In MLW's first show in Mexico, the Tag Team Titles are on the line in the main event tonight as current champions The Dynasty take on Los Parks. Aside from that, we should have a bevvy of excellent content here, so let's not waste any more time and dive right into it.
Oraculo vs. Black Danger vs. Ricky Marvin
Marvin and Danger start the match out with an alliance of sorts as they team up on Oraculo with a variety of double-team maneuvers. Oraculo tries to fight back, trading blows with both of his opponents before getting a pin attempt on Marvin, who counters with one of his own before planting him with a DDT. Danger then sends Oraculo to the outside with a basement dropkick; the brawl for a spell before getting back in the ring.
Marvin and Danger continue their double-team, only for it to backfire when Oraculo dodges Marvin's running enzuguiri. He then hits Marvin with a springboard cutter, then sends Danger to the outside with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. After hitting Danger with an asai moonsault, Oraculo gets back in the ring and nails Marvin with a springboard hurricanrana. Marvin kicks out, then proceeds to put both of his opponents in a double gedo clutch. Marvin then sends both of his opponents in the corners. He hits Oraculo with a rope-hung dragon screw whip, then Danger with a rope-hung springboard stomp to the leg.
Marvin counters Oraculo's headscissors attempt with a variation on the TKO. Marvin breaks up the pinfall as Oraculo attempts a tilt-a-whirl stunner; Danger fights out and hits Marvin with a rope-assisted piledriver. Oraculo then attempts a springboard thesz press of sorts, only for Danger to fight out and hit him with a double underhook piledriver. Danger attempts for more offense only for Oraculo to fight out and hit him with a canadian destroyer, then dropkicks Marvin before drilling Danger with a poisoned hurricanrana.
After sending Marvin to the outside, Oraculo connects with the 450 splash to Danger for the W.
A good match and a decent way to start the show, albeit being a bit sloppy in spots. Oraculo was the clear crowd favorite here, and he did a good job of playing to the reactions. But with that being said, some parts felt dragged on, especially the Marvin/Danger team-up; not only that, but there were a couple of sequences that seemed to be mistimed and looked messy in the process. Despite the negativity, I still liked the match. It provided a couple of cool spots and was a nice way of warming the crowd up.
Rey Horus (The Crash Heavyweight Champion) vs. Alexander Hammerstone (MLW National Openweight Champion), Champion vs. Champion Match
Using his power advantage from the get-go, Hammerstone goes to town on Horus, punishing him in and out of the ring. Fighting back, Horus connects with a calf kick to Hammerstone on the ring apron, then hits him with a suicide dive. After the two tool around for a bit between the ropes and the outside, Horus connects with a second-rope leg drop. Horus tries to follow-up, but Hammerstone responds with a pop-up drop then a clubbing lariat.
After being worked over for a bit, Horus fights back and sends Hammerstone to the outside then follows up with a somersault tope over the ring post. Back in the ring, Horus throws a slingshot splash then a diving crossbody at Hammerstone; he then ascends to the top rope, only for Hammerstone shove him off, then hit him a bicycle kick/german suplex combo. He then doubles down on Horus with a sit-out powerbomb, but Horus kicks out.
The two trade blows before Horus connects with a springboard tornado DDT; the referee gets momentarily knocked out as Hammerstone knees Horus then drills him a burning hammer. Hammerstone then hits Horus with a chair, only for Horus to kick out. After Horus counters a powerbomb attempt with a yoshi tonic, he then drop toe-holds Hammerstone into the corner before following it up with a 450 splash. Hammerstone's Dynasty mates MJF and Richard Holliday come in to drag Horus outside the ring, breaking up the pinfall and resulting in a DQ win for Horus.
Another pretty good match here. Hammerstone and Horus played off each other well, providing some good spots and sequences in the process. I always enjoy a good powerhouse/high-flyer bout, and this was no exception. Weird finish aside, this was an entirely enjoyable match featuring two capable competitors whose polarizing styles meshed quite well. This was definitely better than the opener and might be MOTN depending on what happens in the main event.
Los Parks (L.A. Park & El Hijo De L.A. Park) vs. The Dynasty (MJF and Richard Holliday) (c), MLW Tag Team Championship Match
MJF and Hijo start the match out, and there's a lot of teasing and plodding in the process. MJF then tags in Holliday, who works Hijo over for a spell. Following a backstabber to Holliday, Hijo and L.A. manage to get some double-team offense in with a series of dropkicks to Holliday. After distractions from MJF and the referee, it seems as though The Dynasty are in control here, continuing punishment to Hijo.
Hijo fights back with chops to the backs of his opponents, then he and L.A. execute another series of dropkicks to their opponents, culminating in Hijo flapjacking L.A. onto Holliday. They follow it up with a samoan drop/corkscrew neckbreaker combo to Holliday, then stereo suicide dives to The Dynasty. Despite this, The Dynasty manages to overcome it as MJF tosses L.A. into the guardrails as Holliday plants Hijo with a gutwrench powerbomb for the win.
This was fine, I guess. Lots of plodding with a fair amount of okay spots thrown in here and there. Not really sure why this was the main event, as the middle match had more stakes to it. But I don't book the show, so what do I know? Anyways, it's an alright match, but not one you need to immediately seek out.
This was a pretty decent show that was exceptionally highlighted by Hammerstone/Horus. The opener was decent albeit a bit sloppy in parts and the main event was just sort of there, to be honest. You can watch the first and last matches, but especially focus on Hammerstone/Horus.
Apologies for being so lazy on this blog. Depression's been kicking my ass and I've just been finding it hard to enjoy things nowadays. With that being said, I'd like to remedy that and try to get back into the swing of things. While normally I cover ROH, this time around I'd to try something a little and start covering one of my new favorite promotions, MLW. So let's get to it.
Magnus & Septimo Dragon vs. Los Parks (L.A. Park & El Hijo Del L.A. Park)
Los Parks attack their opponents just as the bell rings, getting the advantage right from the start, clubbing them with strikes in the corner then continuing the carnage outside. After a couple chair shots and tosses into the guard rail, we're back in the ring as L.A. Park whips Dragon and Magnus with a weight belt, Dragon taking a majority of the damage. Trying to mount some momentum, Magnus superkicks Hijo then takes down L.A. with a headscissors. With both Parks on the outside, Magnus takes advantage with a slingshot corkscrew plancha.
