‘Ring of Honor’ Wrestling Review (June 23rd 2019)
Welcome to this week’s Ring Of Honor review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have Jay Lethal and Kenny King in the second match of their series against each other. Let’s see if it all goes well. I’m just so exciting, aren’t I? Bueller? Is that how you spell that name? Bueller? Speaking of Ben Stein…I wish I had won his money.
Match #1: Colt Cabana defeated Mark Briscoe – NWA National Title Match
The following is courtesy of rohwrestling.com:
Cabana outwrestled Briscoe early, but the tide turned after Briscoe knocked Cabana off the top rope to the floor. Briscoe hit a flying elbow off the apron. Then he sat Cabana on a chair outside the ring and charged at him, but Cabana stood up and tossed Briscoe over his head onto the chair. Back inside the ring, Cabana knocked Briscoe off the middle rope and then followed with a splash into a Superman pin for the win.
My Opinion: 3 out of 5 – This was a good match that had some nice back and forth momentum. Colt and Mark have been two of wrestling’s most outrageous characters for quite some time and this match. This match featured some of the odd charm that these two have in spades, but this did feel like a sanitized version of what makes them both special. That being said, the match delivered the kind of wrestling mayhem that these guys have pioneered for their era, so I can’t complain that much.
Match #2: Silas Young defeated El Hijo del Squid Jr.
The following is courtesy of rohwrestling.com:
Before the match, Young said he has proven over and over that he’s the best pure wrestler today, and at Best in theWorld, he’ll defeat Jonathan Gresham in a Pure Rules Match. Young said tonight he will face one of the best up and coming technical wrestlers in the world, a man trying to avenge his father’s loss. Out came the same man in a squid mask who had faced Young two weeks ago as The Squid. Young made quick work of the masked man, forcing him to submit to the Abdominal Stretch. Young then lit a victory cigarette.
My Opinion: 1.5 out of 5 – I wanted this to be something that I liked, but every step forward was five steps back, since this was a squash that wasn’t even being taken seriously.
Match #3: (Main Event) Jay Lethal defeated Kenny King by disqualification – Best-of-three Series Match 2 (Series tied, 1-1)
The following is courtesy of rohwrestling.com:
King came to the ring with a broom and boasted that he would sweep the series. King gained the advantage after Lethal charged across the ring at him and King ducked and used Lethal’s momentum to lift him up; Lethal came down in a straddle position on the top rope. King claimed to the referee that it was inadvertent. King then hit a springboard dropkick that sent Lethal crashing to the floor, and he followed with a corkscrew dive onto Lethal. Lethal rallied and hit Lethal Combination followed by three successive suicide dives. Once King got back to his feet, he signaled that he had enough and began walking to the back as the referee made the count. Lethal came out after King, who grabbed the microphone from ringside and nailed Lethal in the head with it. The referee disqualified King, and now the series is even at 1-1.
My Opinion: 3.5 out of 5 – These guys have some fine chemistry with each other. Is this how boring Dave Meltzer seems to some people? Duke Kaboom would never bore any-body. The action was as competitive as it should have been, but there was an extra little bit of aggression here that gave it a jolt of life. Lethal is still one of the best out in the world today, so when you see him get wasted in a disqualification finish, it just feels…cheap. Big stars deserve big climaxes. This was a good night for King, but it was only because the action before the lame finish was really getting some-where.
News Of The Night:
- Jeff Cobb fights Mark Haskins, next week.
- PJ Black, Mark Haskins and Tracy Williams will challenge for the Ring Of Honor Six-Man Tag Team Championships at Best In The World from Villain Enterprises.
- Jay Lethal fights Kenny King in the finals of their series at Best In The World.
- Shane Taylor may be feuding with Jay Lethal over who is the best Ring Of Honor Television Champion.
Final Verdict: 3/5
This got a good rating while riding on the back of the main event and the solid foundation of the opener, along with the focus on building toward Best In The World.
