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.

WWE Mae Young Classic Episode 5

Abbey Laith vs Rachel Evers

This was a step up for Evers after her wretched first round performance, but this wasn’t as good as Laith/Gabert from the first round. Laith hits a scary looking dive early where they cut to an angle that disguises the fact that she’s caught her for on the middle rope. Evers hitting an RKO as a random early move seems a bit odd. I like them basically hitting reset on a double big boot, and I really liked Evers hitting a big second rope slam. Laith seems to win out of nowhere, catching an Evers big boot into a powerbomb, and pinning her with the Alligator Clutch. This was fine.

Piper Niven vs Serena Deeb

You have to question the logic of Deeb deciding to try and slam Niven just moments after failing to take her over with a headlock takeover – unsurprisingly it doesn’t work. Despite that, I did quite enjoy how Deeb built up to finally getting Niven on the mat, working a headlock and using the rope to get elevation to take Piper over. A second attempt at a powerslam looks poor, I don’t buy Deeb having the strength to pick up Niven, and it looks really sloppy. With that being the case, her decision to try and pick up Piper into a fireman’s carry seems like a rookie mistake, and inevitably ends up with Niven countering and hitting a cannonball in the corner. Vader Bomb only gets two, despite it looking like a finisher. The actual end is good though, as Piper misses a splash but is able to sidestep the spear and whip Deeb straight into a Michinoku Driver to win. Another good Piper performance.

Princesa Sugehit vs Mercedes Martinez

Not a bad match, but ultimately a little forgettable. It starts with a nice little mat sequence, before a schoolboy in the corner sends Mercedes head backward into the bottom turnbuckle in a nice spot. Martinez goes for the three amigos, looking a bit laboured in the transition (and really, it’s only Eddie Guerrero who has ever made the swivelling of the hips look believable) but I liked it ending with a draped neckbreaker. The end felt like it came from nowhere, as Martinez escapes Sugehit’s armbar finisher and, using the affected arm, hits a fisherman buster to win.

Kairi Sane vs Bianca Belair

Feels like a real breakout performance by Belair here. Everyone knows how good Sane is, but Belair is right there in the match with her. Her hair-whipping was brutal here, making a loud sound as she beats down Sane in the corner. She also gets to show impressive strength – doing squats whilst holding Sane up for a delayed vertical suplex – and some nice highflying – missing a perfect looking 450 splash. You got the feeling that Belair will really be something in a few years if she keeps up at this rate. However, Sane was also impressive here, and facing a larger, more powerful opponent she needs to be convincing at taking down a stronger opponent. Her sliding D in the corner and vicious spinning backfist will certainly do the job. The big elbow gets the victory, and this was a great showing by both.

WWE Mae Young Classic Episode 3

Toni Storm vs Ayesha Raymond

This was pretty solid, some hard-hitting stuff from both ladies. Raymond is a powerful lady, and she moves well here, with some deliberate offence. Sometimes comes off a bit green, but Storm is competent enough to fill the gaps. The end plays into the over-confidence of Raymond as she takes too long to yell at the fans , missing a top rope splash, following which Storm cradles her for the win.

Dakota Kai vs Kavita Devi

Devi has a substantial size and strength advantage over Kai, which she works at the start of this match. She looks green, but they work this quite sensibly to have a decent match. Devi works over the arm of Kai with her strength, hoisting her in the air and working a lucha-style top rope armdrag (though it looks really hesitant, may have been better not to do it). Devi uses a big press slam but misses a corner splash. Great looking corner kick is followed by a top rope stomp by Kai, giving her the win. This is fine.

Sage Beckett vs Bianca Belair

There were parts of this I really enjoyed, but also a few scrappy looking bits. Beckett hits a big elbow drop that looks great and Belair hits a really nice looking clothesline. Beckett seems to be working this as underdog face, which is odd given her size advantage. Belair has a few moments where she looks a bit off the pace and doesn’t quite have the stuff to fill it. Beckett misses a Vader bomb and Belair whips her with her ridiculously long hair, before hitting a huge spear to win.

