McXal's Reviews

Finally emerging from the spectre of All In and All Out, will Ring Of Honor television (which really has been DIRE since Death Before Dishonor) get some well overdue attention? The World Title actually being defended on the show is a promising start; Claudio Castagnoli putting the belt on the line against fellow veteran Rocky Romero. That isn't the main event because the formatting of Honor Club TV is complete ass, and elsewhere we have the return of former Women's Champion Mercedes Martinez, Shane Taylor facing Lee Johnson and a battle of the Evolve alumni with AR Fox squaring off against Tony Nese. Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman provide commentary on the action taped in Cleveland, OH.

I'm really torn here. On the one hand we're getting the ROH World Title actually defended on this show for once. But on the other hand, booking throwaway title matches against undeserving challengers like erodes yet more value from a World Championship which has seen its prestige decimated in recent years. And why on earth is this on first? Both men go back decades in ROH. They've both have multiple Tag Title reigns and after spending recent years on diverging paths they now come back together in Ring Of Honor with Claudio's gold on the line. The winner will defend the World Title against Eddie Kingston at AEW Grand Slam (aka AEW getting the actual money match - like always).

Castagnoli looks to use his height to control the challenger in the early exchanges. Rocky has to quicken the pace and knocks the champion out of the ring with a flying headscissors. A series of tope suicidas follow...until he goes to the well once too often and is blasted with a leaping uppercut from Claudio. Back in the ring hits a press slam into the turnbuckles and levels Romero again with a big boot for 2. The champ cranks onto an armbar and neck vice, and from there steps into the Big Swing. That's the move he won the belt back from Chris Jericho with, but this time Romero's dives on the floor have inflicted a minor leg injury and he can't hold on for so long. Swiss Death COUNTERED into a snap rana by Rocky...and he goes back to tope suicidas. This time it knocks Castagnoli over the announce desk, and when he finally returns Romero is waiting to deliver a double stomp in the ropes. Forever Clotheslines blocked, so Rocky hits a tornado DDT instead for 2. 619/running Shiranui combo gets 2 as well. The challenger tries to fly off the ropes again only to be blocked by a flurry of uppercuts by Double C. The champ flips him into a tilta-whirl backbreaker to kill his momentum. He hits his own version of 'Forever' strikes in the corner; absolutely battering Romero with uppercuts and lariats. MMA Elbows...only for Romero to counter the pop-up into yet another hurricanrana! The challenger bursts through one last flurry of strikes and pinning combinations but can't keep Castagnoli down. Shiranui COUNTERED TO A DEAD-LIFT UPPERCUT! SHORTARM UPPERCUT! Claudio wins at 10:40

Rating - *** - Ten minutes of Claudio and Rocky doing their thing was never not going to be enjoyable. It isn't their fault the booking behind them is abysmal and therefore lends itself to creating a rather heatless environment for them to work in. Given that this was a foregone conclusion just a few days before Claudio's actual meaningful title defence (in AEW obviously) this was a wholly solid affair. Claudio used his size and power but never felt completely in charge because of how much of a wily, tricky customer Romero can be when fighting from behind. It really is a shame Claudio hasn't been on ROH TV more often because he is so good in matches like this.

Ku is a respected and talented stalwart of the independent scene, but stylistically is quite a bit different to his Outrunner partners Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd. Mack and The Infantry teamed up for the first time last week and were successful, so a win here would surely put them as the top contender for the ROH Six-Man Championship. They don't have Trish Adora in their corner this week.

Mack and Ku start, with Willie rocking his opponent with some hefty bombs right from the bell. The Infantry kind of botch a follow-up double-team, but arguably it looks more brutal as Ku is planted on his face and sent packing. They have some fun throwing The Outrunners around...knocking them all to the floor so Dean can hit a somersault plancha. Magnum manages to distract him on the way back up though, which allows Floyd to hang him in the ropes. They isolate Dean - the contrast between the theatrics of The Outrunners and the no-nonsense attitude of Ku is pretty fun to watch. They have some fun initiating Ku into their bicep flex club...and in doing so all take their eyes off Dean as he crawls away and makes a tag to Bravo. 'Infinite DDT' on Truth as bodies start to fill the ring. Rocker Dropper nailed, into a TWISTING SKYWALKER SPLASH by Dean! The Infantry and The Outrunners brawl to the floor whilst Mack and Ku trade strikes in the ring. POP-UP ELBOW! CHOCOLATE STUNNER! BOOT CAMP! Mack pins Ku to win at 07:59

Rating - *** - This was a genuinely pleasant surprise. The Infantry have been gaining traction as colourful, bold babyface characters on ROH TV. In many ways The Outrunners are their rudo opposite numbers; neon-clad pantomime villains. In isolation neither team is particularly ground-breaking, but they are all solid hands - whilst Ku and Mack are extremely competent wrestlers to. The match here was solid, but the big characters gave it an undeniable zest; the ferocity of the Mack/Ku exchanges, the fun interactions between Ku and his partners, the snappy babyface/heel dynamic between The Infantry and The Outrunners. Don't sleep on this...

