– WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar is indeed backstage for tonight’s RAW in Pittsburgh. This is Lesnar’s first RAW since walking out two weeks ago. As noted, WWE has confirmed that Lesnar will be live in the ring tonight.
Updated WrestleMania 31 And WWE Hall Of Fame Line-Ups Going Into RAW, Rumored Inductors
– Going into this week’s WWE TV tapings, below are the updated line-ups for WrestleMania 31 and the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame:
WWE World Heavyweight Title Match
Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar with Paul Heyman
WWE United States Title Match
John Cena vs. Rusev with Lana (expected to be made official this week)
Ladder Match for the WWE Intercontinental Title
Dolph Ziggler vs. R-Truth vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Luke Harper vs. others TBA vs. Bad News Barrett
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Kane, Big Show, Darren Young, Titus O’Neil, Jack Swagger, The Miz, Ryback, Curtis Axel, Fandango, Adam Rose, Zack Ryder, Erick Rowan, others TBA
Sting vs. Triple H
AJ Lee and Paige vs. The Bella Twins
Bray Wyatt vs. The Undertaker (possibly made official this week)
2015 Hall of Fame Class
Rikishi – inducted by The Usos
Randy Savage – accepted by Lanny Poffo, inducted by Hulk Hogan
The Bushwhackers – expected to be inducted by John Laurinaitis
Alundra Blayze – inductor TBA, rumored to be current WWE Diva
Arnold Schwarzenegger – inductor TBA, rumored to be Triple H
Kevin Nash – inducted by Shawn Michaels (possibly made official this week)
CM Punk’s Trainer Calls Him A ‘Natural Striker’
Credit: Sean Ross Sapp
CM Punk’s MMA coach Duke Roufus appeared on today’s edition of The MMA Hour, where he was interviewed by Ariel Helwani. He had glowing reviews of former WWE Champion CM Punk’s performance in MMA practice.
“He’s putting his work in, he shows up every day,” Roufus said on the show. “He has a great attitude. He didn’t become successful by accident. It’s because he was a worker and he was a value to the organization, not only as a face, but in who he is. People get behind people that are easy to work with, and he’s so easy to work with.”
Roufus also trains UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, who will compete this weekend against challenger Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 185. CM Punk will be walking Pettis to the cage for the event. Punk’s teammate and Anthony’s brother Sergio also will be competing on the card.
Roufus said that Punk is adapting to striking more and more, and isn’t afraid of getting hit.
“He came in with Gracie jiu-jitsu. The natural thing he’s good at is striking. He’s a natural striker. When he did a scrimmage last week, he was pretty comfortable in the fire. He didn’t freak out, he didn’t panic. That’s what I’m looking for in new fighters. You can teach skill, but you can’t teach will. Are they going to run and break during a fight, or are they going to get in there and survive the fire? That’s what I was impressed with. I think in time, his skills are going to advance, but if he has the mindset and the will, he’s going to do great,” said Roufus.
Even though Roufus is optimistic about Punk’s progression, he’s not prepared to tout Punk as future champion.
“I don’t know if he’s going to be a champion or a contender, but a lot of guys in the UFC aren’t champions or contenders, but they’re popular,” Roufus said.
No debut date has been set for CM Punk in the UFC thus far.
Big WWE RAW Meeting?, New Teasers From The Rock And JBL, GFW To Announce TV Tapings?
– Jeff Jarrett’s Global Force Wrestling is expected to announce TV tapings for Las Vegas soon. PWInsider reports that one source claims there are tapings tentatively planned for the first week in May while another source claims that dates for July will be announced.
– There are rumors going around that WWE has called a big talent meeting to take place this afternoon before RAW. We will keep you updated on any developments.
– JBL tweeted the following update on his new co-host for The JBL Show being revealed later today:
Due to #JBLShow being stuck in snowstorm, the show will debut tomorrow with my A list co host announced! @ReneeYoungWWE @wwe @RealSummerWWE
— John Layfield (@JCLayfield) March 9, 2015
– The Rock posted another teaser on Instagram and Twitter this weekend:
“Something big is in the works.. We’re gonna change the world (or at least have fun tryin’). It’s the first step in #ProjectRock #NoMoreBulls–tting #WakeyWakey #OnlyThingBiggerAreMyBiceps #AndByTheWay #ItsGonnaBeFREE”
Fighting Spirit Review: ZERO1/Super Fireworks “Naniwa Super Fireworks 2015”
Date: January 23rd, 2015
Location: Osaka BODYMAKER COLOSSEUM #2 in Osaka, Japan
Announced Attendance: Unknown
I like things that go boom. I am promised that something will go boom on this event. Besides that there is a random Miss Mongrol match and the usual cast from ZERO1. Here is the full card:
– GUNSO, YO-HEY, and HAYATA vs. Ichiro Yaguchi, Hideki Hosaka, and Kenichi Fujii
– Kanjuro Matsuyama vs. Miss Mongol
– Masato Tanaka, Magnitude Kishiwada, and Ikuto Hidaka vs. Ryouji Sai, TARU, and “brother” YASSHI
– Kohei Sato and Hideki Suzuki vs. Shinjiro Otani and Daisuke Sekimoto
– Super Fireworks Championship: Atsushi Onita vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
Let’s get started.
