WCW Clash of the Champions XX

Steve Austin vs Ricky Steamboat

Really dug this, and it’s a situation where a good logical bit of storytelling enhanced an already great match. This is for Austin’s TV title, and it’s no DQ with Paul Heyman held in a cage over the ring for good measure. Straight away, when I noticed Heyman taking his phone into the cage, alarm bells started ringing in my head. “That’s the match ending right there then” I thought “Heyman throws the phone to Austin, who clonks Steamboat with it for the win”. It was nice to be proved wrong. Loved Heyman spending the national anthem giving Austin last minute tips. Austin starts off by going for Steamboat’s injured ribs, the bandages giving him a big target to aim for. Austin continues his attack, hitting some backbreakers and then locking in an abdominal stretch, clawing away at Steamboat’s midsection. I liked that, even though Steamboat had to work from beneath, he didn’t spend the whole match on defence, still getting in his fair share of offence, but with the injury giving Austin a focal point to cut Steamboat off. The rib injury doesn’t mean Steamboat can’t do anything, it just means he’s a bit slower each time. The end sees the stipulations used in a clever way, as Steamboat skins the cat, only for Austin to smash him back out with an elbow to the face, not drawing a DQ thanks to the rules. Steamboat crawls under the ring and goes to the top ropes on the opposite side. Without Heyman there to warn him, Austin turns around into a top rope crossbody to give Steamboat the win and the title. Great opener.

Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton vs Greg Valentine & Dick Slater

Interestingly, this is worked as heel vs heel, with both teams cheating and fighting dirty. Both team try two-on-one attacks early, and I loved Anderson and Eaton getting Valentine in their corner, simultaneously hammering him with punches to the face from inside the ring and punches to the back of the head from the apron. As neither team are sympathetic, they don’t bother with prolonged heat sections, so we get nice back and forth action. Eaton nails Slater with a beautiful right hand on the floor. Everything breaks down, and Valentine gets accidentally hit by manager Larry Zbyszko with a cane, allowing Eaton to hit a second rope Alabama Jam for the win.

Ron Simmons vs Cactus Jack

This is for Simmons’ world title. Fun brawl here, loved Cactus using some early misdirection on a rope run to hit Simmons with a big flying headbutt. Simmons looks great on offence, him hammering down Cactus in the corner looked really good, a full energy beatdown. Jack wears down Simmons with clotheslines, then successfully stops Simmons when he tries to make comebacks. There’s an odd spot when Cactus seemingly tries to sunset flip Simmons, and Simmons hits a quasi-Northern Lights suplex for two. Jack hits a powerslam on the floor, followed by the diving elbow, but Simmons quickly rebounds with a spinebuster and a powerslam for the win. Bit of a no-sell by Simmons at the end there.

Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes vs Butch Reed & The Barbarian

Reed is a mystery partner for Barb here. Dustin takes an insane corner bump early, flying into the post so hard that he lands 2-3 metres away from the ring. The heels wear down Dustin nicely, headbutts to the torso, backbreakers  and some big meaty Barbarian elbows. Rhodes builds nicely to the hot tag, getting a few little hope spots in the run up to tagging Windham in. Windham runs through the heels with a huge lariat and superplex on Barbarian, but he gets distracted by Reed, and Barbarian boots him in the face for the win. Could have gone a bit longer as the heat on Rhodes was slightly truncated, but I enjoyed this.

Vader, Rick Rude, Super Invader & Jake Roberts vs Sting, Nikita Koloff & the Steiner Brothers

This is an elimination match, and it’s a decent main event. The Vader/Rick Steiner face off is surprisingly fun, a battle of the big lads throwing bombs. Steiner hitting an unlikely belly-to-belly suplex was really neat. The problem is that the match may well be a bit too short, with a heat section on Scott being pretty short due to having to fit in all the eliminations. Nikita is the first to go, rolled up by Jake after colliding with Rude, then Invader quickly follows after a Sting bulldog. The Steiners continue to look great against Vader, with Rick hitting a German suplex on Vader. However, the Steiners end up looking like idiots on both their eliminations. First Scott comes off the top with an attempt at a top rope clothesline, but Rick obviously can’t hold Vader on his shoulders, so it looks crap and Scott gets DQ’d for breaking the top rope rule. Rick ends up on the floor, and eats a Rude Awakening, causing him to get counted out, and leaving Sting 3-on-1. Sting looks great as the fired up babyface, not backing down and cowering away, but instead is all fight, taking it to the heels. The end though, it’s pretty off. Sting suplexes Rude, but Vader hits a top rope splash, killing both Sting and Rude, getting himself DQ’d. Rude is as dead as Sting, so Jake drags him to the corner, tags in and hits the DDT on Sting for the final fall. Vader getting himself DQ’d and killing his partner in the same move made him look a bit dumb, but the overall match was fun.