Ethan Page is here, and he calls his return to ROH 'perfect' timing. He is back to wrestle more often and rediscover his competitive edge.

This is the first time Mercedes has been seen in ROH since Episode 15. She is a former Women's Champion and has formed an alliance with Diamante which has seen her antagonise her old nemesis Athena on AEW programming. She is also a former SHIMMER Champion, and that is perhaps where you may recognise her opponent tonight from. Lynn has previously wrestled as Dust and Zoey Skye, and was the last ever SHIMMER Champion before that famous old promotion went into hiatus in 2021.

Lynn is full of confidence and cheered on by a hometown crowd...but after a lively start she is nailed with a close-range knee strike by Martinez, and instantly the OG Badass swarms her. She chokes Lynn in the ropes, only dragging her away to hit the Three Amigas (culminating in a stalling brainbuster). Still Zoey tries to rally...but after frantically trying to pin Martinez, the veteran clocks her with a lariat. Lynn blocks a powerslam and hurdles the ropes to dropkick Mercedes in the ribs. Martinez tries another lariat to stop her...but this time Zoey ducks and peppers her with more strikes. The respite is only temporary though and Martinez ends her with an emphatic spinebuster. The match seems over, but Martinez pulls Lynn up off the canvas to deliver a running elbow to the back of the exposed head. Brass City Sleeper locked in - and Zoey is out cold at 05:18

Rating - ** - Martinez is one of my favourites, so I am delighted at her being back on ROH television. Hopefully she gets to wrestle more purposeful matches, and we get an eventual rematch with Athena. This probably went a little longer than it needed to but they got the balance just about right between allowing Lynn a few futile moments of hope in front of her home crowd and complete dominance by the returning former champion.

Kaun and Toa have seen plenty of tag team action on ROH TV in recent weeks. Their record is as imposing as it is in trios competition and they'll be looking to make short work of this one.

Kaun knocks Brannigan out with a knee strike almost before the bell rings, and Cole instantly retreats in fear for his life. LIONA TACKLES HIM INTO THE GUARDRAILS! Lungblower/Samoan drop combo back in the ring ends Brannigan...but to Radrick's credit he has somehow peeled himself off the arena floor and tries to come to his partner's aid. The GOA scoop him up and hit Open The Gates on top of Brannigan's broken body before pinning them both to win at 01:42

Rating - N/A - As far as two minute squash matches go that was as fun as could be. Cole Radrick actually takes a lot of the credit for that. He looks like an accountant decided to put on a pair of wrestling trunks and hop the guardrail - but that everyman quality meant people rallied behind him (especially after he took a completely BRUTAL hit on the outside with Liona and got back up). 

A video package looks at the unpredictable relationship between Athena and Billie Starkz (and Lexy Nair). Afterwards Lexy brings Billie into shot to serve her with a 'Minion to do list', along with a new 'Minion In Training' shirt...

One of the most decorated competitors in ROH history takes on a promising up and comer. Darius has had big moments in his ROH career thus far, but never any sustained upwards momentum (not helped by his brother/tag partner sustaining a serious injury at Supercard Of Honor). It would be huge if he could beat a respected veteran like the Fallen Angel in singles competition.

Martin looks for a fast start, and is just a little bit quicker than Daniels at this stage in his career. Sensibly the veteran grounds Darius, disorientating him with a rolling cradle than landing a Saito suplex. Daniels attacks the neck to prepare for his battery of finishing moves which target that area, forcing Martin to crawl to the ropes. But CD blocks Darius' attempt at a springboard move...hanging him in the ropes and delivering a jumping leg drop once again targeted to the exposed neck. Darius blocks the STO, quickening the pace again and delivering a bulldog into the middle rope. Slingshot attempt COUNTERED to the Koji Clutch by Daniels! Martin rolls through into a pin to escape, then explodes off the mat to block Angel's Wings as well. Schoolboy pin...and Darius gets the shock win at 06:00

Rating - ** - Darius beating a former ROH World Champion should have felt like a significant moment. But it didn't, thanks largely to the decision to only give them six minutes in the ring together. The action was decent but any emotional resonance Darius' win could have had is immediately diminished when the general presentation of the match (i.e. only giving it six minutes) makes it seem wholly insignificant. 