GUNSO, YO-HEY, and HAYATA vs. Ichiro Yaguchi, Hideki Hosaka, and Kenichi Fujii
Who are these people? Why was this shown in full? So many questions. YO-HEY and Hosaka start off and YO-HEY hits a dropkick. Fujii tags in Yaguchi and Yaguchi clubs YO-HEY in the ribs. Yaguchi slams YO-HEY and YO-HEY tags in GUNSO. GUNSO and Yaguchi trade chops before Yaguchi hits a shoulderblock. Single arm suplex by Yaguchi but GUNSO hits a shoulderblock. GUNSO tags in HAYATA while Fujii is also tagged in, and they trade chops. Enzigieri by HAYATA and he tags in YO-HEY. Dropkick by YO-HEY and he punches HAYATA in the corner. YO-HEY tags in GUNSO, snapmare by GUNSO and he applies a stretch hold to Fujii. HAYATA and Fujii trade elbows, scoop slam by HAYATA and he hits a moonsault off the second turnbuckle. Fujii avoids HAYATA in the corner and tags in Hosaka. Hosaka scoop slams HAYATA and GUNSO, and finally YO-HEY. Shoulderblock by Hosaka to HAYATA and that is enough for a nearfall. Handspring kick by HAYATA and he tags in GUNSO. GUNSO dropkicks Hosaka and hits a DDT. Enzigieri by Hosaka and he tags in Yaguchi. GUNSO hits a low blow on Yaguchi but Yaguchi hits a double lariat. YO-HEY elbows Yaguchi but Yaguchi hits a heel kick. Olympic Slam by Yaguchi and he gets a two count. Scoop slam by Yaguchi and he tags in Fujii. Elbow drops by Fujii to YO-HEY but YO-HEY kicks him in the head. Spear by Fujii and YO-HEY is triple teamed in the corner. Yaguchi tries to lariat YO-HEY but he hits Fujii by accident. Superkick by YO-HEY to Fujii, he goes up top and he nails the Bamboo Dragonfly for the three count. What hampered the match quality here is that these wrestlers aren’t very good. A lot of moves weren’t hit quite right and there was no real structure to speak of. That being said it wasn’t horrible, it was just basic and void of excitement. Finishing move was pretty though. Score: 3.5
Kanjuro Matsuyama vs. Miss Mongol
MALE ON FEMALE VIOLENCE. Oh the humanity. Matsuyama grabs Mongol’s arm and walks the ropes before hitting an armdrag. Mongol whips Matsuyama from behind and then out of the ring. Matsuyama throws Mongol into the guardrail and Matsuyama is attacked by Combat Toyoda, Bad Nurse Rie Nakamura, and Kaori Nakayama at ringside. Mongol slides Matsuyama back in, Matsuyama hits Mongol with a fan and then hits a backstabber. Matsuyama charges Mongol but he hits the referee by accident. Mongol slams Matsuyama to the mat, she goes up top and hits a diving body press for the three count. Ok this wasn’t good but it was done to celebrate Mongrol’s real life engagement and was meant as a feel-good kind of thing. So their heart was in the right place, it just wasn’t a very good match. I’m a mark for legends coming back and doing stuff so it was nice to see Combat Toyoda and company get involved. Match quality was sub-par but I enjoyed the overall message. Score: 4.0
Masato Tanaka, Ikuto Hidaka, and Kishiwada vs. TARU, brother YASSHI, and Ryouji Sai
They brawl outside the ring to start the match, with YASSHI and Hidaka eventually getting in the ring. YASSHI and Hidaka trade chops and Hidaka dropkicks YASSHI. Tanaka is tagged in and he hits a jumping elbow to YASSHI. Kishiwada is tagged in and he hits a body avalanche on YASSHI followed by a double arm suplex. Hidaka kicks YASSHI but YASSHI grabs Hidaka low and tags in TARU. TARU chokes Hidaka with some wrist tape, and Hidaka is worked over by all three wrestlers in various heel-based ways. Which means lots of choking. Sai hits a suplex on Hidaka but Hidaka avoids Sai’s charge. Heel kick by Hidaka and he makes a hot tag to Kishiwada. Lariat by Kishiwada and he dropkicks YASSHI. TARU runs in too but Kishiwada lariats TARU and Sai. Vertical suplex by Kishiwada to Sai, he goes up top and hits a moonsault for two. Sai kicks Kishiwada in the chest and tags in YASSHI. Kick by YASSHI but Kishiwada hits a Northern Lights Suplex for two. Kishiwada tags in Tanaka and Tanaka hits slams on everyone. Lariat by Tanaka in the corner and he hits a Michinoku Driver. TARU hits Tanaka from the floor and Tanaka is triple teamed. Sai joins Tanaka up top and he hits a delayed superplex. YASSHI goes up top but Tanaka avoids the diving headbutt. TARU comes in but he hits Sai by accident and Hidaka hits a tornado DDT on TARU. Reverse DDT by Hidaka and Kishiwada hits a diving body press. Tanaka follows with his own diving body press but it gets a two count. Sliiiiiiiding D by Tanaka, and he picks up the three count. I actually really enjoyed this match. The Voodoo Murders heel very well, they aren’t technical wrestlers but they keep it interesting. Once that phase was over, the faces all did a good job with the fast paced heavyweight action and once the switch took place there was no downtime whatsoever. The world needs more Voodoo Murders brawls, I thought the match was really fun. Score: 8.0
Kohei Sato and Hideki Suzuki vs. Shinjiro Otani and Daisuke Sekimoto
