Day 25 2022

 

Texas Death Match

Fritz Von Erich vs. The Great Kabuki

WCCW Christmas Star Wars 1981

I was going to review the show, then I decided not, then I decided to review the show, the I decided not to, ugh.

This sucked. That may seem harsh but it really did. First of all, it takes forever to get started because Fritz is mobbed by autograph seeking fans from ringside. He signs a lot of autographs until someone gets in the PA and more or less tells fans to sit the fuck down. 

Kabuki tries to jump Fritz but the veteran telegraphs it. Immediately Fritz attempts to go to the Iron Claw and eventually succeeded locking it on Kabukis mid-section. This went on for a while…a quiet, boring while. Fucking omen this proved to be. The rest of the match is a plodding, slow brawl that leads to another long Iron Claw spot. 

Fritz gets a three count off of this Claw but it’s not over. Now Kabuki has a thirty second rest period, and after that he has a ten count to answer. Which he does. More chicanery from Gary Hart leads to both being knocked out and counted out. There must be a winner however so the ref decides that the first person to their feet in the ring wins. Kabuki suddenly finds enough energy to stand for long enough to be declared the winner to like no reaction. 

When the highlight is one of the refs getting tossed from one ring to the other like a soccer ball something has gone awry. Slow, boring, this was rough. Neither man seemed interested in trying too hard or selling for that matter. Not that they no sold, oh no. They just laid there and stumbled around. It feels like it goes on forever at points and you just want something to happen, a mist spot, interference just something exciting. It never comes though and this eventually ends in unspectacular fashion. Maybe it’s not so bad that Vince took over the business after all…

Day 24 2022

 

PWG Tag Team Titles Match

Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis) vs. The Kings of the Black Throne (Malaki Black and Brody King) (c) 

PWG Nineteen

Davis and King start us off with fun but basic hoss shenanigans. Fletcher and Black tag in and shit gets fancy. They’re both the respective smaller guys and they work some quick, smooth sequences. Chaos reigns as the two teams batter each other with a variety of strikes. We don’t get much in the way of double team moves or anything really noteworthy to be honest. Sadly this is one of those that while it’s really good, is lacking in things to talk about for a shit tier reviewer like myself. 

Aussie Open are great and KotBT are awesome. They kind of forgo the fancier part of their respective playbooks for a more basic brawl. There really is a lack of anything big, so to speak. The strikes are the big moves in this match and maybe it was just me, but the crowd didn’t seem super into it. I was though, like I said a great match but with its share of flaws. 

Day 23 2022

 

Iron Survivor Challenge 

JD McDonagh vs. Axiom vs. Grayson Waller vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Joe Gacy

NXT Deadline

First I need to address an elephant in the room. JD was named in Speaking Out by an ex as being physically abusive. I obviously I can’t say whether it was true or not, however I will say that any praise I give of JD during this review is not me condoning his alleged past behavior or saying that he should be forgiven or let off the hook. Now back to business.

Same rules as the women’s equivalent with a shot at the NXT Championship on the line. JD and Axiom start and there’s actually some bad blood going into this between the two. Unlike the women, they don’t start slow. JD tries to jump Axiom during his entrance but Axiom knows his opponent too well. From there the two hit the ground running. 

Hayes is out next and what follows is fucking incredible. The spots these three pull off are all smooth, sufficiently brutal, and just so good. All in five minutes too. Awesome! Out fourth is Waller who immediately picks up two falls on Axiom and JD, I really liked that. In a nice little moment, Axiom goes back into the penalty box to wail on JD some more. Gacy is out fifth. The dude just starts wrecking everybody, it’s great. I’m such a sucker for wrestlers that are just destroyers like this. He quickly picks up two falls as well. 

The action is moving like lightening and this never feels like twenty five minutes. It flies by and all of it is awesome. The booking is also really well done. Carmelo, Waller, Axiom, and Gacy all pick up two falls leaving JD in the dust with none. With time running it out, it becomes a mad dash for that divisive third fall. Even though you probably already know who wins, I won’t spoil it here and will just encourage you to watch this if you haven’t already. Awesome match and possibly among my all time favorites. 