Taylor returns to Ring Of Honor television after being squashed by Samoa Joe at All Out. In a year which has quickly seen the much-anticipated relaunch of Ring Of Honor descend into a WWECW-style farce it stands out as one of the poorest booking decisions taken. Having had his credibility crushed in AEW he comes back to Ring Of Honor to rebuild his reputation; starting with a tasty clash against promising young star 'Big Shotty' Lee Johnson.

Johnson pops Taylor (wrestling in his hometown) with some early punches, but they seem to irritate him more than injure him. In the end Taylor drops Lee with a single jab, leaving his legs like jelly. He crowds Johnson in the corners, battering and tossing him around whilst denying him any room to fight back. Even when Lee seeks sanctuary outside the ring the attack continues with a beating against the railings then a leg drop on the apron. Johnson keeps throwing punches but they just don't seem to phase Taylor...who spins him through the air with a close-range lariat. It leaves Johnson a drooling mess on the canvas - and yet still he throws slaps back at Taylor. Urinage slam/Warrior Splash combo, drawing a close near-fall for the former TV Champion. Big Shotty throws more strikes, finally putting Taylor down to a knee after a dropkick. That's the opening he needs to drill him with a DDT for 2. He gets set to come off the top rope, but is confronted by the sight of Lee Moriarty coming to ringside. It distracts Johnson for long enough for Shane T to pull him down into the Garvey Driver. Taylor wins at 08:22

Rating - *** - I enjoyed this, in that it did a wonderful job of trying to rebuild Taylor from the shambolic booking he experienced going into his match with Joe at All Out, but in a manner which didn't feel damaging or derogatory to Johnson's progress. Taylor set out to dominate, but in Johnson found a competitive and determined opponent. Usually Shane is able to decimate his foes if they try to trade strikes with him, but the vast majority of Lee's offence in this match consisted of slaps and punches and it was really fun seeing him fight against the odds. The ending is interesting too, as it marks the start of a new iteration of 'Shane Taylor Promotions' - and in Moriarty gives him an ally with as much untapped potential as Taylor himself possesses.

Her unceremonious defeat to Kiera Hogan a couple of weeks ago did kill her momentum, but it's good to see the talented Lady Frost getting regular work in ROH's women's division as she is such a crisp, athletic and exciting performer. Willow is popular across both Khan promotions and would be a major scalp if Frost were able to emerge victorious here.

Willow deposits Frost on the mat with early tackles and slams, keen to snuff out her athleticism and speed right out of the blocks. Lady uses her kicks to drive Nightingale back, delivering them with such precision that even Willow starts to weaken. Frost drives shoulders and knees into the midsection next, trying to soften her up for the Temperature Drop. That is until Nightingale EXPLODES out of the corner with the Pounce. Discus kick by Frost in response...and she goes upstairs. MOONSAULT GETS 2! Spinebuster by Willow! Dangerous Babe Bomb wins it at 05:11

Rating - *** - More generous than some of the other matches I've given this rating to on this episode, but at a brisk five minute run-time this was all-action and packed in as much plot as they possibly could too. The idea that Frost is such a dangerous and precise athlete that she can threaten Willow even after taking some of her biggest hits was a good one and loaded every beat of this five minute blast with jeopardy. 

Lexy is backstage looking for an explanation as to why Lee Moriarty appeared in Shane Taylor's match. Shane says he has been carrying ROH for years and he confirms Lee is the newest member of Shane Taylor Promotions.

Garrini is a regular partner of Kevin Ku who we saw earlier, and another respected indie talent looking for a spot. He is a genuine challenge to 'Technical Beast' Josh Woods, who is in the midst of a refocus/rebrand after getting caught up in the 'Varsity Athletes' shenanigans with Mark Sterling and losing repeated title shots.

Garrini isn't a small guy which means Josh has his work cut-out trying to manhandle him and manipulate him on the canvas as he likes to do to his opponents. Woods probes for weaknesses on the arms, but Dominic counters at every turn leading to a stalemate. They battle over a gutwrench, then trade wristlocks with utter ferocity. Woods breaks and loads him up for a couple of suplexes then knocks him out cold with the running brainbuster to the bottom turnbuckle. Woods wins at 02:56

Rating - N/A - Another very decent squash match. My favourite part here was the first minute where they did a whole lot to with very little to establish that Garrini is a genuinely dangerous competitor. It meant what came next - Woods suplexing him into oblivion in short order - meant Josh's win felt all the more imposing and impressive.

This is the first time Ethan has wrestled in ROH since All Star Extravaganza in 2014. In his promo earlier he admitted to having lost his way, and has come back to ROH in an effort to rediscover his competitive edge and love of wrestling. His opponent is currently being courted by Maria Kanellis-Bennett, who feels Griff has plenty of potential but needs guidance to unlock it...

