Wild Zero Wrestling - A Means To An End

Tuna vs Jeremy Jensen

Tuna is a female wrestler, accompanied by manager Anthony Gaines, a guy with a very smackable face. You really feel like she’s going to have to change that name if she wasn’t to get anywhere. This felt like a competently worked rookie match. I don’t know how experienced either of these two are, but both felt like they knew what they were doing, whilst also both lacking the refinement that comes with experience. Aside from an early roll up, nothing is fluffed, but there’s a slight hesitancy throughout from Tuna. There’s also hesitancy from Jensen, but this is part of the storyline, where it seems like he doesn’t want to hit a female wrestler who has no problems hitting him. They work some early mat stuff before she surprises him with a big forearm, and maintains control from there. When Jensen does get on offence, his clothesline and back elbow are (deliberately) super light. However, just as he decides to fire up, Tuna hits him with a rolling elbow and a Samoan Drop to get the win.

Colin Delaney vs Orange Cassidy

Far more experience here, both guys looked super comfortable in a match where neither really had to stretch themselves. Cassidy’s laid-back schtick gave them both plenty to work with, and Cassidy bumping with his hands in his pockets looks both super smooth and visually impressive. I like how Cassidy’s comedy stuff serves to frustrate Delaney, which then allows Cassidy to shock him with sudden bursts of offence, and I like how he lures Delaney into a chop battle, throwing weak slaps and allowing Colin to wind up for a big chop, only to duck and nail a superkick. I also dug Cassidy taking a mouthful of orange juice to “fire up”, then about half a minute later spitting it into Delaney’s eyes for a nearfall. They exchange roll ups, with Delaney getting a leverage advantage enough to keep Cassidy on the mat for three. Fun stuff.

Team Tremendous (Bill Carr & Dan Barry) vs Killer Instinct (Jacoby Riddick & Mike Skyros) vs Wrestling Liberation Front (Cloudy & Krist Worthless)

Enjoyable match, if you choose to ignore the inherent issues in teams tagging out to other teams in a triple threat tag. Killer Instinct impressed on the last Wild Zero show, and here they both bump impressively to make a hackneyed “one wrestler gets hit with a move that causes him to accidentally DDT his own partner” spot come off well. Nice spot where Skyros trips Barry whilst Riddick runs the ropes and hits a low dropkick to his head. Worthless looked decent too, a big ugly guy who hit hard and seemed to have good movement. The two heel teams, Killer Instinct and WLF, argue on the floor, providing a nice set up for a big Barry dive. Bill Carr follows with a huge flip dive of his own, which looks great for such a big guy. Carr hits a nice clothesline and Black Hole Slam to the KI guys, which they bump huge for, before Team Tremendous hit a neat Doomsday Sliced Bread, However, before they can make the pin, Cloudy rolls up Barry for the sneaky heel win. Logic gap aside, this was neat, everyone worked really hard.

Jay Freddie vs Daniel Garcia

I really wanted to like this – I liked what I’ve seen before of Freddie teaming with John Silver as the Thick Boys and I really liked the big match feel, with both guys have entourages and a big fight introduction. The problem is that I don’t think this was a very good match. Alarm bells started ringing when they kicked off with a clumsy looking forearm exchange, which I hoped in vain was just getting that nonsense out of the way. Unfortunately, they went back to these strike exchanges seemingly as a way to fill time or when they needed to transition to the next part of the match. This match went almost half an hour, so there was a lot of time to fill and a lot of strike exchanges used to do it. They also do too many non-selling mirror sequences, where one would hit a back suplex then they’d both get up and the other would hit a back suplex. They even exchange sharpshooters at one point in the match, with no sign of any long term damage. Really felt like two guys trying to have a “fighting spirit” epic, when the truth is that this would have been much better without these parts and with ten minutes taken off the run time. There were definite good bits – loves Freddie’s early dive, thought Garcia tripping him on the apron looked good, liked the driven knees that Garcia hit to the ribs by diving across the ring and Freddie hits a nice cannonball and Fisherman Buster. These were all positive bits, but the layout of the match really affected it. By the time Freddie finally gets the tap out with yet another sharpshooter, I was just willing it to be over, which isn’t a good sign. A missed opportunity.