Dragon follows it with a springboard corkscrew crossbody. The action gets back in the ring as L.A. ascends to the top rope only for Magnus hang him up and send him crashing down. Dragon hits Hijo with a standing spanish fly while Magnus connects with a swanton bomb to L.A.; both Parks kick out. L.A. blocks attack from both of his opponents as he sets Dragon upon the top rope. Hijo hits a super spanish fly on Dragon while L.A. spears Magnus; both tecnicos kick out as the action spills out to the outside once again.
Los Parks deliver dual diving crossbodys to the outside before L.A. and Magnus eventually end up back in the ring. The two trade strikes before L.A. plants Magnus with a DDT; Dragon breaks up the pinfall attempt with a double stomp as he and Hijo make their way back into the ring. Dragon peppers in some elbows on Hijo, who halts his momentum with a superkick then sets him up on the second rope for a super codebreaker.
Dragon rolls out of a double stomp attempt from Hijo, then hits him with a Go 2 Sleep, followed up by a PK. He tries for a split-legged moonsault, only for Hijo to catch him then drill him with a running Canadian Destroyer. The two men spill to the outside as Magnus and L.A. enter in once again. Magnus dodges a spear and L.A. is sent shoulder-first into the corner; Magnus attempts a cover, only for the referee to be pulled out by the manager of Los Parks, Selina De La Renta.
Magnus superkicks L.A., only to be met with one from Hijo, who then goes on to deliver a flurry of strikes to Dragon before hitting the Backstabber. After being met with a headbutt, Hijo dodges another Dragon attack before landing a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Magnus and L.A. have an exchange. L.A. shoves Magnus into the referee, then ascends to the top rope for a twisting frog splash. Magnus rolls out of the way while the referee takes the brunt of the attack. De La Renta low-blows Magnus while the referee is down; L.A. rolls Magnus up for the win.
I really didn't expect this match to go on for that long, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was paced well, and we got to see some impressive sequences from both teams. Los Parks gave a good heel performance, and I can say something similar of Magnus & Dragon, who performed their role well as the babyfaces who get ambushed in the beginning, then fight back in the middle only to succumb to dirty tricks in the end. A well-told story and a damn good way to start the show off.
Dominic Garrini vs. Ariel Dominguez
It's a technical affair from the start as Garrini and Dominguez trade holds in an effort to gain advantage. Garrini quickly takes it with a hip toss, then a gutwrench toss; following a quick slam, Garrini submits Dominguez with a cross armbreaker, debuting in MLW with a lightning-quick victory.
A quick match, but one that builds Garrini as a feared mat technician in MLW. It's practically a guarantee we're going to see him square up against Filthy Tom Lawlor and Timothy Thatcher, and I for one am looking forward to both of those matches.
Austin Aries vs. Brian Pillman, Jr.
Pillman eggs Aries on at the start, baiting him in and catching him with a series of hard chops and knee strikes, getting him to the outside. Back in the ring, Aries gets Pillman on the ring apron, then attempts a knee strike only for Pillman to counter with a shoulder tackle, then a sunset flip. Pillman clotheslines Aries to the outside, then attempts a slingshot plancha. Aries dodges it as Pillman lands on the ring apron; Pillman leaps over a chop block attempt from Aries, then hits him with a back kick/double axe-handle combo.
Aries blocks a springboard attempt from Pillman, then connects with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Aries connects with a missile dropkick, then pounds Pillman with a slew of strikes. Aries then attempts a brainbuster on the ring apron, but Pillman blocks and the two trade suplex counters. Aries ends it with a shoulder block into a second-rope neckbreaker. Aries attempts to work Pillman over further, only for Pillman to answer back with a series of uppercuts then a snap scoop powerslam.
Pillman attempts his straight-jacket neckbreaker finisher, only for Aries to counter with a northern lights suplex, then a transition into his Last Chancery finisher. Pillman gets to the rope as Aries attempts another brainbuster on the ring apron. Pillman fights out and hits Aries with a superkick, then attempts a suicide dive; Aries blocks with a headbutt, then gets back in the ring to plant Pillman with a brainbuster for the win. After the match, Aries calls out Teddy Hart, who he attacked last week with a brainbuster on the ring apron. Hart answers and the two brawl as the show ends.
Shorter than I expected it to be, but a damn good match regardless. Both men were in tip-top shape here, trading rapid-fire sequences and telling a good in-ring story in the process. It also furthers the feud between Aries and Teddy Hart, and rest assured, they'll put on an absolute barnburner. I really can't complain on any side here, as everyone involved look strong in the process.
An excellent episode, to say the least. We had an absolute banger of a lucha-style tag team opener, plus the superb main event. I honestly prefer the opener, but not by much. Honestly, one of the best episodes they've had in a while, and I'm excited to see what they pull out next.
In this week's episode, Ring Of Honor highlights their return to New York City for Manhattan and gears up for Summer Supercard. Some of ROH's biggest stars are featured tonight, including Jay Lethal, RUSH, Dalton Castle and of course World Champion Matt Taven, among others. It should be a jam-packed show, so let's not waste any more time and get on with it.
Matt Taven opener
Well into almost four months in his reign as ROH World Champion, Matt Taven enters Hammerstein Ballroom clad in a Red Sox jersey and addresses his reign, highlighting his victory at Supercard as well as the multiple successful defenses he's had so far. Taven vows to put an end to his near 7-year rivalry with Lethal tonight, only for Kenny King to come out and demand a title shot, as per the stipulation of his Honor Rumble victory. Taven agrees, only to be met with an upset Lethal and the two trade blows before security breaks them up.
A decently executed segment, and definitely a match I'm looking forward to later in the evening. Lethal's a future wrestling god, Taven is fantastic and King is super underrated. With enough time provided, they should definitely be able to put on a great showing.
Briscoes/Guerrillas Of Destiny Video Package
This segment highlights the current rivalry between The Briscoes and G.O.D over the ROH World Tag titles. G.O.D defended their titles against the brothers at War Of The Worlds, only for the Briscoes to reclaim the titles later in Manhattan. G.O.D attacked the Briscoes post-match following a successful title defense against The Bouncers at Mass Hysteria. The challenge was laid out by G.O.D, and the two teams will face off in a Ladder War for the Tag Titles at Summer Supercard.