Sato and Sekimoto start off and they try to knock each other over. Sato gets the better of it, back up and they trade chops. Sato kicks Sekimoto in the back and tags in Suzuki. Sekimoto tags in Otani and Otani chops Suzuki in the chest but Sato is tagged in and Otani is double teamed. Otani and Sato trade chops to the chest, Suzuki comes in and he applies a crab hold to Otani. Sekimoto kicks Suzuki to break it up, but Suzuki slaps on a leg hold to Otani. Suzuki kicks Otani in the leg and tags in Sato. Sato kicks Otani in the chest but Otani eventually catches one and hits a headbutt. Otani tags in Sekimoto and Sekimoto lariats Sato in the corner. Vertical suplex by Sekimoto and he applies a Scorpion Deathlock but Suzuki breaks it up. Sekimoto knocks Suzuki off the apron and scoop slams Sato. Sekimoto goes up top but Sato gets his knees up on the diving body press. Sato tags in Suzuki, uppercuts by Suzuki and he hits an exploder suplex. Atomic drop by Sekimoto and he tags in Otani. Otani boots Sato off the apron and throws Suzuki in the corner to hit some facewashes. Otani chops Suzuki in the corner and he hits a heel kick. Big boot by Otani and Sekimoto hits a lariat. Sekimoto and Otani hit a double strike on Suzuki, and Otani covers for two. Otani picks up Suzuki and he hits a backdrop suplex for a two count. Otani goes off the ropes but Suzuki hits an uppercut and a backdrop suplex. Scoop slam by Suzuki and Sato hits a diving kneedrop. Double vertical suplex to Otani, Suzuki picks him up but Otani hits a back bodydrop. Otani lariats Sato and hits a heel kick onto Suzuki. Otani goes up top and he hits a missile dropkick. Sato comes in and hits a falcon arrow on Otani, but Sekimoto drops him with a suplex. Suzuki elbows Otani, he goes off the ropes but Otani knees him in the stomach. Otani and Suzuki trade strikes but Suzuki hits a tombstone piledriver. Suzuki picks up Otani, he hits the double-arm suplex and he picks up the three count victory. This was just too slow for me, it crawled along too much. These guys are capable of having hard hitting and emotional matches, but I just wasn’t feeling this one at all. It was missing something key, the bulk of it bored me to tears. A disappointing match from four wrestlers that are capable of being fantastically fun to watch. Score: 3.5
Atsushi Onita vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
This match is to crown the first ever Super Fireworks Championship. Oh and this is a No Ropes Barbed Wire Current Blast, Double Blast Bat, and Double Hell Death Match. Of course. The do some arm work but Onita flips the script by spitting red liquid in his face and knocking Takayama into the barbed wire, causing a big explosion. DDT by Onita but it gets a two count. They take it outside the ring and Onita throws Takayama into the guardrail. They battle around the ring before finally returning, and Onita hits a vertical suplex. Onita throws Takayama into the barbed wire again and gets exploded in the process for a two count. Onita grabs Takayama around the neck and they both inch into the barbed wire, creating another boom. Onita hits a bulldog of sorts but Takayama kicks Onita into the barbed wire, cooking Onita. Scoop slam by Takayama and he hits a leg drop for two. Takayama goes for a kick but Onita catches his leg and as you probably guessed by now, they go into the barbed wire. I am not sure how I am the only one concerned that Onita is killing his one gimmick. Takayama gets a barbed wire current bat and hits Onita with it, causing a blast. At least that is different. Takayama gets it again and hits Onita with it a second time. Mounted punches by Takayama and he pushes Onita into the barbed wire explosion. Takayama hits a backdrop suplex, and he picks up the three count. Takayama is your first champion! I enjoy the spectacle of these matches but they just go overboard. The explosions should be special, not just the standard, this match had more booms then most matches have suplexes and by the end it just wasn’t special anymore. Besides that it was what it was, and I like the bat, I just wish it had more suspense. Score: 5.0
Final Thoughts:
As for the main event, I am always torn when Onita has these matches these days as while I do enjoy the match style, they just go so far with it that by the end it doesn’t feel special anymore. And barbed wire explosion death matches should be special. As for the rest of the card, most was very skippable even though I did really enjoy the six man tag so that was a pleasant surprise. If you want to see the spectacle of the barbed wire explosion match and a fun six man tag match, go for it, but I can’t give it a particularly strong recommendation.
Grade: C-
The “OH MY GOD!” Review: ECW At The Flagstaff 12/6/96
1996-12-06 at The Flagstaff in Jim Thorpe, PA)
Champions
World: Sandman
TV: Shane Douglas
Tag Team: Gangstas
Taz comes out with Bill Alfonso to open up the show with an in ring promo. He says that ECW will not let him wrestle tonight. He talks about how he would have tagged with Sabu at November to Remember if Sabu just asked him. Tomorrow night Taz says he is going to make Rob Van Dam an example and he will then move on to Sabu.
Axl Rotten vs. Gorgeous Quartermaine, ref John Finnegan
GQ has just gone to wearing the mask to the ring now. Axl gets a chair and GQ bails. Axl says that he won’t use the chair and will just out wrestle GQ. GQ with a go behind and Axl feels his anal virginity is in danger and he freaks out. GQ goes to work on the arm of Axl. Crossbody for 2 and right back to the arm. They go to the floor and Axl tries to use weapons but the ref takes them away. Back in the ring Axl ducks some clotheslines hits a kick to the gut followed by the dominator for the 3 count in 5.42.
Little Guido vs. Spike Dudley, ref John “Pee Wee” Moore
Guido gets on the mic and says that JT Smith will be gone for a few months but that’s ok because he was the one calling the shots in the FBI anyway. Guido says he was the leader even though people thought it was Smith. There will be no more Frank Sinatra. From now on it will just be him kicking ass. They trade some pin attempts early on and then go to the floor where Guido hits a back drop on Spike. Gordsburster from Guido to bring Spike back into the ring. Guido stays on the attack for a while until Spike attempts a rana off the top but they just crumble to the mat and it looks more like Guido reversed it into a power bomb. Guido right back on the attack with a side slam for 2. Spike flips out of a belly to back and hits a tornado bulldog for 3 in 5.09.