Day 22 2022

 

Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge

Roxanne Perez vs. Zoey Stark vs. Kiana James vs. Cora Jade vs. Indi Hartwell

NXT Deadline

This is a unique and brand new match up, kind of. While a new match, Vic Joesph says it best, it’s basically a combo of an Iron Man and a gauntlet match. You have 25 minutes to score falls, the person with the most falls at the end of those 25 minutes is the winner. The match starts with 2 wrestlers and every five minutes one of the remaining three join the fray. If you’re the person that the fall was scared against you go into the penalty box for 90 seconds. The winner gets a show at the NXT Women’s Championship. 

We start with Stark and Perez. They take things relatively easy as in kayfabe it’s best to wear your opponent down while doing as minimal damage to yourself as possible when you have to be there the whole match. Kiana James is out third, and shit picks. The action becomes quicker and the moves get bigger. Cora and Indi join the fray and the chaos really comes full circle.

All five brought their working boots for this one. I thought this was phenomenal. The booking was really well done too. If I had any complaints, it’s that the first two intervals felt a little slow. But maybe that’s just me. The NXT women’s division is in good hands with these five around. 

Day 21 2022

 

Singles Match

Horshu vs. Daisuke Sekimoto 

Zero-1 Fire Festival 2001 Night 3

Note that the picture above isn’t from this match but how could I not use it. 

Well then this is certainly a match ain’t it? Not gonna lie, it’s short and that’s why I picked it.

Daisuke may have still been pretty new to the business, he’s smaller in size, and he’s decked out in the traditional Young Lions gear, which is basic black everything. He looks impressive though. He jumps Horsu with a Tope before the match even starts. He takes control for a bit then Horshu counters his attempt at something. There’s a quick edit and Horshu is working rest holds. Goddamnit. 

In between these rest spots, he does pull out a Bubba Bomb and a Double Underhook Suplex. Both look good for what it’s worth. Daisuke tries to rally back with a Spear and a number of Lariats but he has a role to play so that doesn’t last long. He kicks out of a Rolling DDT but a Rope Walk Elbow Drop and some type of Sidewalk Slam variation seals the deal a minute or two later for Horshu. 

Eh, good match. I don’t remember Luther Reigns from a in-ring standpoint so I didn’t have exceptions going into this. I was certainly hoping for a dumpster fire but it’s just a quick solid match. The Young Lion looks promising and Horshu looks dominant. Mission accomplished. 

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Day 20 2022

 

Singles Match

Ken Shamrock vs. Kazuo Takahshi 

Pancrase: Truth 1

Hey this is different. Which also means I’m way out of my element. I’ve been a pro wrestling since I was about 3 or 4. MMA, boxing…they just weren’t my thing. Nothing against either sport, I have just as much respect for what they do as wrestlers, but it just doesn’t hook me like wrestling did. But o try to mix these reviews as much as I can, so let’s see how bad I fuck this one up. 

At the time Pancrases rules forbade elbow, knee, closed fist strikes to the head as well as kicks and stomps fo the head while the opponent was on the ground. Each wrestlers has five automatic escapes but loses a point for each one and losses if they use all five. Getting too close to the ropes forces a small reset, and then from there it’s pretty standard stuff. You do lose a point however if you beat the 10 count cause that’s bitch shit in the eyes of Minoru Suzuki and Masakatsu Funaki I guess. 

Anyway the match. It’s definitely a match. The two use a more reserved approach mainly keeping their distance while occasionally throwing strikes and going in for grapples. Takashashis strikes seemingly have no effect on Shamrock while Shamrocks strikes constantly send Takahashi into retreat. This Shamrocks match to lose. He’s constantly connecting with more strikes and even catches Takashashi in a couple of Guillotine Chokes. He also gets carded for a nasty knee strike while Takahashi is grounded. Takahashi is able to re-join the fight but for a few seconds the lights were flashing. 

I didn’t hate this. Being used to pro wrestling, or I guess sports entertainment if you prefer, and Kung fu movies there was a few points where I was begging for some action. It’s very strategic in nature,and both men are clearly skilled so nothing but respect there. Maybe you’ll dig this but it’s not for me. 

Day 19 2022

 

Tag Team Ultimate X Match

XXX (Senshi and Elix Skipper) vs. LAX (Homicide and Hernandez)

TNA Bound for Glory 2007

Pre-Jeff Jarret stepping down TNA really is something special. There’s just an air about the shows and the crowds that sets it apart. Not to mention top of the line at WWE was struggling in the work rate department. TNAs main attractions collide here. First of all, the crowd is rabid from the get go. This is the opening match but this crowd did not need to be sold, they were already fully into this. 

