McXal's Reviews

Perhaps you could excuse Tony Khan for dropping the ball on Ring Of Honor somewhat in the post-Death Before Dishonor lull. He is an extremely busy man, and was preparing AEW to head to Wembley Stadium for their historic All In 2023 event. You could make the point that splitting ROH out to a more NXT-style developmental promotion without him being quite so involved in the creative process would alleviate that somewhat. And of course his focus certainly on AEW certainly won't diminish any with All Out 2023 the following weekend (not to mention the small matter of the CM Punk-related fallout from Wembley too). It means ROH's Honor Club show has NOT been good for the last month or so. We're back with another oddball of a card tonight, but we will at least start and finish with championship matches. In the opener Zack Sabre Jr. will defend his NJPW TV Title against Metalik, whilst The Embassy are putting their Six-Man Championship on the line in the main event; defending against Action Andretti, Darius Martin and Lee Johnson. Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman provide commentary, we are taping in Lexington, KY.

It was announced before the main event last week that the winner of the ZSJ/Chris Daniels NJPW TV Title Match would defend it this week against the 'King Of Ropes'. It is a vastly different test for Zack than last week as he goes from the thirty year veteran Daniels to a world travelling, WWE-experienced luchador. 

The show is twenty seconds old and I'm already annoyed by Riccaboni and Caprice acting like Adam Cole or MJF will come anywhere near this sh*theap of a TV show whilst being ROH Tag Champions. In the ring the start is pretty interesting though as Metalik's lucha trickery gives him answers to every question Sabre poses. Zack pretends to be impresses and offers him a handshake...and it's an obvious trap which Metalik gleefully avoids and sends him packing with a rope-run springboard headscissors. He starts going for armdrags, but it's a mistake that puts him within ZSJ's striking range. Zack instantly catches him in an armbar, going to work on the right arm of the challenger. Of course Metalik isn't that good at selling it and immediately stops as soon as it's time for him to hit more zany offence off the ropes. It does topple Zack to the floor though, where Metalik can land a tope atomico. He strolls along the top rope again to hit a flying crossbody for 2. Sabre has seen enough and charges Metalik, satelliting off him into Barry From Eastenders. It wrenches the arm again and sends the luchador squirming for the ropes. Again he does sh*t all to sell it - immediately using the 'bad' arm to hit strikes, do a handstand then hit a tornado DDT for 2. He then literally BRIDGES into a pin for another nearfall. He climbs the ropes to attempt a rope-walk elbow drop, only for Zack to pluck him out of the sky with a Fujiwara armbar. That is converted to a chickenwing and Metalik taps at 08:29

Rating - ** - This started really well, with Metalik running through assorted Lucha Libre tricks to thwart Sabre's early attempts at grappling him. Unfortunately whilst Zack's performance from there continued to be impeccable, Metalik's kind of fell apart. He wasn't interested in selling ZSJ's work on the arm at all and by the end it was genuinely laughable how Zack would be tearing it apart, only for the luchador to get up and start using it to do stupid pointless handstands mere seconds later. Everyone dogs on Sinclair's time in charge, but in their last couple of years we had really top class luchadors like Bandido, Rush, Flamita, Dragon Lee and Rey Horus on the regular roster. They were heaps more enjoyable than Metalik, who continues to get far more opportunities on ROH's Honor Club show than I feel his talent or performance levels warrant.

Cole Karter is backstage with Maria Kanellis. It is revealed she is trying to recruit Griff Garrison to team with him since he has more 'tag team experience'...and the segment ends with her agreeing to accompany Karter to ringside for his match later.

This is a battle of former Pure Champions, and a first appearance for Walters under ROH's current ownership. Last week we saw the 'Technical Beast' Josh Woods start a rebuilding phase with a victory over his former partner Silas Young. Now he faces a fellow Pure Champion and will be hoping for the same result.

The first minute sees them evenly matches, with Walters even able to counter Woods when Josh gets frustrated and attempts to throw him out of the ring. Woods does finally get John in his clutches though and starts violently clubbing him across the chest. A big knee finds the sternum next, before the Gorilla Lock is applied. Walters taps at 02:39

Rating - N/A - A short, inoffensive, emphatic victory for Woods. It was a nice continuation of the story we began last week with Josh defeating another Ring Of Honor name from the past in an effort to rebuild his career after failed ROH championship opportunities. 

