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Randy Orton’s Return To WWE Pushed Back Yet Again

By
Jim Somers
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Randy Orton is no longer advertised for this week’s now-live episode of WWE SmackDown. Orton was originally scheduled to appear at both RAW and SmackDown this week. John Cena, Roman Reigns, Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins, Bray Wyatt and Dean Ambrose are the top stars now advertised for Thursday’s show.

Orton is still slated to appear at the Washington Auto Show in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. this afternoon (Wednesday) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. You can purchase tickets by clicking here.

Orton is also not scheduled to appear at this weekend’s WWE live events, although he is advertised for Monday’s RAW at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO.

WrestleMania 31 Update; Planned Matches, The Undertaker, No More Numbers, More

By
Jim Somers
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– Bray Wyatt granted his first wish to Jovanni of Marty Lyons Foundation before the Royal Rumble on Sunday. The official WWE website has published a photo gallery from their meeting.

– WWE is reportedly no longer branding WrestleMania with numbers, at least with the logo. Instead, symbols are being used to distinguish each event.

It was announced last week that WrestleMania will come to AT&T Stadium in Texas on April 3, 2016 and “32” is nowhere to be seen on the logo. It instead features a star to represent the “Lone Star State.” On top of that, the logo for this year’s WrestleMania features a “Play” button. to represent Silicon Valley, which is near Levi’s Stadium, in Santa Clara, California.

This is according to Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com, who said on Wrestling Observer Radio today that the events are no longer being branded with numbers “because Vince [McMahon] thinks it makes it sound too old.”

Source: F4WOnline

Coming out of the WWE Royal Rumble weekend, it’s said that the only concrete matches for WrestleMania 31 are Sting vs. Triple H, John Cena vs. Rusev and Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Title.

Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan and Bray Wyatt vs. The Undertaker are also expected but not a lock. However, last word on The Undertaker was that WWE officials still did not know if he was returning for sure or not. The fact that there is still uncertainty this close to the event is not a good sign but Taker still could appear in a non-wrestling role if he chooses not to wrestle.

Another WrestleMania match rumored this week is Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton.

Fighting Spirit Review: ZERO1 “HAPPY NEW YEAR” January 1st, 2015

By
Kevin Wilson
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Date: January 1st, 2015
Location: Tokyo Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
Announced Attendance: Unknown

Every year ZERO1 puts on an event on January 1st, and 2015 was no different. This year the event was used to help push some angles that they have going for the new year, allowing fans to catch up if they are out of the loop. The TV show had some highlights from 2014 to set up the matches we would be seeing, which includes a massive 5 vs. 5 Match Series. Here is the full card:

– Kazuki Hashimoto vs. Yoshikazu Yokoyama
– International Jr. Heavyweight Championship and NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Jason Lee vs. Atsushi Maruyama vs. Mineo Fujita
–  Ikuto Hidaka, Fujita “Jr.” Hayato, Yuko Miyamoto, and Isami Kodaka vs. KAMIKAZE, Demon Ueda, Kengo, and Voodoo Mask #15
– Atsushi Onita, Ichiro Yaguchi, and Dump Matsumoto vs. TARU, “brother” YASSHI, and Voodoo Mask
– 5 vs. 5 Singles Match Series: Shinjiro Otani, Tanaka, Kohei Sato, Hideki Suzuki, and Obata vs. Takashi Sugiura, Akebono, Takayama, Sai, and Daisuke Sekimoto

A lot of these matches are clipped at least a little but I’ll only note it if it’s a significant clipping. The last match is an hour long so that will be the vast majority of the event.

Kazuki Hashimoto vs. Yoshikazu Yokoyama
This one is joined in progress with Hashimoto hitting bootscrapes in the corner. He goes for a running kick but Yokoyama springs up and hits a spear. Another spear and he hits a reverse splash for a two. Powerslam by Yokoyama and he punches/elbows Hashimoto in the face. They trade slaps back up, which Hashimoto wins, and Hashimoto hits a PK. Fisherman Buster by Hashimoto and he gets the three count. As a general rule I don’t ‘rate’ matches when less than half is shown, but they both were intense and made the bit we saw fun to watch. Score: N/A

Jason Lee vs. Atsushi Maruyama vs. Mineo Fujita
Maruyama and Lee bounce around to start things off and Lee hits a double armdrag. Fujita and Lee face off, then Maruyama and Fujita do, but Fujita hits them both low with his groin-based offense. Fujita hits Maruyama low again but Lee elbows Fujita into the corner. Double Irish whip to Fujita and he is attacked in the corner, but Lee rolls up Maruyama from behind. That was a really short lived partnership, there are no friends in triple threat matches! Well Maruyama didn’t learn and the exact same thing happens again. Fujita kicks both , but Fujita hits Lee with an atomic drop and then hits a low blow on Maruyama. I gotta admit, having an entire offense based on low blows is pretty funny. Fujita kicks Maruyama in the groin in the corner but Lee elbows him. Maruyama rams Fujita feet first into Maruyama’s groin but he gets a two count. Lee attacks Fujita in the corner and hits a dropkick. Lee goes for the Game of Death but Fujita blocks it. Maruyama hits a tiger suplex on Lee but it gets two. Tilt-a-whirl DDT by Lee but Fujita decimates Lee with an Emerald Frosion for a two count. Probably not intentionally. Lee dropkicks Maruyama out of the ring and hits a German suplex hold followed by the Game of Death for a three count. Jason Lee is still your champion. Fujita makes me laugh too much to not like the match, I am not sure when he woke up and decided all his offense would be shots to the nuts, but it’s hilarious. Score: 6.5