Ultimate X is a match usually renowned for high spots and dangerous landings. This one is more mellow because only one of them is really known to be a daredevil. Don’t worry though, Elix gets a two huge spots. The first by jumping off the tresses onto Hernandez, and the second taking a Neckbreak from Homicide from the Ultimate X ropes. 

Like I said, this is not your typical Ultimate X match but it’s still really fucking good. XXX take it to LAXs level making this a Pier 4 brawl (not quite as rowdy as a Pier 6.). Elix and Senshi are perfect follies for Hernandez, and they get tossed around quite frequently throughout this match. LAX isn’t a team lauded for their fancy moves and that leads to Homicide kind of just being there. Like Homicides highlight is almost getting his leg broken from a Corner Double Stomp. 

A really good match with not much for me to say. TNA in the mid-2000s was on a level all their own and if you’re not familiar with that period I highly encourage digging around their YouTube channel.

Day 18 2022

 

Singles Match

Konosuke Takeshita vs. Danny Limelight

AEW Dark: Elevation 4/12/21

This is where it all started. For fans outside of Japan that aren’t more versed in the Japanese wrestling scene this was the match that introduced them to Takeshita. Favorite to win the next BOLA tournament, highly praised matches against Moxley, Claudio, Penta, Sydal, are just a few names among the ever growing list of Takeshita opponents. And it all started on the goddamn L Show, what a strange world professional wrestling is…

We start with the two feeling each other out. Takeshita tries for some fancy leapfrog shit but Limelight outsmarts him and turns it into a close two count, really clever spot. Limelight then signs his L card by slapping Takeshita. He wanted a fight and Takeshita didn’t give him a fight so as he did an asswhooping. Limelight gets to show off some but for a majority of the match the spotlight is firmly on Takeshita. Dude empties his playbook with one great spot after another. Limelight is no slouch, and shows off some of his own impressive moves with a Spirngnoard Double Stomp to the back Takeshitas head and a Double Jump Springboard Tornado DDT. Clearly someone forgot to tell this two they were on the show that matters the least. 

Fantastic match! Both men get their shit in but Takeshita is very clearly the favorite. You could see glimpses of the bright future he’d  have once he returned from Japan a couple months down the line. Limelight is impressive in his own right but this wasn’t his spot to plant his flag. Maybe we’ll see more the guy but if you want more like I do, he’s a stalwart in MLWs tag team division. 

Days 16 and 17 2022

 

I swear I’m going to better for the rest of this project. Anyway…

Singles Match

Daisuke Sekemoto vs. WALTER

WXW Toronto 2019

Welcome to the International House of Violence. We got an Austrian hoss fighting a Japanese boss in a German promotion holding a show in Canada. World peace through wrestling. 

This is the fifth singles match between these two and they’re coming up 2-2. Let’s just get the negatives out of the way first. The commentator class this match with all the enthusiasm of a soggy bowl of cereal and the crowd aren’t always super into it. Ok, no the good shit which is everything else. 

It starts fairly subdued with both men working each other over with holds but neither gets anywhere that way. It kicks into second gear and WALTER takes control. Once Sekemoto makes his comeback shit really takes off. It’s at that point that they start going blow for blow, throwing each other around, and flying off the top rope (mostly unsuccessfully but hey it looked cool. This second half definitely perks up the crowd but before you know it, the match is over…

This was really good. It has a more deliberate pace then your standard hoss fight which I think is why the crowd wasn’t amped for this but I enjoyed it. Both are really good but they keep things subdued here and still manage to hit it out of the park. Less of a war, more of a chess match but just as fun as expected. 

(Also, the commentators audio was ahead of the video at some points so there’s some kick outs that get called like a second earlier then it actually happens. Not a big deal, but it irked me ever so slightly.)

AAW Heritage Title Singles Match

Penta El Zero M (c) vs. Keith Lee

AAW Take No Prisoners 2017

With the crowd firmly split we start with dueling catchphrases until Keith decides to send Pentas soul into the balcony with a forearm. For the early part of this match Penta gets treated like…well a Cruiserweight in the ring with a hoss. The entire time hes getting beat up though he’s taunting and insulting Keith, it’s amazing. 

