Hall’s All In 2018 Review

All In
Date: September 1, 2018
Location: Sears Centre, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Attendance: 11,263
Commentators: Don Callis, Excalibur, Ian Riccaboni

So here we have something that is somehow almost eight years old. This is basically the prequel to AEW, as Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks took a bet from Dave Meltzer about being able to sell 10,000 tickets to an independent wrestling show and actually pulled it off. The show is a mixture of the top stars of Ring Of Honor, independent stars you’ll probably recognize and some NJPW names as well. Let’s get to it.

Of note: a lot of the stories and bits on this show were based on Being The Elite, which I didn’t watch. I apologize in advance for anything I don’t understand or miss and that is all but guaranteed to happen.

Pre-Show: SCU vs. Briscoes

The Briscoes’ ROH Tag Team Titles aren’t on the line and SCU are dressed as Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed from Rocky II because…well because wrestling can be a lot of fun. Sky mocks the fans, as is his custom, and the fans certainly seem pleased with being put down. Jay takes over on Kazarian to start and it’s quickly off to Mark. Everything breaks down rather quickly and SCU takes over on Mark with some rather fast paced (and non-heel style) offense.

Some hard clotheslines put SCU down though and a suplex gives Mark two on Sky as we settle into a bit of a slower pace. The chinlock doesn’t last long either though as Sky fights up and grabs a hurricanrana. That’s enough for the tag off to Kazarian, who slingshot hurricanranas Mark out to the floor in a heap. The running flip dives connect and we hit the stereo dragon sleepers back inside. Jay has to crawl over to rake Sky’s eyes for a break in a cool spot, followed by Mark’s apron Blockbuster to Sky.

The Redneck Boogie drops Kazarian for two but the super version is broken up (you know, because it would be a top rope Redneck Boogie). Instead Mark gets planted with a Rock Bottom/Backstabber combination but Jay is back in with the Jay Driller. The Froggy Bow gets two with Sky making the save so the Briscoes try a Doomsday Device (because we’re near Chicago). Kazarian catches the diving Mark with a powerslam though and Jay can’t make the save in time as SCU wins at 12:37.

Rating: B. Nice opener here, with two talented teams getting to showcase what they can do in front of one of the biggest crowds they’ve been in front of before. I’m a bit surprised at the Briscoes losing, but then again I’m not entirely sure that SCU were the villains here. Either way, good fast paced tag match here and that’s always a nice way to start.

Pre-Show: Over Budget Battle Royal

Bully Ray, Billy Gunn, El Hijo de Chico, Tommy Dreamer, Chuckie T., Trent Beretta, Jordynne Grace, Ethan Page, Colt Cabana, Marko Stunt, Brian Cage, Punishment Martinez, Moose, Austin Gunn, Jimmy Jacobs, Hurricane, Cheeseburger, Rocky Romero, Brandon Cutler

For a Ring Of Honor World Title shot later tonight. Ray wastes no time in taking Chico outside for a powerbomb through a table. Chuckie gets pulled outside as well so Beretta hits Ray with a big dive through the ropes (not out). That earns Beretta a dive from Grace, who gets kicked in the face by Page. Cabana Lionsaults onto a bunch of people and almost everyone else goes outside.

Billy and Dreamer tease dives but just jump off the apron and hammer on people in a funny bit. The ring is left empty (great battle royal people) until Moose gets back in to hammer on some people. A bunch of people get Moose to the apron and Stunt hits a running dropkick to kick him out. Page gets to clean some house and we get a string of suplexes to put various people down.

Cutler moonsaults onto Cage but gets tossed out rather quickly. Romero saves Chuckie and Beretta and there’s the big hug as this is a bunch of stuff going on at once. Martinez (later known as Damian Priest) throws out Chuckie and Beretta and Cage blasts Romero with a clothesline and tosses him as well. Cheeseburger does his palm strikes but gets F5’d out by Cage.

