McXal's Reviews

The return of fans is looming with Best In The World 2021 getting closer and closer, which is exciting. It means that ROH TV now needs to start focusing on pulling together a stellar and spectacular card for such a significant event...and that remains difficult with just an hour per week for the entire roster. This week The Foundation are back in action; defending the Tag Team Championship in our main event against #1 contenders, 'The OGK' of Matt Taven and Michael Bennett. For Pure Division fans, the show also includes a potential classic, as Fred Yehi faces Rocky Romero. Quinn McKay returns to her hosting duties, with Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman back at ringside for commentary.

Quinn's opening monologue includes her confirmation that her match against Angelina Love will not be the last time we see her as an in-ring performer in ROH. We jump from her introduction to backstage, where an unknown assailant has attacked Matt Taven and seemingly taken out his ankle.

When last we saw Yehi on television he was winning the Pure Rules Gauntlet and seemed set for a run to the top of the Pure Division. But that was eight weeks ago, and we've not seen him since so it feels like momentum has been lost. Nevertheless, a win over world-travelled and respected veteran Romero puts him right at the top of the list of contenders for Jon Gresham's Pure Championship.

Yehi looks as relaxed as ever and doesn't hesitate to get on the mat with Rocky - quickly twisting him up like pretzel and hurting his knee. The challenge facing Romero is that Fred is also substantially stronger; able to clobber the veteran to the mat when he does manage to escape the intricate mat work. He tries to control Yehi with headlocks, and rather surprisingly draws Yehi's first rope-break to escape that. But it appears to be a tactic; Yehi cheap-shotting Romero as he gives a clean break and seizing the initiative for himself. Rocky tries to protect himself with strikes...so Fred stomps his hand into the canvas. The Savageweight goes to work on the hand, wrist and arm and leaves the multi-time for ROH Tag Champion in trouble. Rocky lashes out like a cornered snake; kicking Fred in the arm and unleashing a single-arm DDT trying to inflict a tit-for-tat arm injury. He continues to target the arm during commercials, and when we return we've reached the ten minute mark with both guys now nursing arm injuries. Fred can't maintain a sleeper because of his own arm...and Rocky has a similarly easy time escaping the Koji Clutch. BACK FIST TO THE EAR by Yehi! Arm-selling fisherman suplex gets 2. Out of nowhere Romero makes a play for the cross armbreaker...sending Fred scrambling for his second rope-break. Shiranui blocked, and Yehi swipes Rocky off the top rope, stomps his head and hits an exploder suplex Koji Clutch applied...and transitioned to an arm submission when Rocky tries to escape. Romero uses his first rope-break to escape, and Fred knee drops him IN THE NECK! Yehi is getting aggressive...but has his injured arm snapped over the ropes when he refuses to give Romero a clean break. MISSILE DROPKICK TO THE SHOULDER! CROSS ARMBREAKER! One minute remaining in the time limit...as Yehi escapes with MOUNTED STRIKES! ELBOW TO THE HEAD! KOJI CLUTCH! Rocky taps at 11:46 (shown) - with the timer showing just 17 seconds remaining in the fifteen minute time limit.

Rating - *** - If they haven't already, ROH need to sign Yehi now. He is so talented, so skilled and so DIFFERENT to anyone else on the roster. This match was actually a pretty perfect embodiment of what he brings to the table in that his wrestling was at a high level throughout - but it was his unorthodox character which really made him stand-out. The way he juxtaposes a somewhat disconcerting aloofness with absolute savageness between the ropes really makes a real impact every time you see him. In his pre-match promo he promised we'd see more of his 'Savageweight' nature tonight - and he delivered. As the match progressed he got more and more aggressive with the veteran, and Rocky almost tapping him out as we entered the final minute caused him to snap into a tremendously violent finishing stretch. Kudos to Romero; he played his role perfectly - but to me, this was Yehi's match.

Ian Riccaboni announces that we'll soon be seeing Yehi vs World Famous CB, with the winner presumably going to the top of the Pure Division rankings.

Backstage the trainer is checking out Taven's injured ankle and trying to bandage it up. Mike Bennett tries to convince him to back out of the main event...until Matt reminds him that he was battling ankle injuries through his entire World Title run and won't let them miss their opportunity tonight.

Flip Gordon has asked for in-ring interview time, which has been granted. He says he's ready for his World Title shot and calls out Rush...only for EC3's music to hit. He takes an eternity to walk to the ring, gets right into Flip's face, tells him that he has 'been warned'...then walks out. 

