his nose busted somewhere along the way and reacts by repeatedly headbutting the Englishman in the neck. Bearhug applied only for Haskins to force an escape by striking at the nose again. Cobb is visibly angry now and pummels his opponent into the ropes. ELBOW SUICIDA BY HASKINS! He follows that with a kick to the face then the flying double stomp from the top for 2. Cradle To The Grave blocked with an emphatic elbow by Jeff, then a DEADLIFT GUTWRENCH PILEDRIVER! Somehow Haskins didn't die on that and responds by unloading with a flurry of kicks and stomps to the arm. Cross armbreaker briefly applied too, and when Cobb leaves the ring to escape Haskins starts kicking at the arm from the apron. ATHLETIC-PLEX TO THE F*CKING FLOOR! Both men are so worn down they barely beat the count back in after that. Haskins tries to strike with the big man...so Cobb MAULS him with a German suplex. Tour Of The Islands blocked...STANDING MOONSAULT TO THE BACK! Jeff looks for a wrist clutch Tour Of The Islands...but Haskins blocks. SHOULDER ROLL GETS 2! Haskins swats at the arm again, even as Cobb dropkicks him into the corner. He blocks Cobb's big superplex by grabbing the arm again too. Double stomp misses...TOUR OF THE ISLANDS! Cobb wins at 14:03 (shown)

Rating - **** - One of the best TV matches of the year. I've said before that 2019 is full of hidden gems in Ring Of Honor because so few people watched it, and this is another example. It is also an example of what happens when Delirious takes a step back, doesn't overbook the sh*t out of a main event and just gives two high class performers the opportunity to produce a killer wrestling match. These guys work so well together, finding a completely believable way that Haskins dogged, tenacious attacks could find a way through even the most dominant and powerful onslaught from the former Olympian. Jeff tried to batter, bludgeon and break Haskins in half...and managed to win but only after surviving a huge scare, getting a bloody nose and almost having his arm torn out of the socket in one of his final bouts before Best In The World. This is what Jeff Cobb is capable of, and it's incredible that ROH have had him under contract for so long yet only let him off the leash for matches like this so infrequently.

Tape Rating - *** - As I said last week, the vibe from this set of tapings is so much better than the last batch of episodes from Chicago. Even if you're not invested in the story-telling and general creative direction of the company, and even if you're put off by having to watch Bully Ray 'wrestle' in 2019...kickass matches like Briscoe/PCO and Cobb/Haskins make for great television. In particular that Cobb vs Haskins match is really worth seeking out.