Ikuto Hidaka, Fujita “Jr.” Hayato, Yuko Miyamoto, and Isami Kodaka vs. KAMIKAZE, Demon Ueda, Kengo, and Voodoo Mask #15
Fujita and Voodoo Mask start off and trade elbows. Boot by Fujita but Voodoo Mask delivers a high kick and they leave, leading to a massive brawl outside of the ring. Hidaka attacks everyone all by himself back in the ring and tags in Kodaka. Kodaka knocks back both Ueda and Voodoo Mask and with Miyamoto they hit stereo Frankensteiners. Diving chop by Miyamoto to Ueda but Ueda rakes his eyes. Everyone from team Hidaka comes in the ring and applies submission holds, KAMIKAZE is isolated but he hits an overhead kick on Hidaka. Fujita kicks KAMIKAZE but KAMIKAZE tags in Voodoo Mask. Fujita is thrown in the corner and he is lariated by everyone. Cover by Voodoo Mask but it gets two. KAMIKAZE hits a second turnbuckle moonsault, cover by Voodoo Mask but its broken up. Kodaka goes off the ropes and sails out of the ring with a tope suicida. Handspring elbow smash by Miyamoto, Fujita sits up Voodoo Mask and hits the Helm for a three count. Hidaka and friends win the match. This was clipped in about half and not all of these guys are actually good. Probably a good thing it was clipped. Score: 3.5

Atsushi Onita, Ichiro Yaguchi, and Dump Matsumoto vs. TARU, “brother” YASSHI, and Voodoo Mask
Matsumoto attacks Voodoo Mask with a kendo stick before the match even starts and everyone battles up into the stands. Yaguchi gets in the ring with YASSHI and hits him with a barbed wire bat, but Voodoo Mask hits Yaguchi with a lariat for a two count. Onita hits as lariat and then hits everyone with a piece of table. Yaguchi hits a backdrop suplex onto Voodoo Mask, then with Onita they hit a union DDT onto a piece of table for the three count. This was way too clipped up as about ten minutes weren’t shown, but it was nice to see Matsumoto. Score: N/A

Shinjiro Otani, Tanaka, Kohei Sato, Hideki Suzuki, and Yusaku Obata vs. Yoshihiro Takayama, Sugiura, Akebono, Ryouji Sai, and Daisuke Sekimoto
This is a 5 vs. 5 Singles Match Series. What that means is that a wrestler from each team starts out in a 1v1 battle, and when a wrestler is defeated the winning wrestler stays and a new wrestler from the other team comes in. Basically a 1v1 gauntlet match but with teams. This process repeats until one team has no wrestlers left. There is a 15 minute time limit for each singles match, if the time expires than both wrestlers are eliminated. Got it? Good. Lots of star power here, some wrestlers that don’t lose in singles matches very often are going down.

First Pairing: Shinjiro Otani vs. Yoshihiro Takayama. They lock knuckles then trade punches back and forth. Takayama gets the better of that and hits a PK. Kicks to the chest by Takayama but Otani hits a spinning heel kick. Facewashes by Otani and he hits a backdrop suplex. Takayama returns the favor and knees Otani in the stomach. They trade punches and Otani hits a release dragon suplex. Otani goes up top and hits a missile dropkick to the back of Takayama’s head, and he hits a second dragon suplex for a three count cover. Shinjiro Otani wins, Takayama is eliminated. Team Otani – 5, Team Takayama – 4

Second Pairing: Shinjiro Otani vs. Daisuke Sekimoto. Otani and Sekimoto grapple into the corner and Otani chops Sekimoto. Sekimoto chops him back and hits a pescado when Sekimoto falls out of the ring. Otani rams Sekimoto into the ring post but Sekimoto hits a vertical suplex. Chops by Sekimoto and he hits a lariat. Otani comes back with a jumping kick and hits a big boot followed by a German suplex. Sekimoto springs up and hits a lariat, and both wrestlers are on the mat. They trade elbows and Sekimoto hits a lariat. Another lariat by Sekimoto but Otani kicks out. German suplex hold by Sekimoto and he gets the three count, Otani is eliminated. Team Otani – 4, Team Takayama – 4

Third Pairing: Daisuke Sekimoto vs. Yusaku Obata. Obata immediately dropkicks Sekimoto and hits a double knee in the corner followed by a dropkick. Swandive doublestomp by Obata and he gets a two count. Sekimoto goes for a suplex but Obata catches him with a front necklock. Sekimoto gets to the ropes, Obata goes up top but Sekimoto bops him and hits a superplex. Obata gets up but Sekimoto levels him with a lariat. Vertical suplex by Sekimoto and he applies a Scorpion Deathlock but Obata gets to the ropes. Obata applies a sleeper but Sekimoto rolls to the ropes. Kick by Obata, he goes up top and hits a missile dropkick. Back up they trade blows, running knee by Obata but it gets two. Fisherman buster but it gets two also, Obata goes up top but Sekimoto avoids the diving kneedrop. Release German by Sekimoto and he levels Obata with a lariat, German suplex hold by Sekimoto and he gets the pin, eliminating Obata. Team Otani – 3, Team Takayama – 4