Scenic City Futures Showcase Tournament 2018

Isaiah Frazier vs David Ali

Neat opener here, and you’ve got to love that the promoters couldn’t resist the obvious “Frazier vs Ali” match-up. Both guys had really nice execution here. There’s one slightly shaky moment, where Frazier misses a flipping splash when he had time to notice Ali had moved, but aside from that it’s all good. Ali hits a nice forearm to start, hits a bunch of decent bodyshots, and there’s a lovely moment where Ali takes off his fist tape in order to hit a big punch, but this gives Frazier time to recover and the shot misses. For his part, Frazier also has nice bodyshots, a lovely slingshot elbowand hit a big running knee. The end sees Frazier escape a fireman’s carry and nail a big DDT for the win. Dug this.

O’Shay Edwards vs Mr Brickster vs Jaden Newman

This is one of three triple threat matches to establish the three finalists in the tournament. Newman is a loudmouth, who declares himself “number one”, and he spends the opening stages of the bout stooging about for the other two, getting thrown out of the ring in comic fashion. Edwards is a big boy, and gets some lovely power offence in throughout the bout. Big urange, huge deadlift German suplex and a big standing spinebuster on Brickster. Newman recognises him as the big threat, and wisely does everything in his power to keep Edwards out of the ring, spotting Brickster as the weaker link. Edwards is too big to keep out forever though, and I loved the spot where he breaks up a Brickster pin on Newman by grabbing Brickster’s leg and hurling him off. Edwards hits a huge sideslam on Brickster, but Newman hits a big forearm to the back of the head and steals the pin. Nice ending, kept Newman and Edwards looking strong.

Kevin Ku vs Sean Legacy vs Austin Jordan

This was all about Kevin Ku, who looked fantastic. Legacy and Jordan seemed decent, though their had slightly goofy offence, but Ku just came across as a machine, hitting crisp violent kicks and strikes. Ignore the silly bit where Ku kicks out Legacy’s leg to cause a Big Ending on Jordan, and the rest is all gravy. Ku hits a big powerbomb into a backcracker on Legacy, then piledrives Jordan on top and pins them with a foot. Effective stuff.

Marko Stunt vs Alan Angels vs Josey Quinn

Stunt is a tiny guy who JUST about manages to avoid having a really irritating face. He’s almost the kind of tiny guy who you want to see get smacked in the face, but he’s so much fun to watch that he gets away with it. Angels and Quinn pull their weight too, loved Angels leaping from the ring to the floor, in the process stomping Quinn’s face into the apron. Stunt hits a huge flip dive which looked great. There’s a really great spot where Angels is sat in the corner, Stunt is hanging over him in a tree of woe, and Quinn – who’s a big hairy biker-looking guy – hits a huge missile dropkick to take them both down. Stunt is all movement, making himself hard to hit, and he’s the standout in the closing stages. Nice springboard codebreaker, big springboard stomp to Angels and a 450 to Quinn gets the win. Stunt is instantly eye-catching, but the other two looked really good too.

Brock Baker & Will Allday vs Johnathan Wolf & Shawn Kemp

Showcase match for Wolf and Kemp, and they don’t really make the most of it. Kemp looks good early with some neat looking armdrags, but they quickly go to some goofy comedy where Kemp is “part dog” and Baker takes control after pretending to have a ball. The heels don’t get control for long, and Baker is forced to stand still awkwardly while Kemp readies himself to hit a top rope moonsault press. Kemp then barely makes it on a suicide dive, catching his feet on the ropes, and then has some awkward looking footwork as he stumbles through a wheelbarrow German suplex. We get a too brief spell of offence from Allday, who looks really crisp, though he’s an egregious AJ Styles wannabe with his tights, hair and big flying forearm. Things break down, getting pretty messy as Wolf totally no-sells a pedigree, before Kemp pins Baker with a sky twister press. Left this far more interested in seeing more Baker and Allday than the showcased guys.