In The Foundation locker room, Jay Lethal gives Tracy and Rhett the news of Taven's injury. Like Bennett, they suggest postponing the match but start lacing their boots when they learn that The OGK still want to go through with it...

This is a first defence of the belts for Tracy and Rhett, with The Foundation looking to bring some stability to the belts after they bounced from Gresham and Lethal, to Kenny King and Dragon Lee of LFI...then back to The Foundation (with La Bestia subbing for his son) at 19th Anniversary. Their opponents are former Tag Champions themselves, getting their first title shot since Bennett's shock return to ROH in 2020. The Kingdom have been top contenders for the belts and have an impressive record in tag competition, but have found themselves distracted by Vincent and The Righteous. However, Vincent's whereabouts remain unknown following his unsanctioned brawl with Taven at the 19th Anniversary, freeing The OGK up to take this shot. Both challengers enter with suspect ankles though. Bennett's was attacked by Vincent and Bateman last year, whilst Taven - dogged by ankle injuries during his World Title reign in 2019 - had his targeted by an unknown attacker earlier in the show.

Bennett all but orders his partner to start on the apron, after he struggles to even make it down the entrance steps. Tracy looks supremely confident and dominates the opening exchanges, whilst testing Mike's ankle for weaknesses too. Taven realises he needs to assist and joins his partner for a double dropkick on Hot Sauce. He follows with a knee drop to the neck, which Riccaboni points out was the focal point for Tony Deppen's offence in their TV Title Match. Soon after he jars his ankle so badly that he tags out and rolls out to the floor in so much pain that both Bennett and Todd Sinclair pause the match to check on him. He recovers during commercials and when we return we see him taking Titus down with a missile dropkick. Shinbreaker on the bad ankle by Rhett, into a Texas Cloverleaf by Williams. Only Matt's positioning near the ropes saves him there. Tracy thinks about working the back, but has to grab the bad leg again when Taven threatens to escape his clutches. They keep on the ankle and use it to keep him in the ring - Rhett wrenching in a half crab with Taven agonisingly close to his corner. I like that Tracy is also trying to work the back and neck too, since he uses a Crossface or a Piledriver for his finish...but that dual focus comes back to haunt him as Taven escapes a chickenwing and hits a LIMPING JUST THE TIP! Hot tag to Bennett, who channels his inner-Kobashi by going chop-crazy on both champions. Hammerlock DDT, using Tracy's bad shoulder for leverage! TKO blocked by Rhett...except Mike f*cking MUSCLES him up into the TKO anyway! Taven's limping around causes The OGK to miscue on the Proton Pack, but instead they land a superkick/Spear combo on Rhett for 2. Once again Taven's leg gives out, allowing Tracy to rip into him with strikes and a second rope superplex. Rear naked choke on Bennett, which Taven breaks with a jumping enzi even though it injures his own ankle again. TURNBUCKLE IMPLANT DDT! NO SOLD! TREND SETTER! WITH LEG SELLING! LEG CAPTURESUPLEX by Williams to escape! Taven blocks the Crossface, tagging Bennett on the way who marches in and puts Tracy in an anklelock. Hot Sauce escapes with a discus lariat. THRUST BUSTER from Titus to Taven! Bennett puts him in a version of the London Dungeon...but Rhett isn't the legal man and it leaves him powerless to stop Tracy grabbing Taven for a SAMOAN SHINBREAKER! LION TAMER ON TAVEN! Bennett and Tracy slap the sh*t out of each other whilst working submissions on their respective opponents! DUELLING PILEDRIVERS NAILED! With their partners incapacitated, it comes down to Bennett and Williams throwing strikes again. Taven recovers enough to dive in behind Tracy. He tries to schoolboy pin Tracy, who COUNTERS with a kneebar! Dropkick from Bennett to break that...and in turn Titus gives Mike the belly to belly suplex. Kick Of The King MISSES, possibly blowing out Taven's knee for the last time. YAKUZA KICK by Rhett! DROPKICK/PILEDRIVER COMBO! The Foundation retain at 16:37 (shown)...

