McXal's Reviews

As we get closer and closer to Supercard Of Honor and presumably the end of ROH's run on the SBG syndicates, we do at last have another really interesting episode concept. For the next two weeks we'll be enjoying 'A Champion's Journey', watching new ROH Champion Jonathan Gresham as he travels around the world trying to keep the spirit of Ring Of Honor alive by defending the belt in as many promotions, against as many challengers, as he can find. This week will take us from his title win at Final Battle and feature in GCW, Impact, his own upstart Terminus promotion and more...

We begin with extended highlights of Gresham taking the vacant title at Final Battle with victory over Jay Lethal. This has already been featured on ROH TV at least once, so the fact that they don't just show the finish and move on feels like an incredible waste of TV time.

Gresham is interviewed at his Terminus promotion and talks about what it meant to beat Lethal to become champion. The episode really could have opened with this. 

After the break we get extended highlights from his Pure Rules defence of the belt against AJ Gray at a GCW show in LA. Hearing Dave Prazak call ROH World Title matches again just feels right. 

Back to the Gresham interview at Terminus. He was happy being 'back on the road' as World Champion, and calls his challenger for the next title match featured in highlight form (Adam Priest at a December New South Pro Wrestling show) one of his favourite opponents.

Gresham made history when he defended the ROH World Title on Impact Wrestling television. He calls his challenger - Chris Sabin - a friend and mentor (they were ROH stable-mates in Search & Destroy). They met in early January, and it has a familiar feel with Bobby Cruise doing the ring announcing and Ian Riccaboni getting a guest spot on commentary for the highlights...

The Octopus calls it a privilege to test himself against legends of the sport, as he did when he returned to GCW in January 2022 to defend the belt against 2 Cold Scorpio.

We end with extended highlights of the Jonathan Gresham vs Josh Alexander ROH World Title Match from Terminus' debut event 'All Roads Lead Here' - which I reviewed for my archive earlier in 2022

Tape Rating - *** - I like the concept and I thought the episode did a good job of providing a whirlwind snapshot of 'what Gresham did next' after winning the World Title. The interview segments were an unexpected and welcome bonus too. My only real gripe was that there was absolutely no need to waste five minutes at the start with more highlights from Gresham/Lethal at Final Battle. They already put that on television, and the time would have been much better spent airing more footage from Gresham's touring title defences.