McXal's Reviews

We've made it to content taped at the 2300 Arena for content taped during Death Before Dishonor PPV week (without fans). We begin with a couple of exciting/unique matches. The Briscoes face Alex Zayne and Taylor Rust; two recently released NXT stars who returned to ROH at Death Before Dishonor. Violence Unlimited are looking for another dominant performance in the main event, with an open challenge to anyone who wants to 'get violent' with them. Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman provide commentary in Philadelphia, PA.

Violence Unlimited prepare for the main event by pointing out that they've been dominant recently and don't know who will stupid enough to accept the challenge. Danhausen accidentally interrupts their promo, and scarpers quickly.

Both Rust and Zayne enjoyed triumphant returns to ROH at Death Before Dishonor. Zayne is still undefeated in this promotion in a run which includes a victory over current World Champion Bandido. He earned a title shot by winning the 2021 Honor Rumble. Rust was part of the Pure Tournament in 2020, but came back after a spell in WWE NXT and defeated fellow former NXT star Jake Atlas. Now they join forces looking to further promote their credentials with a win over the top tag team in ROH history. The Briscoes are still trying to repair, rebuild and return to the Tag Title scene...

Mark and Rust start and it quickly becomes apparent that the technical skill of the Pure Tournament entrant gives him the edge over Briscoe. The Briscoes have to double-team him and they are firmly on top by the time we cut for a commercial break. When we return we see Taylor showing his experience and evading the Briscoe double tackle spot so he can tag Zayne in. He spikes Jay on his head with a flying headscissors, annoying Briscoe so much that his response is basically a full pelt running punch to the face. Mark gives Alex a release suplex on the apron and a mafia kick on the floor...and when Rust tries to help Jay clobbers him with a clothesline as well. They work Alex's neck over fiercely, so Zayne needs all of his agility to escape their clutches and make the critical tag to Taylor. Gaia Lock briefly applied on Mark, only for Jay to act fast and break the pin. Anklelock on him...then on Mark when he comes to his brother's aid! INSIDE-OUT moonsault to the floor by Zayne! SOMERSAULT FRANKENSTEINER OFF RUST'S BACK takes down Mark for a nearfall! Urinage on Zayne, as Jay clatters into Taylor with another lariat. Jay Driller/Froggy Bow combo sees the Briscoes pin Rust at 10:51 (shown)

Rating - *** - A hot start to the episode and a smartly-structured, succinct tag team bout. It accentuated the positives of all involved really well; Rust getting time to shine as a technician capable of threatening even brawlers like the Briscoes, Zayne as a spectacular, unpredictable high flyer and the Briscoes remain a super-experienced team capable of sweeping aside skilful singles wrestlers like their opponents tonight. Crucially Zayne isn't pinned so we can keep his undefeated streak running until he faces Bandido for the title. 

Danhausen comes across PCO and Sledge acting weird backstage. Dan decides he wants to answer Violence Unlimited's open challenge but needs another 'violent fellow' to join them. He finds 'Very Evil' Flamita, who cackles ominously - which Hausen presumes means he accepts the offer.

Brian Zane is in the ring for a live interview with new Women's Champion Rok-C. She says her dreams came true at Death Before Dishonor and promises to defend her championship with honour. The Allure interrupt her and enter the ring acting like bullies. Enter Miranda Alize, Trish Adora, Willow Nightingale and Allysin Kay who all seem to want title shots as well. Maria Kanellis-Bennett comes out to restore order - booking two triple threat matches between the six would-be challengers, with the two winners facing each other for the right to challenge Rok-C at Final Battle. Alize attacks Rok-C from behind as everyone leaves, then bails when Quinn McKay comes out to check on the fallen champion...

Violence Unlimited have been dominant in multi-man tags recently, but come into this on the back of Brody failing to capture the World Title at Death Before Dishonor. They can't afford a loss this evening, but the nature of their open challenge means they've had no time to prepare for the off-the-wall foursome of Danhausen, Sledge, PCO and 'Very Evil' Flamita. Brody and Flamita were part of the same World Title four-way on PPV and will have aspirations of winning here and earning another shot at the Most Wanted Champion, Bandido.