I'm just sort of "eh" on this. It's probably going to be a good match and I'm definitely hype for it, but I'm not really sold on the rivalry. The Briscoes are at their best when they're working straight heel, and this isn't the case here. Coupled with the fact G.O.D really don't like ROH, I'm honestly kind of baffled they're still actively working with them. That aside, I'm definitely looking forward to Summer Supercard.
RUSH/Dalton Castle Package
Following Briscoes/G.O.D, we get a video package unfurling the RUSH/Dalton Castle rivalry. After RUSH embarrassed him in mere seconds at G1 Supercard, Castle grew bitter and vowed revenge. He took it out on RUSH's younger brother Dragon Lee at Best In The World, then attacked RUSH post-match at Manhattan Mayhem. The two had a match at Mass Hysteria, only for Castle to garner a disqualification via a low blow, they'll square off at Summer Supercard.
Both guys are excellent workers and this should prove to be a great match. This is really the first time RUSH has shown any semblance of vulnerability in his ROH tenure, and it's honestly surprising it's at the hands of Castle. But this is a good thing, because having a superman schtick for too long can get boring, so it's interesting to see some vulnerability in RUSH. Why it's against Castle is anyone's guess, but regardless, this should be a damn good showing and I'm just twiddling my thumbs until it happens.
Tracy Williams/Shane Taylor Package
From the highlights provided, Williams won the proving ground match at Manhattan Mayhem and earned a shot at Taylor's World TV title. Following his victory, Williams cuts a promo how he's going to win the TV Title from Taylor in front of his friends and family in Toronto. Conversely, Taylor cuts a promo how he seeks to destroy Williams and completely embarrass him in front of his friends and family come Summer Supercard.
So, am I pissed Bandido didn't win it at Best In The World? Yes. Am I a fan of Shane Taylor and his reign as TV Champion? Yes. Would it be satisfying to see Williams leave Summer Supercard with the World TV title? Yes. Confusing questions aside, I'm definitely hype for this match, as it's clash of styles to the fullest (Williams' technical acumen vs. Taylor size/power game). Looking forward to this one and really hoping it's more than just a squash.
Jay Lethal vs. Kenny King vs. Matt Taven (c), ROH World Championship match
As soon as the bell rings, Taven sits on the outside and lets his two opponents go at it. King and Lethal taunt each other's signature moves before Taven grabs Lethal off the ring apron; the two trade punches before King lands a corkscrew plancha onto both of them. Back in the ring, King lands a series of kicks on Taven, sending him to the outside. Afterwards, King plants Lethal with a backbreaker/lariat combo.
Watching on the outside, Taven finally makes his move in the ring as he dropkicks King, then hits Lethal with a rope-assisted enzuguiri, culminating in a discus clothesline to King. Taven tosses King aside for a bit as he tussles with Lethal, hitting a swinging neckbreaker/springboard moonsault combo in the process. King tries to stop the momentum, only for Taven to answer back with a DDT. The three trade punches for a brief spell before Taven dodges a enzugiri attempt from Letal and redirects it to King before superkicking him.
Taven and Lethal try to go through the motions before King takes both of them out with a double lariat. King and Lethal duke it out on the apron for a brief spell before Taven connects with a springboard enzguiri to King, then lays out his competition with a suicide dive. Taven tries for an over the top rope tope suicida, connecting on King but Lethal and responding with one of his own. Lethal then hits King one of his signature dives and hits one more, finalizing his trio of dives.
Lethal tries to apply the Figure Four to King, only for Taven to break it up with a frog splash. Taven goes for one of his own on King; Lethal tries to respond, only for King to reverse the pressure and get Taven out of harm's way. Lethal then locks in the crossface, but King breaks it up; he then hits Lethal with a Chin Checker, only for Taven to plant King with his Kick Of The King. Taven and Lethal throw hands before King plants them both with a double blockbuster.
Taven and King trade pin attempts before Taven drills King with a knee; Lethal connects with a Lethal Injection to Taven, who kicks out. King hits Lethal with a Lethal Injection of his own, then a Royal Flush. Taven drills King with a Climax and then pins Lethal to retain.
This was a fantastic match and a great way to end the show. The spots were well-executed by each performer, who fulfilled their role to an absolute tee. The overall MVP of the match is Taven, as he blended his opportunistic heel character work with (insert spot monkey reference here). While he isn't booked the smartest, Taven is one hell of a worker, and matches like this one prove it. I'm beyond hype for his match with Alex Shelley at Summer Supercard, because I know those two can tear the house down if given the opportunity.
While essentially a recap show with one match, I will say it was put together well, and definitely got me hype for Summer Supercard. If you're looking for a real wrasslin' experience, skip to the last 20 minutes or so of the episode. Regardless, a fun and engaging watch.
In what should prove to be an absolute barn-burner, Lifeblood seeks vengeance as they take on Villain Enterprises in a 6-man main event. This should prove to be pretty damn good, but let's see how the rest of the show pans out.
Jeff Cobb vs. Jonathan Gresham vs. Dalton Castle vs. Kenny King
Castle and Cobb start the match with a quick technical exchange, highlighting their amateur wrestling experience. They run the ropes before Cobb dropkicks Castle; Gresham and King are subsequently tagged in. Gresham attempts some mat-based trickery, but King's size advantage gets the better of him as he responds with a series of kicks to ground Gresham. King and Castle exchange tags, attempting to further break Gresham down.
Their chemistry breaking down, King and Castle begin to squabble following a few surprise tags. Gresham takes advantage and tags in Cobb, who flies in like a bat out of hell as he takes Castle and King for a ride of suplexes. Cobb is distracted as Gresham tags himself back in; Castle takes advantage and takes Cobb down with a spinning bulldog. Gresham takes Castle down with a jumping enzuguiri; King responds to this with an inverted backbreaker, then heads to the top rope.
Castle drops King to a seated position to set up his signature knee lift, but is met with a lariat from Cobb. King recovers and hits a blockbuster on Gresham. He tries the same on Cobb, who catches him and plants him with a jackhammer. Following a kick-out, King goes on a tear as he spinebusters Cobb, clothesline Castle out of the ring then plants Gresham with a blue thunder bomb. King exits the ring to grab a foreign object (the time-keeper's high heel), but Cobb sees it and King enzuguiris him out of the ring in the process. Castle gets back in the ring only for King to send him back out via a forced/assisted suicide dive to Cobb.
With the referee distracted, Gresham grabs the high heel hits King with it, rolling him up and getting the victory to start out the show.