Martinez and Cage trade kicks to the head but Hurricane chokeslams both of them. Page kicks Hurricane out but gets eliminated by Cabana to a nice reaction. Naturally Dreamer throws in the weapons (it’s not like he’s going to do much else) and beats up Martinez, only to get tossed by Ray. Stunt chops away at Ray, who gets beaten down by the Gunns. Jacobs starts doing WWE stuff and kisses Billy, who tosses him out. Austin actually throws out Martinez and the Gunns hug but have to beat up Ray.

Cage and Billy slug it out with the former gorilla pressing Billy to the floor. Ray tosses Stunt out with ease and it’s a big Grace vs. Cage showdown. Naturally Grace can fireman’s carry him for a squat and actually tosses Cage out. Ray is up AGAIN though and puts Grace on the top, where she knocks him off for a What’s Up. That’s too much selling for Ray though and he tosses Grace, leaving Cabana to chair Ray in the back. Ray throws him out anyway…but Chico is in, unmasks as Flip Gordon (who had been trying to get on All In for months) and wins at 17:05.

Rating: C+. It’s a battle royal and it’s only so good, but I had fun with the whole thing. This was pretty much the “get a bunch of people on the show” match and for a show like this, that’s perfectly fine. Gordon winning and getting the big feel good moment by beating Ray to FINALLY make it onto the show worked, even with Ray sucking the fun out of things over and over. That’s fine on occasion, but he did it too often here. Either way, fun ending and that goes a long way in a match like this.

And now, the show proper.

Shalandra Royal sings the National Anthem.

We run down the card, which makes sense as a lot of fans might be giving the show a chance without knowing everyone involved.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Matt Cross

Yes MJF is jerking the curtain. A running shoulder puts Kross down but he’s back up with a dropkick. MJF grabs the rope to avoid it but Kross flips to his feet anyway, leaving MJF frustrated. Kross kicks him in the head and snaps off a headscissors to the floor, setting up the Sasuke Special.

Back in and MJF is smart enough to roll away before the shooting star press can launch, allowing him to start in on Kross’ arm. The armbar doesn’t last long and Kross is back up with chops but gets caught in a hammerlock powerbomb (ouch) for two. Naturally MJF talks a lot of trash and mocks Kross as he takes him up top, allowing Kross to snap off a super hurricanrana.

A springboard crossbody gives Kross two but MJF is back with a stomp to the arm. We mix it up a bit with a package shoulder breaker and Kross’ arm is in trouble. Kross’ double stomp doesn’t get him very far as MJF pulls him into another armbar. That’s broken up as well so MJF grabs what would become known as the Heatseeker for two more. Kross gets back up, hits a handspring cutter, and drops the shooting star press for the pin at 10:07.

Rating: C+. Perfectly acceptable match here, with Cross being the veteran who was getting a chance on the bigger stage. He was a good high flier and the shooting star press is always going to get a reaction. On the other hand you have MJF as the spoiled rich kid, but there wasn’t much to him other than that thus far. To say that would change is quite the strong understatement.

Backstage interviewer SEAN MOONEY talks to NWA World Champion Nick Aldis, who takes credit for the house and says Cody is here to take his first step towards immortality.

Stephen Amell vs. Christopher Daniels

Amell is an actor best known for his time on Arrow and Jerry Lynn is the referee. They stare each other down to start and trade shoves until Daniels easily takes him down. The exchange of chops lets Amell take him down as well and an enziguri staggers Daniels again. Amell clotheslines him out to the floor and it’s time for a table, allowing commentary to explain that Amell is mad at Daniels (and SCU) for putting him through a table last year. Now was that so hard?

Back in and Amell stops to yell at Lynn, allowing Daniels to take over in the corner. The Arabian moonsault gets a very delayed one but Amell blocks a suplex through the table. A clothesline drops Daniels but he blocks a Cross Rhodes attempt. The Falcon Arrow is blocked as well so Amell goes Coast To Coast for two more. Daniels ducks an enziguri and “hits” the Best Moonsault Ever (as in his hands grazed Amell) for two of his own.

Amell is right back up and knocks him onto the table, only to miss a top rope elbow for the big crash. Lynn stops his count and throws Amell back inside because he wants a winner. Daniels isn’t happy with that (and shouldn’t be) and gets shoved into a rollup for two. Angel’s Wings is countered into a backdrop for two more but it’s a backbreaker into the Best Moonsault Ever to pin Amell at 12:31.