The WorkHorsemen and Moriarty lost a trios match to Andretti, Martin and Johnson two weeks ago, but apparently formed a 'bond' (lol) and will join forces again here. On that same episode Crewe was part of a trio himself, getting squashed by the Dark Order. He has different partners tonight; BEEF has spent the last couple of years in OVW, whilst Khash is a talented up and comer who was prominently featured in Jon Gresham's short-lived Terminus promotion.

Henry, Drake and Moriarty jump their opponents right after the introductions. Khash staves the early attack off, but JD soon spikes Crewe with a DDT for 2. His team spend the next minute or so isolating Crewe, with Henry in particular delivering some really nasty strikes. But it is Anthony that loses control of him, allowing him to make a hot tag to Beef. He DUMPS Moriarty with a back drop driver, but makes an ill-advised climb to the top rope where he is tripped by The WorkHorsemen. He misses a frog splash as a result, and eats a Henry double-stomp. MOONSAULT by Drake and WorkHorsemen FINALLY get an actual victory at 04:19

Rating - * - It is lifeless, filler Dark-esque matches like this which make this show such a hard watch. I really like Moriarty and The WorkHorsemen - as I've alluded to multiple times in previous reviews. But having this match go four minutes does NOTHING for anyone. It means it was too long to be an impactful squash, but way too short to actually mean anything either. The whole segment exudes an air of futility as a result. Nobody cares about the enhancement talents, the ROH/AEW talents gain nothing in victory. It was nice to see Drake finally hit a moonsault, or The WorkHorsemen actually win...but that just isn't enough pay off. Nothing about this is worth your time.

Last week Karter and Maria Kanellis wound up walking out together. This week Cole has convinced her to join him for his entrance. It means he can't afford to lose tonight.

Dustin starts with a dropkick, perhaps due to Karter turning his head towards Maria. Cole hits a series of dropkicks in response though. He hits that gutwrench DDT and wins at 01:24

Rating - N/A - Brief, with Cole getting a quick win and also just enough time for some interactions with Maria. She walks out pretty much as soon as the bell rings, and he scurries off after her. The idea is that he THINKS she's more into him than he actually is (whereas she actually just wants him to be a part of the 'army' she is building to protect her legacy in ROH).

This marks the first time Sakura has returned to Honor Club since she failed to defeat Athena for the Women's Title back on Episode #5. The Joshi veteran will be eyeing up a maiden ROH win tonight then.

Alice relishes the change to lock up with a legend like Emi and scampers right up the turnbuckles into an armdrag. Sakura seems impressed with her gumption...and rewards it by tossing her across the ring by the hair. Crowley withstands some powerful chops from the veteran then drops her with a fisherman suplex. Smash Mouth by Emi to shut her down again though. Stalling butterfly backbreaker nailed, and Sakura wins at 03:12

Rating - N/A - My favourite of the three squash matches on the show so far. I liked the little story they worked here, with Crowley seemingly trying to come out swinging in an attempt to make the most of her opportunity in the ring with a legend like Sakura. From there Emi bullied her mercilessly, but Alice clung on and survived as long as she could. I'm not sure how much more they could've packed in.

Josh Woods acknowledges Mark Sterling's work in lining up his last two opponents so he can prove his ability as a fighter in ROH. 

SAP are Angelico and Serpentico, back in ROH where they tend to perform significantly better than they do in an AEW ring. The Outrunners are Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd, whom we last saw being defeated by Chris Daniels and Matt Sydal way back on Episode #3.

Ian informs me The Outrunners are making a 'long-awaited return, by fan demand'. Which fans have been demanding that? Why is booking these guys the request that Tony Khan listens to if so? When will he listen to my demand to make the Honor Club TV show suck less? Serp bats Magnum around the ring with his athletic moveset, then gets over-confident in trying something from the top. Turbo distracts him up there, allowing Truth to hit a clothesline. The Outrunners take control of Serpentico here - albeit with multiple pauses to pose and flex to the (silent) crowd. Angelico tags then springboards off Floyd into a flying forearm on Magnum. Enzi/flatliner combo from SAP to Turbo, with Angelico then submitting Magnum with a single leg crab in a time of 04:49

Rating - * - Look, this is just outright Dark-style fodder here. I don't believe The Outrunners have a 'huge fanbase' and are back by 'fan demand'. They were fine here, and certainly have a striking look but in four minutes where they did little more than goof off, then bump for the same moves we've seen Angelico and Serpentico do for pretty much all of AEW's existence it is hard to say they were too impressive. To stress again, this is not the premium product the Honor Club TV - hidden behind a paywall - was promised to be.

