McXal's Reviews

We are a week out from Death Before Dishonor, and our feature bout tonight sees us dip into Honor For All 2019, where #1 contenders for the Tag Titles at the PPV will be determined. Villain Enterprises of Marty Scurll and Brody King face Lifeblood's Mark Haskins and Bandido. We'll also see a TV-exclusive bout between arch rivals Vinny Marseglia and Beer City Bruiser. Quinn McKay and Ian Riccaboni are our hosts, with the main event taped in Nashville, TN.

The rivalry between The Kingdom and The Bouncers has intensified over the summer. At Manhattan Mayhem we saw Vincent stub out a lit cigar on Bruiser's chest, and the teams have ended up in chaotic brawls at multiple shows subsequently. This was taped as a dark match during Saturday Night At Center Stage.

Marseglia jumps Bruiser during his lengthy entrance (from the bar), and lays him out with a tope suicida. Cannonball off the apron by Bruiser MISSES! But Vinny tries the same spot moments later and eats a CHOKESLAM INTO THE APRON! BCB walks off into the crowd, and dives OUT OF THE CROWD OVER THE GUARDRAIL! But Marseglia dodged the impact, meaning Beer City only wiped out the gaggle of security personnel around ringside. Back from commercials with Bruiser mounting the ropes but missing a Vader Bomb...and getting wiped out with the Side Effect by Vincent. Super gourdbuster scores, followed by Redrum for 2! Bruiser blocks the Russian legsweep and hits the Beer City DDT. BCB is looking pretty gassed, which is usually what happens when he starts going deeper in singles matches...and he rather clumsily walks into the Acid Drop from Vincent. That's enough for Marseglia to win at 06:24 (shown)

Rating - *** - I suspect my rating could be seen as a tad generous, but I really had fun with this. It was wild and unpredictable, neither man tried to do anything complicated or elaborate and by sticking within their comfort zone they delivered a solid TV-length brawl. 

Ian Riccaboni announces that a tournament has been put together to determine the #1 contender for the World Title at Final Battle. The eight participants are Mark Haskins, Colt Cabana, Kenny King, Bandido, Dalton Castle, Marty Scurll, PCO and Jay Lethal. The first two matches will take place at Death Before Dishonor; King vs PCO and Scurll vs Cabana. At DBD Fallout the following night it will be Lethal vs Bandido and Haskins vs Castle. The semi-finals and final will take place at Glory By Honor 17.

In the locker room we see that Brian Milonas has been assaulted by TK O'Ryan and a baseball bat. As a reminder, TK doesn't wrestle again in ROH all year...

Highlights of the Women Of Honor four-way at Honor For All are shown, including Angelina getting on the mic to insist that she shouldn't have to wrestle because she's already #1 contender for the title...before eventually finishing Damaris Dawkins with the Botox Injection. 

Quinn interviews The Allure, with Love still furious that she hasn't received a title shot. They react angrily to Quinn's suggestion that they keep cheating in their matches using hairspray, act like bullies then steal her glasses.

THE PRESTIGIOUS SHOPPING NETWORK - Joe Hendry has filmed a commercial for his new t-shirt from his own house. He also reveals a 'brand new' Dalton Castle shirt, which is a picture of a pigeon emblazoned with the slogan '2nd best!' 

NEXT WEEK - Defy Or Deny, with Matt Taven taking on Kenny King, Jeff Cobb and Jay Lethal.

This was originally scheduled to be a Six-Man Title defence for Villain Enterprises, but the injury PCO sustained at Saturday Night At Center Stage has kept him out of action. Instead these two teams will compete for #1 contendership to the Briscoes' Tag Championship instead. The Haskins/Bandido Lifeblood team has experienced mixed fortunes of late. They first tagged at Mass Hysteria and lost to Marty and PCO, but then went to Summer Supercard and almost stole the show with their victory over Jonathan Gresham and former ROH Champion Jay Lethal. Bandido also lost to Scurll in Atlanta 24-hours previously. The feud between Lifeblood and the Villains shows no signs of abating; but which team will step over their rivals to ascend to the top of the pecking order in the tag division?

Scurll refuses to shake Bandido's hand and makes King start with him, which is odd after he did shake Bandido's hand and visibly put him over last night. Brody OUT-LUCHAS BANDIDO! His running rana has fans jumping out of their seats, and the pace doesn't relent as they start doing duelling/near-miss spots on their way to a thrilling stalemate. Marty rewards Bandido for his effort by attacking him from behind. That brings Haskins in, and he immediately tricks Brody into laying out his own partner. Lifeblood try to suplex King but the big man picks them both up at once to counter. Mark tries to neuter some of King's power by working his arm - danger Marty quickly spots and thwarts with the Apron Superkick. The Villains isolate Haskins with Scurll in particular at his most antagonistic. He constantly plays mindgames with his opponent, repeatedly turns to taunt Bandido as he watches from the apron...and finally starts snapping his fellow-Brit's fingers. But Haskins has seen Marty's routine countless times...and as he begins his Chickenwing dance Mark simply jumps into a heel kick. Bandido gets the tag and immediately takes out Marty with the Tornillo. Bandido tries to catch King jumping off the ropes...but doesn't have the strength leading to them both rolling around slightly awkwardly on the mat. Things are put back on track quickly though, with Lifeblood delivering stereo elbow suicidas. RUNNING FALCON ARROW/FROG SPLASH COMBO gets 2! Sunset slingshot German suplex combo in response by Villain Enterprises, and Haskins has to dive in to prevent his partner from being pinned. Crucifix Driver on Brody! HALF NELSON SUPLEX by Scurll! X-KNEE on Marty, then Bandido hoists him into the air so Haskins can dive over his partner's head into a double stomp for 2. Finger Snap by Haskins...only for Marty to block the Soldier Roll into the CHICKENWING! Haskins escapes...and then does hit the Soldier Roll for 2. Bandido saves Haskins from the Gonzo Bomb, allowing Lifeblood to knock Brody out. 21-PLEX! TOPE ATOMICO! SHARPSHOOTER ON MARTY! Haskins taps out Scurll to win at 14:08

Rating - *** - The last few minutes of this match were really hot. It wasn't a bad match before that, but it wasn't the quite on the same level as the awesome Villains/Lifeblood tag team sprint at Mass Hysteria for instance. The exchanges between Haskins and Scurll were the clear stand-outs of this one for me. Coming off Summer Supercard where Haskins sensationally tapped out Jay Lethal, I thought it was a great follow-up to have him out-wrestling The Villain as well. There's an argument to be made that it should be Bandido who is getting clean wins over main event talents and former World Champions...as his ceiling is possibly higher than Haskins, but they are both SO good. As a gimmick, stable or angle Lifeblood was a total flop - but from an in-ring standpoint they are almost CARRYING Ring Of Honor at this point. Their Tag Title shot is at Death Before Dishonor.

The show ends with a brief word from Rush - who cuts an ominous promo vowing to take Matt Taven's World Championship...

Tape Rating - N/A - Possibly not the most effective of go-home shows for a pay-per-view. The main event (Taven vs Rush) was only mentioned in passing for instance. But as a concept I am still enjoying this new lay-out for TV. Segments like Joe Hendry's 'Prestigious Shopping Network' would never have made TV before; there just wasn't enough time. But it was an outstanding segment in that it furthered Hendry's brewing issue with Dalton Castle, whilst also giving the ROH audience more exposure to his brand of humour and ability to combine musicianship with pro-wrestling.