Rating: B. The main thing to remember here is that Amell is not a wrestler and is really just a big fan in great shape. That being said, he did very, very well here and a lot of that was having a veteran like Daniels in there who knows exactly what he’s doing. It’s not a classic or anything, but all things considered, this was a big success. Daniels had to win because Amell beating a former World Champion would be way too much of a stretch, but Amell did a very nice job here.

Post match, respect is shown.

Tessa Blanchard vs. Britt Baker vs. Chelsea Green vs. Madison Rayne

Tenille Dashwood and Mandy Leon are on commentary. This is one of the first big appearances for Baker and the response is “yes, she really is a dentist”, which is still pretty awesome. Blanchard is the new awesome star in Impact Wrestling, Green is the “hot mess” with lipstick all over her face and Rayne is the veteran. Blanchard bails out to the floor to start and Rayne is knocked out with her, leaving Green to grab a top rope wristdrag to Baker.

Back in and Blanchard charges into a boot in the corner, allowing Rayne to roll her up for two. Blanchard powers Rayne outside and the fans are rather approving. Green is back up with a suicide dive but Blanchard hits a dive of his own, followed by Rayne diving onto all three at once. Baker snaps off some Sling Blades back inside but gets dropped by Blanchard, who misses a charge into the post. Green runs Blanchard over as well, only for Blanchard to come back with a spinning faceplant to Baker.

Rayne gives Baker something like a super bulldog but walks into a not so great looking Unprettier from Green. Blanchard’s Magnum (top rope Codebreaker) hits Green so Baker can get the cover for two Baker fisherman’s neckbreakers Rayne for two but gets caught in the Unprettier for two more, with a foot having to go on the rope. Green’s Canadian Destroyer gets two on Blanchard but Blanchard is back up with the Buzzsaw DDT to pin Green at 12:44.

Rating: B-. This was a match about “go out there, get your stuff in and get out” and that worked well enough. The thing to remember here is that outside of Rayne and to a lesser extent Green, these women weren’t very well known. They got to showcase their skills on a big stage and it worked well. Fun match, with pretty much nonstop action.

We recap Cody challenging Nick Aldis for the NWA World Title. Cody wants the title to be like his father and be part of the history, though the reality is “Cody is the singles star and has to win something big here”. Which…fair enough.

NWA World Title: Nick Aldis vs. Cody

Cody, with Arn Anderson, Glacier, Tommy Dreamer, Pharaoh and Brandi Rhodes, is challenging. Meanwhile, Aldis has Jeff Jarrett, Shawn Daivari, Tim Storm and Samuel Shaw (the future Dexter Lumis) with him for quite the spectacle. And of course Earl Hebner is the referee, just to make it even better.

We get a handshake and they circle each other to start as this feels like it’s getting time. Cody works on the arm to start but gets reversed into the armbar. That’s escaped as well for a dropkick to the floor, with Cody hitting a hard dive. Back in and Aldis fires off chops but Cody’s superkick…well it clearly didn’t connect but he tried. They both hit crossbodies so Aldis crashes out to the floor, only to elbow Cody out of the air.

Diamond Dallas Page comes out to check on Cody so Daivari shoves Page, earning a Diamond Cutter. Back in and the busted open Cody knocks Aldis down but misses a moonsault. A top rope splash connects for Aldis but Cody pulls him into the Figure Four. That’s quickly broken up as they roll outside, where Aldis hits a running powerslam. Back in and Cody’s back is too banged up to hit an Alabama Slam so he….hits an Alabama Slam for two.

Aldis pulls him into the King’s Lynn Cloverleaf until Cody makes the rope. That means one heck of a piledriver to knock Cody silly, which draws Brandi into the ring. The top rope elbow hits Brandi in the back (it didn’t seem he knew she was on top of Cody when he jumped), allowing Cody to hit the Disaster Kick. Cross Rhodes gets two so Aldis tries his own, only to have Rhodes block it without much trouble. Aldis’ sunset flip is countered into a cradle (ala British Bulldog vs. Bret Hart) for the pin and the title at 22:01.