Rating - **** - One of ROH's best matches of 2021 thus far; an absolute thriller of a Tag Title bout which got plenty of time and delivered in spades. Taven's ankle injury was the obvious hook, but there was SO much more going on than that. The Foundation wrestling with the morality of whether to target the ankle - before brutally exploiting it because they recognised how dangerous their challengers were - was a great touch. I loved that Tracy wasn't just going after Taven's ankle too, knowing that his finishing moves work the neck and backing his immense skill to set him up for a dual-focused onslaught. Taven's selling of the leg was utterly compelling. It wasn't overly theatrical, but completely believable because of his gritty, relatable presentation. Little touches like not being able to complete the Trend Setter because he can't move his ankle, or dragging his leg on Just The Tip - they were minute details but all add up and meant you completely believed in him as a guy fighting on one leg. The closing stretch, with Bennett and Tracy stretching the sh*t out of their opponents whilst slapping each other about was outrageously good fun. Make plans to check this match out.

Everyone shakes hands and agrees that they should have a rematch when Taven's ankle has recovered. The Foundation leave, and Vincent appears on the Cary-tron to taunt Taven. Caprice ends the show by saying that we now know who attacked Taven's ankle...

Tape Rating - **** - Foundation/OGK takes up half of this episode, and it is one of ROH's best matches since their post-pandemic restart. That alone makes this show pretty essential viewing. I liked that a lot of the show was geared up around the main event as well - with multiple backstage segments adding layers of depth and interest which all paid off with the Tag Titles on the line. The fact that we also enjoyed a really solid Yehi/Romero Pure Rules Match too only further strengthens this show. After a couple of 'down weeks' from an in-ring perspective, this was ROH returning to form and operating close to its best tonight. If nothing else, find twenty minutes to watch Tracy/Rhett vs Taven/Bennett. 

With four spots already locked down for this summer's ROH Women's Championship Tournament, competition is now hotting up. Two women who impressed on the first episode of the relaunched 'Women's Division Wednesday' get another chance to shine on this instalment as 'The Renaissance Woman' Hyan takes on the fearsome Max The Impaler. Will either of them do enough to join Angelina Love, Rok-C, Trish Adora and Miranda Alize in the tournament field?

The intimidating presence of Max The Impaler was a lot for all of her fellow competitors to deal with during the tag match four weeks ago on Episode #1. However, Hyan stood out in that she didn't allow herself to be bullied or intimidated. Calling herself a 'Renaissance Woman' and backing herself as a master of multiple styles, she believes she is too skilled for Max to handle - and a resume which includes the Heart Of SHIMMER Championship certainly backs up that point.

Once again Hyan doesn't back up an inch, even when Max threatens to throw her around with ease. She looks for takedowns and front chokes, but finds The Impaler able to repeatedly toss her aside. Knee strikes and a dropkick knock Max backwards...only for her to emerge from the corner with a clubbing lariat to the back. Hyan isn't allowed up either because Max stands on her head in the ropes. Grounded neck vice next, Max looking like she genuinely wants to rip Hyan's head from her body. It is clear the fight in Hyan is weakening with her neck and midsection starting to take major damage. Still she tries to choke Max out - climbing on her back with a sleeper hold. STUNNER by The Impaler...but Hyan holds on! Instead Max snapmares her down onto her ailing back. Hyan kicks the middle rope into Max's throat...but sadly the back is to injured for her to lift her opponent off her feet. Tiger suplex blocked into an URINAGE BACKBREAKER by Max. Argentine Backbreaker gets the win for The Impaler at 07:48

Rating - *** - I think this is the shortest match we've had on the new 'Women's Division Wednesday' show, but it actually turned out to be one of my favourites. It wasn't big or outrageous - but told a concise, compact and well-paced story which I related to. I thought Max's performance here was substantially better than in Episode 1, and absolutely loved how she dominated long stretches with her monstrous offence despite the valiant efforts of Hyan. Hyan sold the ass-kicking really well too, doing a lot to put over not only the skill and outright 'fear factor' of her opponent, but also her own resilience and courage. At this point I would be surprised if Max The Impaler doesn't make the tournament field in the summer. Of all the women we've seen she is perhaps the most unique and will certainly make an impression with a more casual fan.

Maria Kanellis-Bennett once again ends the show by issuing her latest 'Ticket To Gold'; a spot in the Women's Title Tournament. This week her Zoom call is with veteran Allysin Kay; formerly Sienna in Impact and somebody that Maria is familiar with from her time in that promotion. She is 'excited to sink [her] teeth into ROH' having only made sporadic appearances previously, and lists her accomplishments in Impact, NWA and SHINE to position herself as a serious contender for the new championship. Maria references her recent work with NWA, UWN and AEW...but confirms she isn't contracted anywhere and calls her one of the 'hottest free agents in wrestling'.