WWF Prime Time Wrestling 07/07/1986

The Crush Gals (Chigusa Nagayo & Lioness Asuka) vs Leilani Kai & Black Venus

Well then! Wasn’t expecting to see the Crush Gals pop up on an episode of Prime Time. This was a really neat curio, and all four ladies put in a good showing. Loved the slingshot Asuka used to send Kai faceplanting into the mat. I’d seen Venus before on a LPWA DVD, and I thought she looked better here. Nice stiff shots to the stomach and a neat straight jacket sleeper with a boot to the spine. Nagayo has a real fighters stance, looks like she’s alert for an opening at all times. Kai does nothing fancy here, but she’s just full of nasty heelish shots that create sympathy for the faces. Things heat up at the end, with the Crush Galls hitting nice looking kicks to Venus and Asuka finishes her off with a German suplex. Nice to see.

Billy Jack Haynes vs Frank Marconi

This is joined in progress, which is a relief as what we do get is terrible. Haynes holds a long chinlock, peppered with the odd clubbing blow. Actually comes across quite heelish, and it’s notable that he gets a few boos after his full Nelson win.

Harley Race vs SD Jones

Interesting showcase for Race here, felt like he was trying to keep Jones strong. Despite Race dominating proceedings, Jones gets to kick out of a lot of Race’s offence. High knee and a piledriver -2. Gut wrench suplex – 2. Race keeps going for pins after every move, with Jones kicking out, before a big powerslam gives him the victory.

Pedro Morales vs Barry O

Barry O gets a surprising amount of control in this match, given their respective statuses in the WWF. Morales was on the downward straight of his career, but he was still a former world champion and Barry O was basically a jobber. O has nice offence, big clothesline and a running chop to the neck. Morales takes a ridiculous bump to the floor, getting hurled by O over the top rope straight down. Loved O conducting the crowd as they started a “Pedro” chant. Morales looks great on the comeback, lovely energy and he’s got a range of nice blows. Lovely big backbreaker gives him the win.

Lanny Poffo & George Wells vs Johnny K-9 & Rusty Brooks

After watching this match, I decided to Google K-9, and man that’s an utterly baffling tale. Fun start, Brooks is a big slobbish fat guy who bumps about for Poffo’s hiptosses. Poffo hits a springboard plancha to the floor on K-9 which looks wild for the time. Poffo and Wells just wear down K-9 with quick tags and nice offence – Poffo hits some nasty looking grounded punches which felt quite out of character, before Wells pins him with a shoulderblock.

The Hart Foundation vs The Killer Bees

This was a great way to end the show, nicely competitive tag bout with both sides feeling like potential winners. The Bees control early with some nice double teaming on Neidhart, working over his legs. Nicely, they continue this policy when Bret gets tagged in, going for his legs too. Loved their double spinning toehold. Blair becomes face-in-peril after getting booted in the back running the ropes, and the bulk of the match sees him getting worn down. The Harts cheat really effectively, with some nice double teams and good timing on their distraction spots or rushing the face corner just before Blair can get there. We get a nice false tag after Blair reverses an Irish whip to the corner (including a trademark Bret bump) as Neidhart distracts the ref. When Anvil accidentally hits Bret, the crowd explode and the hot tag gets a terrific reaction. Brunzell looks great coming in, nails a lovely big dropkick, but Anvil clubs him in the back of the head running the ropes to get the cheap win.

WWF WrestleMania I

One thing I've realised in my time writing this blog is that it serves as a useful resource to myself when I'm trying to remember what I think about a certain match. Sometimes, as a ageing 36 year old, my memories of matches are just like fading fingerprints on an abandoned handrail (to paraphrase Bob Mortimer). Thus I've decided it might be fun/useful to work through the PPV's of the WWF to act as a kind of archive for my thoughts. Ergo, here's Wrestlemania I

Tito Santana vs The Executioner

Executioner is, of course, Buddy Rose. The ropes here are super loose. I kinda got used to it, but it felt really noticeable here. This is neatly worked to make Tito look good, loved him working a headlock, even running up the ropes to get a headlock takeover. Executioner had cut a pre-match promo stating he was going to take out Santana’s legs, and to his credit he starts to focus his offence on them. However, Tito fires up leading to a nice little run by both guys – Santana slams Executioner from the top rope, but eats knees on a splash. Santana slams Executioner back into the ring from the apron, hits a flying forearm and locks in the figure four for a straightforward victory.