A pretty damn good match with a rather surprising finish. King and Cobb were the overall MVPs of this match, getting in the most offense and providing the most impressive spots. What really grabbed me, though was the ending. Akin to his victory at Best In The World, Gresham used dirty tactics to get a W; definitely apropos of his character, and I'm thinking this is signaling a heel turn, which is something I'm not sure how to feel about just yet. Regardless, a good match and a great way to kick the show off.
Soldiers Of Savagery (Moses & Khan) vs. Primal Fear (Matthew Toro & Soriano)
SOS lays waste to their opponents as a pair of elevated double chokeslams puts them way to garner a W for Moses & Khan.
It's a meh from me here. I've seen a thousand squashes, and this one was just like the rest. The finisher is pretty alright, but that's about it. Let's get to the main event now.
Lifeblood (Tracy Williams, Mark Haskins & Bandido) vs. Villain Enterprises (Marty Scurll, PCO & Brody King)
The match begins with Haskins diving onto Scurll before every member of both teams start throwing hands. Williams connects with a sliding dropkick to PCO and Bandido hits King with a fosbury flop: Scurll and Haskins continue to duke it out on their own as the rest of the both teams continue to brawl on the outside. Back in the ring, Williams sets up a chair; PCO attempts to wriggle out of his grasp only for Bandido to assist Williams in tossing him into the corner.
Scurll and King send Williams and Bandido to the outside; Haskins responds by sending Scurll to the outside and throwing rapid-fire strikes and kicks at King, who asks for more. Haskins tries to oblige only to be met with a chair shot from Scurll, which prompts King to plant him with a spinning side slam onto said chair. Bandido hits King with a corkscrew crossbody as Williams attempts a diving kendo stick shot to Scurll, who dodges only for Williams to connect the second time around.
Williams then hits King with two shots of the kendo stick before wrapping his left arm up with it in a bastardized cobra clutch of sorts. PCO enters the ring to give Williams and Bandido each a chair, begging them to hit him. Williams and Bandido get a couple shots in before PCO clotheslines both to the outside. King hits them with a cannonball off the apron, then PCO follows up with one of his own. Back in the ring, Scurll and PCO hit Haskins with a boston crab/leg drop combo; King joins in with a kendo stick shot before following it up with a dual Scurll/chair-assisted jumping senton to Haskins.
Bandido and Williams come to aid Haskins, pelting PCO and Scurll with kendo stick shots. With an assist from Haskins, Williams and Bandido powerbomb King off the top rope through multiple set-up chairs. Scurll comes in to crack both of them with a kendo stick, then fires up PCO before setting up Haskins on an outside table. Bandido blocks the attempt, allowing Haskins to scurry away before driving PCO through the table with a super hurricanrana.
Back in the ring, Scurll is alone with Williams and Haskins, who dodges a kendo stick shot and puts Scurll in a sharpshooter; Williams aids Haskins with a kendo stick-assisted crossface on Scurll. King breaks it up and sends both Haskins and Williams to the outside. He connects with a somersault tope onto his opponents, followed by PCO. Bandido sneaks into the ring to superkick Scurll, then ascends to the top rope to hit a corkscrew plancha of sorts to the outside. Back in the ring, Bandido hits PCO with a chair-assisted shotgun dropkick.
After hanging PCO up on the ropes with a Go 2 Sleep, Bandido sets up a chair in an effort to spice up his 21-Plex finisher. He connects, but is unable to follow up with a cover as PCO rolls out of the pin attempt. Scurll and King set up a table in the corner, only for Williams and Haskins to come at them with a flurry of kendo stick shots. Scurll responds with his umbrella and unloads upon Lifeblood; he then sets Bandido on the table and ascends to the top rope. Bandido comes back and puts Scurll through the table with a moonsault fallaway slam to secure the victory for Lifeblood.
An excellent match, probably one of the better matches ROH has put on this year. Ever since its inception, Villain Enterprises has proven it excels in chaotic, no-rules brawls, and this one was no exception. But don't leave Lifeblood out of the conversation, as they proved they can get just as dirty. It's hard to pick an overall MVP of the match, as seemingly every participant got their fair shot in. To make it easy, I'll say Bandido. He provided the best spots while simultaneously taking as much damage as his Lifeblood counterparts, proving his endurance. While not the exact definition of tag-team wrestling, it was nonetheless an immensely entertaining brawl with one of ROH's rising stars going over in a big way. I don't really see a downside to this, in all honesty.
A great show hampered by a nothing-ass middle. The fatal 4-way was a nice way to kick off the show, and the main event was an exceedingly fun brawl from start to finish. The only thing that really hampered this show was the SOS, but that's just me being nitpicky. Trust me when I say seek this one out ASAP.
After taking some time off, we're back to covering ROH week to week (probably). Tonight should prove to be a good show as Matt Taven defends his ROH World Championship against Tracy Williams in the main event. We'll have lots of hopefully great content coming our way, so let's not waste any more time and get right into it.
The Kingdom (TK O'Ryan & Vinny Marseglia) vs. The Bouncers (Brian Milonas & Beer City Bruiser)
The match starts out with Milonas pummeling O'Ryan, dishing out plenty of heavy-duty punishment. O'Ryan tries to wear Milonas down by running the ropes, but's it all for naught. Bruiser and Marseglia are tagged in and Marseglia immediately tries to cut down his larger opponents with a series of well-placed knees and bicycle kicks. They little to no effect, however, as The Bouncers go to work on their opponents with some tag-team offense, culminating with a Bruiser cannonball to the outside.
Bruiser tries to get Marseglia back in the ring, but Marseglia counters and tosses Bruiser into the ring post, then the barricade. Back in the ring, Marseglia grounds Bruiser and taunts him for a bit before hitting him with a series of running elbow strikes, then a spinning shiranui off the second rope. Bruiser blocks a double flapjack attempt then connects with a double sidewalk slam. Milonas gets the hot tag and makes quick work of O'Ryan & Marseglia. Milonas attempts a second-rope superplex, but Marseglia sneaks around to push Milonas' legs out from under him. O'Ryan lands on top to get the pin and secure the W.
A decent way to kick off the show with an interesting finish. Both teams played their roles well (The Bouncers being lovable hosses and The Kingdom being opportunistic heels), and played off each other well, creating some pretty good sequences. I love that Bruiser and Milonas are getting over with the crowd, and I especially love how they're being booked (despite other objections I have with ROH's booking, but that's another story for another time). Both teams looked strong (both in-ring and character-wise), and the finish added the proverbial cherry on top of the overall story being told. Not too much more to say here.