Rating: B. This was about as obvious of an ending as you’re going to get, as there was pretty much no way that Cody was going to lose on the show he was paying to put on. At the same time, it’s the kind of title change that makes sense, as you need some kind of special feeling on here. This title might not mean as much as the Ring Of Honor World Title at this point, but this match was bigger and felt like the main event, which it probably should have been. As usual, Aldis was perfectly serviceable but couldn’t quite get over the hump, though the heat off that (accidental) elbow to Brandi was something else.

Post match they get the big respectful moment and Cody gets to celebrate.

We recap Joey Janela vs. Hangman Page, which is from Being The Elite where Page was accused of using a phone to murder Joey Ryan. Or something. I didn’t watch the show.

Joey Janela vs. Hangman Page

Street fight and Penelope Ford is here with Janela. Page starts fast and knocks him to the apron, with a big boot sending Janela outside. Of course Page hits that moonsault, followed by a fall away slam into an open chair back inside. They go outside, where Janela whips Page into a literal Cracker Barrel to send him over the barricade. The running flip dive into the crowd connects but Page runs over the rolling barrel, meaning it’s the Buckshot Lariat over the barricade to put Janela down.

Page loads up a table on the floor but takes too long and gets Death Valley Drivered into the corner. A ladder is bridged between the barricade and the ring but Janela takes WAY too long. That’s enough for Page to hit a Burning Hammer (or close to it) onto the ladder for the huge crash. It’s time for a trash bag so Ford jumps on Page’s back. With that not working, she does a Matrix into a heck of a Stunner, sending Page flying outside.

That’s not enough for Ford, who nails a high crossbody, allowing Janela to drop a top rope elbow to send Page through the table. They go to the ramp with Janela hitting a clothesline and setting up more tables. That takes too long as well, with Page hitting a toss powerbomb to send Janela…into the general area of the table for a scary crash. Back in and the Rite Of Passage (Deadeye) connects but Ford makes the save with the trash bag.

The bag is opened and it’s….a pair of Page’s boots, which were apparently cursed on Being The Elite. Page superkicks Ford but gets superkicked by Janela, who throws in more plunder. Janela goes up the ladder (fans: “SAFETY FIRST!”) but Page comes back with a phone (including a cord, a thing on Being The Elite) and hits the Rite Of Passage off a ladder and through a table for the win at 20:10.

Rating: B-. Ok THIS was the big Being The Elite match and had a bunch of inside jokes and all that jazz. I’ll ignore a bunch of those as I have no idea how much sense they make or how they were set up and just focus on the match which was…eh about what you’ve seen in a lot of these matches. There are only so many things you can do in a match like this but it was violent and hard hitting, with Ford having quite the standout performance despite being in the actual match.

Post match…..here we go….an army of penises come out to scare Page. Joey Ryan appears, gives Page the YouPorn Plex and a superkick, and the penises take Page away. THANK GOODNESS this isn’t on the Honor Club version of the show. Ignoring his entire real life drama, the Ryan stuff has aged as poorly as almost anything in recent (or long term) wrestling history.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Flip Gordon vs. Jay Lethal

Lethal, in Randy Savage gear and as Black Machismo with Lanny Poffo, is defending and Brandi Rhodes (in military gear) is in Gordon’s corner. We get the Mega Powers Code Of Honor to start and Lethal bails outside to put Rhodes into a corner (ala Savage with Elizabeth). Back in and Lethal sends him over the top with a clothesline, meaning Rhodes has to shield Gordon from the ax handle.

Rhodes even slaps Lethal (in the shoulder), which seems to turn off the Black Machismo side. Gordon does his rapid fire nip ups and sends Lethal outside for a pair of suicide dives and the big running flip dive. Back in and they trade kicks until Gordon’s standing moonsault gets two. Gordon misses a 450 though and the Lethal Combination connects for two.