Jesse Ventura ain’t got time to bleed, and these two ain’t got time to do much of anything. But fuck it’s so good! The two are awesome even trying to fit as much into a maybe five minute match as they can. Penta unloads his signature playbook while Keith no sells and treats the champion as little more then a nuisance. It all goes to hell for the big na when he misses a Moonsault, and Penta follows up with two Panama Sunrises to seal the deal. 

A quick sprint but like I said these two make it worth every second. Their so entertaining even doing the bare minimum of their capabilities.

Days 14 and 15 2022

 

Last Woman Standing Match

Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez

NXT: New Years Evil 2021

I can’t believe Rheas only been on the main roster for a year. This was one of her last matches in NXT before becoming the runner up,in that years Women’s Royal Rumble in an awesome stretch with Bianca Belair. 

But we’re not here to talk about that. Last Woman Standing, Big Miami Cool vs. The Nightmare. We need more hosses and brawlers in the WWE Women’s Division. The match is back and forth from the word go. They brawl around the ring and break shit including the Covid fence between them and the audience. Rhea takes a nasty, nasty table bump before the commercial break. 

Once we’re back to the action, it continues to go south but in a good way. The brawl goes to a backstage area where a glass door, a table, and some poor catering gets added to the ever increasing bill. Dakota Kai gets involved briefly and almost immediately Rhea wipes her out almost immediately and shoved her in a locker like a cartoon bully. Two nasty stage bumps lead,to an awesome end and awesome send off for Rhea. Good shit all around.

WXW Unified World Championship Singles Match

Axel Tischer vs. Tristen Archer (c) 

WXW True Colors 2022

 

I’m tired so this ones gonna be a bit rushed, sorry. 

Take the classic formula of a babyface never quite getting the upper hand over the heel and reverse that. Bam that’s this match. Archer, the heel, is constantly on the backfoot. Meanwhile, Axel, the face, controls this match and constantly stifles Archers attempts at gaining momentum. Amidst this, it’s still a classic Heel champion desperate to win at all costs vs. a tenacious never say die babyface. 

There’s a time limit counter on screen during this match and I often found myself watching that just as much as I was the match. I mentioned at the start that I’m tired so I think that definitely played a role on my o-ion on this match. It was good, both are good wrestlers and did everything well, but I was kinda bored throughout. It’s on the slower side with a bigger emphasis on Axels hometown crowd being against Archer. Due to past chancery, Axel insisted on two refs for this match and that adds a fun dynamic towards the end of this match. 

Day 13 2022

 

Intercontinental Title Ladder Match

Dolph Ziggler vs. Luke Harper (c)

WWE TLC 2014

Rest In Peace Big Rig. 

Dolph Ziggler, hometown boy, and coming off a Survivor Series performance where he was made to look like the fightenest damn babyface on the planet.  Yeah, it was a good time to be Dolph…this match is like fifteen minutes of him getting shitmixed. Harper looks like an absolute monster in this match. He tosses Dolph all over the place, throws him into ladders, throws ladders into him, Powerbomb him on ladders, Dolph even gets color hard way off of a really cool seesaw spot with the ladder on top of him. 

This was a character making performance for Harper and would’ve been a great way to start a big run with the IC Title…so naturally he loses. Dolph takes everything and anything Luke can throw at him but his never say die ass does just that and ultimately outmaneuvers the champ on his way to a fourth IC Title run. 

This was fun but I remember it being a lot better. Maybe I’m just not in the right mood but I found myself wanting it to just end at a certain point. Nonetheless, I’m a sucker for a good ladder match. Luke looks like an unhinged monster and Dolph looks like a valiant hero with the crowd firmly in his corner. Not as good as I remember, but it accomplished it’s goal for sure. 

Day 12 2022

 

PWG World Championship Fatal Four Way Match

Low Ki vs. Necro Butcher vs. Chris Hero (c) vs. Eddie Kingston

PWG All-Star Weekend 7 Night 1

Not many people would think to put four of the most violent men in mid-2000s Indy wrestling in one match. But Super Dragon is insane in own right so it makes total sense that it happened in PWG of all places. 