Brian Johnson vs. Josh "The Goods" Woods
Johnson puts up a surprising fight against Woods, using trickery in an effort to halt the momentum of Woods, who's been absolutely dominant as of late. After a quick clothesline, Johnson manages to ground Woods and works the left arm. Woods fights back with a bevvy of forearms, then a jumping corner knee strike followed up by an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Countering a snapmare, Woods hits Johnson with a running knee strike, then his Seismic Toss finisher to pick up the victory.
Surprisingly longer than most Woods matches as of late. About the same quality, though. A fun squash and I like Woods' finisher. That's about it.
Tracy Williams vs. Matt Taven (c), ROH World Championship match
It's a battle for leverage from the beginning as Taven and Williams exchange a series of holds and counters, with Taven taunting Williams throughout. Williams manages to get the early advantage with a combination of holds, throws and strikes. Taven attempts a comeback, but Williams answers back with a corner 619, then a wrecking ball dropkick. Williams works Taven over for a bit on the outside, then tries to get him back in the ring, only for Taven to respond by tossing him into the ring post, then the barricade (holy deja vu, Batman).
Taven tries to leave the match but Williams refuses, throwing more hard strikes before delivering a jumping elbow smash off the entrance ramp. Back in the ring, Williams attempts some top-rope offense; Taven counters and delivers a super russian legsweep to Williams, then a wrecking ball dropkick of his own. Taven tries some trickery back in the ring as he removes the padding from the corner. Williams attempts a top-rope double stomp and Taven dodges, cinching in a sleeper hold attempt.
Williams fights out and answers back with a attempt of his own. He ascends to the top rope once again, only for Taven to hit him with an enzuguiri. Taven attempts a backpack stunner, only for Williams to wriggle out and go to the top rope again. Taven connects with another enzuguiri, then perches Williams up on the top rope before delivering a stiff chop. Williams counters a superplex attempt with a single-arm DDT on the turnbuckle, then follows up with a diving DDT.
Taven then counters a sunset flip attempt with a running knee. After a brief rest, the two go right back at it as Taven hits Williams with a step-up enzuguiri and Williams answers back with a discus clothesline, transitioning into a crossface shortly after. Taven tries to get to the ropes as Williams tries to pull him back with an ankle lock then an STF attempt. The two men exchange sunset flip and finisher counters, then Williams dodges another Taven knee strike. Taven manages to connect with his Climax finisher, only for Williams to kick out.
Taven goes to the top rope for a frog splash attempt, only for Williams to block then hit Taven with a one-armed piledriver. After a referee distraction, Taven tosses Williams into the exposed turnbuckle, then plants him the Climax to retain his title.
A great match and an excellent way to end a show. Both men gave it their all from bell to bell, trying and succeeding at giving us a great title match. The styles presented from both men (Taven's flashy flamboyance with Williams' no-nonsense ring dedication) blended smoothly, giving us superb chemistry and well-executed sequences and counters throughout. Both men looked strong throughout this whole match, and got in their fair share of offense. As far as I'm concerned, this is a win-win from both sides. Taven gets another worthy challenger and Williams proves his worth with another excellent in-ring performance. Both wrestler's stock rises as performers, and we as an audience get treated to an excellent main event. Needless to say, this was a damn good match.
Given that I've missed the past two weeks of ROH TV, I'm probably not as good of a judge as I could be. But given what I've recently seen, this is probably one of their better episodes. The matches were good (if not great) and the booking was intelligent (which is surprising, given the BITW results). I'd definitely recommend giving this a watch ASAP.
STUNNER! THE STUNNER! 1,2,3, IT'S OVER! Something we've heard 1000 times before (in some variation) and will likely never get tired of hearing. Whether it's the Stunner, the RKO, the Pedigree or even the Atomic Leg Drop, finishers have always fascinated me. To see wrestlers use a variety of moves before determining one specific hold/strike/etc. in particular will be the Coup De Grace (pun intended) is just the most intriguing shit to a nerd like me who obsesses over the mechanics of wrestling. When watching a match or a YouTube move compilation, one starts to wonder: Why is THAT the end of the match? Where did these epilogues to such campy, machismo-fueled stories come from and how did they evolve? What do they look like? What's the difference between the good and the bad, and why the hell am I asking you all of this?
With that being said, I'd like to take a deep dive into the entire ethos of finishers. What their history is, their mechanical components and whether this is 100% subjective or there's an instance of a particular move being objectively perfect or absolute trash. So allow me to beg your indulgence, as I'm about to go balls deep (or at least attempt to) in the nerdiest way possible.
The History
To really understand the full components of a finisher, it's absolutely necessary to trace their lineage. And given I'm on Steven Spielberg levels of historical nerdiness, you can imagine I'll take great pleasure in this section. In the days of yore, wrestling finishers were never anything particularly theatrical or mesmerizing. For the most part, they were simple holds done in the tradition of Catch Wrestling, innovated in late-19th century England. From there, it was adapted further when traveling carnivals relied on such grapplers like Farmer Burns, Frank Gotch, George Hackenschmidt and the like to wow their patrons with a variety of brutal holds that felt realer-than-real for the time. Whether it was Hackenschmidt's bearhug, Evan "Strangler" Lewis' neck yoke (later known as the rear naked choke) or Ed "Strangler" Lewis' (no relation) side headlock, fans were treated to the most realistic grappling possible.
In other words, the crux of wrestling finishers at the turn of the century were basically the culmination of men in their underpants squeezing each other REAL HARD until one of them gave up. They were very methodical and plodding, and were definitely of their time. But times change, and with that comes a new audience craving something for something new to really dazzle them. The impetus, as far as American professional wrestling goes, is none other than the man himself Lou Thesz.
When you're heralded as one of the greatest to ever don a pair of tights and lace up a pair of boots, you've got to be an absolute game-changer. Thesz accomplished this in spades, innovating some of the unique finishers of the time, and what would later become commonplace staples of professional wrestling. They include: the powerbomb, the STF (yours still sucks, John) and the aforementioned Thesz Press (it eventually became more of a setup as opposed to a finisher, but important for its time nonetheless).