Buh Buh Ray Dudley (w/ Sign Guy Dudley) vs. “Dangerous” Devon Storm, ref John Finnegan
Some back and forth to start and then they go to the floor. Storm hits a somersault body block from the apron. Buh Buh reverses a whip and sends Storm into the guard rail and into the crowd they go for a bit. Back in the ring Buh Buh takes off Storm’s head with a clothesline. Storm comes back and hits a springboard leg lariat and gets 2. Storm with some very slow offense and then he misses a moonsault. Buh Buh to the top but Storm cuts him off and goes up with him. Super rana and Buh Buh gets spiked right on top of his head. Only gets a 2 count though. Buh Buh hits a power bomb but doesn’t pin Storm. Two flapjack cutters later and Buh Buh picks up the win in 12.11.
Stevie Richards (w/ bWo) vs. David Morton Tyler Jericho, ref John Finnegan
Super Nova does the worst Hogan impression ever. Stevie uses every gay insult he can think off for the crowd. Lots of back and forth off the ropes to start off and it ends with Jericho hitting a cross body for 2. Stevie bails to the floor. Jericho reverses all of Stevie’s moves hitting a head scissor and rana. Stevie though able to duck a line and hit a low blow. Snake eyes and side slam get a 2 count for Stevie. Super kick is ducked and Jericho hits one of his own for 2. Jericho goes for a rana but Stevie drops down into a power bomb and gets the win in 8.20.
Halfway through the show and I’m pretty freakin bored.
“Primetime” Brian Lee vs. Louie Spicolli, ref John “Pee Wee” Moore
Lee attacks as Spicolli gets into the ring and they go right into the crowd. Spicolli seems to have bleached his hair which I assume means he will be bleeding more often now that he’s been working Lee and he wants it to look good. In the ring Louie throws a chair at Lee and slams him for a 2. Louie picks up Lee for a DVD but while he has him up Lee chokeslams the ref. This means there is no ref to make the count after Louie hits the move. Fucking brilliant! A new ref comes out and while Louie is distracted Lee recovers and hits a chokeslam for the win in 4.10. Weak overall brawl but a great finish.
Pitbull 2 vs. D-Von Dudley ,ref John Finnegan
Pitbull with the early advantage working the arm and hitting a running power slam. Pitbull with a spin kick but then D-Von gets his foot up on a corner charge to take over. D-Von with a suplex but Pitbull no sells it and they go to the floor. Pitbull gets busted open from multiple weapons to the head. Rocker dropper gets 2 for D-Von. Top rope head butt for 2. D-Von gets a chair and comes off the second buckle but Pitbull drop kicks it into his face. A fan wants to know “who’s the man BITCH”. D-Von however comes right back with a powerslam. D-Von goes back up top but gets caught and placed back up on the buckle. Super fallaway slam by Pitbull for the win in 11. Joel Gertner gets in the ring and says D-Von won on points and is still undefeated. Pitbull goes after him when Axl Rotten shows up with a chair to the back of Pitbull. Pitbull gets doubled teamed for is able to fight them both off.
TV Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas (w/ Francine) vs. Tommy Dreamer (w/ Beulah), ref John Finnegan
Douglas on the mic and he trashes the town and then Dreamer. Douglas in control briefly but then Dreamer drop kicks the knee and goes to work on it with a chair. Shane comes back with a swinging neck breaker and piledriver on the chair. Shane then works over the leg of Dreamer for a bit. Dreamer able to slam Shane off the top and then hit a DDT for 2. The girls fight at ringside and Dreamer pulls Francine into the ring. Dreamer goes for a piledriver on her but Shane makes the save and hits a single arm DDT to retain the title in 8.35.
World Champion Sandman & Tag Team Champions The Gangstas vs. Raven & The Eliminators
Raven with out his crew tonight. The face team hits the ring and the brawl begins. Lots of weapons being used. New Jack puts Kronus through a table. The Eliminators get in a bunch of kicks on Jack and then go to work on Mustafa. Meanwhile Raven is beating on Sandman outside the ring. He brings him in and Sandman now gets kicks in the face and back of the head. After some more brawling Sandman goes for a DDT on Raven but the Eliminators break it up with Total Elimination. That looked cool. The two tag teams brawl on the floor and Sandman recovers in the ring this time hitting the DDT and picking up the win in 9.12. The listings for this on RF Video say this is a wild and bloody brawl. I’m here to tell you it was neither wild or bloody. Not one person bleed and most of the action surprisingly took place in the ring. The champions all celebrate in the ring after the match.
My thoughts on the show…
I was pretty bored by this entire show. No real fun wild brawl nor was there a real solid wrestling match. Aside from the title match tomorrow night at Holiday Hell there doesn’t seem to be much that could happen to really shake things up. I expect all the feuds to continue on as is with the exception of the World Title picture. We’ll see how it plays out over the next two weeks of ECW TV as the show was never released on video. As for this one here you can save yourself the time and just skip over it.
Fighting Spirit Review: Legend The Pro-Wrestling on 1/12/15
Date: January 12th, 2015
Location: Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
Announced Attendance: 1,129
Backtracking a little bit, but Legend doesn’t run shows very often so I have to be sure to review them when they do. Legend The Pro-Wrestling is a promotion run by some combination of Fujinami, Sayama, and Choshu and features a mixture of wrestlers borrowed from other promotions and older freelancers. There are some unique matchups here, as there usually is with Legend, with participation from a number of smaller promotions. Here is the full card:
– Alexander Otsuka and Super Tiger vs. Mitsuya Nagai and Nobuyuki Kurashima
– Bear Fukuda vs. Yuji Okabayashi
– Hiro Saito and AKIRA vs. Masakatsu Funaki and Kaz Hayashi
– NOSAWA Rongai, MAZADA, and FUJITA vs. Tatsumi Fujinami, Kanemoto, and LEONA
– Akitoshi Saito and Tomohiro Ishii vs. Daisuke Sekimoto and Tatsuhito Takaiwa
– Atsushi Onita, Ichiro Yaguchi, and Hideki Hosaka vs. Riki Choshu, Original Tiger Mask, and Takatoriki
I am sure something on this card will be good, I just have no idea what it will be.
