McXal's Reviews

Last week Survival Of The Fittest 2021 got underway with a spectacular encounter between Rey Horus and 'Demonic' Flamita. Week By Week saw the next qualification bout as Sledge faced 'The Mecca' Brian Johnson - and I'll be checking that out momentarily. This week on the show we'll have Eli Isom against Dak Draper compete for the third spot in the SOTF Finals - a rematch of a recent time-limit draw between the pair and another chance to show how both men have really grown and improved over the last year. That comes before a high stakes Tag Championship main event; Dragon Lee of La Faccion Ingobernable returns from injury and he wants his belts back. He and Kenny King get their rematch against Tracy Williams and Rhett Titus of The Foundation in our main event. Quinn McKay, Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman are once again our broadcast team in Baltimore, MD.

Form suggests 'The Mecca' is the favourite here. He has picked up wins on TV, has spent time under the tutelage of PJ Black and he also happens to be one of the best promos on the entire roster. He also doesn't come into this on the back of the most devastating loss of his career - as Sledge does, after he lost his big blow-off showdown with O'Shay Edwards a couple of weeks ago. Sledge though is MUCH bigger, and  promises to beat Johnson for disrespectful to his father and/or constantly acting like he has a chip on shoulder. The winner here becomes the second entrant into the six-way field for the finals, joining Flamita.

Johnson now refuses to have a theme tune for his entrance, and instead has a microphone to deliver an extended rant where he calls himself the 'fastest rising star in ROH' then does his own ring introduction too. He also attacks Sledge during his entrance and hits a Tower Of London before the bell has even rung. The 'Metalhead Maniac' appears to suffer a knee injury during that attack - but is so much bigger and more powerful than Johnson that he is still able to throw him around when the bell finally does ring. Brian kicks out the knee and goes for a tope suicida...which Sledge catches and counters by hurling him into the guardrails. BIEL ON THE FLOOR! The camera picks up that Sledge has a cut over his eye, but between that and his knee he still finds a way to power Johnson up and slam him into the side of the ring. The Mecca persists with his game plan, continues to look to create space and finally does land a tope suicida which causes the injured knee to crumple underneath him. Sledge retaliates with a running boot in the corner to shut down the comeback though. Johnson gets innovative and uses the ring apron to trip the bigger man over, into position for a Figure 4 around the ringpost. So much damage has been done that Johnson is able to take Sledge off his feet with a big running lariat for 2. He follows that with a knee-DT before his opponent can even get up from the canvas too. Spinebuster by Sledge, into an emphatic exploder suplex. Mecca kicks out the leg, but Sledge basically ignores it and hauls him up to hit a cradlebreaker/Ushigorishi...decimating his own bad leg in the process. Blue Thunder Driver nailed as well, putting Johnson on the brink of defeat. The Mecca is almost out, but decides to start hurling intensely personal abuse at Sledge - who in turn almost punches his lights out. But as Johnson collapses to the mat he lands right on top of Sledge's injured leg. It causes Sledge to scream in agony, and leaves Todd Sinclair thinking about stopping the match. As he checks on Sledge, who is using the ropes just to stay upright, Johnson sneaks up behind and grabs a schoolboy pin and defeats Sledge at 11:05

Rating - ** - Despite a relatively low-ball rating, this was actually one of my favourite matches from both competitors. My issues with the match were that a) the inconsistency and lack of rationale behind Sledge's selling really irked me and b) the finish was too cute and silly for their own good. I've said before I think that Johnson is a prospect for ROH. His in-ring style is weird and he doesn't look intimidating, but when you can talk as well as he can, then you can always make people care about your work. It was nice to see him in a proper, serious wrestling match after months of goofing off with Danhausen - and he brought the goods. He was antagonistic, he bumped around for the bigger man and he made you route for the other guy...making it a really solid performance on his part. Sledge too benefited from having a smaller, more mobile and more energetic opponent to work with rather than another big, hefty bruiser like O'Shay. The Mecca is the right choice to advance to the final. I just wish they hadn't done it quite such an elaborate, corny way; Sledge isn't reputable enough to need that level of protection and Brian would have benefited more from a clean victory for him to crow about in promos. I also hope they let Johnson wrestle in the finals and don't just have him do a few comedy spots before getting despatched like an idiot...