King Kong Bundy vs SD Jones

I mean, it’s obvious that this goes longer than the 9 seconds they bill it as, but it’s still a fun deal. Just a nice squash, makes Bundy look killer.

Ricky Steamboat vs Matt Borne

Enjoyed the fun opening stages that establish Steamboat’s superiority to Borne, luring him into running into a chop and slipping out of back suplexes. Borne comes back with a nice belly-to-belly suplex. Both guys exchange nice snug blows, with Steamboat hitting a few choice kneedrops. Steamboat hits a nice top rope crossbody for the win.

David Sammartino vs Brutus Beefcake

Considering how much longer than the previous match this was, there’s very little to say about it. Pretty sluggish stuff, with Sammartino controlling on the mat. He’s not a compelling mat worker, doing some leg work that doesn’t seem to be leading anywhere. Beefcake in control was more interesting, as at least his blows hit with some force. His elbow to the nose in the corner was pretty nasty. Johnny Valliant attacks David on the floor, and we get a big melee leading to a double DQ with Bruno Sammartino getting in and the faces clearing the ring.

Greg Valentine vs the Junkyard Dog

I enjoyed this. Valentine has a good gameplan, going for JYD’s legs as soon as he was on the mat. Also, unlike Sammartino, Valentine’s legwork has a clear end goal and actually looks like it’s going to cause some damage. Loved Valentine’s face first plant to the mat when JYD shoves off a figure four attempt. JYD sells the leg nicely, backing into a corner when on his feet to shield it, and walking gingerly on it when he’s got control. Jimmy Hart ends up taking a big bump when Valentine hits him by accident, falling backwards to the floor, before the Hammer gets a cheat pin in the corner with his foot on the ropes. Post match, Tito Santana comes in to get the result reversed.

The US Express (Barry Windham & Mike Rotunda) vs The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff

Fastly paced little tag sprint, with the US Express looking great to kick off. Nice quick tags and maintaining complete control. The heels get heat on Rotunda, including a nice moment when Rotunda holds onto a hammerlock when getting to his feet to try and make a comeback, with Jesse Ventura and Gorilla Monsoon nicely putting over the instincts of an amateur wrestler to do this. Sheik locks on a sloppy abdominal stretch, which Rotunda hiptosses out of, and Windham is a great hot tag, working at a really high pace. However, he gets taken out by Sheik using Freddie Blassie’s cane and the heels pick up the win and the tag belts.

Andre the Giant vs Big John Studd

This is the $15,000 slam match, with Studd’s money vs Andre’s career. I wrote this up for the Andre the Giant DVD a few years ago, and I agree pretty much with what I wrote then. A pretty brief bout, with Andre never looking in any danger. He wears down Studd with some chokes, a few big chops and a bearhug. He even catches a Studd boot and beats him down before getting a slam from nowhere to win the match.

Wendi Richter vs Leilani Kai

Super hot crowd for this, with Richter trying to regain her women’s title. Cyndi Lauper is the manager for Richter here, which has made this a featured bout for the show. Lots of token matwork to start, which does at least lead to a nice power spot as Kai gets caught in a bodyscissors and lifts up Richter from the mat. Impressive spot. Richter gets Kai on her shoulders and hits what looks like Sean O’Haire’s old Widowmaker finisher for two. This is perfectly fine, aided by a hot crowd, but the ending is terrible. Kai hits a top rope crossbody, but Richter clumsily rolls through for the win.