Jaden Newman vs Kevin Ku vs Marko Stunt

Fun final match, where the tiny Stunt is treated as an afterthought which proves to the undoing of the other two. Newman and Ku face off, exchanging chops and kicks, and throwing Stunt out when they can to continue their rivalry. When Stunt is able to stay in the ring, Ku basically hurls him around, taking advantage of his diminutive stature. But Stunt isn’t going to stay down for long, and hits both guys with his high speed offence, culminating with a crazy tilt-a-whirl into a codebreaker on Ku for the tournament win.

ECW Hardcore TV #35 07/12/1993

Mr Hughes vs Mike Norman

Bland squash, with Hughes alternating between nice big boots and impressive dropkicks, and unconvincingly missing a clothesline by aiming well over Norman’s head. Big sidewalk slam gives Hughes the win.

JT Smith vs Johnny Hotbody

These two are among the MVPs of 1993 ECW, so it’s a shame to report this match isn’t too great. Smith opens with some awkward looking chain wrestling that doesn’t feel particularly smooth, before taking over with a nice fallaway slam and a high angle back suplex. There’s a lot of offence her that just feels sloppy, Hotbody hits some awful chairshots, Smith hits some weak looking clotheslines, and there’s a really poor botch on a top rope sunset flip that basically sees Hotbody falling onto Smith as he goes over. On the Brightside, Hotbody does hit some nice meaty elbows, including one to the arena floor, but this was a letdown. Smith gets the win after Hotbody’s manager Hunter Q Robbins hits him with a caneshot, seemingly on purpose.

The Tazmaniac & Kevin Sullivan vs The Bad Breed

Barely anything to speak of, as Sullivan decides he want to beat up JT Smith in the aisle, leaving Tazz to face both Rotten brothers. He dispatches them with no fuss in mere seconds hitting a second rope belly to back suplex for the win.

The Lumberjack vs Mr X

Mr X is apparently a masked Larry Winters. This goes about 30 seconds, as we’re joined in progress with the Lumberjack hitting a press slam and a heart punch for the win.

World of Sport Wrestling #2 04/08/2018

Rampage vs Joe Hendry

Basic, but well worked opener to establish Rampage as champion, and highlight the dangers of his entourage of CJ Banks and Sha Samuels. Rampage is a really good offensive wrestler, not doing anything fancy, but everything looks like it would hurt. At one point, Hendry looks to be on top with a series of pins and roll ups, but Rampage just stops him dead with a thrust to the throat. Loved Rampage clambering up Hendry’s body to lock on a sleeper. Hendry gets a nice fallaway slam and looks to have the match won with an ankle lock, but he gets distracted by Banks, and Rampage hits a DDT for the win.

Liam Slater vs Gabriel Kidd vs Robbie X vs Lionheart

This is a ladder match, with the winner getting an unspecified opportunity. This ended up as a real Robbie X showcase. I mean, he must have been disappointed that they’ve seemingly decided he doesn’t have a face for TV and slapped a mask on him, but he’s the standout here. He moves like a cat, slinking in and out of the ring to evade Kidd, then later hits a big moonsault from the ladder, hits a lovely springboard cutter, then takes the biggest bump when Lionheart pushes him to the floor from the ladder. The others don’t really get much chance to stand out, though I dug the elbow Kidd hits from a ladder. This doesn’t really play to his strengths, as on recent performances he’s reinvented himself as a hard-hitting hoss, and here he’s playing athletic babyface. He’s still good at it, but it needed more big boots and lariats. He ends up picking up the win after knocking Lionheart off a ladder to leave himself a clear run to the top.