And while there were numerous innovations to be had in American professional wrestling, something else was brewing across the border. In the world of Lucha Libre, grapplers from all parts of Mexico were injecting an extra dose of speed and agility into wrestling, coming up with some of the most unique finishers in wrestling, influencing the business in both technical and high-flying aspects. For the first part, I'd be remiss not to mention one of the influential performers in all of professional wrestling, and that man is Gory Guerrero.
A feared heel technician in the world of lucha libre, there were few as innovative and influential as Guerrero. Proof of this lies within two particular holds: the La de a Caballo and the Gory Special. Literally translated to "on horseback," this move would come to be known as the Camel Clutch by way of The Sheik, and as such became the trademark for many a wrestler with a Middle Eastern gimmick. As for the Gory Special, it was certainly a unique move for the time; working the opponent's arms, shoulders and back simultaneously, this submission move has since utilized and adopted in various ways, be it a facebuster, a piledriver, a powerbomb or even a flatliner.
As far as lucha technicians go, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one of Guerrero's contemporaries Rito Romero. Innovating a double leg-hook/double armbar combo dubbed "La Tapatia," it would come to be known as the Romero Special, utilized by many a mat technician, be it Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan or Jushin Thunder Liger, among others. There were many other technical innovations from lucha libre (La Magistral and the Dos Caras Clutch in particular), but if you're like me, you remember the high-flying aspects of lucha libre the most. As for the man who popularized it? Well, you'll see him below.
The man, the myth, the legend. Mil Mascaras was certainly ahead of his time and then some; while known more as a mat-based technician in his native Mexico, he became known as a high-flying innovator, dazzling Japanese crowds with his Plancha, which came to be known as a diving crossbody, utilized by many a wrestler from there on out. And much like how Guerrero was the impetus for technical lucha innovation, Mascaras was the impetus for high-flying innovation. We see this with Mando Guerrero's moonsault, La Fiera's frog splash and Huracan Ramirez' hurricanrana, among many others.
So at this point, you'd probably figure I'd be covering Japanese Puroresu here. Well, to be honest, I was somewhat wary of it. Reason being is I've always felt the puro style as a whole was much more influential to modern professional wrestling as a whole than the singular finishing manuevers. Drawing influence from various martial arts (judo, jiu-jitsu, karate, etc.) as well as traditional American wrestling, most finishers were just a hard suplex, simple submission or a quick strike after beating the tar out of each other for some 30-40 minutes.
And that's where Riki Choshu comes in. You see, one of the most heralded debates the IWC has is who performs the sharpshooter better: Bret Hart or Sting? Sting being the one to introduce it to American audiences, Hart being the one to deepen the popularity. But we wouldn't be having this conversation had it not been for Choshu. Dubbing it the Sasori-Gatame, this unique combination of a boston crab and a cloverleaf was unique for its time, and would later become one of the biggest game-changers in wrestling history. Without it, some of the most memorable events in wrestling history may not have happened (or would've happened differently): the Hart/Austin double turn at WrestleMania 13, the Montreal Screwjob (the starting point of the Attitude Era) and the birth of Corporate Rock. While not I'm saying it was the sole reason for any of these things happening, it was nevertheless an important piece of storytelling and gave us a special aesthetic of wrestling lore.
So where are we at now, as far as wrestling finishers are concerned? It's really a unique combination of styles. We have English Catch, American traditional, Mexican Lucha Libre and Japanese puro, all intertwined in a bizarre web that somehow meshes all of these styles in various ways by various performers. But now that we have the history intact, let's pick apart a finisher's anatomy how a college biology professor picks apart a fetal pig: slow, methodical and if you don't have the stomach for it, you may vomit. Probably not, but if you're still reading this, you're just as much of a nerd as I am about this shit and you'll most likely stick around to see where it goes. And for that, I thank you.
Finisher Anatomy Part I: Practicality
When determining a finisher, one really needs to consider the following: Is it a move you can do well? And is it a move you can do well on any opponent, regardless of size? While there are some finishers that look great and are performed well, there are certain finishers which can really only be done to opponents of a similar size (e.g. Petey Williams' Canadian Destroyer); as a result, the aesthetic overweighs the practicality. While I love moves like these, I can't honestly be convinced it could take down someone the size of Kane/Undertaker/Big Show/etc., especially if you're not of comparable size/stature.
This why moves like Triple H's Pedigree (pictured), the Stunner, the RKO, the Rock Bottom, etc. all superbly work as finishers. Not only is it a move they're well-versed in performing, it's something they can perform on virtually any opponent they face, and in no uncertain terms be the deciding factor towards victory. This also holds true for top-rope moves, albeit with a caveat. In this situation, it's all about what you can do beforehand. As long as you can believably get your opponent down on the mat, be it a series of well-placed strikes, crisp throws or a hearty slam, then there's no reason to why you couldn't finish off an opponent with a moonsault or a frog splash or some other flippy-do whathaveyou we all know and love.
Part 2: Impact
Though it's blatantly obvious, it bears repeating that regardless of what your wrestling moveset looks like, your finisher needs to be the strongest-looking one out of the bunch. For example, if you use a lot of springboard/top-rope attacks and roundhouses regularly throughout your match, your Coup De Grace (this time, pun unintended) has to be something more than just a superkick or a tornado DDT in order to really provide a cathartic effect. Case in point, the video above. PAC (formerly known as Neville in the WWE), and many wrestlers similar to him, has a vast moveset that begs for a breathtaking finisher; using a corkscrew shooting star press dubbed the Black Arrow (formerly the Red Arrow), PAC is able to distinguish this move from the rest of his repertoire as the end-all, be-all of a match.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have wrestlers employ size over innovation as a means to an end. I'm talking about guys like Diesel, Big Show, Kane and the Undertaker (pictured above). Their moveset is often times limited, making up for the lack of flash with sheer brutality. We see this Taker/Kane/Big Show's chokeslam, Taker & Kane's tombstone and Diesel's Jackknife Powerbomb. Admittedly it's easier for wrestlers of this size to come up with a truly impactful finisher because of their typically limited moveset. \
Regardless, every wrestler or wrestling fan knows, or at least should know that you need a finisher which provides the best epilogue to the story. Whether it's by size or innovation, a finisher needs to give us some twisted form of closure. Simply put, if what you're doing at the beginning or middle of the match is more cathartic than the ending, you're doing it wrong.