Hulk Hogan & Mr T vs Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorff

This match is so carefully orchestrated to milk the maximum reaction from the crowd. The audience pops big when Mr T tags in to face Piper, and there’s been no contact made by anyone. T works a nice little mat section with Piper, before we get a big melee, drawing in Muhammed Ali and an even bigger pop. The heels start to walk out for a fake count out spot, and the crowd are pissed. Just glorious conducting of the crowd. The match starts properly, and the faces outsmart the heels, who stooge about fabulously. There’s a real feeling of chaos and things about to breakdown at any time, as people keep getting into the ring, Bob Orton keeps getting on the apron and Ali on the verge of having to reappear and keep order. There’s two heat sections, on Hogan and on T, and I loved Piper when he is working over Hogan, including a lovely wind-up running punch. We get another melee, and in the mess Bob Orton accidentally hits Orndorff with his cast, leaving him to get pinned by Hogan for the win. Just really well-worked crowd pleasing stuff, with a hot crowd getting built to a fever pitch.

End of 2018 Round Up Post

As is now traditional, here is the annual end of year post of the best matches reviewed on the blog this year. Lots of contenders this year, maybe more than ever - the shortlist had 20 matches on, and was really hard to pair down. This, however, was the best of the best.

10) Meiko Satomura vs Mercedes Martinez (Mae Young Classic 2018 – Round 2 #1)

The standout match of the Mae Young Classic. Stiff, hard-hitting stuff from two veterans, which set a high standard for the rest of the tournament. The remaining rounds were full of good stuff, but this was the highlight.

9) Jigsaw, Mr Zero, Gran Akuma, Icarus, Jolly Roger, DJ Skittlez, Private Eye & Shane Storm vs Larry Sweeney, Rorschach, Mano Metallico, Share Cropper, Ultramantis Black, Spyruzal, Crossbones & Hallowicked (CHIKARA – The Cibernetico Cometh)

Going well over an hour, with some wrestlers who have thoroughly underwhelmed in my CHIKARA watching, this could have been as disaster. Instead, it’s really smartly worked, exceptionally entertaining and the hour simply flies by.

8) Alex Reynolds vs John Silver (NYWC Sideshow 2018)

Always enjoyed Silver, but Reynolds has had some hit or miss matches over the years. Here, the two partners work terrifically together, with clever counters showing their familiarity. It goes 17 minutes, which had me worried, but this was great.

7) Cain Justice vs Fred Yehi (Action Wrestling Debut Show 27/04/2018)

This is the spot where I jumped on the bandwagon for both these guys. Really clever stuff with some unique but logical spots which actually build towards the end of the match.

6) Super Dragon & B-Boy vs Billy Ken Kid & Ebessan (CHIKARA Tag World Grand Prix 2005 Night 1)

Terrific tag match, taking comedy worker Ebessan and using him as a sympathetic foil for the Dragon/B-Boy team. Builds to a dynamite hot tag, just tremendous stuff.

5) Toby Farley vs Timmy Lou Retton (Innovate Pro Wrestling – Regenesis)

Two guys I’d never seen before in a big time title match. Lots to enjoy here, a fun fake injury angle, Farley selling a broken jaw by taping his jaw shut and some good, hard hitting stuff.

4) Big Van Vader vs Sting (WCW Great American Bash 1992)

I could honestly have put 4/5 matches from this show on this list, it was that good a show. The textbook on how to work a giant heel vs valiant face hero, both guys come out of this looking like warriors, and Sting puts Vader with no bullshit.

3) Eddie Kingston vs Chris Dickinson (Limitless Wrestling – The World Is Ours)

Two of the best brawlers on the indies kicking lumps out of each other. Both guys give no quarter, and you can see them slowly breaking the other down. They smartly don’t draw it out, it ends at the right time, and this is a super fun war.

2) Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes vs Steve Austin & Dustin Rhodes (WCW Great American Bash 1992)

In any other year, this would probably have been #1. Four of the best wrestlers in the world at the time put on an absolute clinic. You’d have forgiven Dustin and Windham for taking it easy, with two more matches still to come, but they still put it all out there. Tremendous heat section, really exciting end run.

1)    Andrade “Cien” Almas vs Johnny Gargano (WWE NXT Takeover: Philadelphia)

Not only the best match in NXT history, for my money this is a top three match in WWE history. A masterclass in selling from Gargano, a guy who once did the worst sell job I’d seen, some lovely offence by Almas, logical and natural counters and reversals, finishing with a definitive end sequence. One of the best matches I’ve ever seen.