A Falcon Arrow gives Gordon two more so Poffo gets on the apron to slap Lethal back into Black Machismo. The slam and Hail To The King connects, followed by two more for a near fall (ala Wrestlemania VII). Gordon is back with a big boot and the Hogan hand to the ear, setting up a Star Spangled Sling Blade. Lethal is sat up top but blocks a springboard with a cutter. The Lethal Injection retains the title at 14:27.

Rating: C+. They weren’t exactly taking this one seriously and that’s ok, as it was more about having the title match on the show to make it feel more important. Gordon had been trying to get on the show for so long that it’s a fine place to put him, and it’s not like he did badly. It might not be a match that stole the show or really felt huge, but it was perfectly acceptable. And it had Lanny Poffo.

Post match respect is shown but Bully Ray (oh geez) runs in to lay them out. Poffo tries to make a save but gets kicked low, allowing Ray to get a table. Colt Cabana makes the save and helps Lethal put Ray through the table. Cabana comes up to commentary, who thanks him for his save.

Penta El Zero vs. Kenny Omega

Omega’s IWGP World Title isn’t on the line and this is basically a dream match. Penta wastes no time in kicking him down and then hitting a Backstabber out of the corner. Omega knocks him right back to the floor but the Terminator Dive is cut off. A quick toss sends Omega outside and Penta nails a big no hands flip dive. Back in and Omega’s chops are cut off with a kick to the leg but he knocks Penta outside.

There’s the big springboard dive and a shot to the back of the head gets two back inside. Penta knees him down but gets caught with a quick Death Valley Driver. Omega takes him up top, where Penta knocks him down for the big double stomp and a near fall. Some V Triggers get two but Penta is right back with the Pentagon Driver for two.

They head to the apron where Penta hits the package piledriver before a top rope double stomp gets a rather near fall. Penta snaps the arm and another package piledriver gets another two, with commentary and the crowd getting even more into this. Some kicks to the arm are cut off with the V Trigger and a poisonrana gives Omega two. Another V Trigger sets up the One Winged Angel to give Omega the pin at 17:47.

Rating: B+. This was a “here’s Kenny Omega on the show” match and it happened to be against one of the biggest names on the independent circuit. Omega was on fire at this point and it was still the version of Omega that made him famous. Penta was more than able to hang in there with him and it made for a rather hard hitting match.

Post match the lights go out and then come back up with Penta (obviously Chris Jericho) jumping Omega and unmasking as….yeah it’s Chris Jericho.

Marty Scurll gets yelled at by some annoying voices who point at him so he snaps their fingers (Being The Elite strikes again).

Kazuchika Okada vs. Marty Scurll

Scurll backs him into the ropes to start and strikes the double biceps pose, much to Okada’s annoyance. They go to the mat with Scurll grabbing an armbar, which Okada isn’t having for very long. Scurll’s chops knock him into the corner but Okada is back with a suplex. That’s still not enough to get going as Okada knocks him outside for a kick to the face and a suicide dive.

Back in and Okada’s arm is fine enough to hit a flapjack but the arm is a bit banged up. They go outside, where Okada grabs a DDT onto the floor and they head inside, where Scurll gets struck down. The cross arm choke is (eventually) broken up and Scurll grabs a Backstabber to drop Okada again. Okada kicks him in the face so Scurll gets smart by kicking the leg out.

A tornado DDT gives Scurll two and Okada’s regular version gets the same. Scurll brainbusters him for two and gets fired up, only to walk into an Air Raid Crash onto the knee. They go up top, with Okada trying to fight his way out of trouble but getting superplexed back down for the big crash. The pinfall reversal sequence gets two each (a few times) until a powerbomb gives Scurll a closer two.

Okada’s missile dropkick gets two more and the Tombstone connects. The Rainmaker is loaded up but that takes too long as well (we have a theme) and Scurll is able to snap the finger. The chickenwing is quickly escaped so Scurll grabs it again. Naturally the referee gets bumped so it’s an umbrella to Okada’s head, followed by Scurll’s Rainmaker for a rather near fall. Okada’s Rainmaker connects as well but he doesn’t even cover this time. A ticked off Scurll spits in Okada’s face so Okada hits two Rainmakers for the pin at 26:02.