'The Problem' returns to Ring Of Honor having made her debut at the Jay Briscoe Tribute Show right at the start of 2023. She is a tough, legitimately dangerous fighter and would be a real threat to the top names in ROH's women's division like Athena or Leyla Hirsch if given the opportunity.

Risk didn't back down from Athena or Hirsch in her matches with those women, and is similarly bold in going after Shafir. Marina is unmoved and quickly lays her out with a judo throw. Angelica is bounced all around the ring with kicks and throws, stalked by Shafir who has a completely emotionless look on her face. Risk manages to break Shafir's grip and lays in a few jabs...so Marina DECKS her with another slam. Triangle choke applied, and Risk taps out at 02:34

Rating - N/A - That was a pretty striking squash victory for Shafir and a strong way to introduce her properly to ROH's women's division. She was far more imposing in victory over Risk than either Athena or Hirsch too, which tells a story in itself.

Andretti, Martin and Johnson were victorious in their first outing as a trio, and in this era that is easily enough to earn a shot at the ROH Trios Titles which have been in the vice-like grip of Prince Nana's Embassy for a long time. Last week the champions chuckled at how often they've beaten the likes of Andretti and Darius and it would be a major upset if this new young team were able to take home the belts at the end of the night.

Cage hits the F'n'5 on Darius from the bell and almost wins the match in an instant (as the Gates wipe out his partners with tandem spinebusters). Darius withstands the early onslaught and tags out to Johnson, who peppers The Machine with kicks. Unfortunately he then gets distracted by Kaun, allowing Cage to deliver a big neckbreaker to put the contest back in the hands of the champions. They manhandle Lee in their corner for several minutes...even after he tries stomping on Toa's bare feet to get away. Eventually Liona misses a body avalanche in the corner, allowing Big Shotty to crawl away for a hot tag to Andretti. He scatters the Gates Of Agony, landing the standing C-4 on Kaun for 2. He and Martin hit stereo topes, then he nails a split-legged moonsault for another nearfall. Toa makes the save and batters through the challengers. Darius blocks Cage's Discus Lariat with an enzi though, before he and Action hit the dropkick/German combo. Frog Splash by Johnson for 2. Prince Nana is panicking and appears on the apron...albeit briefly before all three challengers drill him with a triple superkick. Kaun hits Death By Roderick on Lee, as Toa hits a Pounce on Darius. Cage hits a sit-out powerbomb to finish Johnson at 09:30

Rating - ** - Although these Cage/GOA Trios Title Matches are starting to become repetitive, I like to think I've judged them very fairly and when they've been good (such as the Supercard Of Honor defence against AR Fox, Blake Christian and Metalik) I've acknowledged it as such. This, however, was just bland, predictable and frustratingly lethargic. Cage's power display at the start wasn't explosive or exciting. The heat segment on Johnson was wholly dull and entirely lacking in innovation. Then the big babyface comeback was generic without much sizzle either. All six are capable of better than this

Tape Rating - DUD - I genuinely think the three minute Emi Sakura squash was the best match here. When even Zack Sabre Jr. can't save your show you know it's a terrible one. This goes down as one of the worst episodes of ROH TV I've ever reviewed (100 episodes of HDNet, 552 episodes of Sinclair TV and now 27 episodes of the Honor Club show). It isn't even that it was bad - nothing other than Metalik's individual performance is outright terrible here. It's just pointless in the extreme - NOTHING is worth your time. Nothing is of any particular quality. What has become of the beloved promotion which was born out of a desire to showcase the best professional wrestling in the United States? I do fully understand that taping ROH in the midst going to the UK for All In PPV then coming back to the US for the All Out PPV a week later means that the AEW schedule is crazy. But the decision to book those two PPV's back to back was pretty silly to begin with. As is the continued decision to keep Ring Of Honor alive as this zombie sham of a promotion which exists only to be All Elite Wrestling's Sunday Night Heat/Velocity/Jakked/Metal rather than kill it, or invest in it as a properly self-sufficient developmental system as NXT is for WWE. I've been writing about this promotion for over twenty years and it is sad to see it in this state.