Alexander Otsuka and Super Tiger vs. Mitsuya Nagai and Nobuyuki Kurashima
Super Tiger start off and trade kicks and Nagai hits a vertical suplex. He tags in Kurashima but Super Tiger drives him back and tags in Otsuka. Otsuka works over Kurashima on the mat but Kurashima gets position and they return to their feet. Kurashima gets Otsuka to the mat and he tags in Nagai. Elbow by Nagai and he tags Kurashima back in. Kurashima hits a vertical suplex to Otsuka, Nagai is tagged in but Otsuka hits a suplex and tags in Super Tiger. Super Tiger hits a single arm suplex on Nagai and drops a knee for two. Crossface chickenwing by Super Tiger but Kurashima breaks it up. Nagai catches Super Tiger’s kick and he hits a capture suplex. Nagai tags in Kurashima, but Super Tiger plants him with a high kick and tags in Otsuka. Uppercuts by Otsuka to Kurashima as Nagai gets in the ring and they hit Otsuka with a double shoulderblock. Double vertical suplex to Otsuka but Otsuka hits a release German suplex on Kurashima. Otsuka picks up Kurashima and hits a brainbuster, and he then applies the good ‘ol Giant Swing. Crab hold by Otsuka to Kurashima and Kurashima quickly submits. This was a bit clipped, maybe 25% of it wasn’t shown but I imagine we just missed more of the same. A really basic opener, nothing different or exciting, but fundamentally sound. Score: 4.0
Bear Fukuda vs. Yuji Okabayashi
They tie-up to start and Okabayashi chops Fukuda in the chest. They take turns trying to knock each other over and then trade elbows, Okabayashi goes off the ropes but Fukuda knees him. Okabayashi hits a powerslam and then a lariat in the corner. Okabayashi applies a crab hold but Fukuda gets to the ropes. Fukuda hits a lariat in the corner and then hits a vertical suplex for a two count. Fukuda slams Okabayashi in front of the corner and he hits a body press off the second turnbuckle. Lariat by Fukuda but Okabayashi lariats him back. Another lariat by Okabayashi and he hits a scoop slam. Okabayashi goes up top and he hits the Golem Splash for the three count! Like the last match about 25% was clipped. I liked the power stuff but it stayed at a low level, for example none of the lariats or elbows looked really hurty like you see in the big leagues, it never ramped up to a hateful brawl or exchange. So that made it more dull then exciting since it never felt like they were really trying to bring the pain. Not bad, just not good. Score: 5.0
Hiro Saito and AKIRA vs. Masakatsu Funaki and Kaz Hayashi
AKIRA and Funaki kick things off and they trade holds on the mat. They tussle around for a few minutes and Funaki hits a shoulderblock but AKIRA ducks the PK. Hayashi and Saito are tagged in and Hayashi tries to engage with Saito even though Saito is old and not very mobile. Saito applies a stretch hold and he tags in AKIRA. AKIRA applies a leg submission to Hayashi and tags in Saito. Saito and Hayashi trade chops and Saito tags in AKIRA. Hayashi suplexes AKIRA but AKIRA stomps down Hayashi in the corner but Hayashi hits a reverse STO into the turnbuckles. Funaki is tagged in in and he kicks AKIRA in the chest. Back kick by Funaki and he hits an armdrag. Funaki applies a crossface chicken wing to AKIRA but AKIRA gets to the ropes. Diving double chop by AKIRA and he tags in Saito. Funaki is double teamed in the corner and Saito hits a DDT for a two count. Scoop slam by AKIRA and Saito hits a senton. Scoop slam by Saito and he hits a diving senton. Hayashi hits a handspring kick to AKIRA and he hits a pescado down onto AKIRA. In the ring Funaki hits a PK on Saito, he applies the cross armbreaker in the middle of the ring and Saito has to tap out. This was rough, I mean I am just not a fan of old man mat wrestling. I like my wrestling a little flashy, or hard hitting, or interesting. Hayashi tried, bless his heart, and Saito was wrestling to the best of his ability (I enjoy sentons), but it was just a slow match with not a lot going on until the ending stretch. Score: 3.5
NOSAWA Rongai, MAZADA, and FUJITA vs. Tatsumi Fujinami, Kanemoto, and LEONA
Lots of CAPS in this write-up. LEONA and NOSAWA start off and they quickly go to the mat. After a moment they return to their feet, LEONA gets NOSAWA back down and goes for the leg but NOSAWA reverses it. Fujinami and FUJITA are tagged in, FUJITA gets Fujinami into the corner and hits him before backing off. Kanemoto and MAZADA are the next legal men, Kanemoto isn’t messing around with submission holds and just kicks the crud out of MAZADA. Facewash by Kanemoto and he hits a running kick. He kicks FUJITA as well just for fun and then dives out onto FUJITA with a tope suicida. Kanemoto is trying to single-handedly make this event not suck and I thank him for it. Kanemoto tags in LEONA and LEONA applies a reverse chinlock to MAZADA. Scoop slam by MAZADA and he tags in NOSAWA. Double team to LEONA and NOSAWA covers him for two. NOSAWA headbutts LEONA into the corner, and NOSAWA applies a submission to LEONA. Kanemoto breaks it up and NOSAWA tags in FUJITA. FUJITA throws LEONA in the corner and tags in MAZADA. LEONA and MAZADA trade chops, cover by MAZADA but LEONA kicks out. I WANT MORE KANEMOTO. MAZADA tags in NOSAWA and LEONA eats a double flapjack. MAZADA picks up LEONA but LEONA hits a vertical suplex. LEONA tags in Fujinami and Fujinami hits dragon screws on everyone. Sleeper to NOSAWA but it is quickly broken up. Kanemoto comes in and hits a double dropkick to NOSAWA and MAZADA, he then hits a kick combination onto MAZADA. Fujinami picks up MAZADA and hits a backbreaker before tagging in LEONA. Double arm suplex by LEONA to MAZADA but the pin is broken up. LEONA and company all put on submission holds but MAZADA gets to the ropes. NOSAWA tags himself in from the apron and he kicks LEONA low. LEONA is thrown into the corner and everyone hits running strikes. Triple Powerbomb to LEONA, cover by NOSAWA but it gets two. Shining Wizard by NOSAWA but LEONA sneaks in an inside cradle for two. Backslide by LEONA, and he picks up the three count! LEONA’s first career pin, yay! If only it happened ten minutes sooner. Kanemoto as I mentioned seemed motivated but Fujinami was just there to hit a few spots and none of the others did anything special. I mean I have seen a hundred matches with MAZADA and NOSAWA and they are all the same, they aren’t bad but they are just…. average. A little too long and I don’t see much in LEONA to be honest. Score: 4.5