Fourth Pairing: Daisuke Sekimoto vs. Hideki Suzuki. They tussle to start, trading submission holds on the mat. Back up they trade strikes and Suzuki hits a suplex. Stretch hold by Suzuki but Sekimoto gets out of it and hits a lariat. Armbar by Suzuki and he goes for a cross armbreaker but Sekimoto slams him into the corner. Lariat by Sekimoto and he hits a double underhook suplex for a two count. Sekimoto applies an Argentine Backbreaker but Suzuki slides off. Atomic drop by Sekimoto but Suzuki hits a backbreaker. Tombstone by Suzuki but Sekimoto reverses the double arm suplex. Dragon suplex hold by Suzuki, and he gets the three count. Daisuke Sekimoto is eliminated. Team Otani – 3, Team Takayama – 3

Fifth Pairing: Hideki Suzuki vs. Akebono. Suzuki tries to knock off Akebono which fails epically. Suzuki falls out of the ring but Akebono clubs him in the back and stands on him. Suzuki avoids Akebono’s charge and Akebono goes into the post. Suzuki hits Akebono with a chair and rolls him into the ring, and Suzuki dropkicks Akebono into the corner. Suzuki goes for a dragon suplex but Akebono easily blocks it. Hard elbow by Akebono and he hits a body press for two. Yokozuna Impact by Akebono and he picks up the three count. Suzuki is eliminated. Team Otani – 2, Team Takayama – 3

Sixth Pairing: Akebono vs. Masato Tanaka. Tanaka can’t knock over Akebono and Akebono hits a lariat followed by an elbow drop. Slam by Akebono and he stands on Tanaka’s chest. Body avalanche by Akebono and he dumps Tanaka out of the ring. Another body avalanche by Akebono and he hits an elbow drop for two. Tanaka avoids the body press and hit a jumping elbow. Tanaka finally chops down Akebono, he goes up top and hits the diving body press. Body avalanche by Akebono but Tanaka rolls him up, Tanaka goes for a Sliding D by Akebono catches him. Tanaka gets away, he then hits a Sliding D first from the back and then from the front. Cover, and he barely gets three, eliminating Akebono. Team Otani – 2, Team Takayama – 2

Seventh Pairing: Masato Tanaka vs. Takashi Sugiura. They trade elbows, Tanaka elbows Sugiura down in the corner but Sugiura recovers. Elbows by Sugiura but Tanaka pushes him back and they go back and forth. Tanaka wins the battle and he snaps off a DDT. Brainbuster by Tanaka but Sugiura gets up his knees on the diving crossbody. Sugiura drops Tanaka on the top rope and they trade strikes, knee by Sugiura and he gets a two count. They trade more elbows, Tanaka goes up top and hits a diving body press for two. Tanaka goes for the Sliding D but Tanaka ducks, suplex by Sugiura but Tanaka hits a lariat. Knee by Sugiura and they trade elbows. They trade elbows some more and Sugiura hits a German suplex. Sliding D to the back of the head by Tanaka, he goes off the ropes and hits another one. Cover, but it gets a two as Sugiura gets in the ropes. Olympic Slam by Tanaka but Sugiura fires back with a Sliding D for a two count. Olympic Slam by Sugiura, cover, but Tanaka gets a shoulder up just as time expires. The match is a draw so both wrestlers are eliminated. Team Otani – 1, Team Takayama – 1

Final Pairing: Kohei Sato vs. Ryouji Sai. Sato pushes Sai in the ropes and gives a clean break. We skip ahead with Sato kicking Sai but Sai kicks him back. Slam by Sai but it gets two so he slaps on a chinlock. Sato gets out of it and headbutts Sai, kicks by Sato and he hits a Falcon Arrow. Sato goes up top but Sai kicks him and hits a superplex. They trade strikes, kick to the chest by Sai and hits a vertical suplex. Knee by Sai in the corner but it gets two. Sai slams Sato to the mat, he goes up top but Sato headbutts him. Avalanche Falcon Arrow by Sato and he hits a Emerald Frosion. Piledriver by Sato, he picks up Sai and hits a German suplex hold for the three count. Sato wins the match for Shinjiro Otani, Masato Tanaka, Kohei Sato, Hideki Suzuki, and Yusaku Obata. This match was long, but good. Some pairings (Tanaka/Sugiura and Sekimoto/Obata) were better than others, but overall it was enjoyable. Didn’t like the final pairing since it takes away the gimmick a bit to have two fresh wrestlers, then they wrestled a seven minute match like they had wrestled for twenty. But even with that it was entertaining. Score: 7.5

Final Thoughts:
This is the definition of a ‘one match card,’ but at least in this case it was intentional as most the other matches were really clipped. The final match was definitely fun, I just wish they hadn’t set it up so that final pairing was two full strength wrestlers, just took out some of the drama. If the main event sounds interesting to you, go for it, but don’t expect anything from the rest of the event.

