McXal's Reviews

Apparently an announcement regarding a Covid-secure Final Battle 2020 is imminent. The traditional year-ending extravaganza has been referenced a couple of times on commentary, and will provide a much-needed anchor for the product through the rest of the year. This week sees young pretenders step up to the most dominant team in ROH history as the Soldiers Of Savagery face the Briscoes, before a battle of former Rebellion stable-mates in Kenny King vs Shane Taylor. Quinn McKay is your host, Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman are your announce team in Baltimore, MD.

Amy Rose opens the show with a cinematic promo hyping La Faccion Ingobernable. When they finally reunite in ROH they will bring 'total domination'...

LAST WEEK - They air highlights of Brody vs Castle last week, which goes on for far too long. Brody tells us we are seeing a new violent side of him.

The pre-match interview package for this match is short but effective. The Briscoes discuss their history in ROH and make the point that they've been piling up bodies in this company for years. Moses and Kaun note their respect for the 'OG's'...but no amount of clever rhyming and violent rhetoric can mask the raw ambition behind every word. They want to make their name at the expense of the veterans. Big, bad and full of confidence instilled in them by Shane Taylor Promotions, there is no doubt that they pose a real threat to the infamous Briscoes brothers. EC3 is on commentary...

Moses Maddox stars with Jay, quick to demonstrate his blend of size and surprising athleticism. The Briscoes recognise the danger and join forces to stomp the big man into the corner. It makes Moses' subsequent violent fight through both Briscoes to make a big tag to Kaun even more impressive. SOS overwhelm Jay with a few powerful combo moves, noticeably targeting the midsection of the former World Champion. Mark makes the save, dropping Kaun with a back suplex. Kaun struggles to live with the fluidity and experience of Jay and Mark who beat him from one side of the ring to another before escorting him upstairs for a colossal double superplex. SOS scatter before Mark can hit a moonsault to the floor then start filling the ring with steel chairs. It's the Briscoes who actually throw the weaponry outside and demand a straight-up fight instead...meaning all four enter the ring and try to punch each other's lights out. Kaun hits a pescado to the floor as Moses dives off the second with a headbutt on Mark. CANNONBALL off the apron by Moses, as Kaun hits a diving body press back in for a 2-count. Day One Neckbreaker from Jay to Maddox, then he opens up a chair for Mark to hit a STEP-UP PLANCHA TO THE FLOOR! Froggy Bow on Moses, giving the Briscoes the win at 09:24

Rating - *** - Last week I urged people not to sleep on Dak Draper vs Brian Johnson in their Pure Rules Match because it was really good. The same applies for this one; it gives you all the big hits and rugged offence you'll expect but there was some really clever work under the surface too. So often in a Briscoes match you will see them trying to get their opponents out of the ring, or engage them in a fist-laden brawl. They have been comfortable in this niche for a long-time, so it was fascinating to see that comfort zone challenged by a team like SOS. They were so big and dangerous that the Briscoes had to switch approach - quite literally throwing an invite to use weapons aside and insisting upon a WRESTLING match instead. Seeing the Briscoes challenged in that way was, if nothing else, extremely interesting. 

EC3 leaves commentary and stares blankly at the top of the aisle like a psychopath, unmoved as Jay and Mark talk trash in his direction as they head to the locker rooms...

NEXT WEEK - Matt Taven faces Righteous member Bateman in a grudge match showdown. Bateman calls Taven a coward for his attack on Vincent and says he should have left forever after the beating he took at Final Battle 2019. He suggests Taven is better off facing him because he is a 'much nicer guy' than an extremely pissed off Marseglia...

Jay and Mark Briscoe arrive in the locker room for an interview with Quinn McKay. Mark tries to get Jay to stop concentrating on EC3...which his brother completely ignores to challenge EC3 to a match next week on television.

Taylor has always had a gift for coming off as authentic, legitimate, believable and relatable - but his interview leading into this match is particularly excellent. He acknowledges his history with Ray Rowe (his former friend and mentor), his all-too-brief run in ROH teaming with Keith Lee and credits The Rebellion stable for being the act which helped him find himself, to the extent that he thinks much of The Rebellion's messaging is now part of his work with Shane Taylor Promotions. He and King have plenty of history together and he comes in believing he needs a win over Kenny to send a message to TV Champion Dragon Lee or World Champion Rush. Kenny King is still enraged about the decision to eliminate him from the Pure Tournament and La Faccion Ingobernable lawyers are pursuing legal action. And he refuses to allow himself to be a stepping stone so Taylor can take his spot...

Taylor refuses to shake hands with his former friend causing King to snap off a cheap jab to the jaw. He knocks Taylor around with strikes and uses all of his speed to repeatedly evade the more cumbersome blows coming at him from his opponent. KNOCK-OUT PUNCH LANDS! In a single blow Kenny crumples to the canvas. Taylor doesn't let him up either; pinning him in the corner and beating him senseless. King finally escapes and looks to quicken the pace; sprinting around the ring and landing a few vital blows...until Shane lands a shoulder tackle which drops him instantly. We go right back to Taylor trapping Kenny in the corner and peppering him with strikes until he collapses through the ropes to the apron. Tower Of London brings him back for a two-count. GERMAN SUPLEX by Kenny, then Shotgun Knees when Taylor pops right back up to his feet. Royal Flush blocked, but so is Greetings From 216. Knee smash by Shane, into the PACKAGE PILEDRIVER! And that's only good for a nearfall as well. King hits an exploder suplex and talks trash at Taylor...who refuses to move. GREETINGS FROM 216! Taylor wins at 10:01 (shown)

Rating - *** - Not a main event which will particularly excite or draw in new viewers, but as a platform to promote Shane Taylor it was mightily effective. There aren't a lot of people on television like him. I'm still not entirely clear on whether ROH quite knows how best to utilise him, but he is a unique, gritty performer who contributes to Ring Of Honor's presentation as a true alternative. Kenny has always been, and remains, one of the best talkers in the company. His interview (plus the excellent piece on Taylor) set the scene for this as a make-or-break encounter for both men. Each has championship aspirations, each feels wronged by their treatment by ROH...meaning both came in with chips on their shoulders and points to prove. That Taylor won resoundingly is a significant endorsement of his abilities and puts question marks over what comes next for King

Taylor and King shake hands and hug after the bell. Taylor walks out telling Rush to 'get that World Championship ready'...

NEXT WEEK - Taven vs Bateman, Lethal vs LSG and Jay Briscoe vs EC3

Tape Rating - ** - Solid television, but in my view one of the weakest episodes since the relaunch. Neither match was bad, each was well-presented and I was really pleased to see that we lost so little of each to commercial breaks this week. But there is a LOT of good wrestling on television these days. Decent as Briscoes/SOS or Taylor/King were, I'm not sure they do enough to entice in a broader audience and they certainly weren't close to the cutting edge, high quality excellence that many of the Pure Tournament bouts gave us. That Final Battle announcement can't come soon enough...