Post-introductions, Eddie snatches the belt and bails to the commentary desk shaped like a table. Once he returns to the ring, he shit talks his opponents and pays for it with a chop from Hero, a punch from Necro, and a chop from Low Ki. This time he actually bails, like he leaves the building. 

Necro tries to retrieve Eddie but security won’t let him outside for fear of a potential lawsuit. Hero and Ki ignore the chaos and just wrestle. Like until Eddie and Necro re-join the fray they just have a solid Hero/Ki match. Eddie and Necro do re-join the fray however and we settle into a groove. The ring is a revolving door of the four men just being stiff and violent.  Eddie constantly tries to keep the match one-on-one which just further proves he’s the smartest man in this match. 

This was a really good match but it definitely felt handicapped. Like there’s plenty of what you expect, stiff shots and crowd brawling and such but it’s also like a sanitized version of what you’d expect. It’s like violent but with TV standards in mind or something. Still it’s an enjoyable brawl and really that’s all you can ask from these fours. 

Days 10 and 11 2022

 

Day 10

Last Man Standing Undisputed WWE Title Match

Roman Reigns (c) vs. Brock Lesnar

WWE SummerSlam 2022

Batman and Joker. G.I. Joe and Cobra. Mario and Bowser. This is the level WWE put this feud on. Whenever Roman or Brock are champion it’s a guarantee that the other will eventually come knocking. Roman is built as the one true Beast Slayer while Brock is built as the only one that dan knock Reigns down and keep him there. They’ve fought numerous times, in numerous different stipulations, I’m pretty sure this was actually built as the absolute last match between these two but it’s wrestling so that sure as hell won’t stick anyway. 

Things are a little different this time. Usually, Reigns comes in as the Mario and Brock plays the Bowser role. This time however Brock was the face and Roman was heel and steamrolled over everyone up to this point. Things are also different because Brock drives a fucking front loaded tractor to the ring like peak Stone Cold. Then, just for shits he jumps off the Damn thing to start the match. Lunacy. 

Over the past few years Last Man Standing and hardcore matches in WWE have become somewhat bland and repetitive, not here though. This is wild and woolly from the jump and it doesn’t slow for anything. Suplexs all over the place? Check. Table bumps? Check. Roman getting dumped out of the tractor loader? Brock nearly flipping the goddamn ring with the tractor? Check and fucking check. In the chaos the Usos, Austin Theory, and Paul Heyman end up as near causalities.  

Brock and Roman throw just about everything at each other (literally at one point) and neither will stay down. It’s a clash of monsters straight out of a Godzilla flick and it’s awesome! This is like the tenth match between these two and this one manages to stand on its own and stick out from the crowd. Excellent work from both men and the commentators. 

Day 11

Singles Match

Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe 

TNA Genesis 2006

Fun fact, this is the first time I’ve ever watched this match. 

Kurt had debuted for TNA only about a month or so before this PPV while Joe had been spending the past 17 months annihilating anyone and everyone. Kurt immediately gunned for Joe which is just insane looking back. Like he doesn’t start with like LAX or Team Canada, nah right to Jacksonville’s resident human murder machine and one of TNAs stalwarts. No pressure.

To my surprise however this match was mostly Joe being Joe. Olympic gold doesn’t mean shit when you’re being knocked around by a 300 pound Samoan. Joe disregards Kurt’s Olympic glory, and wrestling acumen and basically treats him like one of his X Division sacrifices. Angle, through bloodshed and all, takes everything Joe has including a Muscle Buster and just keeps fighting. 

This is classic, simple pro wrestling and it works wonders. Joe and Kurt are both all time talent and deliver one of TNAs most famous matches. Kurt looked great in his first TNA match while Joe still looked like the killer he had been booked as for the past 17 months and the crowd was in to all of it. Great match. 

Days 8 and 9 2022

 

Days 8 and 9

Singles Match

Santos Escobar vs. Nathan Frazier

WWE NXT 06/07/22

You’d think after starting in a delay I’d be a lot more vigilante about getting these out but lo and behold. 

Anyway, Frazier/Escobar. This match serves two purposes. One is showing off Frazier and my lord do they succeed. The dude is like a whirlwind. He’s so quick and athletic, like a Sonjay Dutt or Elix Skipper. He’s awesome. The other story is the continuing tension between Santos Escobar and Tony D’Angelo. D’Angelo is on commentary the whole match complaining about the way Santos wrestles and trying to tell him how to work the match. Obviously this only serves to frustrate Santos who is doing fairly well just doing what he does. 