Grade: C+

Kevin Wilson of Puroresu Central

WWE Network Touts 1 Million Subscribers, WWE Stock Spikes, HHH Comments

By
Jim Somers
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WWE sent out the following:

WWE® NETWORK HITS 1 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS

STAMFORD, Conn., January 27, 2015 – WWE® (NYSE: WWE) today announced that WWE Network has surpassed 1 million subscribers just 11 months after launch, making it the fastest-growing digital subscription service. These results represent a 37 percent increase (24 percent domestically) in subscribers since last reported[1] at the end of third quarter 2014, driven primarily by a successful free November promotion, the launch of the service in the UK and significant additions for the Royal Rumble pay-per-view event.

“We’re thrilled that we’ve surpassed the 1 million subscriber milestone less than a year after launching WWE Network and in advance of WrestleMania, our biggest event of the year on March 29,” said WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon. “We remain focused on delivering an outstanding value proposition for ours fans by adding new content and new features in the coming year.”

Viewer data continues to indicate that, on average, close to 90 percent of subscribers access WWE Network at least once per week, 99 percent access WWE Network at least once per month and 86 percent of subscribers are satisfied with WWE Network.

Like other digital subscription services, such as Netflix and Hulu Plus, fans are able to sign up for WWE Network online by going to WWE.com and can watch WWE Network on their TVs through connected devices such as Sony Playstation 3, Sony Playstation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku streaming devices as well as Smart TVs including Sony and Samsung. The U.S. English language version of WWE Network is available direct to consumers in more than 170 countries and territories and recently launched in the UK and Ireland.

WWE Network’s one-of-a-kind programming includes all 12 WWE pay-per-view events LIVE at no additional charge plus groundbreaking original series, reality shows, documentaries, classic matches, exclusive coverage of special events and more than 2,000 titles in its video-on-demand library.

Average fourth quarter and year-end WWE Network numbers will be reported in the normal course as a part of our earnings release on February 12.

*********************************************************

– WWE stock saw a huge jump today after WWE announced the 1 million WWE Network subscribers. Stock is currently up 14.79%, trading at $12.03 per share. It was at $12.19 earlier.

– Regarding the WWE Network subscriber count that was announced today, the numbers are as of yesterday, January 26th.

– Triple H also tweeted thanks to WWE Network subscribers for helping them reach 1 million today:
The @WWENetwork officially hits 1M subscribers. It’s been a great year, but we’re just getting started. I’ve got two words for ya: #ThankYou

The “OH MY GOD!” Review: ECW In Webster, Mass. 11/22/96, ECW TV 11/19 & 11/26/96

By
Heels Inc
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TV 1996-11-19 (Matches taped November to Remember 1996-11-16 at ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA)

Champions
World: Sandman
TV: Shane Douglas
Tag Team: Gangstas

The show opens with stills from November to Remember with “November Rain” playing.

Joey Styles welcomes us to the show.

Opening video.

Joey talks about November to Remember. We get a run down on the history of Sabu and Taz. We go to the Taz promo that opened up N2R.

Joey talks about the tag team match between Sabu and Rob Van Dam against Eliminators.

Next up we see the introduction of the b.W.o. to the fans of ECW. We see the promo and then get about 2 minutes of the match between Stevie Richards and David Morton Tyler Jericho.

Joey talks about the feud between the Dudleys. We go to the match in which Buh Buh Ray Dudley beat his half brother D-Von Dudley.

Joey talks about the Sabu/Van Dam versus Eliminators match again.

In the main event Tag Team Champions The Gangstas won a three way dance with Sabu and Rob Van Dam and the Eliminators.

My thoughts on the show…
Well this was a short review. Easy pass on this it’s the garbage from N2R.

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TV 1996-11-26 (Matches taped November to Remember 1996-11-16 at ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA)

Champions
World: Sandman
TV: Shane Douglas
Tag Team: Gangstas

Taz tells his side of the story. He tells us at Double Tables he won the tag titles with Sabu. Sabu then left him to go tour Japan. Taz says he demanded that Sabu be fired or he is going to quit. Taz then broke his neck because he didn’t have someone watching his back. Taz says Paul E then brought back Sabu and it was a slap to his face. Taz says that this would have all ended if Sabu asked him to be his partner in the three way dance at N2R.

Opening Video

Joey Styles welcomes us to the show and lets us know that we are getting more N2R matches and highlights tonight.

Axl Rotten beat Hack Meyers in the opening contest with a pedigree.

b.W.o. promo filmed much like the original n.W.o. promos. Black and white with lots of cuts and a shaky camera. This is pretty funny.

Joey is with Tommy Dreamer and he says a mixed tag team match has been signed with Dreamer and Beulah set to take on TV Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas and Francine. Dreamer says Shane and his bitch are going to die. We also already saw this match.

The next ECW Arena show is December 7th. The mixed tag team match, Sabu against Saturn, Rob Van Dam takes on Taz, World Champion Sandman goes up against Raven in a barbed wire match.