Akitoshi Saito and Tomohiro Ishii vs. Daisuke Sekimoto and Tatsuhito Takaiwa
Ishii and Sekimoto begin the match , Ishii slaps Sekimoto but Sekimoto shoulderblocks him. They trade elbows and Ishii hits the shoulderblock. Chops now, but Sekimoto kicks Ishii to the mat and tags in Takaiwa. Ishii knocks Sekimoto off the apron for no reason, pissing off Sekimoto but the referee gets him back and Ishii tags in Saito. Takaiwa and Saito try to knock each other over without any luck, and Takaiwa tags in Sekimoto. Sekimoto chops Saito and elbows him, but Saito returns fire. Knee to the stomach by Saito and he tags in Ishii. Ishii headbutts Sekimoto but Sekimoto elbows him and hits a lariat. Sekimoto tags in Takaiwa and Takaiwa applies an armbar. Ishii quickly gets out of it and tags in Saito. Saito hits a piledriver on the bare floor to Takaiwa while Ishii hits Sekimoto with chairs. Lariat by Saito and he gets back in the ring with Takaiwa. Kick to the chest by Saito and he tags in Ishii. Ishii applies a crab hold but Sekimoto tries to break it up. Ishii elbows him in the face for his trouble and scoop slams Takaiwa before tagging in Saito. Saito applies a chinlock to Takaiwa, he goes for a vertical suplex but Takaiwa reverses it and tags in Sekimoto. Sekimoto knocks Ishii off the apron and lariats Saito in the corner. Vertical suplex by Sekimoto but it gets a one count. Argentine Backbreaker by Sekimoto, Ishii strolls in the ring but Sekimoto shoulderblocks him out of the ring.
Ishii chops Sekimoto in the corner and he hits a powerslam. Ishii and Sekimoto trade elbows, and Sekimoto hits an exploder. Sekimoto tags in Takaiwa and Takaiwa hits a lariat. Takaiwa goes up top and he hits a diving elbow drop. Sekimoto comes in and both lariat Ishii in the corner. Sekimoto and Takaiwa both lariat Ishii again but Saito breaks up the pin attempt. Takaiwa picks up Ishii but Saito lariats Takaiwa. Sekimoto lariats Saito but Ishii lariats Sekimoto before Takaiwa and Ishii lariat each other. Ishii and Takaiwa trade elbows, Ishii puts Takaiwa on the top turnbuckle and he hits a delayed vertical suplex. Waistlock by Takaiwa, Sekimoto comes in the ring and suplexes Takaiwa to suplex Ishii. Sekimoto suplexes Saito as well, Takaiwa lariats Saito and he hits the death valley bomb on Ishii. Ishii headbutts Takaiwa in the chest and then hits a lariat. Brainbuster by Ishii, and he picks up the three count. This one was a lot of fun, it had the hard hitting action we hadn’t seen yet on this show. Ishii and Sekimoto were tons of fun to watch, I am shocked to see they haven’t had a singles match since 2007. This needs to happen. Loved the end stretch, both teams made me think that winning was really important to them, which is what I want in my pro wres. Takaiwa and Saito aren’t on Sekimoto and Ishii’s level these days but still gobs of fun overall. Score: 8.0
Atsushi Onita, Ichiro Yaguchi, and Hideki Hosaka vs. Riki Choshu, Original Tiger Mask, and Takatoriki
This is a Barbed Wire Board Deathmatch. Takaiwa pushes Hosaka into the barbed wire board before the match even starts and spits red mist into Onita’s face before taking things out to the floor. Tiger Mask headbutts Hosaka but Yaguchi comes in and hits Tiger Mask with a barbed wire bat. Tiger Mask is thrown into a table propped up in the corner but Choshu comes in for the save. Choshu throws Yaguchi into the corner, breaking the table, and then he hits Yaguchi with a piece of the table. Onita and Takatoriki make their way back to ringside while Tiger Mask throws Hosaka back out of it. Yaguchi ‘hits’ Tiger Mask with the barbed wire bat and throws him out of the ring. Hosaka sets up some chairs so they can put the barbed wire board on it, but Choshu lariats Yaguchi. In the ring Onita hits Takatoriki with a piece of table but Onita spits red mist in his face. Takatoriki and Choshu hit a double vertical suplex on Onita, sending him through the barbed wire board. Yaguchi and Hosaka dutifully set up the chairs and barbed wire board again (such a creative bunch), they grab Tiger Mask and Hosaka goes for a dive but Choshu cuts him off and hits a superplex. Lariat by Choshu to Hosaka and Tiger Mask kicks Yaguchi out of the ring. Pescado by Tiger Mask to Yaguchi as Takatoriki re-emerges, Takatoriki grabs Hosaka and chokeslams him through the barbed wire board for the three count. Things wrong with this match – it was too short for a main event, it was used mainly to put over a storyline that may never come to fruition, Yaguchi and Hosaka are horrible, and how many people even know who Takatoriki is? Honestly if it lasted a bit longer and was more crazy brawling it may have worked but there was very little crazy brawling anyway. Just a weird and disappointing way to end the event, not to mention a waste of some legitimate legends. Score: 2.0
Final Thoughts:
So basically what we have here is one great match, a bunch of average matches, and a really bad main event. There were so many legendary wrestlers on this event and this is the best that they could do? Obviously not an event as a whole I could ever recommend, just find the tag match online somewhere if you feel so inclined and call it a day.