Piper Niven vs Santana Garrett

Really feels like both women should be going through to the next round. Loved the early armbar sequence they work, with Santana gaining control by using the ropes to flip through and Niven swinging and missing to try and break free. Love Piper’s running crossbody, looks great as a sudden impact move. Niven works a neat cravate before hitting a low crossbody to a seated Garrett. Santana’s comeback is good, really liked how they worked her handstand rana, with Niven initially fighting it off before Santana gets it. Garrett misses the Shining Star Press and Niven hits a senton and a Michinoku Driver to win. Best match of the tournament so far.

Stardom in Sendai 06/08/2017

Ruaka vs Hanan vs Shiki Shibusawa

Rookie three way opener. This is the quintessential Stardom opener, competently worked whilst still feeling quite rehearsed. There’s a few moments of hesitation, with Shibusawa looking the least comfortable of the three. Her offence at this stages seems to be mainly dropkicks. The sections with Ruaka working Hanan look the most coherent, they work very well together, and Hanan has a great looking rolling leglock. Ruaka gets the win by rolling up Hanan.

Natsuko Tora vs Konami

Konami is pretty great, really like her fighting stance. Her early offence targets the back with some sharp kicks and a nice knee drop. They work a fun headscissors section early on, with Konami battling to get to the ropes whilst Tora seems to choke the life out of her. Tora hits a surprisingly great spear, but Konami hits a big German suplex and kicks her in the face to win. Short match, but pretty fun.

Jungle Kyona & Mari Apache vs Shanna & Starlight Kid

Nicely worked battle of speed vs power. Starlight Kid has a very brief advantage until Kyona catches her on a 619 and nails a side slam. Apache works Kid on the mat, with her size advantage letting her control easily. It’s the speed advantage that allows Kid to make her escape and tag in Shanna, and her hot tag run is pretty fun. Her offensive run does include a double-underhook facebuster that basically drops Kyona on her head and her crossbody into a sunset flip looks great. Her mistake is taking out Apache with a big suicide dive, as this leaves Kid alone with Kyona, with Jungle nailing a big clothesline for the win. Good stuff.

Queen’s Quest (Viper, HZK & AZM) vs Toni Storm, Xia Brookside & Gabby Ortiz

Everyone gets paired off in the opening stages, with the big gun of both teams – Viper and Storm – having the best sequence. Viper is really good at using her size advantage in interesting ways, and her sudden crossbody looks deadly with how quickly she’s able to hit it. When things break down, it’s unsurprisingly the two least experienced, Brookside and Ortiz, who look slightly lost. Though AZM and HZK are both really young, their execution has a crispness that belies that and shows their experience. Storm hits a lovely suicide dive, but Ortiz ends up isolated and all three members of Queen’s Quest jump on her, culminating in a Viper senton for the win.

Oedo Tai (Kris Wolf, Kagetsu & Hana Kimura) vs Mayu Iwatani, Hiromi Mimura & Yoko Bito

This is the first time I’ve seen Iwatani since she’s become the World of Stardom champion, and it’s quite interesting to see her carry herself as the ace. She’s believable in the role, partly helped by the fact she’s the best performer in the match. Given the nature of Oedo Tai matches, this breaks down pretty swiftly. I loved the fact that, during the Oedo Tai pose, Wolf decides to tickle Mimura rather than put a boot into her face, somehow feels a bit more dickish. The faces later do the Kaientai pose on Kimura, which feels like a nice payback spot. Oedo Tai logically have the advantage when things break down, swifter at coming to each other’s aid and triple-teaming the first member they isolate. In this case, it’s Mimura who gets singled out. The superior teamwork of Oedo Tai even plays into the finish, as Kagetsu gets a blind tag during a Mimura/Wolf roll up exchange and gets the win with a 450 splash. Fun main event.