We go to the ring where Joey is with 2 Cold Scorpio. We get all his matches from N2R. Scorpio beat Devon Storm, JT Smith and Hack Meyers in various loser leaves town matches but then can’t get past Louie Spicolli. Scorpio won’t leave the ring so Taz comes out and tell him to leave. Paul E Dangerously ends up in the ring and he gets suplexed by Taz. The lights go out and Sabu is standing in the ring finally answering the challenge of Taz and then we go off the air.

My thoughts on the show…
Another short one today! So my initial review said to skip this one because there was only one thing that needs to be seen here and it’s about 3 minutes long. After some conversation with another writer here I felt the need change my opinion. The opening Taz promo was good. Axl and Hack was of course awful. I’m not a fan of Scorpio so you can skip all that stuff also. The Taz/Sabu segment at the end is MUST see and I don’t think I got that across in the N2R recap. If you skipped over N2R at least fast forward to the last 3 minutes of this show. Taz kicks Scorpio out of the ring, the suplex on Paul E that brings out Sabu. The crowd going crazy. So do yourself a favor get this show skip the crap and watch the end.

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1996-11-22 ECW at The Town Hall in Webster, MA

Champions
World: Sandman
TV: Shane Douglas
Tag Team: Gangstas

Buh Buh Ray Dudley (w/ Sign Guy Dudley) vs. D-Von Dudley, ref John “Pee Wee” Moore

Buh Buh into the ring and D-Von attacks him right away. Buh Buh goes for a back drop but D-Von leap frogs him and hits a belly to back suplex. Buh Buh with an avalanche in the corner and then he kinda humps D-Von…WTF. D-Von ducks a line and hits a reverse DDT. D-Von charges Buh Buh but he pulls down the rope and D-Von goes flying to the floor. Now the big brawl can begin. D-Von nails Buh Buh with a chair a few times. He tries to come off the second buckle with the chair but Buh Buh drop kicks it back at him. Rocker dropper and a headbutt off the top rope almost get a 3 count for D-Von. Buh Buh reverses an irish whip and throws D-Von up into the air and catches him with a cutter on the way down to get the win in 6.42.

Taz (w/ Bill Alfonso & Team Taz) vs. Spike Dudley, ref Jim Molinueax

Taz should make short work of Spike here. Spike surprisingly gets some early offense with a monkey flip and drop kick that send Taz to the floor. Spike comes off the apron with a somersault dive. Back in the ring though Taz takes over with an alabama slam. Taz with a fallaway slam and he bridges into a cover for 2. That looked awesome. Taz beats on Spike and this match is starting to drag. Spike with a low blow and tornado bulldog for 2. Head and arm tazplex and the tazmission finish this one in 5.03. This match should have taken half the time it did. Taz gets on the mic and being from NY he takes some time to shit talk Boston. Guess what he does next? He calls out Sabu.

TV Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas & Francine vs. Tommy Dreamer & Beulah, ref Paul Richards Mixed Tag Team Match

Shane says he’s going to beat Dreamer’s ass and then after that they are going to beat Beulah up too. Dreamer then says after he beats the shit out of Douglas he’s going to fuck up Francine. Shane attacks because that was a very rude thing to say. He goes right after the knee of Dreamer. The same knee that Douglas attacked last week at N2R. Douglas all over the knee with submissions and chair shots. Dreamer makes a comeback slamming Shane off the top and then slamming him down on the chair and throwing him out of the ring. The girls come in and roll around on the ground. Douglas nails Dreamer from behind with a chair. Belly to belly on Beulah but then Dreamer hits a DDT on Shane and gets the pin in 5.46. Wow Dreamer actually picks up a win for once.

Stevie Richards (w/ b.W.o.) vs. Roadkill, ref Jim Molinueax

b.W.o. cut a promo doing their best impressions of Hogan, Hall and Nash. Basic stuff to start. Stevie takes control and hits a side slam. Stevie goes up top but Roadkill shakes the ropes and crotches him. Suplex gets Roadkill a 2 count. Gut wrench now gets another 2. Powerslam by Roadkill. Roadkill goes up top but misses a splash. Stevie up and he hits a power bomb for 2. Stevie ducks a clothesline hits a stevie kick and gets the win in 4.40.

Louie Spicolli vs. GQ Quartermaine, ref John “Pee Wee” Moore

Joel Gertner on the ring announcing he helps out with the mask gimmick that GQ did a few weeks back. Gertner starts to talk trash to to Spicolli now. Spicolli goes to give him a DVD but GQ takes out his knee. GQ works the knee for a minute but Spicolli comes back with a spin buster. Louie with a northern lights. GQ takes out the knee again but then misses a top rope leg drop. Spicolli rips off the mask and hits the DVD winning in 2.33.

“Primetime” Brian Lee vs. Pitbull 2, ref Jim Molineaux

Lee attacks as Pitbull slides into the ring. Pitbull clotheslines Lee to the floor and they go right into the crowd. Lee with a suplex through a table. They brawl all over the hall and to the outside. Chokeslam by Lee back in the ring. Lee brings in a table and ends up getting super fall away slammed through it. Pitbull gets the win in 6. D-Von Dudley hits the ring for some reason and he and Lee work over Pitbull. Spike and Buh Buh Ray Dudley come down but get taken out. New Jack is out next. He beats the crap out of D-Von as everyone else fights to the back.