IWO - Rumble On The River 27/5/2000

So I saw this show added on Powerbomb.TV, and there was something about it that just looked too odd to not watch. Future indy legends, early 90's indy has-beens, some never-weres, an 80's WWF relic and what looked to be a ludicrous main event. The commentary mentions a battle royal, which would explain the name of the show, but we never see this. Still, I kinda enjoyed all this.

Ice vs Billy Reil

No expense spared on the gear by either buy, with Ice wearing a sleeveless t-shirt and trousers and Reil sporting a vest and trousers. They work the opening segments to put over Ice’s power advantage as he chucks Reil around the ring, making it all the stranger when both men go to the mat when they collide on a shoulderblock. Reil hit a nice flying headscissors that sent Ice face first into the mat before a springboard crossbody to the floor that sends him hurtling into Ice’s face. Ice in turn comes back by just punching him in the dick twice. Ice hits a powerslam where he looks close to dumping Reil on his head and an actual decent dropkick. This devolves into a soulless move-swapping affair, before Reil misses a moonsault and Ice finishes with a powerbomb, dropping Reil halfway through the move.

Da Hit Squad vs the Metal Maniac & KC Thunder

Man, if the Metal Maniac wasn’t in prime shape as ECW jobber in 1993, he’s definitely ballooned up to twice the size seven years later. Just as I note this, one of the commentators hilariously claims “Metal Maniac looking the best I’ve ever seen him”. His partner, KC Thunder, isn’t exactly an impressive specimen either, mid-forties, soft of body and with high slung multi-coloured tights. In theory, Da Hit Squad should massacre these guys. In reality, Yr 2000 DHS clearly don’t have the clout to do this, as alarm bells start ringing when both Maff and Mack take comedy pratfalls to sell for the referee. Da Hit Squad are utter pros here, stooging and bumping for the old men. Thunder even no-sells getting choked in the corner, just getting back to his feet and continuing. Eventually, a double-team stungun gives DHS control. They don’t work as stiff as usual, but they’re fun in control and Thunder does well it well. We get a hot tag to Maniac, who hits a few lazy clotheslines but collides with Thunder. DHS hit double 2^nd rope headbutts and get the win. Obviously, Da Hit Squad massacring these opponents would have been more fun, but they do enough to keep this entertaining.

Crazy Ivan vs Judas Young

This was much faster paced, and was pretty decent on the whole. Decent juniors wrestler to start, before Ivan takes a crazy bump getting hiptossed from the ring to the floor. Young follows him out with a nice flip dive. Ivan hits a few nice moves here, with an interesting Side Russian Legsweep variation (where he chucks him aside rather than back to the mat) a big top rope elbow and a nice top rope legdrop. Young has a terrible “punk rock” look, but he’s got a young Cherry (of Deuce’n’Domino fame) as his valet, and he looks pretty comfortable in the ring. End sees Ivan miss a corner charge, but when Young hits a crossbody, Ivan rolls through and holds the tights for the win. Of note: this is the last decisive finish of the show.

Homicide vs Low-Ki

Low-Ki is defending his IWO Jr heavyweight belt. In a show with portly indy-never-weres and semi-mobile “legends” (see next match), this match really stand out. Even with Ivan/Young working a pace above the rest of the show in the last match, these two really feel like they’re working in a vacuum, both laying in their strikes, moving with a lovely fluidity and doing clever things that enhance their match. Loved Low-Ki reversing an Irish whip and quickly chaining four-or-five moves together, with a pace that makes you believe Homicide wouldn’t be able to get his bearings and stop it. Homicide in turn decides to focus on Ki’s legs, catching a kick into a leg whip, hitting a top rope version, then trying to smash it against the ring post with a chair, Ki only just escaping. Homicide hits the Cop Killa, which must have blown minds in 2000, months before Shane Helms put the move on national TV. He doesn’t cover immediately, taking off his wrist tape first oddly, so he only gets two. Ki fires back with a series of chops and hits the Ki Krusher 99, but also sells his beating, making a slow cover to get a two count. Loved Homicide nailing a series of clubbing forearms, with Ki barely staying on his feet, before a huge lariat puts him down for two. They go to the floor, brawling in the crowd, throwing each other into chairs with fans barely out of the way, and the ref calls it off. Match of the night, obviously.