Grade: D-
The “OH MY GOD!” Review: Maximum Xtreme Pro Wrestling “Impact TV” 5/14, 5/21, 5/28/04
Maximum Impact 2004-05-14 (Matches taped 2004-04-16 from War Memorial in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla)
Heavyweight: Vacant TV Champion: Vacant Tag Team: Vacant Lex Lovett vs. Antonio Banks These guys look ready for an intense match. They get in each others face and Banks slaps Lovett. Take down by Lovett and Banks goes into a guard to defend against it. Some back and forth submissions and take downs. Banks hits a clothesline and an arm drag into an arm bar. Lovett goes low to get out. Lovett with with real nice leg lariat for 2. Suplex for 2. Banks tries to make a comeback but gets cut off. Banks comes back with a clothesline and hits a tilt a whirl urinagi for 2. Banks goes for a suplex but Lovett flips out of it and lands on his feet. Lovett with a roll up for 2. Banks goes for a spin kick but Lovett ducks hits the ropes and nails a running blockbuster on Banks for the win in 9.14. Kevin Kelly and Chris Nelson talk about the the Warlord coming to MXPW. He has been granted a 30 day contract. “Black Nature Boy” Scoot Andrews says he’s in town and he is here to talk over.
Bruno Sassi vs. “Black Nature Boy” Scoot Andrews TV Title Tournament Match Sassi uses his size to throw around Andrews to start. Andrews attacks the knee of Sassi with a drop kick and then slamming it into the guard rail outside of the ring. Sassi apparently has a surgically repaired knee. Andrews all over the leg setting up the figure four. Sassi mounts a comeback and goes for a figure four of his on but Andrews blocks it. STO by Andrews and then he locks in the figure four. Sassi tries to fight but it’s to much as the ref counts 3 in 6.49.
Warlord vs. Kevin Devine, Logan Casey & Scott Commodity Holy balls Warlord is still a giant. These three look like children next to the Warlord. Warlord just kills them for 2.45. The match ends after he hits a power bomb on Devine and then locks Casey in the full nelson with his foot on Devine to get the pin. After the match Punisher stands at the entrance way and Warlord stares him down from the ring. New Jack says he is back in MXPW next week for a hardcore match. The Market Crasher say their stock is on the rise in 2004 so you should bet on them.
Market Crashers vs. Vandals Vandals looking for some revenge after last week. Nasdaq starts off with Tommy. All four men quickly in the ring as the Vandals use their speed to take down the Crashers and send them to the floor to regroup. Back in the ring the Vandals make a few tags and work on the arm of Nasdaq. Jones with a clothesline from the apron taking down Tommy. Jones tags in and the Crashers hit a double shoulder block. Some women shows up on the entrance ramp and takes notes on the match. Tommy tries to make a comeback against Nasdaq but he misses a corner charge. Market Crashers really cutting off the ring as Tommy has been trapped in there for a few minutes now. Tommy fights out of a chin lock hits the ropes and both men crash together. Tommy makes the tag to Ricky and he goes ofter both Market Crashers. Tommy back in and now all four men are in. Nasdaq gets back dropped out of the ring. Vandals hit a superkick/sweep combo and get the win in 9.36.
My thoughts on the show… Holy Shit, I actually liked it!!!!!! I mean there was nothing that you have to see, but taken in the context of the rest of MXPW so far this was “must see”. The first match was pretty intense and the main event was decent. The Andrews match was kind of slow and basically nothing at all happened. Warlord versus Punisher feud should be awful but it was fun to watch Warlord beat the crap out of 3 dudes.
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Maximum Impact 2004-05-21 (Matches taped 2004-04-16 from War Memorial in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla)
Heavyweight: Vacant TV Champion: Vacant Tag Team: Vacant Vampire Warrior vs. Ryan O’Reilly Warrior takes Ryan down with a clothesline and then they go to the floor. Back in the ring Warrior with a few elbow drops for a 2 count. Ryan backs off into a corner and as Warrior follows him in he pulls him into the top buckle. Ryan beats on Warrior a bit and then goes up top but Warrior shakes the ropes and knocks him down. Warrior with a slam off the turnbuckle for 2. Ryan reverses an irish whip but Warrior ducks his clothesline. Ryan turns around gets kicked in the gut and dropped with the impaler DDT. Warrior covers and gets the pin in 4.18. Warlord heads to the ring for a promo. We go to the back and Chasyn Rance is again at the door. Rance says that he will take on anybody. The VP of Talent Relations says he is going to give him a shot and sends him to the ring.
Warlord vs. Chasyn Rance Warlord hits a clothesline and has to bend over because he’s so much taller. Big hanging vertical suplex. Gut wrench followed by a power bomb. Warlord flexes for the crowd and Punisher comes into the ring behind him. Lots of refs come out now and get in-between Punisher and Warlord. Punisher leaves before anything actually goes down. Warlord gets a mic and calls Punisher back out to finish things. Punisher comes back to the entrance ramp. Warlord trash talks Punisher and says he can’t wait to get in the ring with him.