Adam Maxted & Nathan Cruz vs Doug Williams

Decent tag match here. The team of Maxted and Cruz look good here, seemed to complement each other well. The heels work heat on Drake after Cruz distracts him from the apron, leaving him prone to attack. Loved Cruz hitting a slingshot back suplex on him, and really dug Drake diving for the tag, and Cruz pulling Williams off the apron. Timed perfectly. Williams was fun on the hot tag, hitting a nice exploder on Cruz, then moving when Maxted tried to break the pin, so he ends up dropping an elbow on his partner Cruz. Dug the ending too, as Williams is sent to the floor, Maxted springboards into the ring to hit Drake with a blockbuster, then continues his momentum to the floor to stop Williams getting in, as Cruz gets the pinfall. This was fun.

Kay Lee Ray vs Viper vs Bea Priestley

Triple threat for the WOS women’s title. This was a total Viper showcase and, even though she lost, the overwhelming impression you get is that Viper would demolish either lady in a one-on-one match. Even two-on-one, she’s in total control, slamming KLR onto Priestley, then crushing both with a diving crossbody. The massacre continues as KLR tries a rana and Viper powerbombs her into Priestley in the corner. The other two finally get control on Viper by double teaming her, but Viper is still able to stop a KLR pin by hitting a huge senton. Even when Priestley tries a rana from the apron on Viper, she gets caught and planted with a powerbomb on the floor. However, KLR hits a suicide dive then an impressive Gory Bomb to pick up the victory. Enjoyable stuff, but Viper was robbed.

Valkyrie: V - Valhalla

One of the few "problems" with the explosion of footage becoming available in the last few years is that I find it remarkably easy to end up with more wrestling than I can watch. For example, this show, which I paid actual money for three years ago, then left it sat on my hard drive unwatched. Decided maybe it was time to give it a go.

Sumie Sakai vs Lexia Avery

Fair opener. Avery has a considerable size advantage over Sukai, but seems afraid to really commit, both with her weak strikes and with some of her bumping. Sakai is experienced enough to compensate for this, and adds some nice little touches to the match. Loved her going for a Boston Crab by holding Avery’s legs, letting the ref count a pin and Avery to lift her shoulder, then going with that movement to turn the larger opponent over. I’ll give Avery credit, her good moves look impressive, with a nice side slam and a meaty looking kerb stomp, and I dug her viciously kicking the rope as Sakai lies over it. Sumie has move painful looking chops, almost like she’s trying to convince Avery to lay them in more. The end sees Avery try an Air Raid Crash, but Sakai rolls through and locks a tight cradle to win.

Nina Monet vs Davienne

Good early impressions, as Monet really locks in her headlocks tightly. Davienne takes control with an awkward looking shoulderblock (how awkward? I didn’t realise what had happened until the commentator decided that was what had happened), but makes up for it with a decent stomachbreaker. Monet has a nasty streak, locking Davienne in a submission and kicking her in the back of the head. Short match sees Lexia Avery interfere and distract Davienne, allowing Monet to hit a side Russian legsweep and a leaping DDT to win.

Nikki Addams & Dickie Rodz vs Nyla the Destroyer & Aja Perera

Intergender match here, as Addams and Rodz challenge the massive Nyla to a 2-on-1 match, only for Perera to come out to even the sides. Rodz being the only male doesn’t unbalance the teams as he’s pretty much portrayed as a goof and he’s not much bigger than Nyla. Because the match is basically building up to Nyla getting in the ring, we get heat worked on Perera pretty much from the get go. Perera gets a few moments, hitting a boot as Addams tries a top rope nothing from the top rope. Addams hits a lovely top rope Eat Defeat as compensation. The build up to the hot tag leads to a few awkward moments like Perera getting a chance to tag, going to her corner, then deciding to go back on offence again. Nyla does eventually get in, blitzing Rodz with clotheslines, then planting him with a powerbomb from the corner for the win.