Homicide starts with Danhausen - one of the oddest pairing I've ever seen in an ROH ring. Homicide starts biting Hausen's hand...so Dan drops Cide with one of his own moves, the Ace Crusher. Flamita and Deppen in, countering and dodging each other at incredible speed! Tony shoves Demonic on his ass! Sledge manhandles Dickinson for a time, but just isn't equipped to deal with someone of the Dirty Daddy's quality. He drags Sledge back to the VU corner where Brody is waiting to beat him into the ground. Violence Unlimited take turns working Sledge over...until he finally makes a tag and we get a collision between the former partners and Tag Champions; Brody and PCO! Pop-Up Powerbomb by PCO...so King gives him a piledriver! That has PCO malfunctioning again...and he goes into the VU corner under the impression that he's in Villain Enterprises again and is teaming with Brody! King plays along and watches as PCO goes nuts on his own team! Chokeslam on Danhausen! PCO-Sault on Sledge! But the ref doesn't count the pin of course...causing PCO to charge angrily at Brody then get thrown out. Suplex flurry by Danhausen! DESTROYER from Deppen to Flamita! PCO blasts Tony with a running Ligerbomb...only for Homicide to crotch him when he wants another moonsault. GONZO BOMB on Sledge! Brody wins at 14:13 (shown)

Rating - *** - This match contains by far my favourite PCO 'electrical malfunction'. I've hated that gimmick ever since he started doing it, but having him flashback to 2019 and believe he is teaming with Brody (and VU going along with it so he massacres his own team-mates) had me in stitches. Beyond that the match was a little basic, but good fun by default because there was so much talent involved. It feels a little unkind to point it out because Sledge is completely inoffensive when hidden away in a quirky undercard goof angle with Danhausen and PCO...but he is VERY limited. The finishing sequence featured him looking a little blown up, nearly dropping Homicide on his head, then taking a hideous bump on Brody's Gonzo Bomb. Is he really the kind of talent ROH want on television? 

NEXT WEEK - Bandido and Rey Horus in tag team action versus The OGK, plus Soldiers of Savagery facing Dalton Castle and Dak Draper

Tape Rating - *** - A more exciting, snappy and relevant episode of ROH TV this week. Focus has started to turn to Final Battle and, unlike last week, every segment felt like it was driving the promotion forward and enhancing characters. Rok-C celebrates her title win by having to stave off a veritable hoard of challengers, then got attacked by fellow tournament finalist Alize. The Briscoes stay in the hunt for the Tag Titles (whilst solidifying the returns of Zayne and Rust as new talents), then the main event has Violence Unlimited continue to dominate. The show had a good mix of solid wrestling, in-ring angle progression even and some comedy too. 

It is Women's Tournament semi-finalist Adora versus the inaugural Women Of Honor Champion Sumie Sakai. Sumie is a veteran and the grand old stager of the women's division, but is fighting to prove that time isn't passing her by. She fell to teenager Rok-C in the tournament and will not want another loss on her record tonight. This was taped before Glory By Honor 18 Night 2 went on the air, so we have fans in attendance for it.

Sakai goes for the cross armbreaker right away, perhaps trying to neutralise the Lariat Tubman. Trish tries to get on the mat and grapple with her but Sakai swats her away with a dropkick on the shoulder. Adora kicks out Sumie's arm in response...so Sakai drills her with a German suplex! Sleeper hold applied, which Sumie refuses to break until the absolute last second. Adora is pissed off and rolls out. TOP ROPE DIVE BY SUMIE...COUNTERED TO A CATTLE MUTILATION ON THE FLOOR! Lariat Tubman blocked into a FISHERMAN BUSTER for 2 by Sakai! Adora hits an ocean cyclone suplex. These two are brutalising each other! Sakai blocks the Lariat again, so Trish hauls her into a bridging pin...and beats the veteran at 06:06

Rating - *** - They beat the sh*t out of each other in this one. It barely lasts six minutes so it isn't a long one, but it is one of my favourite Women's Division Wednesday bouts thus far. Adora was good in the tournament and looked even better here; withstanding everything Sumie threw at her to continually keep coming at the former champion with her mix of grappling, submissions and physicality. When I reviewed Laynie Luck vs Brandi Lauren last week I talked about a comparative lack of quality with some of the other new stars of the Women's Division - and Trish Adora's performance here is an example of what I was getting at. There are women in this new division raising the bar and driving up standards with almost every match - which is to be commended. Adora is one of those...

Maria Kanellis-Bennett announces that Trish Adora joins Rok-C and Miranda Alize as having signed an 'agreement' with Ring Of Honor.