Scott Commodity vs. Logan Casey Before the match starts we go back to the locker room. Dennis Knight takes a note off the door and reads it to the locker room. It says that there will be a battle royal with the last two men facing off next week for the TV Title and the battle royal starts right now. All the wrestlers rush out of the locker room to the ring.
Battle Royal Participants include Logan Casey, Scott Commodity, ”Black Nature Boy” Scoot Andrews, Lex Lovett, Dennis Knight, The Vandals, Market Crashers. Casey and Commodity get towed first. Lovett throws out the ref for the Commodity Casey match who someone was apparently a participant even though he didn’t go after anyone. A bunch of guys go out and we are down to the final four of Dow Jones, Scoot Andrews. Lex Lovett and Dennis Knight. Lovett tosses out Jones and Andrews drop kicks Knight out of the ring. Next week Andrews and Lovett will face off to crown a new TV Champion.
Steve Madison vs. Antonio Banks HAHA fans chant Chris Candido towards Madison. If you are watching what I am you would laugh too. They nail each other with some forearms. Madison with a german and clothesline for 2. Banks drops Madison on his head with a tiger bomb and gets 2. Madison gets his feet up on a corner charge but then Banks hits a belly to back for 2. Madison with a suplex but Banks gets up first and slams Madison’s face into the mat. They both just kind of wander around aimlessly. Madison trips up Banks and locks in a sharpshooter. Banks gets to the ropes. Madison with a slam and second rope elbow drop for 2. They fight and grab at each other and Banks gets a falcons arrow for 2. This all looked really sloppy. A “you both suck” chant starts. Banks hits a standing spin kick for the win in 7.30.
Blackhart vs. New Jack New Jack hits the ring and the fight is underway. Blackhart gets the sickle and carves into the face of Jack as the blood starts to flow. New Jack comes back using a fork and then they brawl onto the floor and entrance ramp. Back in the ring and the fight continues, New Jack goes up top but gets nailed with a chair. They fight back and forth each man getting hit with the sickle and fork. Blackhart misses an elbow and New Jack comes off the top with a sickle to the face. New Jack gets the pin in 8.27. Another Blackhart hits the ring but New Jack is able to fight them off.
My thoughts on the show… So I watched this about a week ago and forgot to put my final thoughts in. I don’t really remember the episode but I think it’s safe to assume that it sucked.
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Maximum Impact 2004-05-28 (Matches taped 2004-04-16 from War Memorial in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla)
Heavyweight: Vacant TV Champion: Vacant Tag Team: Vacant Steve Madison vs. Anotnio Banks Either I’m really fucked up or this is the same match as last week. Possibly both. Kevin Kelly is conducting a sit down interview with Madison now by the ring as a bunch of wrestlers train in it for a segment called “Inside the Guardrails”. Kelly wants to know if there is a lot of pressure when being labeled a break out star. Madison talks about how he has been all over the world wrestling and talks a bit about the different styles in wrestling. Kelly talks about how giant Madison’s legs are. He got a little bit to excited by this. Umm then he says “I find it hard to believe a guy with this face is a tough guy. You look like the boy next door.” Kelly then again makes the comparison to Chris Benoit.
Sean Allen vs. Hack “Dog” Meyers Meyers chases Allen around the ring then bites the ref in the butt. Clothesline sends Allen over the top rope. Allen stays outside for a VERY long time. Allen snaps Meyers throat on the top rope and then finally gets back in the ring. New Jack is back stage and taking notes? Allen with a spine buster that gets 2. Meyers goes to reverse an irish whip but there hands slip apart. Meyers actually runs back to grab Allen so he can whip him. It looked really bad. Allen hits the corner Meyer with a bulldog and the win in 5.33. This match was a pile of shit.
Market Crashers vs. Chaz & Brian Gamble Gamble was a part of Roller Jam and is a rookie with great athletic ability. Well at least that’s what Kevin Kelly says. Dow Jones and Chaz start. Gamble and Nasdaq come in and Gamble hits a drop kick then just kind of stands around. Jones attacks from behind and comes into the match. The woman from a few weeks ago comes out again and scouts. The commentators mention that it was also a Market Crashers match when she first came out to scout. Market Crashers control the match over Gamble for a few minutes tagging in and out. Gamble after a few very boring minutes finally makes the tag. Chaz comes in the ring and hits a tornado DDT on Jones. Gamble hits a super kick and Chaz lands the downward spiral on Nasdaq and they get the win in 6.52. The Market Crashers are leaving the building and the woman shows up and motions to them to follow her.
Lex Lovett vs. “Black Nature Boy” Scoot Andrews Lovett jumps Andrews as he is getting in the ring and locks in a cross arm breaker. Andrews fights out of it but Lovett keeps going to the arm. Andrews throws Lovett in the air and hits a power bomb. Andrews throws Lovett into the corner but misses a charge. Lovett hits a neck breaker. Lovett now tries to go up and over in the corner but Andrews catches his feet and hits him with a Alabama slam. Lovett gets throw to the floor and Andrews follows. Lovett gets posted. Andrews nails Lovett with a chair multiple times. Andrews with a leg drop as Lovett tries to get into the ring. Lovett fights back and hits a blockbuster but Andrews gets his foot on the rope at 2. Lovett with a powerslam for 2. Lovett goes for a sunset flip but Andrews breaks out and picks him up and hits the roll of the dice. Lovett with a DVD and he goes back to work on the arm. Andrews fights out but goes for a clothesline but Lovett blocks it and locks in another submission. Andrews fights out and hits a tombstone piledriver to get the win and title in 10.36.
My thoughts on the show… I’m pretty sure the fans chanted boring during every match on this episode. I’m in line with that thought also.