The Eliminators vs. Chris Candido & Mikey Whipwreck, ref John “Pee Wee” Moore

Candido gets on the mic and says that he’s been carrying pieces of shit for the past 2 years. He came back to ECW so he could have good matches with other talented wrestlers. He says he had a great match with Mikey last week and he’s out here to have another great one with the Eliminators. Candido and Saturn start. Mat wrestling and then Saturn tags out. Kronus comes in and hits his hand spring back elbow for 2. Candido slides under a kick and lands a rana. Mikey tags in. Kronus tries to show that he has the power advantage but Mikey uses his speed to take down Kronus. Saturn tags in. They do some back and forth off the ropes until Candido puts a knee into the back of Saturn from the apron. He tags in and hits a suplex and slam for 2. Kronus comes in and they hit a double team kick. Candido tags Mikey. Mikey goes for a super rana but Saturn just pushes him to the floor and Mikey crashes through a table. Candido helps him back in the ring and says he’s fine. Eliminators with lots of double team kicks on Mikey who looks to be anything but fine. Kronus with a shoulder breaker. Saturn gets tagged in and he comes off the top with a knee drop to the arm of Mikey. Belly to back suplex with a hammerlock in by Saturn and he locks in a cross arm breaker. Mikey has been in the ring for a while now. Eliminators continually knock Candido off the apron. Mikey finally begins a comeback but he’s cut off and hit with total elimination to end it in 11.12. Candido is pissed at Mikey for losing. Candido gets on the mic and says that Mikey screwed up and that he hurt his eye during the match and bit his lip and that’s why he couldn’t help much.

Super Nova vs. Rob Van Dam, ref Paul Richards

Nova surprisingly riding solo here. Van Dam with some kicks. Nova steps back to get some distance then he takes over on Van Dam with a drop kick and second rope elbow. Nova puts on a head lock but Van Dam picks him up and crotches him on the top rope. Springboard kick nails Nova in the face. Rolling thunder leg drop follows. Van Dam sends Nova into a corner and then just throws a chair at him and then points to himself. Well I don’t hate him yet but once he starts taunting 100 times a match I will. Van Dam kicks the chair into Nova’s face and poses again. Grrrrrrr. They go to the floor and he taunts some more. Van Dam puts Nova on the top rope but Nova counters and hits a tornado reverse DDT. Nova slams Van Dam with a chair against his back but then misses a splash off the top and lands on the chair. Van Dam with a running drop kick with the chair. He picks up Nova and plants him down with the worlds strongest slam. Split legged moonsault onto the chair gets Van Dam the win in 8.18.

Stevie Richards and Blue Meanie hit the ring for a promo. Richards talks about the b.W.o. movement getting started and that many other men will join the group in the coming weeks. JT Smith comes out even though it hasn’t been 30 days! He hugs Stevie and Meanie. Can’t hear a word he’s saying. Out come TV Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas and Francine. Douglas gets in Smith’s face and calls him a loser and says he shouldn’t even be there tonight. Francine slaps Smith and Smith goes after her. Douglas nails him with the belt and locks in the full nelson. Pitbull hits the ring and we get a pull apart. As Douglas is leaving Dreamer hits the ring and goes after both Douglas and Brian Lee. D-Von Dudley nails Pitbull with a chair busting him open. For some reason everyone is holding Dreamer back allowing Douglas and Lee to beat on Pitbull. Louie Spicolli finally decides to go over and help get Pitbull away. Things calm down and everyone leaves except Dreamer and Pitbull. As Dreamer and Pitbull are leaving D-Von, Douglas and Lee comes back out from the locker room and attack again. The refs come back out and are able to calm things down enough.

World Champion Sandman vs. Raven (w/ Tyler & Lori Fullington & b.W.o.), ref Jim Molinueax

Raven jumps Sandman at ringside and sends him into the rail a few times. They go into the crowd and all over the hall. They finally hit the ring after about 5 minutes. Sandman drop kicks a chair into Raven’s face. Sandman with a DDT but Stevie breaks up the cover by throwing a chair in the ring. Sandman picks up the chair and Stevie steviekicks it into his face. Meanie with an avalanche in the corner and another steviekick. Raven covers but only gets 2. Same table spot as N2R. Stevie nails another super kick on Sandman. They fuck up a roll up spot with Lori. Raven nails a DDT for 2. Guardrail into the ring Sandman with a DDT onto it for the win in 7.55. Sandman celebrates his victory with the crowd.

My thoughts on the show…

Yea this sucked. The TV crew was their so something from here is going to show up on TV in the coming weeks. Whatever they pick I’m not looking forward to it. Basically all the N2R rematches were nearly identical and the new stuff was mostly squashes. It almost felt like that since it was the first time in town they could just do whatever cause they knew the crowd would be so excited to have them there. Join me next time for a look at the infamous “Mass Transit Incident”.

Fighting Spirit Review: New Japan Big Pro Wrestling Festival 2015

By
Kevin Wilson
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0

Date:  January 3rd, 2015
Location:  Tokyo Differ Ariake in Tokyo, Japan
Announced Attendance:  1,700

This is not a real card, as you probably noticed.  Before their Tokyo Dome event, New Japan had a big festival that had announcements, contract signings, etc.  As part of that, towards the end they had a couple of matches as well, featuring wrestlers that didn’t have matches the next night at the Dome.  Here is the full card:

– Jushin Liger, Sho Tanaka, and Yohei Komatsu vs. Taka Michinoku, Taichi, and El Desperado
– Manabu Nakanishi and Captain New Japan vs. Yuji Nagata and Tiger Mask

Shortest review ever!

