McXal's Reviews

Just a couple of days before one of the biggest gambles in ROH history (Free Enterprise), the television show takes on a trip to the main event of Honor Reigns Supreme 2020. We'll see World Champion PCO team with Marty Scurll and Brody King to face former champion Rush and his new stable 'La Faccion Ingobernable'. Quinn McKay and Ian Riccaboni are the hosts, with the feature match coming to us from Concord, NC.

PJ Black tries to give Brian Johnson some coaching before their match tonight...but The Mecca walks off without listening to him.

Bully Ray opens the show, hurling abuse at Caprice Coleman for no apparent reason on his way to the ring. He shoves Bobby Cruise on his ass for the sake of it...and wastes SO MUCH TIME antagonising the crowd before getting to the point. He heard Maria Manic is coming to Atlanta to 'call him out', so he has decided to call her out first. Maria appears in the crowd and gets a great response, before marching into the ring and spearing Bully to the ground. Bobby Cruise hands her a chair so she can continue her assault...and she then brings a table into the ring. The Allure sprint to the ring to attack her from behind; Angelina nailing Manic in the face with a high-heeled shoe. They hold her on the table so Bully can splash her through it...

The Mecca has made it clear that he doesn't want to be mentored by PJ (who himself is only trying to mentor Johnson after being goaded into it by Silas Young). But Black's response to him was simple; accepting his guidance and teaming with him will get Johnson on TV. We saw them beat Master & Machine a few weeks ago, now they face a far greater test. Bruiser and Milonas have made it clear they want the Tag Titles in 2020, so will know the value of a win over a big name like the Darewolf.

Black is already having to calm Johnson down as he almost completely loses his temper before the bell even rings. It means he starts without his full focus on the match and his utterly decked by a tackle from Milonas. Kingpin slaps the sh*t out of Johnson as well, soon followed by Bruiser emphatically out-striking PJ. We head to commercials with Milonas flattening The Mecca with the Kingpin Senton. Despite that, when we come back we see Brian refusing to tag out and getting blasted with a battering ram by The Bouncers. STILL Johnson refuses to tag...and slips off the apron trying to set up a springboard manoeuvre. Having gotten his sh*t in he does now reluctantly make the tag to Black, but soon comes back and tries to wear Bruiser down with a chinlock. PJ rats him out when he tries to cheat, but the only reward for his honesty is getting blasted with a big lariat by Beer City. Milonas steamrolls both opponents with a running crossbody only for PJ to rescue his protege from Closing Time. Johnson brings a chair in...so PJ confiscates it! The Bouncers dump him and give Brian Closing Time, picking up the win at 08:23 (shown)

Rating - ** - Ring Of Honor is running too many of these 'odd couple' tag team angles concurrently. Of the three (PJ/Johnson, 2 Guys 1 Tag and Castle/Hendry) I find PJ and Brian's the least interesting. Johnson definitely has something about him - in particular the intensity and quality of his promo work - but I think would few would consider his team with broken down PJ Black a 'must-see'. This match felt rather tedious and slow, which is inexcusable when television time is so precious. It could have been condensed down, it SHOULD have been more energetic, and I don't know that any of the bickering between Johnson and Black was especially entertaining either.

In the locker rooms after the match an irate Brian Johnson blames PJ for their loss. Black admonishes him for trying to use a chair then tries to lead them in some breathing exercises (but with his eyes closed so he doesn't see that Johnson has already walked off)...

NEXT WEEK - Lethal, Gresham, Maff & Cobb vs The Bouncers & 2 Guys 1 Tag

Originally the Six-Man Championship was due to be on the line here, but LFI miss out on a title shot as the Villains lost the belts the previous evening. In truth the titles were only ever going to be a distraction, as the story here is the rising tension between the two groups. Rush is still furious at his World Title loss to PCO at Final Battle, and has formed La Faccion Ingobernable to fight Villain Enterprises. Last night LFI made a real statement when they ended the show by putting PCO through a table...but will there be consequences this evening? Can the Villains be focused on LFI when they also have issues with MexiSquad and Nick Aldis/the NWA? Rhett Titus joins commentary, himself still with a score to settle with Kenny King somewhere down the line...

Scurll locks up with Dragon and instantly tries to ground him, staying clear of his speed and striking power. Brody and Kenny tag and we get a complete role reversal; King of LFI looking to use his speed to overcome King of VE. Brody emphatically overpowers him though, then clears the ring so Rush and PCO can renew hostilities. The champion basically ignores Rush's strikes and splits him in half with a spear. LFI quickly intervene; Kenny battering Marty into the ring apron whilst Dragon and Rush double-team PCO in the corner. All six start brawling on the floor - bodies flying everywhere and guardrails getting violently rearranged. Dragon shows his 'ungovernable' side by aggressively choking Scurll with electrical cable (much as his brother is known to do). La Faccion continue to triple-team PCO; showing impressive fluency considering this is their first outing as a trio. They continually look to aggravate Marty and Brody on the apron, causing them to enter the ring and occupy the ref presenting plenty of opportunities to illegally attack PCO too. The champ makes a vital tag to Brody, summing Scurll as well for the sunset flip assisted German suplex on Kenny for 2. Dream Sequence by Rush and Lee to save! Incinerator Knee flurry on PCO - into the One Night Stand by Kenny! Brody blocks another Incineration though and f*cking DESTROYS Dragon with a lariat! Double chokeslam on Rush! BACK BODY DROP SOMERSAULT PLANCHA by Scurll and PCO! PCO-SAULT! DOUBLE STOMP BY LEE TO BREAK THE PIN! Everyone goes crazy throwing strikes around, ending when Dragon hits a FLIPPING northern lights on Marty! Kenny blocks the Finger Snap with a Capo Kick, so Marty gives him the GHOSTBUSTER! Rush dives in to break the pin! Senton/backbreaker by Brody and Marty...with Brody charging straight into an elbow suicida as well. Kenny tries to roll to safety on the apron...QUEBEC CANNONBALL ON THE APRON BY PCO! FOR 2! CHICKENWING! Kenny rolls out to safety and Marty quickly has to deal with Rush and Dragon Lee (who may have used chairs to the rest of Villain Enterprises on the floor off camera). GHETTO STOMP BOMB by LFI! Kenny pins Scurll to win at 16:30

Rating - **** - I thought this was really entertaining. LFI were given plenty of time to shine and were fantastic; showing their range as wrestlers and rudos, forming a remarkably cohesive trio. Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give the match is that it made me want to see more of these factions working together - which absolutely was NOT the case after the Rush/PCO nightmare at Final Battle. It felt exciting watching Rush need back-up just to take down PCO (the only man to beat him). Scurll and Dragon Lee had some incredible wrestling exchanges in there. The pandemic and the Speaking Out revelations regarding Scurll would curtail whatever plans there were between these two groups, but this still stands as a really smart trios match.

Tape Rating - N/A - This episode is worth checking out if you hadn't seen Honor Reigns Supreme, because the main event is outstanding. The Final Battle 2019 main event between Rush and PCO was rightly criticised, but the trios main event here did a hell of a job jump-starting my interest in the simmering rivalry between LFI and Villain Enterprises.