Beau James vs Cousin Luke

So here’s the thing. This match is awful. Really bad. Cousin Luke wasn’t exactly ripping up trees in his mid 80’s WWF heyday, and he’s 15 years older, plus substantially heavier, in this match. It’s fair to say he’s barely mobile and yet – and yet – the fans go as nuts for this as for the Ki/Homicide match. You could say this match is an advert for minimalism. They do very little here, all stalling a schtick, and get a big reaction doing it. Luke doesn’t bump once, the majority of the offence here is done by James’s manager Frankie Goombaa choking Luke with a cane behind the refs back, it ends in a shitty DQ when James attacks Luke with Luke’s own horseshoe…and it all works. Dreadful match, but you can’t blame them for working to the crowd.

Manny Fernandez vs Rukas

Given that this was an early 2000 New Jersey indy, and the Powerbomb.tv listing has his name as “Ruckus”, I was very excitedly expecting this to be the Ragin’ Bull vs CZW legend Ruckus. However, the graphic on screen gives us “Rukas” and out came a guy in his 40’s, looking like a compact Ron Simmons. Still, I enjoyed this while it was on. Both guys lay their shit in, with big fists, a nice short back elbow by Rukas and a big clothesline by Fernandez. They brawl on the floor, exchanging weapon shots, and back in Fernandez hits a nasty top rope knee drop. It’s short, sub 10 minutes, but it’s non-stop and it’s well-executed. Fernandez goes for a top rope superplex through an ironing board, but Da Hit Squad return and beat him down for the DQ. Post match, Low Ki comes out to help Fernandez clear the ring, and I’d be well up for that tag team. Fun stuff.

NWA-TNA PPV #1 (19/06/2002)

Impact kindly put this up on their YouTube channel for free, and it's a really interesting watch with the benefit of 16 years of hindsight. The majority of the in-ring stuff is decent, but there's a lot of time given to some right old shit - needless concert by a terrible country singer, long preview for the Miss TNA match the following week, in ring interview with two racing drivers - just unappealing stuff. There's enough good in ring stuff that I'd probably have bought the second show if I'd had access at the time, but only just.

AJ Styles, Low Ki & Jerry Lynn vs The Flying Elvises (Jimmy Yang, Jorge Estrada & Sonny Siaki)

Fun little spot fest to kick off the promotion, which also sets up the following week, where Styles, Ki and Lynn are all in the mix to win the first ever X Division title. The Elvises attack to start, but get sent out to the floor, where Lynn and Ki follow them with a pair of nice dives. Thought Estrada looked great here, made the most of his ring time with a nice springboard moonsault and a really nice running shooting star. He also lets Ki basically kick his head off. Everyone gets a few nice spots as it all breaks down, and in the melee Low Ki accidentally kicks AJ in the head with a cartwheel kick, allowing Yang to nail Yang Time for the shock win. Decent enough opener.

Teo vs Hollywood

I went into this with low expectations, as US midget matches are rarely good, and they instantly blow a tilt-a-whirl headscissors in the first move of the match. Hollywood hits a decent top rope splash for a two count, but this is sloppy stuff. Teo hits an ugly twisting swanton to win.

The Johnsons vs Psychosis & James Storm

This is pretty infamous, because of the Johnson’s terrible gimmick. Make no bones about it, the idea of wrestling penises is dreadful and nothing about the execution makes it any better, but the match itself is fine for the sub 5 minutes it runs. Of course, putting the identical Shane Twins into masks is a total waste of their main appeal, but they looks good here. Lovely butterfly suplexes by both and a big flapjack on Psychosis. Storm is totally out to impress here, hitting a nice missile dropkick and even popping a rana from nowhere near the end. Psychosis, who is the most natural talent in the match, has the least impact here, but does get a nice facebuster reversal from being powerbombed. The Johnson’s win with a shitty TKO after manager Mortimer Plumtree interferes.