As Johnson celebrates, PJ Black makes his unexpected return to congratulate his protégé. The Mecca looks uneasy and turns his back on PJ, having enjoyed so much success without him during his injury-enforced absence.

Quinn McKay opens Episode 508 by catching us up on Survival Of The Fittest 2021 thus far, then gives us a reminder that every Tag Title defence by The Foundation will now be contested under Pure Rules. 

We haven't seen these two for almost two months, when they fought to a fifteen-minute draw on Episode 501. At that time it felt like they were building real momentum and starting to break out; Draper had just stolen the show with Jon Gresham at 19th Anniversary, Eli had just beaten LSG in a thrilling TV main event on Episode 498. Dalton Castle debuted his new persona at their expense before they could have five more minutes (has ANYTHING been done to follow up on Dalton's gimmick-change by the way?!) so now they seek to clarify who the best is. Eli thinks he had Dak beaten if they had more time. Draper thinks he is a lock for Survival Of The Fittest because he is the tallest, most tanned and most handsome wrestler in ROH! But he admits he under-estimated Isom last time; a mistake he intends to correct tonight...

Dalton Castle shows up right as the bell rings, does his whole entrance and then positions himself to watch the match from ringside. He sees Eli hit a perfect somersault plancha inside the first minute as he looks to rush Draper. Springboard sunset flip gets an early nearfall as the Mile High Magnum struggles to get into the contest. Dalton's new-look Boys distract Eli though, clapping his work and allowing Draper to guillotine him on the top rope as he attempts a springboard. DEAD-LIFT SUPERPLEX with ease by Dak gets 2. He mounts Isom and starts trying to strike him into oblivion, only really letting up when Castle and his Boys start circling the ring to create another distraction. Rope-run rebound axehandle smash still gets 2 for Draper though. He follows that with a brutal running crossbody block which launches both of them over the top rope to the floor. Dak is up first, picks up Eli and BOWLS HIM at Dalton and The Boys! They skittle all over the arena floor, with Castle diving head-first over the guardrail to avoid contact. Back inside the ring Draper goes back to the grounded bear hug, a move he uses with ruthless precision in his matches. Isom escapes but finds his midsection too injured to hit The Promise at this point. Draper Bomb nailed for 2. Castle distracts Draper with his theatrics again, allowing Eli to block the Mile High Muffler. Spinning back suplex gets 2 for Isom. Dak hammers the ribs to block The Promise, then flattens them in full with a powerslam. Meanwhile Castle is checking the time with Bobby Cruise because he has a 'gala to get to'. Magnum KO set up, but at Dalton's insistence he tries to go bigger and takes Eli to the top. Castle decides he has seen enough and walks away still making a scene. Eli wriggles out of Dak's clutches, hits The Promise and wins at 10:41 (shown)

Rating - *** - Say it quietly but in the form of Brian Johnson, Dak Draper and Eli Isom Ring Of Honor have a crop of genuinely interesting talents legitimately grown from their over-hyped Dojo/Future Of Honor system. To such an extent that I preferred their last match, and wanted to see more of them straight-up wrestling rather than more theatrics with Dalton Castle. I won't pretend I'm not vaguely intrigued with Castle's new direction...but it was very much to the detriment of the work between the ropes here. The match was still good; I like that Draper's work is starting to develop a real focus and identity by targeting opponents' ribs or back, and he's also a great base for an athlete like Eli to bump around. It is frustrating that none of the two wrestlers or new-look Dalton have been on TV in two months however. Couldn't Dalton have shown up at least once in the last six or seven episodes to do his weird routine in another match with other guys? It just feels a little too neat, tidy and convenient (and far less enigmatic) to forget about the whole thing until Eli and Dak wrestle again...

WEEK BY WEEK - This week on YouTube it'll be O'Shay Edwards vs Chris Dickinson. Edwards is now a full member of Shane Taylor Promotions and he wants the money he thinks he is owed for his talents. He thinks his success is making 'suits' nervous and can't wait to embarrass Dickinson with both the ROH and NJPW US offices watching. Dickinson plans to win SOTF then take the World Title from Rush in the name of Violence Unlimited...