La Rosa Negra vs Hania the Howling Huntress

Two out of three fall match here, and it felt like two decent-good wrestlers being hamstrung by overbooking. The work both do looks really good. Negra in particular impresses, seems to have good instincts. For example, at one point she goes for the three amigos, but she adds a punch to the stomach between suplexes to keep Hania weak. Hania hits a few nice combos, lovely legsweep into a low dropkick, and she gets great height on a flip senton. Negra sells really nicely too, flying like a ragdoll on Hania’s offence, and getting into the right position to take offence in a natural manner. The problem comes with the booking, which sees Negra’s entourage interfering in clumsy ways. She’s joined by JGeorge and a towering lady called Natalie, and they seem to fail to understand that you want to interfere behind the refs back. At one point, Natalie gets on the apron and kicks Hania in full view of the ref, who has to awkwardly turn away and pretend he didn’t just see it. Even the commentator has to clumsily explain it as the ref somehow not spotting it. Later, Natalie just gets in the ring, runs the ropes in a manner the referee couldn’t miss, then tries a suicide dive that spectacularly misses both JGeorge and Hania. You know the booking is failing when the crowd are chanting “This ref sucks” instead of the heat going to the heels. In the end, with each wrestler having a fall apiece, JGeorge gets in, accidentally hits Negra with a superkick and Hania hits a leaping reverse DDT for the win. Good wrestling in a poor match.

Ashley America vs Little Jeanne

Curious to see WCW alum Jeanne appear on this show. Cagematch tells me she didn’t wrestle for 6 years, then came back to wrestle on this card. Very quick stuff here, America (who is the heel, which you wouldn’t guess from her name) jumps Jeanne before the bell, but is unable to maintain any control. Jeanne hits a nice clothesline, works a bodyscissors nicely, whilst America only gets in a few basic moves. Ashley tries a deathlock, but Jeanne elbows free and hits a second-rope suplex to win. This was fine.

Kacee Carlisle vs Jessie Brooks

This is for Carlisle’s Queen of Valkyrie title. Really liked the presentation here, as they managed to make a match between two ladies I don’t know into a real big match atmosphere. Julius Smokes is accompanying Brooks, and his rapidfire motormouth persona contrasts nicely with her stoic silence, making her look like a badass. This is turn carries over to Carlisle, because her refusal to back down, getting in Brooks’ face mean that she too comes across as a tough lady. The match? Really good, neither seem afraid to lay in the shots, as they exchange blows with an audible thud. Brooks hits a series of lovely running forearms in the corner. Nice submissions interspersed too, loved the Camel Clutch that Brooks locks in, really nasty angle and she holds a tight chinlock at the time too. Neither lets up the intensity either, and I liked Carlisle resorting to an eyepoke just to get a moment of control. The end is the only disappointment. Brooks climbs to the second rope to hit vicious knees to the back of Carlisle’s head (which looks great), sending Kacee into a tree of woe on the outside of the ring. Brooks lays in some shots, only for Carlisle to just hit a double-arm DDT, draped from the top rope, to win. Just felt like it came from nowhere. Overall, a good match.

Fred Yehi vs Dickie Rodz

Well, this was odd. A match not advertised that seems to being fought after the show with no audience (bar a load of wrestlers surrounding the ring like lumberjacks), with no commentary and you can even see the ring announcer in the background putting his coat on and heading off for the night. So, this seems to be a practise match, but it’s still fought with some intensity. Rodz comes off far better here, and Yehi looks terrific. They work a decent mat section before turning the heat up. Loved the headbutts that Yehi hits. Rodz hits a nice back suplex, but Yehi starts bridging out of pins and breaks a second back suplex with a big elbow to the head. Yehi gets the win with a sudden exploder, a running flatliner and the Koji Clutch for the victory. Nice little curio here.

ECW Hardcore TV #34 30/11/1993

Sabu vs Tazmaniac

This was a lot better than their last encounter that was broadcast on Hardcore TV, though still not exactly a great match. There’s still some Sabu sloppiness, with a slip on an attempted springboard clothesline looking poor, and the end was pretty weak. However, there were bits to enjoy here as well. Loved Taz two big overhead suplexes, as well as a fun overhead into a faceplant. Enjoyed Joey Styles talking about Taz being in total control as Sabu dominates the match. Great timing. Sabu misses a pescado with a big thump and Taz looks great catching a Stinger splash into an overhead suplex. Then, the crappy end. Taz has Sabu down for a pin after a missed moonsault, but decides to pick him up, which is daft in a world title match. Instead, he decides he wants to hit a Swanton, than he unsurprisingly misses, and Sabu picks up the win. This was perfectly fine.