Escobar and Frazier are great together. Just a quick, smooth, well worked match. I need more of Frazier in my life. 

Tag Team Match

Team Canada (Lance Storm and Elix Skipper) vs. The Jung Dragons (Yang and Kaz) 

WCW Thunder 11/29/00

Let’s keep with the flippy shit shall we. Immediately, Elix and Yang do what made them famous. Right off the bat it’s quick, athletic, the Dragons are flying all over the place, wonderful. They even mock Storm and Skipped once they get the upper hand. This only serves to fire up Elix who just resorts to punching and kicking Kaz in retaliation. We get some more awesome stuff courtesy of Skipper and the Dragons (Lance mine as well not even be there, he does like nothing.) but this is also the signal for things to break down. 

The hicks don’t pop for anything until Major Gunns and Leia Meow start catfighting at ringside. Fucking props to the other wrestlers cause I would’ve been an unprofessional prick. Imagine pulling out a bunch of impressive athletics and the two hoochies at ringside get a bigger reaction. Yeesh. More WCW bullshit comes as The Cat comes out to subdue Jim Duggan allowing The Dragons to hit a Senton/Big Splash combo for the win. 

Great stuff and it’s only like four minutes. Criminally undervalued all four of these men. I don’t even have anything bad to say about Mark Madden, I barely noticed him. 

Day 7 2022

 

‘

Tower of Doom Ten Man Tag Team Match

Kevin Sullivan, Mike Rotunda, Al Perez, Ivan Koloff, and Russian Assassin 1 vs. Animal, Hawk, Ronnie Garvin, Jimmy Garvin, and Steve Williams

NWA Great American Bash 1988

Welcome to this edition of ‘I Can’t Believe Someone Ok’ed This’. We’ve got a three story cage construct. The object is for two men to start in the top cage then work their way down to the bottom cage where Precious will unlock the door and let them leave the ring. This is achieved by the wrestlers going through trap doors that open every two minutes while another teammate enters the top cage. Got that? It’s done shockingly well in execution. 

We start with Ron Garvin and former WWWF Champion Ivan Koloff. First of all, the ladders these two have to climb to even get to the top cage constitutes a work out in their own right then these two have to brawl in a tiny shark cage twenty plus feet off the ground. Spectacular, not to mention that the thing sways every time someone hits one of the top two cages. 

This is lunacy. Obviously there isn’t much the wrestlers can do aside from throw hands for two minutes so that’s exactly what they do. They work some psychology in with like choke holds and working over the legs but again there’s only so much you can do. To be fair,  the crowd is completely into this. 

With two men left a huge fight breaks out between the eight that have exited the match…it lasts a couple seconds then they just go back to milling about waiting for either Jimmy Jam or Kevin “Built like a frozen turkey” Sullivan. Spoilers, Jimmy wins because Sullivan pushes him through the door so he can lock himself in the cage with Precious. Jimbo and Hawk then have to re-climb the giant ladders and work their way back down to save Precious. 

The lunacy that came from Dusty Rhodes (I assume) was just on another level. This is possibly the most insane I’ve seen outside of the really out there deathmatch stuff. The structure is rickety as hell, the wrestlers are limited, and surprisingly it’s not awful. You feel every second of the two minute intervals but the crowd is having a blast so that helps. 

Shout out to Tommy Young who was charged with reffing the door on the top cage and looks absolutely terrified every step of the way. Mans wanted to be anywhere else in the world. The poor dude was cradled against the cage and moved as little as he had to. 

Additional shout out to Mike Rotunda who exits the cage looking like he just fought his way out of a POW camp with his bare hands. 

Day 6 2022

 

Tag Team Match

Time Splitters (Alex Shelley and Kushida) v.s Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson)

NXT 01/15/20

This was an interesting blip in WWEs history. TNA mainstay and an Indy wrestling version of the Grateful Dead, Alex Shelley has wrestled everywhere and everyone in every match imaginable. You don’t need a history lesson on the guy. This was his first and so far only appearance on a main WWE show (he wrestled on Heat back in like ‘04 or ‘05). 