Christian York & Joey Matthews vs The Dupps (Bo Dupp & Stan Dupp)

The Dupps are joined by valet Fluff Dupp. This is again extremely short, but what there was came over fine. Bo Dupp in particular seemed really good. He hits some stiff slaps on Matthews, hits a big boot and gets huge height on a splash. York nails a nice full weight senton for two, but after a clumsy tornado DDT, he gets crotched by Fluff and rolled up by Bo for the loss. This was too short, but like the previous match you got the vibe that a terrible gimmick is holding back a decent heel team.

Gauntlet for the Gold

This is a twenty man royal rumble, with the last two entrants ending up in a singles match for the NWA title. Credit to TNA, they tried to build up the younger, cheaper talent here, letting them shine. Malice makes the final two, eliminating half the field in the process. Apollo gets the iron man run in the match, whilst Justice (the baby Abyss) and Chris Harris both get good runs. Jeff Jarrett start the match, seeing off Buff Bagwell, Lash LeRoux and Norman Smiley right away. However, his elimination eventually comes at the hands of dreadful country singer Toby Keith, who makes an unwelcome cameo. Other notable entrants include Del Rios (the former Phantasio) who comes in dressed as an egregious Scott Steiner rip off, and both Konnan and Rick Steiner who both get huge pops. We eventually get down to a final pairing of Ken Shamrock and Malice, leaving us with…

Ken Shamrock vs Malice

Ricky Steamboat is the guest ref for this. Malice dominates early, looking pretty good in the process, before Shamrock reverses a chokeslam into an armbar in a nice counter. Malice makes the ropes, before Shamrock locks in the anklelock. Shamrock is pretty heelish here, dragging Malice back to the middle of the ring when he’s made the ropes, then not letting go after he makes the ropes again, forcing Steamboat to get to a count of 7 before breaking. Malice tries another chokeslam, but Shamrock reverses to a belly-to-belly suplex for the win. The whole deal was pretty fun, and the final two match-up was fine.

ACTION Wrestling - Action for Kids 29/06/2018

AC Mack & Ike Cross vs the Lynch Mob

Good opening bout, the Lynch Mob are well served to fast paced matches like this, and the heel team of Mack and Cross look really good in opposition. The Lynch Mob hit huge dives from the off, before working some quick double teams. Mack takes over on Matt Lynch in a really neat way, as Mack forces him backward through the ropes and Irish whips him throat-first into them. Cross is clearly a terrific athlete, getting nice height on a corner splash and he takes a big bump off a backdrop to the floor. Matt Lynch eats a huge spear from Cross for two, with Joey pushing Mack on top to break the fall. The Lynch Mob pick up the win with a rolling senton/frog splash/moonsault combo, enjoyed this. Good start to the show.

James Ryan vs James Bandy

I’d been impressed with Bandy on the debut show, so it was nice to see what he could do here in singles action, and what he did seemed really good. Nice jumping knee, sharp elbows in the corner and a nice dropkick on the floor through the ropes. Ryan played to the crowd well, though his offence seemed a bit softer than Bandy’s. Bandy makes a comeback after a short Ryan offensive spell, hitting some nice kicks before nailing a running dropkick for the win.

Tragedy Ann vs Aja Perera

Probably the weakest match of the show, albeit still decent in places. There were little bits I liked, such as Ann hitting a mule kick after a compactor legdrop and Aja had a few nice moves, with a facebuster and a running knee both looking good. However, there were a few awkward bits that dragged the match down – Ann running Perera into all four corners looked weak, an odd spinning slam didn’t really work and there’s a strange moment when Ann runs at Perera and bends down into position for a piledriver for no reason. Perera hits a Franchiser into a flatliner for the win.

Cain Justice vs Anthony Henry

This, on the other hand, was really good. Loved the opening matwork, with both guys jockeying for position, felt super competitive. Henry escaping a single-leg crab by forcing himself backwards through Justice’s legs looked great, and I liked Justice trying to get control by yanking Henry off the apron to the floor, only for Henry to immediately hit a forearm instead. A big exploder through the chair follows, must really have sucked for Cain. Justice finally gets control by using the ringpost to his advantage, contorting Henry’s hand over the top and through the loop on the side of the post. Cain from this point works the arm nastily, maintaining good focus. There’s a really clunky roll up sequence mid-match that doesn’t really work, but after that they get back to the good stuff. Loved Justice catching a kick, with Henry rolling though from there to lock in a submission, the commentary suggesting that Henry might have deliberately given the leg to allow him to transition to the submission. However, Justice gives a low blow behind the refs back and locks in the Twist Ending to win. Really good stuff.

