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.
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