Shelley and Kushida start off in control with one gorgeous tag team spot after another. Not quite better than the Guns but that’s not the point of this review. The Grizzled, GRIZZZZZLED Young Veterans don’t take that shit for very long however and take control with their own tag team arsenal going into the break. They contain Shelley for a little while longer before he makes the tag to Kushida. Once again, the junior heavyweight staples are off to the races. Their flash proves to be their downfall however after a Moonsault/Neckbreaker Combo is intervened by Gibson. With Kushida out, the Vets punch Shelley’s Ticket to Mayhem and seal the deal. 

I want more. The sprint is really good but watching it again I definitely feel like this could’ve been a classic if it was given time to really cook and build. Shame this was the only appearance from the Splitters but at least they made it count. Shelley was built like a star by commentary and the Splitters got plenty of time to shine. GYV are almost always great so no surprise that they nailed their parts as well. 

Days 1-5 2022

 

Day 1 

Chamber of Horrors Match

Vader, Abdullah the Butcher, Cactus Jack, and The Diamond Studd vs. Rick Steiner, Scott Steiner, Sting, and El Gigante

Halloween Havoc 1991

Oh boy here we go. This is one of those matches whose reputation proceeds  it but can we talk about the participants real quick. Aside from El Gigante, everyone is in a Hall of Famer. Not even just WWE either some of them are in multiple Hall of Fames. They are above this. I know nothing about this match aside from the ending but goodness gracious, Sting, Vader, and The Steiner’s opening a WCW PPV in 1991 is just lunacy. 

Holy shit Barry Windham was originally supposed to be in this match as well but he was attacked by the Enforcers in the parking lot before the show (Im not sure if Windham was dealing with an actual injury or not). Ok that bombshell aside, what is the actual match…it’s a cage match. But with instruments of torture! Spooky. The only way to win is to put one member of the opposing team in the Chair of Torture and flip the switch rendering them helpless.

First out from the babyface team is El Gigante. Why am I pointing this out? Because no one else from the babyface team comes out until after three of the heels have already come out. One of those is Cactus Jack who comes out wielding a goddamn chainsaw! In a sign of things to come Stings championship belt falls off during his entrance. Someone in the back should’ve called an audible right then and there but nonetheless the show goes on.

And wow what a show this was. I’ll say this up front, put this in a War Games Match and it’s ten times better. Hell of a lot easier to review as well. This is just insanity. You’d think that any match that starts with Cactus wilding a chainsaw would peak there but oh no it actually gets crazier. First of all, it’s damn near impossible to actually tell what’s happening. 

There’s eight dudes all moving at the same, the camera is mostly positioned outside of the cage and at a distance, the cameras inside the cage can only do so much with how crowded the area inside the cage is and that’s before they lower the Chair of Torture into the middle of the ring. That thing is an eyesore, and Cactus almost got pancaked under it because he took a top rope bump while the thing was lowering. If it was moving any faster WCW might have lost the war ten years early. 

There’s two coffins in the corners of the cage and apparently each contained some scrub in a mask that just occasionally interjects into the proceedings. So far we have eight dudes beating each up, two scrubs just lingering around, an eyesore in the middle of the ring, and Nick Patrick is walking around with a helmet like a special kid…and then a bunch of dudes in white come out with a goddamn stretcher…this is a fever dream disguised as a wrestling match. 

Holy fuck. We’re only halfway through at this point. There’s so much madness that happens in this match but I feel like this is starting to drag on. So I’ll just leave you with this…watch it. I’m not joking, this is something you need to experience for yourself. It’s not good but it’s the kind of not good that is super entertaining. It’s like the Ball family on Miz TV or Shawn vs. Hogan at SummerSlam ‘05. 

Day 2

Singles Match

Charles Crowley vs. Charlie Dempsey

Progress Chapter 135: Super Strong Style 16 Day 1

This is the first time I’ve seen either wrestle. I don’t know much about Crowley or his gimmick but a big part seems to be the word twat so he’s got that going for him. Dempsey is the son of one of the most respected wrestlers of this generation William Regal. He also looks like a sickly Roger Daltry. 