Part 3: Innovation
Another important factor we need to consider for what makes a good finisher is the overall aesthetic. If it was silhouetted, would we able to recognize it? There are plenty of finishers I could list, but for now, I'll just talk about Kenny Omega's One-Winged Angel. A wrestler with already a very unique moveset, he managed to craft a move that stands alone from the rest. Clean, yet brutal, and it looks cool; it pretty much checks all of the boxes. You see, any jabroni can take a superkick or a DDT and call that their Coup De Grace, but it takes a wrestler with enough panache to come up with a move that people can really call their own. This is where Omega, and many other wrestlers like him, thrive.
Though I'd be lying if I said this was the most important part of a finisher. While necessary, there's a fine line when it comes to finisher innovation. Much like my writing process, creativity should never be forced; when it is, it over-complicates the story you're telling.The reason why the One-Winged Angel works so well is that it's a compromise of sorts. It separates itself from the rest of the field, yet it doesn't alienate viewers from the overall story being told in the ring. Like a fine digestif, a finisher should be bold, distinguishable and flavorful. You want to leave a meal feeling impressed and satisfied, but not overstuffed.
Examples of where innovation may be overdone come in the form of Brian Cage's Weapon X (a Gory Special/Flatliner combo) and whatever the hell Marty "The Moth" Martinez had for a brief respite (some sort of double-arm flipping codebreaker? yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what it was). These are moves that look cool and unique in their creativity, but the amount of setup required for it can leave some turned off by the move; it leaves them feeling as though creativity and innovation overtook general impact. As a result, the finish can produces somewhat of an empty feeling.
But then again, this whole beautiful mess is entirely subjective, so not everyone's going to be impressed. So, for better or worse, what you choose to get the "1-2-3" or the tapout should stand head and shoulders of whatever else; something that truly deserves to be put before the "FIN" title card.
Part 4: Escalation
And while we're taking a look into the very essence of a finisher, we have to discuss versatility. If you really want to make crowd pop, a finisher should be styled in a way that can tell a story from multiple angles. It should have the ability to signalled, reversed in various ways or appear out of nowhere. Judging by the thumbnail above and the previous strands of words I typed, I've made it blatantly obvious the next finisher I'm going into detail on.
Randy Orton's RKO has stood the test of time and serves as a gatekeeper for finisher and meme lore, and arguably the biggest reason for this is its incredible malleability. Orton bends and twists the RKO in order to suit whatever in-ring narrative is being told. It can be long and drawn out or snapped off in an instant as well as easily reversed/used as a reversal easily; it checks off all the boxes of versatility, and as a result, it's timeless. Along with Sweet Chin Music, the Stunner, the Sharpshooter and a plethora of other examples, finishers like these are an excellent example how to provide the ultimate catharsis for any match. In order to best tell an in-ring story in any situation, finishers need to be fluid and free-forming.
Part 5: Character
This one's going a little tough for me to go into, as I could either make this one short and sweet or as a detailed as humanly possible. Quite honestly, it's the most important, fundamental part of a finisher. If it doesn't reflect who you are and what you do as a wrestler, then why even bother? From the days of yore to where wrestling is now, this has been truer than practically any other tenet of "How-to" wrestling lore.
But how, you may ask? I will tell you! One such example is Bret Hart and the Sharpshooter; being such a heralded technician, this intricate, painful-looking submission is a direct reflection of that (insert Kurt Angle, *Redacted* and Zack Sabre, Jr here as well). And from technical to high-flying, we have Rey Mysterio's 619. Flashy, quick and innovative, it portrays him as a wrestler better than the rest of the moves in his arsenal: as a plucky, high-flying babyface who uses his speed and agility to overcome his larger opponents. And if we're talking about size-dependent powerhouses, we have to mention Diesel/Kevin Nash and his Jackknife Powerbomb; given you're being dropped back first up from 7 feet in the air, it's a finisher that perfectly reflects his status as a looming giant.
And you might think the more eccentric the gimmick/character, the harder it is to find finisher that best reflects. Consider Kane; a demonic, single-minded entity born of violence and vengeance, the Tombstone Piledriver and the Chokeslam (much like The Undertaker) are perfect mirror images of the cartoonish character he portrays. Kane, Taker and several other examples that I'm for whatever reason drawing a blank on are proof that even with a silly gimmick, there's always a finisher to perfectly reflect it.
The Line Between Good And Bad Finishers
The history. The anatomy. As far as the discussion of finishers, what else is left? As much as I dread to dwell on it, I have to bring up what makes a bad finisher. Because what good is discussing a sect of popular culture if you don't take at least a small modicum of time to shit on things other people like, am I right?
There are finishers that meet (at least in some aspect) the community standards of what a finisher should be but fail to live up to the other standards. For example, The Worm. Employed by Scotty 2 Hotty, this theatrical displaying of a falling throat chop is almost universally derided by the IWC. And in all honesty, I can't say the criticism is without merit. Technically speaking, it doesn't look like the most impactful move and it doesn't really seem like something which you could end a match with. However, it's unique and it fits the character; plus, it can pop the crowd. There's a similar finisher I'm about to mention, but before I do, let me prep my apocalypse bunker.
Aaaand, we're good. Much like The Worm, The People's Elbow has received criticism as far as its legitimacy as a finisher. Being that it's a delayed elbow drop, it's certainly understandable why one would loathe it. But consider this: The Rock's character is a theatrical one, brimming with confidence and bravado. Given his oeuvre, I'd say his finisher makes more than enough sense. And while this may be delving into the comedy wrestling territory, the same could be said about Santino Marella's Cobra or other similar-themed finishers.
But for every derided finisher that might not deserve the hate, there's always going to be one, or several, that most definitely do. Allow me to shift into my Corey Graves impression as I go into my "Bully Byron Saxton" mode. When it comes to wrestling finishers, I've yet to find someone who would defend Saxtonation as a legitimately good finisher outside of shitposting reasons. It's really not all that impactful, it doesn't serve his character well and the escalation factor is very limited. You could make an argument for innovation, but while it's different, it doesn't mean it's satisfying; just because 2 Girls 1 Cup isn't comparable to any other porno I've watched, it doesn't mean I'm going to achieve an orgasm watching it.
And while we're on the subject of innovation, it's important we discuss the danger factor. Consider the video above, where the wrestler SPYRAL BKNY performs a moonsault Styles Clash. Is it different? Sure. But considering the reputation the Styles Clash has already gotten (Roderick Strong and Yoshitatsu can speak for this), delivering it off the top rope and adding a moonsault onto it just spells a recipe for disaster; risking safety for creativity, I fail to see how this can be defended as a necessary means to an end.