Johnny Hotbody, Tony Stetson & Hunter Q Robbins III vs The Sandman, JT Smith & Miss Peaches

Perfectly passable six-man, with the non-wrestlers wisely kept out for the most part. The two heel wrestlers are the two best workers in the match, which thankfully means they control the bulk of it. Loved Stetson winding up for a big punch, only to hit a poke to the eye on Sandman, who becomes face-in-peril. Hotbody hits a lovely looking dropkick on Sandman, and downs him with a stiff looking clothesline. Sandman fires back and cleans house, and Hotbody/Stetson turn on Robbins by throwing him into the ring. A low blow from Peaches, and Robbins is done. Dug the explanation of the betrayal, as Mr Hughes destroys the faces afterwards, and Styles mentions that his manager Jason must have paid Hotbody & Stetson off to allow the post-match sneak attack.

CHIKARA Fear of Music (2004)

Crossbones, Mano Metalico & Rorschach vs Jolly Roger, Icarus & Lance Steel

Super fun trios match, helped by Crossbones being a Grade-A trash-talker. He’s on it throughout the entire match, managing to just about avoid being irritating. Loved seeing Roger hit a sort of proto-Codebreaker on Metalico. The heat is worked on Roger, and it’s nice to see Rorschach finally starting to improve. He hits a really neat slingshot elbow and his Indian Deathlock has a nice bridge. For such a big guy, it’s fun seeing Metalico stop an offensive run by Roger with a poke to the eye. Roger gets the hot tag after blocking a Crossbones superplex and nailing a blockbuster. Things break down, and start getting a bit sloppy. Icarus hits a clumsy looking top rope dive, Crossbones almost drops Jolly Roger on his head by not holding the head on an Air Raid Crash and wrestlers get thrown out of the ring in a clumsy fashion. Rorschach hits a nice Dragon Suplex on Lance Steel for the win.

Darkness Crabtree vs Allison Danger

This wasn’t great, they’re playing up Crabtree being a bit creepy when facing a woman, which is a little uncomfortable. Crabtree takes control after he gets whipped to the buckle, and he’s so decrepit that he slumps down, which causes Danger to miss a corner charge. Crabtree misses a really slow People’s Elbow, and Danger hits an STO for two. Oddly, she just tries the pin again and gets the win. That was odd.

DJ Skittlez vs Gran Akuma

For two guys who were among the first CHIKARA students, there’s a bit of a gulf here in terms of look and performance. Akuma is in great shape, moves so well and his offence looks a lot better. Skittlez isn’t graceful in the slightest, which does have some benefits. It makes his top rope clothesline look more forceful, but after the initial opening sequences of nicely rehearsed armdrags and reversals, he looks a bit loss. Skittlez seems legitimately injured after taking a spin kick to the ribs, but he does get back on his feet to continue the bout for a few minutes. Akuma rolls through a cradle to get the win.

Sabian vs Ravage

Fuck, Ravage is so bloody irritating, all faux-quirkly shrieks and laughs. Sabian comes out with a sling on his right arm, and the match is called off. Only included in this review because it gets reference later.

Niles Young vs Claudio Castagnoli

Another match to push Castagnoli’s European Rules gimmick. Niles wins my heart early by working a headlock on Claudio, and slapping it back on every time Castagnoli escapes. Just nicely frustrating his opponent. Obviously frustrates him enough that Claudio changes his gameplan for round 2, hitting a sneaky cheapshot. Claudio shows nice strength to hit a backbreaker and muscle Young back up for a stomachbreaker. Loved Claudio cheapshotting after the bell to end round 2, then kicking the crap out of Young while Bryce Remsberg issues the public warning. Young fires back and gets a 9 count after a leaping 2^nd rope X-Factor, but Claudio stops a second by pushing Remberg into the ropes. As the second public warning gets issues, Castagnoli nails a European uppercut to the back on Young’s head to get the 10 count win. Dug this.