This is the first time we've seen Lee in months. He ruptured his ear-drum right before 19th Anniversary meaning he was unable to travel into the 'ROH Bubble' or compete on the show. In his absence Kenny King and his father La Bestia stepped in to fulfil his TV and Tag Title defences...and promptly lost them both. Now LFI get their rematch - the first time anyone from the faction has seen action in a few weeks after being suspended through May for their constant rule-breaking. We know about the history between former partners King and Titus; Kenny is on record as saying it makes him incredulous with rage to see Rhett holding ROH gold and not him. Tonight we finally get the championship match we'd wanted to see at the last pay-per-view. It's also contested under Pure Rules, as all Tracy and Rhett's defences will be moving forward. That may give them the edge, but they should remember that Kenny and Dragon actually won the belts from Lethal and Gresham under Pure Rules back on Episode 493...

Titus and King barely take their eyes off each other before the bell and inevitably start the match together. Rhett goes to the mat looking to out-work his former partner. Williams joins him soon after and forces Kenny to take an early rope-break with a high angle Cloverleaf. Hot Sauce then starts working holds right next to the ropes in the hope of forcing King to cheaply expend a second break too. Lee gets a critical tag, rips off Tracy's shoulder brace and goes into a FEISTY strike exchange. Running rana by Lee, who then FLIPS TO THE FLOOR AND LANDS ON HIS FEET! Tracy tries to ambush him...only for Dragon to toss him SHOULDER-FIRST into the guardrail. DOUBLE STOMP TO THE SHOULDER! After commercials Tracy hits back with a back suplex only to be sandwiched with double dropkicks to the shoulder by the challengers. Chickenwing by Kenny softening up the injury still more...as Lee breaks Covid protocols by spitting in Rhett's face! Chin Checker blocked by Tracy, allowing him to slide away and unleash Titus to hit a flurry of neckbreakers on King. Belly to belly suplex gets 2, with King needing his team's second break to escape defeat. Rhett gets distracted spitting at Lee though - and Kenny capitalises to hit a capo kick on Tracy then the ONE NIGHT STAND on Rhett for 2! LFI try to set up a Doomsday Device on Titus, except he plucks Lee out of the air to COUNTER WITH A SUPERPLEX! Tracy and Kenny left alone, albeit Hot Sauce is still selling his arm. TURNBUCKLE SUPER DDT ANYWAY! Discus Lariat gets 2! He converts King to the Crossface, meaning Kenny needs one last rope-break to escape. He has used all of LFI's rope-breaks tonight. Piledriver blocked with a dragon screw, then a Trailer Hitch. BOMBS AWAY KNEE by Rhett to break it - costing The Foundation their first break. Yakuza Kick on King! Slingshot dropkick by Dragon! BULL'S HORNS gets 2. Snap Dragon Suplex, no sold by Titus into a big lariat. GHETTO STOMP BY LEE! TOPE ATOMICO ON TRACY! ROYAL FLUSH! Titus breaks the pin at 2, using The Foundation's penultimate rope-break. Dropkick KO's Kenny! Lee pulls down his knee pad, only for Williams to block the bare knee Incineration! Dragon tries to set up another Ghetto Stomp but this time Tracy headbutts him in the stomach! SUPER PILEDRIVER NAILED! KENNY BREAKS THE PIN! With no rope-breaks left that means LFI lose by disqualification at 15:00 (shown)

Rating - **** - This didn't have the relentless purpose and energy that Rhett and Tracy's defence against The OGK had, but as an exploration into the possibilities of a Pure Rules Tag Match this was incredibly fun. Little things like LFI constantly being admonished for not using the tag rope properly (to emphasise their lack of comfort in this match type) all play into the bigger Foundation/LFI narrative in a creative way. The Foundation were constantly in a position where they could be portrayed as skilled exponents of the Pure Rules. The way they forced King to burn all the rope-breaks, or Rhett's selective use of breaking up pins/submissions to his team's advantage versus Kenny's match-losing mistake at the end. It wasn't that this lacked action; indeed it was packed with great spots. But actually, the drama here came from the story they told with the Pure Rules environment, which in my eyes makes this a successful deployment of the gimmick. It feels restrictive to have EVERY title defence under this format, but I can live with a few more matches like this...

La Bestia del Ring is back. He celebrates the end of his suspension by attacking The Foundation and setting King up to obliterate Rhett with a title belt shot. Gresham and Lethal come out to help their stable-mates, helping the rejuvenated Rhett to lay out King and Bestia with Dropkicks. On the floor Lee is choking the sh*t out of Tracy with electrical cable. As the two factions brawl Violence Unlimited appear on the apron and start laughing at the carnage they see before them!