True to his heritage, Dempsey dominates early when this match is just a pure grappling match. He’s so flexible and smooth it gives his wrestling a real Zack Sabre Jr. vibe, I dig it. There’s a really incredible spot where he goes into a neck bridge to break out of a pin and just becomes immovable. Like Crowley fucking stands on the dudes thighs and he holds the bridge. Fucking madness. 

The match goes south for Dempsey following a surprise Enzugiri from Crowley. The match becomes a scrap and also kind of sloppy at times but I think it works here. Crowley has been grinder down the whole match by Dempsey so naturally he’s going to be tired and just throwing himself into anything that can help him win. Ultimately it doesn’t work and Crowley taps to an awesome STF Chicken Wing Facelock. 

This ruled. This by all means isnt my type of match, it’s very old school grappling for most it but Dempsey is one of those guys that can make it work. I don’t quiet get Crowleys gimmick but he seems like a interesting wrestler, so I’d definitely be down for seeing more of him. Really good match and a strong start to the tournament, no pun intended. 

Day 3

Singles Match 

Robbie X vs. Aramis

Progress Chapter 135: Super Strong Style 16 2022 Night 1

Going forward a little in the night one bracket here. This is a different match entirely as both men are primarily high fliers. To the point that they earn a “flippy shit” chant in the first minute of the match. Allegedly it was a positive chant. 

You can guess how this starts off. Both men display an array of athletic reversals culminating in a double forward flip. Aramis continues to do good Lucha things but then Robbie X pulls out some story telling. He works over the Black Ranger and slows the pace down. Nice touch…this doesn’t last long before Aramis Luchas his way out of a Side Headlock and nails a Batista Bomb. 

The match continues to be back and forth with both men sometimes just saying fuck it and chopping the shit out of each other (Aramis even brings out a Violence Party.) but never forgetting their roots. In a small moment that popped me, Robbie pulls out a big Spiral Tap which still doesn’t put Aramis away. So he walks over, pauses, then kicks the bottom rope in frustration and quietly wonders what else he could possibly do to keep the Luchador down. Great spot. 

If you know me, you know I was all in on this match. Nothing groundbreaking for the most part but still some quality high flying, spot fest goodness. Good work chaps. 

Day 4 

Tag Team Match

Lethal Enforcers (James Drake and Anthony Henry) vs. Kevin Thorn and Gangrel

OSCW: Beach Blast 2

This is actually an unreleased match from said show. Or I guess was since they put it on YouTube. During their entrance the vamps come out to Gangrels legendary theme song. Gangrel looks good but Kevin Thorn is waddling something fierce. Time was not kind to Mordecai, he’s waddling, he’s puffy, he’s gassed within seconds, it sucks to see. 

Once the match starts however, he’s fine. Gassed incredibly quick sure, but he’s moving and bumping ok so there’s that. This match is fairly simple. The heels beat and cheat the faces building to a big comeback spot. It’s nothing special…until JD makes me eat my words and choke on my pre-conceived notions by busting out a HossSault. I mean sure he misses but still his form was impeccable. The miss gives KT the opening for Gangrels hot tag which ultimately leads to the finish. 

Overall I’ve seen worse. They dont do anything spectacular for the most part but they didn’t have to. The audience wasn’t there to see an Indy spectacular and KT and Gangrel delivered enough of what they wanted to send them home happy which is the goal at the end of the day. I skipped the first five minutes or so which is just everyone fucking around. Decent match. 

Day 5 

Singles Match

Axl Rotten vs. Tarzan Goto

ECW Heat Wave 1996

Wrestling can be a well woven story filled with highs and lows, technical prowess, big moves, and a dramatic climax…or it can be two dudes beating on each other for a couple minutes. Take a shot at which one this is. 

FMW vs. ECW in what is a surprisingly tame match by ECW and FMW standards. It’s still a drag out bar brawl but like…not? Very few weapons are involved. There’s a couple of table spots and a two chairs. Other than that it’s just Axl and Tarzan relying on their fists and feet…and legs in one case where Axl pulls out a Spinning Wheel Kick from somewhere deep in his playbook. Low on brain damage but it’s still classic ECW. Right down to the incredibly low budget camera work that derails everything for the home viewers once Axl and Tarzan go into the crowd. 

I don’t know what to say about this. I really enjoyed it for one. It’s a short, sweet, and to the point brawl, can’t argue with that. They make the most of the weapon spots, and the ending is fittingly brutal.