Rating: C+. Yeah it was good while it lasted, but it lasted WAY too long. This is a match where they easily could have cut off about ten minutes to the same result. The main point here was to get Okada on the show as a special treat, but that only gets you so far when the match just will not end. Scurll was talented enough in the ring and had a weird charisma, but it wasn’t enough to spread over this much time. Just cut the thing down and get Okada a better opponent, as this only kind of worked otherwise.

And since that went so long (like a lot of stuff tonight), we have to hurry up to the main event.

Rey Mysterio/Bandido/Rey Fenix vs. Kota Ibushi/Young Bucks

Bandido and Matt start things off with Bandido ducking a clothesline into a handstand. Matt is sent outside for a big dive but the Bucks get together to kick Bandido down. Fenix comes in to kick away at the Bucks, allowing the double tag off to Ibushi and Mysterio (cosplaying as Wolverine tonight).

They trade some flips with Ibushi getting the better of things but Mysterio takes Matt down without much trouble. It’s back to Bandido for some kicks but Ibushi sweeps the leg, allowing the Bucks to come back in and take over. Everything breaks down and it’s a springboard hurricanrana to send Matt outside. Mysterio’s big springboard moonsault to the floor connects and Fenix adds a corkscrew splash.

Not to be outdone (while kind of being outdone), Bandido hits his own dive but the Bucks take him down with more dives. Back in and the Bucks throw Bandido into a German suplex from Ibushi. Bandido fights out of trouble and brings Mysterio back in, where Matt blocks the 619. Fenix and Bandido come back in to clean house, leaving Mysterio to hit a frog splash for two. The backflipping super World’s Strongest Slam gives Bandido two more but the Bucks are back up with the superkicks. A 450 connects but Fenix makes the save, only for the Meltzer Driver to finish Bandido at 11:43.

Rating: B-. It was the usual blitz paced match you…well actually you wouldn’t expect it here, as this is the kind of match that should have gotten WAY more time but instead was terribly rushed. That’s really disappointing as Mysterio is the biggest (advertised) name on the show and they had to fly through it at breakneck speed. Of course the Bucks win in the end, but this should have felt a lot more special than what we got.

And we’re off the air almost immediately.

 

Results
SCU b. Briscoes – Powerslam to Mark
Flip Gordon won the Over Budget Battle Royal last eliminating Bully Ray
Matt Cross b. Maxwell Jacob Friedman – Shooting star press
Christopher Daniels b. Stephen Amell – Best Moonsault Ever
Tessa Blanchard b. Madison Rayne, Chelsea Green and Britt Baker – Buzzsaw to Green
Cody b. Nick Aldis – Rollup
Hangman Page b. Joey Janela – Rite Of Passage through a table
Jay Lethal b. Flip Gordon – Lethal Injection
Kenny Omega b. Penta El Zero – One Winged Angel
Kazuchika Okada b. Marty Scurll – Rainmaker
Kota Ibushi/Young Bucks b. Bandido/Rey Mysterio/Rey Fenix – Meltzer Driver to Bandido

 

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8.0

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

This is a tricky one, as the wrestling was good and the show was mostly entertaining, but it’s also a case where the wrestling is actually secondary. Much like the original ECW Barely Legal, this was much more about THEY ACTUALLY DID IT. This show was nothing short of a smashing success, as not only did they put together what felt like a big time show, but they got a heck of a lot of people to come see it. That makes this a huge win, and the fact that it’s basically AEW’s father is no surprise. As for the wrestling itself, the show was what you would see on an AEW style show and that isn’t a surprise. They didn’t quite know what they were doing yet and the timing issues were quite apparent (and always would be for the ensuing shows), but they were learning on the fly with this one. Once they sold all of the tickets, anything else they did was a bonus and this show had a lot of bonuses. It’s WAY longer than it needs to be, but yeah this couldn’t have been much more of a home run for the people putting it on. While there are better shows, there are very few non-WWE shows that have been more important since WCW’s days. Check this out if you get the chance, but you might want to have a fast forward button handy.