NEXT WEEK - Bateman vs Bandido in SOTF, plus Deppen vs Williams vs Dragon Lee with the TV Title on the line...

Tape Rating - *** - For the second time in recent weeks, the Williams/Titus team produce a blistering Tag Title defence which is absolutely worth checking out. Tracy Williams has been perhaps the single most under-rated member of the ROH roster since his debut. The guy constantly churns out great matches, he has excelled in empty arena/post-pandemic matches and our main event here was no different. I didn't love Eli/Dak as it was too much gimmick - but it still left me intrigued as to where they are going with it so I couldn't call it a 'bad' segment or anything. I'd much rather have watched Dickinson and O'Shay beat the sh*t out of each other on TV though!

Lenny Leonard welcomes us to another Women's Division Wednesday instalment. Our bout this week is a tag encounter featuring a former Women Of Honor World Champion alongside three women already confirmed as participants in the new Women's Title Tournament. Sumie Sakai will team with Miranda Alize to face Trish Adora and Mazzerati...

Miranda and Trish met in their Women's division debuts against each other. On that night it was Alize who won the match, but the encounter was so impressive that both subsequently received their Tickets To Gold. Can Adora even the score tonight, teaming with Mazzerati who is looking for her first WDW victory after losing to Angelina Love last time. As a former WOH World Champion many see it as a matter of time before Sumie gets her Ticket To Gold too...but the longer it goes and the more spots get filled, the more concerned she'll be. A win tonight could finally punch her ticket...

Sakai and Adora get us started; Sumie still goofing around and playing to an imaginary crowd. The antics catch Trish off guard, and Sakai stomps on her feet. Adora angrily retaliates with a lucha armdrag before we get tags all round. Mazzerati looks to ground Alize, backing her ability to out-wrestle the athletic 'Lucha Baddie'. Miranda quickens the pace to her liking, rattles off some armdrags then a satellite headscissors. She and Sumie start using fluent tags and even a few combo moves to put Mazz at a distinct disadvantage. Finally Mazzerati ducks a Sakai flying crossbody and hits a springboard press of her own for 2. Trish and Mazzerati focus their offence on the midsection of the veteran, including a CATTLE MUTILATION by Trish! Alize recognises the danger and quickly stomps Trish down to break that. Sumie locks in a front choke in response only for Adora to counter with a muscular suplex. German suplex nailed...but Sumie NO SELLS and dumps Trish on her neck with a German of her own! Alize tags and wheelbarrows off Adora into a headscissors on Mazz instead! DOUBLE Hesitation Dropkick in the corner gets 2. TJ Neckbreaker from Sakai to Mazzerati gets 2 as well. Ripcord knee strike/German suplex combo...but still Mazz kicks out! Mazz keeps missing with martial arts kicks aimed at Miranda, so instead she delivers a sliding DDT which requires Sakai to break the pin. Diving front slam/leg drop combo by Adora and Mazzerati...with Trish then turning on her heels to brain Sumie against the barricades. They keep brawling on the floor, as inside the ring Alize hits an Ace Crush and locks in Miranda Rights. Mazz taps, Miranda wins at 11:11

Rating - *** - Breathless and scatty, but they packed it with action from bell to bell. Adora and Alize once again stole the show and looked extremely impressive, but I really did like Sumie's contributions as well. She is a savvy competitor and has quickly worked out that empty arena matches mean she needs to be a lot more vocal and provide a lot more character work than she normally does. As a result she had a really entertaining and somewhat zany chemistry as a team with Alize. I'd actually like to see more of them as a duo on future WDW episodes...

The four participants are busy shaking hands and congratulating each other...meaning none of them see Max The Impaler climb into the ring and clobber all of them at once! Max throws Sumie then PRESS SLAMS Alize over the top rope. Not content with that, Max then marches to the announce table and grabs the timekeeper as well (who has worked on the indies in her own right). Max brutally attacks said timekeeper and roars in triumph at the destruction all around them. Amy Rose returns to ROH and applauds Max's efforts. The two then leave together...

In the locker rooms Bateman and Vita VonStarr approach Maria Kanellis-Bennett to demand Vita's spot in the Women's Title Tournament. Maria subtly references but sidesteps her husband Mike Bennett's issues with Vincent and agrees to give Vita the latest Ticket To Gold...but only on the condition that she stops interfering in matches.