The Dark Breed (Ultramantis Black & Hallowicked) vs Men At Work (Shane Storm & Mr Zero)

At this point, Ultramantis still feels too goofy to be a dark lord like his gimmick suggests. Dig the early double team with Zero and Storm flipping each other onto the Dark Breed. The heat gets worked on Storm, including a bad spot where the ref clearly saw Black get his staff, but goes to stop Zero entering the ring instead, allowing a beatdown on Storm. Black seems to struggle at lifting Storm, always looks a bit shitty. There’s a spot where Black is supposed to hold Storm in a bearhug for an leaping forearm, but he barely gets him off the ground. Ends up with a melee towards the end, and there’s a great nearfall with Black holding a half crab on Zero, and Storm hits a Shining Wizard on him for two. Zero hits a big facebuster on Black for the win, nicely ending their feud. A few bad spots, but this was good on the whole.

Matt Bomboy vs Din Mak

The third show in a row for this pairing, this time with I Quit rules. Don’t think anyone was crying out for this feud to continue, especially as it feels totally isolated from the regular CHIKARA universe. Credit where it’s due, at least Bomboy tries a few submissions throughout, Mak seems to give very little lip-service to the gimmick. Loved Bomboy going to the rope, a la Old School, and clobbering Mak with a clothesline to the back of the head. Mak at one point threatens the Socko Claw, taking out a sock from his trunks. Fucks sake. Bomboy seems really fired up, hitting a side Russian legsweep on the floor, and chaining to an armbar. In contrast, Mak tries a pinfall halfway through the match, showing he’s not really into it. In the end, Mak locks in a Dragon Sleeper with a body scissors for the win. Their best match, but I really don’t need to see this again.

The Wildcards vs The Superfriends (Mike Quackenbush & Chris Hero)

This was a heap of fun, really loved the dynamic between these four guys. The early stages see the more experienced Superfriends schooling both Wildcards on the mat. Loved Hero taunting both Kingston and Marciano, threatening them with cravats. Lovely spot where Quackenbush hits a tilt-a-whirl armdrag to send his partner flying onto Kingston before hitting a senton on Marciano. The Wildcards finally get control following a Quack dive, as they take Hero out on the outside and isolate Quack in the ring. Really effective as, even when Quack gets to the corner for a tag after a double DDT, Hero is still on the floor selling his assault. Hero is great when he finally does get the hot tag, hitting Kingston with a killer forearm to the face and a lovely Saito suplex. Powerbombing Marciano onto Kingston looks great. The Wildcard’s end up winning thanks to Larry Sweeney – he waistlocks Kingston to prevent a Quackenbush top rope rana, and Marciano hits a reverse powerslam for the win. Top stuff here.

Skayde vs Oriental

2/3 falls here, and this is very much worked in exhibition terms. Lots of armdrags, reversals and guys flipping out of holds landing on their feet. None of the falls ever feel built to, with them just coming at regular intervals when a roll up or a submission ends up getting the fall. This means there’s no real tension, but it’s still quite fun to watch guys this smooth working the mat. A few neat spots, loved Oriental rolling through a Northern Lights and chaining to an armbar, but with the falls even, Skayde gets the final fall with a rolling cradle.

Jigsaw vs Larry Sweeney

This is for the Young Lion’s Cup that Sweeney cheated to beat Jigsaw for a few shows earlier, with Jigsaw winning the right to this match in the Cibernetico. Sweeney comes to the ring in a sling, playing off the Sabian no-match from earlier, but then he blindsides Jigsaw to kick off the match. You can really see how much Jigsaw has improved at this point, he comes back with a lovely midring rana and hitting a huge dive to the floor. Loved Sweeney taking over by catching a springboard into a stungun in a really fluid motion. Jigsaw rolls through a backdrop, grabs an ankle and rolls up Sweeney for two. So good. Sweeney doesn’t do anything fancy, but he’s got really nice execution and gives a nice base level for the match. It’s why his DJ Skittlez match was decent, his basic level of competency doesn’t allow the match to get too out of control. Both guys get their finishers kicked out of, the 68 Comeback Special and the Jig’N’Tonic. Really fun spot where Sweeney’s continued cheating backfires on him, as he tries to use brass knucks, misses, but hits a piledriver. However, Bryce Remsberg spots the knuckles and refuses to count. Loved that. Quack comes back out to stop Rorschach interfering, and Jigsaw blocks a superplex to hit a top rope powerbomb for the win. Really dug this.