Moment Of Reflection
So perhaps I may have come off as a bitter, hypocritical Cornette-esque curmudgeon in some aspects on this post. After all, I'm not the one running the ropes, so who the fuck am I to judge? I guess I'm writing this from the perspective of someone who knows what they like and is only basing this on their viewing activity. And above all else, this is entertainment, and entertainment is subjective. If a simple DDT does the job for you, cool. If you need a 450 piledriver, rad. Save for nerds like me who obsess over shit like this, as long as a finisher is entertaining and can suspend your disbelief, there isn't much need to dwell on it too much. Like what you like, and let's keep shit at least moderately friendly.
Unless you defend Saxtonation, because if you do, you deserve to be bullied.
We have an absolutely jam-packed main event tonight as RUSH, Jay Lethal, PCO and Jeff Cobb do battle in a fatal 4-way to determine the #1 Contender to Matt Taven's world title. But how will the rest of the show pan out? Let's tune in and see.
Hikuleo vs. Hirooki Goto
The match starts out with a battle for leverage as Hikuleo tries to use size advantage while Goto employs his technique and experience. Goto gets out of the corner, evading further chops from Hikuleo; trying to gain some momentum, Goto hits with a couple of corner shoot kicks then a lariat off the ropes. Sending Hikuleo to the ground with a corner lariat, Goto goes to the top rope, but is met by Hikuleo who plants him with a superplex.
Following a quick exchange of counters, Goto headbutts Hikuleo then hits him with a reverse variation of his lariat/backbreaker finisher. Goto then hits him with an Ushigoroshi, then his GTR finisher to secure a victory.
An okay way to start the show off. Hikuleo is still green as fuck, but Goto's enough of a dependable worker to sell and bump for him. Nothing special, but if you're an absolute Goto fan, check it out.
Kelly Klein & Jenny Rose vs. The Allure (Angelina Love, Mandy Leon & Velvet Sky)
The match stops before it can even start as Leon and Love attack Klein and Rose from behind. Sky joins in on the beatdown. It's announced Klein & Rose will take on Love & Leon at Best In The World.
Literally couldn't sleep any harder on this feud. Moving on.
Shinobi Shadow Squad (Cheeseburger, Eli Isom & Ryan Nova) vs. Lifeblood (Tracy Williams, Mark Haskins & PJ Black)
Williams and Cheeseburger start this match out as Williams tries to take the early leverage, making use of his size and technique advantage over Cheeseburger. Black and Isom are tagged in, and after bouncing off the ropes for a bit, Isom hits Black with a jumping knee. Haskins and Nova are tagged in now; Nova gets in an impressive kick sequence, only for Williams to tag himself in. Black then tags himself in as Lifeblood executes a series of quick tags.
Absorbing a great deal of punishment, Nova tags out to Isom, who goes to work on Haskins. After connecting on the outside with a springboard moonsault, he gets Haskins back in the ring and Triple-S executes some 6-man tag offense. Haskins eventually halts their momentum with a rolling samoan driver to Nova, then tags in Black, who connects with a springboard moonsault to Isom and Cheeseburger.
After Haskins and Nova dish out a tag combo on Nova, Black connects with the moonsault double stomp and Lifeblood gets the W.
A decent match and a continuation of some solid tag-team work ROH has been putting out as of late. Lifeblood's been one of my favorite things about ROH so far this year, and their workrate is why. No matter the opponent, just consistently great performances from Williams & Haskins (and whoever joins them occasionally). But that's not to take anything away from Triple-S, as they put on a damn fine showing. Isom is a future ROH mainstay, Nova is underrated and Cheeseburger is God-King. A nice showing from all six men.
RUSH vs. Jay Lethal vs. PCO vs. Jeff Cobb, Four Corner Survival
After a disconnect on the pre-match handshakes, RUSH goes after PCO, but is quickly met by Cobb. The two exchange a brief display of impressive agility before PCO takes them down with a double clothesline. He begs Lethal to hit him, who obliges, connecting with his signature hip toss/cartwheel dropkick combo then a springboard dropkick. On the outside, PCO begs for more, goading Lethal to hit him with a suicide dive. Confused, Lethal hesitates, then Cobb; RUSH appears to take PCO's bait, only to bail at the last second and taunt him with a tranquilo pose.
Lethal responds with dives to both RUSH and Cobb, then tries for PCO, who catches him and chokeslams him on the ring apron. Back in the ring, PCO connects with a Finlay Roll/Vader Bomb combination to RUSH. A PCO chokeslam to Cobb prompts RUSH to go on a tear, dishing out as much punishment as possible in a very quick time frame. Cobb responds with a tear of his own, suplexing everyone in sight.
It's utter chaos in the ring as Lethal connects with a DDT/Complete Shot combo to RUSH and Cobb. He then fights with PCO on the top rope as Cobb tries to superplex them both; RUSH sneaks in and connects with the powerbomb to the three men. Lethal and PCO put down a quick exchange before Cobb interjects himself into the situation. He hits PCO with a samoan drop/moonsault combo, only for RUSH to break up the pinfall.
Cobb eats a superkick from RUSH and is suplexed into the corner. RUSH gets into a quick exchange with Lethal before PCO breaks it up. RUSH avoids an apron senton attempt from PCO, only to be met with a Lethal Injection. Lethal then hits Cobb with a Lethal Combination; with Kenny King providing a distraction, Cobb plants Lethal with his Tour Of The Islands finisher and gets the victory.
A damn good match and an excellent way to end the show. From the get-go, it seemed like each competitor never let off the gas pedal and just put out an absolute high-speed banger. Everyone got in their signature spots and had their time to shine; I especially like how much they're protecting RUSH and Cobb as neither man has taken an L so far in their ROH tenure. I could go into more detail, with this one, but I'd be repeating myself if I did. Executing my best Dale Cooper impression, a damn fine main event. As long as they can pull off bangers like this one, consider this jabroni 1000000% ROH-pilled.
A pretty damn good show overall. Goto/Hikuleo was an okay opener, Lifeblood/Triple-S gave us some good 6-man tag action and the main event was absolutely bonkers. Give this one a watch in its entirety ASAP if you haven't already.