Team TAG (Kevin Blue & Chris Spectra) vs Michael Spencer & Chance Rizer

Dominant victory for Team TAG, with Spencer and Rizer getting just enough hope spots to keep it competitive (including Rizer briefly getting the visual pin on Blue with the ref distacted). Rizer gets a nice run of offence to start, before Spectra cuts him off as he goes for a dive. Team TAG then work over Rizer, including a nice belly to belly by Spectra. They don’t do anything fancy, just nice simple control, keeping Rizer in their part of the ring. Tag Team 101, essentially. After a melee, where Rizer scores the visual pin, Spectra hits a huge shoulderblock, with Rizer taking a nasty looking bump, and a double team assisted DDT gets the win.

Billy Buck vs Cabana Man Dan

This immediately follows the previous match, with Dan making the save as Team TAG and Buck continue a beatdown. Dan is a short little spitfire, seems to have real energy and physical charisma, and he looked very good here. Dug him avoiding being blindsided at the bell by side-stepping a charging Buck, and taking him down with a fun mixture of takeovers and pins. Buck stomps on the bare feet of Dan to get an advantage, and allows Team TAG to beat Dan down on the floor. Buck controls CMD nicely and even gets to show some ring smarts as well, avoiding Dan leaping out of the corner and slamming his head to the mat. When he does make his comeback, Dan is like a bouncing ball, leaping up into a chinbreaker, hopping over and nailing a mule kick to the jaw. Team TAG try to interfere, but CMD chops them both down with his flip flops. However, this leaves him exposed as he turns around into the Buckshot superkick for the loss. Really enjoyed this, CMD comes across as a really likable fired up face, whilst the heels come across as suitably nefarious and smart enough to take advantage of their openings.

Slim J vs Cam Carter

Really loved the opening to this, with both guys countering and rolling through moves, gave the air of competitive one-upsmanship. I’d never seen Slim J before, and I was really impressed. He’s really fluid in the ring, just feels totally natural in the ring. Carter continued the good impression he made on the debut show, ending a nice kick combo with a really high German suplex. I liked how the veteran Slim J didn’t give Carter a second to breath, at one point nipping to the top rope and hitting a big spinning kick so quickly. Slim J commits to a big missed moonsault and we get a nice strike exchange that actually feels like a fight. Slim J takes a big kick to the face, and stumbles into the corner, subtly hooking the top rope with his arm to stop himself falling down. Lovely bit of selling. Carter hits a destroyer and a really nice 2^nd rope 450 for two. Slim J hits a superplex that he chains into a guillotine that feels like it should be the finish, but Carter powers to his feet and hits a double underhook brainbuster for the win.

Tracy Williams vs Arik Royal

This is for Williams’s Powerbomb title. Loved the commentary putting over Royal having two victories over Williams already, and throughout the match they make the suggestion that Royal might have his number. They tell a really good story here, with Williams working a limb, in this case Royal’s arm, and taking advantage of his openings to try and damage to his chosen damage point. For his part, Royal goes for big shots, using his raw power to break Williams down. Williams’s offence to Royal’s arm looks convincing, with nasty kicks to the armpit, hitting big downward chops with the arm propped on his own shoulder, plus his opportunistic attacks are really well worked. He lures Royal into throwing a wild punch just to yank the arm over the ropes, he lets Royal take his time going to the top in order to catch him with a crossface mid-dive and, when he gets caught on the top rope a la Ric Flair, he grabs the arm and drops it over the top rope again. When Royal is on offence, he beasts Williams, hitting a huge overhead toss, crushing him in the corner with a shoulder charge before sprinting Williams to the other corner to crush him again. He also hits a lovely stump piledriver, making it look like a struggle to get Williams up. Royal gets a two after a big tackle, with the ref recovering from a bump to keep him looking strong, before Williams locks in a Fujiwara armbar to get the tap. Thought this was excellent.