Jushin Liger, Sho Tanaka, and Yohei Komatsu vs. Taka Michinoku, Taichi, and El Desperado
Desperado attacks Liger outside of the ring before they even get started, and everyone battles outside the ring.  Desperado and Liger eventually get in the ring and Desperado goes for Liger’s mask.  Desperado throws the referee out of the ring and gets some scissors, but Liger gets them away and hits Desperado with them.  No one told these two this is just a friendly promotional match.  Tanaka and Komatsu come in to help and Tanaka puts Desperado in a crab hold.  Desperado dumps Tanaka out of the ring, where Taichi attacks him with the bell hammer.  Liger comes over and Taichi smacks him as well with it.  Back in the ring Desperado tags in Taichi, Irish whip by Taichi and he hits a back bodydrop.  Taichi puts Tanaka in a single leg crab hold but Komatsu breaks it up.  Desperado swings Komatsu and Tanaka around the ring (literally), Tanaka is thrown in the corner and Taichi and Michinoku both hit strikes.  Liger comes in but Desperado ducks his charge and Liger tumbles out of the ring.  Desperado then sails out onto him with a tope con hilo, while in the ring Michinoku kicks at Tanaka.  Leg lariat by Michinoku but Tanaka kicks out.  Tanaka dropkicks Michinoku and makes the hot tag to Komatsu.  Desperado is also tagged in and Komatsu knocks Desperado to the mat.  Elbow smash by Komatsu but he gets a two count.  Komatsu and Tanaka dropkick Desperado, Tanaka applies a cross armbreaker, but Taichi and Michinoku come in to help.  Spear by Desperado to Komatsu, Desperado picks up Komatsu and plants him with the Guitarra de Angel for the three count.  Michinoku, Taichi, and Desperado are the winners.  This was so much more of a hateful match than I was expecting.  Desperado was flying around the ring, I mean they used scissors.  Not what I was expecting, but in a good way, just wish it was longer.  Score:  7.0

Manabu Nakanishi and Captain New Japan vs. Yuji Nagata and Tiger Mask
Nakanishi and Nagata start things off.  They trade old man submission holds and then go into the Test of Strength.  Elbows and chops are exchanged before Nagata dropkicks Nakanishi in the leg and dropkicks him. Nakanishi trips Nagata and they both tag out.  Captain New Japan and Tiger Mask go back and forth until Nagata kicks Captain New Japan from behind.  Captain New Japan hits a double shoulderblock and tags in Nakanishi, and they hit a double shoulderblock on Tiger Mask.  Nakanishi clubs Tiger Mask, Nagata comes in but Nakanishi throws Nagata back out.  Captain New Japan elbows Tiger Mask and gets a two count cover.  Captain New Japan tags in Nakanishi and Nakanishi chops Tiger Mask in the head.  Tiger Mask knocks down Nakanishi but Captain New Japan runs in to stop the hot tag.  Unfortunately Nakanishi accidentally lariats Captain New Japan and Tiger Mask tags in Nagata.  Nagata boots Nakanishi and repeatedly kicks him, but Nakanishi hits a lariat.  Another lariat by Nakanishi and he puts Nagata an Argentine Backbreaker but Nagata gets out of it.  Nakanishi tags in Captain New Japan and Nagata is attacked in the corner.  Captain New Japan goes up top but Nagata avoids the diving headbutt.  Tiger Mask comes in and kicks Captain New Japan into the corner, high kick by Tiger Mask and Nagata hits a big boot.  Diving headbutt by Tiger Mask, cover by Nagata but Captain New Japan kicks out.  Nagata Lock by Nagata but Nakanishi breaks it up.  Hirai End by Captain New Japan, but Nagata kicks out.  Tiger Mask comes back and kicks Captain New Japan but Captain New Japan fights them both off.  Nagata knees Captain New Japan in the corner and hits a brainbuster, backdrop hold by Nagata and he gets three.  Your winners are Yuji Nagata and Tiger Mask.  This one wasn’t quite as good as the last, but I liked Captain New Japan getting a fair amount of offense and no one was coasting like I thought may happen.  So nothing great but no complaints.  Score:  5.5

Final Thoughts:
I went in expecting to see veterans just coasting along to put on a bit of a show for the live crowd.  While there may have been some of that, for the most part I thought they did put some effort into making the matches entertaining.  While obviously not a full event, and I wouldn’t go out of my way to find these matches, it wasn’t a bad showing.

Grade:  N/A

Kevin Wilson of Puroresu Central

The “OH MY GOD!” Review: Major League Wrestling “Underground TV” October 2003

By
Heels Inc
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0

MLW Underground TV 2003-10-06 (Matches taped War Games 2003-09-19 from War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla)

Champions
World: Steve Corino
GTC: Simon Diamond & CW Anderson
Junior Heavyweight Champion: Sonjay Dutt

Almost all the matches that will air over the course of Underground TV have been previously reviewed from the home videos so these will be short recaps.

