McXal's Reviews

This week the undercard gets a real chance to step into the spotlight with TV time allocated to four men who don't always get time for feature-length televised singles matches. We'll start with Mecca/Danhausen III; the rubber match between them with the scores tied at 1-1. That is before a main event which pits Eli Isom against Leon St. Giovanni with both looking to climb the TV Title rankings. Quinn McKay hosts whilst Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman and Mark Briscoe are at the announce desk in Baltimore, MD.

LAST WEEK - Fred Yehi won the first ever Pure Wrestling Gauntlet. After that win he went backstage and complains about Dak Draper using an illegal closed-fist to beat him. He is thankful he bounced back with the Gauntlet win and announces that his 'breaking people' business is officially open.

Danhausen famously defeated The Mecca (in Eddie Guerrero-esque fashion) at Final Battle 2020 to earn his contract. The loss enraged Johnson and he stormed back to take the rematch. Since then they have crossed paths in multi-man matches, including some bitter exchanges during their four-way match at the 19th Anniversary...and now finally look to settle the score and determine who the better man is. The Mecca (who looks like he is dressed in a shirt his mother picked out for him) proclaims his love of wrestling and re-states his hatred for Danhausen's 'clown'-like persona. Danhausen is grumpier than usual too, but plans to refill his bag of money with his pay-off for beating Johnson again tonight...

Todd Sinclair confiscates Danhausen's jar of teeth and Johnson's towel - both objects the combatants have used to cheat with in the past. Brian takes it to the canvas and tries to use traditional wrestling to counteract his unorthodox opponent. Dan sensibly creates some space...only for Johnson to block the slingshot German suplex and flapjack him across the top rope. Tower Of London follows that and gets 2. It leaves Danhausen in obvious pain and The Mecca exploits it by choking him in the ropes then jumping off the top rope for a diving lariat. Johnson is so confident he now almost-constantly narrates the match, burying Dan all the while. Over-confidence quickly gets the better of him and sets up Dan to land a German suplex. Northern lights suplex follows, but Johnson has enough about him to block the Goodnight-hausen. Slingshot German instead gets 2! Johnson is dumped to the outside, soon followed by Danhausen hitting a goofy hurricanrana off the apron. Goodnight-hausen nailed, but it knocks Todd Sinclair sideways in the process causing him to miss the ensuing pinfall where Dan would have won comfortably. Brian nails an illegal-but-unseen low blow then hits The Process to win at 09:07 (shown)

Rating - * - This one wasn't for me. I'm not a Danhausen fan but can fully appreciate that he has a real following and I gave praise where it was due for his performance at the 19th Anniversary. I don't think his gimmick works in singles matches in the current ROH climate though...and he really needs to get away from working Johnson constantly because although character-wise they contrast well, every one of their matches has been a slog to get through. This one felt slow, long and built to another silly over-booked finish which aimed to protect both men but wound up making everyone involved look stupid. 

Johnson grabs a microphone to deliver a warning to the entire roster that it is 'Mecca vs Everybody'...

TWO WEEKS - Jonathan Gresham and Jay Lethal get promo time to announce that Episode 500 will feature the latest instalment in their long-time rivalry. It will be Gresham vs Lethal with the Pure Title on the line!

LSG's interview sees him talking about the big names who have held the TV Title in the past, and used it as a launching pad for greatness both in ROH and across wrestling - and that is what he plans to do in the TV Title division too. He recalls his (non-descript) match with Eli at Bound By Honor 2020, then declares that this is a different ROH now. He knows Eli's strengths and weaknesses, he doesn't think Eli is on his level and victory over the 'rookie' will take him one step closer to a TV Title shot. Isom's retort is pretty simple - it may be a new ROH, but he is a 'new Eli Isom'. He accepts the challenge and will 'go through' LSG tonight...

Both men look cagey and probe for weaknesses rather than make an early mistake. They both look happy to control their opponent by keeping them grounded. LSG breaks cover first...and is punished immediately as Isom dishes out a couple of armdrags. Eli tries to follow with a springboard, but he too is then punished as St. Giovanni punts him off the apron. He pummels Isom to the ground and looks to wear him down with a cravat - clearly having an effect on Isom as it causes him to miss a wild kick and walk blindly into a swinging neckbreaker for 2. Back to the cravat he goes, this time complemented with knee strikes to the face as well. Eli escapes and delivers a big running neckbreaker, injuring his own neck further in pursuit of opening up the same sore-spot on his opponent. RIPCORD northern lights nailed! He follows that with a swinging back suplex which drives Leon out of the ring looking for time to recover. BERMUDA TRIANGLE MOONSAULT to the floor by Eli! Back in the ring he lands an arm-capture German suplex for 2. The Promise (Brainbuster) blocked, into 'Rocket Bye Baby' and a springboard elbow. Saint-splosion nailed as well, dropping Isom on his neck again and earning a close nearfall. St. Giovanni climbs the ropes but is intercepted by Isom, who has an attempt at a Spanish Fly blocked. Flying crossbody by LSG...rolled through INTO A DVD by Eli. LSG uses the ropes to pull himself up...SO ELI SPEARS HIM THROUGH THE ROPES TO THE FLOOR! They lie in a heap on the floor, bodies covered in bruises and welts, Isom with a mouth full of blood. St. Giovanni rams Eli into the guardrail and tries to escape with a count-out victory...but finds Isom able to answer and return at 19. They scream wildly as they lay into each other with strikes then frantically look for pinning combinations. Promise blocked...Star Jammer blocked...THE PROMISE! Eli wins at a time of 14:58 (shown)

Rating - **** - In a lot of ways this match reminded me of a very old-fashioned ROH match (meant absolutely in a complimentary manner). Neither wrestler is the finished article, both have rough edges they need to polish off - but they were given a decent time allowance and a platform to go out there and show what they could do...and delivered in spades. There was a plot there, from the tentative opening where they cancelled each other out to bombing on each other's necks, to LSG trying to pull rank and be a veteran bully at Eli's expense - but at its core this match was about heart. It was two guys recognising the opportunity they'd been given and pulling out all the stops to produce something special off. It wasn't an all-time classic, but in the realms of free TV wrestling it was spirited, competitive, extremely well-paced and finished at the right time. I'd need to go back and watch LSG/Lethal again, but this felt like an ROH career-best singles performance for both of them.

TWO WEEKS - Episode 500 will be headlined by Briscoe vs Briscoe. Jay and Mark both get promo time, both are pumped...and both are ready to fight.

Tape Rating - *** - I could understand why this episode might not inspire you. It is frustrating that ROH's schedule doesn't allow them to get content out which immediately reacts to a big pay-per-view. Indeed, this show features four of the lowest ranked guys on the entire roster (ignoring the phoney championship rankings which don't make sense and will go the way of the Contender's Ring, Top 5, Pick 6, Contenders Trophy and any other championship contention mechanism ROH has ever tried). But the arguably unexpected quality of Isom/LSG saves this show. It was a breakout match for both, but particularly for Eli who now has his first extremely good singles match to go along with the 'blue chipper' push that ROH have given him since he debuted.