Curt Stallion vs Joey Lynch
This was a majorly hot opener, really set the tone for the
rest of the night. Both are working face, though Stallion does some nasty
things to ostensibly play the heel role – taking a cheapshot on a test of
strength or standing on Lynch’s throat in the ropes. Both guys looked really
good – I’ve been impressed with Lynch in the past, albeit with one or two
reservations, but this was the best I’ve seen him look. There are some great
moves from both, with Stallion hitting a nasty German suplex and beautifully
reversing a Canadian Destroyer into a cradle neckbreaker. Lynch makes a nice
comeback after slipping out of a back suplex, great looking knee to the face
and a nice falcon arrow. Loved the DDT Stallion hit, pulling Lynch off the mat
into the move in one slick motion. Stallion heels it up cockily with some
casual slaps to the face, but this leads to a lovely spot where Lynch hits a
Canadian Destroyer from running the ropes. Moonsault only gets two, which is
sold as a big deal. Stallion hits a huge German suplex from the top, but Lynch
rolls into a crucifix to get the win. Great stuff.
Jake Parnell vs Darius Lockhart
Really impressive performance from Lockhart here, seemed to
have a natural charisma and he looked really smooth working the mat early. Parnell
gets his big opening with a stomp from the apron to Lockhart’s back. Parnell
hits some slightly goofy offence, with a series of falling splashes and the JYD
crawling headbutts. Both guys have nice strikes interspersed through the match.
Lockhart hits a lovely cradle hammerlock DDT, but Parnell gets his foot on the
ropes. After the nearfalls of the previous match, I really liked how they
worked this ending as a contrast. Lockhart misses a charge to the corner, and
Parnell swoops to hit a chicken wing suplex, a big lariat and a top rope stomp
in quick succession to get the win. Rather than risk a kickout, Parnell just
hit three big moves in a row to get the victory.
Corey Hollis vs Ike Cross
Hollis is great working the crowd, stalling and giving a
real impression of not giving a fuck. Cross is apparently only a two year pro,
but he seems really impressive so far, loved him attacking Hollis straight away
when he finally gets into the ring. Cross is all motion, as if he realises he
can’t afford to let Hollis escape again. This culminates with a big suicide
dive. Dug Hollis using his smarts, using Cross’s momentum against him and
avoiding a corner charge to take over. Hollis then hurls Cross into the corner,
looked terrific. Hollis gets on the mic, though the sound quality isn’t great,
and he runs down the ref and his opponent. Cross gets a few hope spots amidst
the Hollis control, but Hollis stops him dead with a huge lariat. Cross misses
a massive top rope splash, but Hollis is too cocky and gives Cross time to
recover and nail a spear. However, Hollis uses the ref to block a second, and
hits a low blow in the confusion to get the win.
Cyrus the Destroyer vs PCO
This is a clash of two big boys. No storytelling here, and
barely any real selling, as these two just exchange big moves, which is fun if
unsubstantial. Initial impressions are bad, as Cyrus blocks a suicide dive with
a weak elbow and PCO looked like he’d never had any intention of actually
trying the move. After that though, things heat up and it’s a lot of fun. Big
running dropkick by Cyrus, PCO hits two chokeslams and a cannonball, Cyrus gets
a big overhead suplex and finally PCO does hit a suicide dive. A Cyrus
slingshot senton looks great for a near 400lb man, but he misses a second rope
headbutt and a PCO moonsault gets the win. Just good fun.
AJ Grey vs 2 Cold Scorpio
This is fought with a much friendlier feel, with the
commentary putting over that Scorpio is Grey’s idol. Lovely even matwork to
start, with Scorp showing he’s still got some agility as he flips out of a
wristlock. Nice spot as Scorp does a lovely dropdown and leapfrog on a rope
running section, with Grey aping it just moments later. Grey hits a terrible
attempt at a rana, but makes up for it with a great leg lariat. Aggression
starts to increase and they exchange some nastier blows. Scorp has a few sloppy
moments, with a powerbomb reversal looking off and a somersault legdrop only
just grazes the side of Grey’s head, but he does hit a nice moonsault for two.
Grey catches a spinkick and turns it into a slam and a frog splash gets the
win. Match was only decent, rather than good, but it was nice to see Scorp and
this was another welcome change of pace.
Cain Justice vs Gary Jay
This ended up being pretty short, but it was a neat ending.
Justice attacks at the bell, but gets sent out and ends up eating three suicide
dives. Jay is put over as a super striker, though it’s hard to buy a his
average looking clothesline warranting a 360 sell from Justice. Justice briefly
works the arm after Jay chops the ringpost, but this doesn’t last long as Jay
catches Justice with a forearm to the face as he comes off the ropes, and wins
on a knockout. Bit disappointing as I’d have liked to have seen more Justice,
but the ending was really effective.
Mance Warner vs Fred Yehi
This is intense from the start, and I loved Yehi as the
better wrestler suddenly getting a takedown during a strike exchange, to allow
him to rain down blows on the mat. Warner sets up some chairs on the floor, but
Yehi blocks a superplex attempt by shoving Warner’s arm down a hole into the
ringpost, and just pummels it. It comes out covered in grease and grime, which
makes it look much worse, gives the impression of a mangled limb. Yehi then
throws Warner into the chairs for good measure. From this point on, Yehi is in
full control, though Warner gets a few comebacks by irritatingly attacking with
the bad arm. Yehi just stomps him down, and looks comfortable in control, before
avoiding a running knee, crushing Warner in the corner and hitting a powerbomb
for the victory. Good hierarchy match, as Yehi takes control early and doesn’t
really relinquish it until the end.
Kerry Awful vs Nick Gage
This doesn’t go long, and really isn’t pretty, but it’s very
effective. They go outside, and Awful eats a backdrop into the bleachers right
off the bat, nasty looking bump. Awful blows his nose onto Gage when he gets
him onto the floor, and this feel like a big mistake on a guy like Gage, who
blasts him with a chair. Awful does a little armwork, stomping the arm of Gage
onto a chair then hitting a senton onto the arm, before hitting a huge seated
senton in the ring. Gage gets the chokebreaker for just two, before Awful locks
in an unlikely figure four. Gage escapes, hits a second chokebreaker and a
piledriver for the win. Again, selling was at a scarcity, but it was a fun
spectacle.
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