Garrison starts the stronger of the two, but is soon distracted as Maria and Cole Karter show up in the aisle to watch him. Despite their presence he continues to press his advantage but can't ever keep Page down for a prolonged period. Ethan pulls him out of the corner into a running powerslam...but seconds later Griff blocks Ego's Edge with a discus forearm. Maria and Cole applaud that, only for Ethan to slither off Garrison's shoulders and nail a slingshot cutter. Page wins at 04:21

Rating - * - Pretty basic and uninspiring. I don't dislike either wrestler but this didn't feel set up to get the best out of either one of them. Page does leave victorious and its clear he is here in ROH to rehab his image after a forgettable spell in AEW but this certainly wasn't a particularly memorable way to have him debut on Honor Club.

If JD Drake and Anthony Henry fail to win this you really do wonder where their ROH career may be heading. The Boys are former ROH Six-Man Champions but traditionally don't carry much of a threat in tag team action and simply have to be despatched by a veteran team like The WorkHorsemen.

Brandon and Brent use their speed and twin trickery to thwart being jumped by the more powerful duo at the bell, leading to them successfully isolating Henry. He leaves the ring to escape, luring Brandon around the ring where Drake is lying in wait to hit a pop-up forearm on the floor. Henry and Drake take turns working Brandon over, with plenty of cheating along the way for good measure. Eventually Brandon slithers out of their clutches though and brings in a fresh Brent Tate who gamely tries to fight both opponents at once. Drake decapitates him with a lariat though, and clears Brandon out with a Shining Wizard for good measure. Double stomp/backbreaker combo, allowing Henry to pin Brent at 05:46

Rating - * - I'm pleased The WorkHorsemen got a victory, but it took far too long. I've been watching The Boys for a long time and this was basically the same match they always have. Drake and Henry can't do much to make their act more interesting to me and certainly shouldn't have needed one of the longest matches on the show to beat them. Much like Page/Griff from directly before, this whole affair was rather basic.

Maria Kanellis finds Griff Garrison backstage and once again suggests that he should surround himself with the 'right' kind of people. 

This is a main event torn right out of the WWNLive promotion playbook. It is a testament to how good Fox has been whenever he has wrestled in ROH that he's been working more prominently on AEW these days, but he returns (for one night only - after this he doesn't wrestle in ROH again until Episode 50) and is slotted right into the main event. Like his stable-mate Josh Woods, Tony Nese has grown frustrated and sustained periods of failure. He defeated Silas Young last week in what he'll hope will be something of a revival. 

Nese doesn't get to do much 'group training' again of course, but starts the match strongly by out-wrestling Fox and almost pinning him early doors. AR recovers with a series of kicks before popping off a neckbreaker to quickly even things up. Mark Sterling grabs his boot to distract him before he can build up momentum...but Fox still nips under an attempted clothesline to sock Tony with an enzi kick. Nese rakes the eyes and chokes Fox in the ropes to get ahead, then tosses him to the floor for Smart Mark to lay in a few cheap kicks behind the referee's back. The Premier Athlete starts attacking the midsection of his opponent then LEAPS to the top rope looking for a frankensteiner! AR blocks that, but is still dropped on his ass and pasted with a rolling heel kick for 2. Fox dodges another attempted tackle to the midsection, trapping Nese in the ropes for a hanging DDT leaving them both down. Twisting brainbuster by Fox, into a Stunner and the A-RKO for 2! He looks for another cutter, only for Nese to COUNTER TO A GERMAN IN MID-AIR! Running K-Neese blocked! LO MEIN PAIN! Fox wins at 09:22

Rating - *** - They are certainly capable of better matches, but (kind of similar to Claudio/Rocky in the opener), it was ten minutes of two super-experienced and reliable pros running through their skills together. Both played their role well, they kept the obligatory Mark Sterling interference to a minimum and each operated a believable strategy building towards their respective finishing moves. The last couple of minutes were really exciting too so, whilst this isn't a match that will live long in the memory, it was still decent.

Tape Rating - ** - Still no matches of any real substance, and it is a HUGE kick in the teeth that the last huge Claudio/Kingston title vs title Supercard Of Honor rematch is shoved into an AEW Dynamite episode to make their annual 'Grand Slam' TV week feel special. For AEW that is just another match, whereas it would be a huge needle-mover and moment for the Honor Club show which people are PAYING for and has been starved of significance for weeks (particularly since it involved a title change). But, it is important to recognise that this isn't a bad show and a huge improvement over some recent instalments of the series. Most of the matches are actually pretty good - with a solid World Title match, a surprisingly enjoyable trios bout, some decent women's action and a good main event.