Raven promo on CM Punk. He doesn’t say much.

Opening video.

In the opening match Eddie Colon got an upset victory of “Evil F’N Show” Jerry Lynn in the first round of the Junior Heavyweight Title Tournament.

Champion Steve Corino and Tag Team Champions CW Anderson and Simon Diamond are in the locker room. They talk about how Barry Windham was an obvious choice to join the group. They talk about how PJ Walker has been held down. Walker comes into screen and says he is frustrated and is joining the elite in the wrestling world.

The straight edge ref makes Raven take a urine test before his match later tonight. Raven goes into the bathroom and then when he comes out he throws the contents of the cup in the ref’s face.

Francine answers her hotel door in lingerie and lets the MLW locker know that she is looking for a new man. She guarantees that who ever goes to her will become MLW champion.

Joey hypes Hybrid Horror. Dog collar match, GTC Championship open challenge and something called a Sky Challenge Match.

Simon Diamond and CW Anderson are getting ready to give a promo. They open a door and standing on the other side is the Samoan Island Tribe. They exchange some words as the champions tell the Tribe to move out of the way. Samu says they will let them pass this one time and then hands him a signed contract for Hybrid Horror!

War Games Match highlights.

Bill Alfonso and Sabu are backstage and Alfonso says they haven’t forgotten about “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels but they have their sights set on Barry Windham also.

Daniels, Mikey Whipwreck and Jerry Lynn talk about how MLW has done nothing for them. Daniels talks about how with the tournament one of them will become champion. He says they are the top two seeds in the tournament and everyone else needs to take notice. The placement of this promo makes no sense at all as Daniels named Mamaluke who lost last week and of course Lynn lost in his match about 30 minutes ago.

Joey tells us the DQ rule is back. Satoshi Kojima says he is coming back. Sonjay Dutt tells Eddie Colon that he’s taking him out in the next round.

Raven beat Nosawa in the next match. Afterwards CM Punk came out and broke off his friendship with Nosawa. Vampiro then made his return to MLW by attacking Punk. This lead to a match right away that Vampiro won to close out the show.

My thoughts on the show…
Thumbs up tonight. Big return by Vampiro all the matches were pretty decent. Really looking forward to the Samoans versus Extreme Horsemen. It looks like they might be moving the belts over with the way they have been booking the Samoans. They definitely should that’s for sure.

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Underground TV 2003-10-13 (Matches taped War Games 2003-09-19 from War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla)

Champions
World: Steve Corino
GTC: Simon Diamond & CW Anderson
Junior Heavyweight Champion: Sonjay Dutt

Almost all the matches that will air over the course of Underground TV have been previously reviewed from the home videos so these will be short recaps.

Earlier tonight Steve Corino was at the Highspots merchandise table when Terry Funk attacked him from behind with barbed wire busting him open.

Opening video.

In the opening match Jimmy Yang beat Juventud Gurrera to advance to the semi finals of the Junior Heavyweight Tournament.

Mike Awesome trash talks Joe Seanoa.  Awesome says he will put a chair through Joe’s skull.

“Dr. Death” Steve Williams talks about his Taped Fist Match coming up at Hybrid Horror against PJ Walker.  Walker comes and super kicks Williams.

Mike Awesome beat Samoa Joe Sea. They changed Joe’s name from the home video.

Vampiro is backstage with Nosawa.  Vamp trash talks Punk talks about Punk music and Insane Clown Posse.  Nosawa says he’s a juggalo.

The Extreme Horsemen are in the locker room.  Windham talks about getting the call from Corino to join the Horsemen.

Joey tells us that at Hybrid Horror the Samoan Island Tribe has signed to take on the Extreme Horsemen for the tag team titles.  Joey then runs down the card for TV tonight including talk about the match we already saw as if it didn’t happen yet.  Great editing by the team at MLW.  Joey is looking at and reading directly from his script in his hands. He is also sitting at a table backstage instead of standing up like normal.

Samu and Ekmo say they are going to hunt down the Extreme Horsemen and take their titles.

CM Punk talks about how Nosawa fell off the wagon and about Vampiro attacking him after Nosawa’s match with Raven.

Joey runs down the card for Hybrid Horror.   New matches include Vampiro and Nosawa against CM Punk and a mystery partner.  Barry Windham in singles action and Homicide takes on Jerry Lynn again.  Joey goes over the Junior Heavyweight Tournament brackets and then we go to commercial.

Christopher Daniels beat Super Dragon in the final first round match of the tournament.

My thoughts on the show…
Another thumbs down. War Games was pretty terrible so TV featuring matches from that show wont be any good either.

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Underground TV 2003-10-20 (Matches taped War Games 2003-09-19 from War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla)

Champions
World: Steve Corino
GTC: Simon Diamond & CW Anderson
Junior Heavyweight Champion: Sonjay Dutt

Almost all the matches that will air over the course of Underground TV have been previously reviewed from the home videos so these will be short recaps.

Sonjay Dutt talks about his match with Eddie Colon tonight.

Opening video.

Right to the action as Dutt defeats Colon to advance to the finals of the Junior Heavyweight Title Tournament.

Joey hypes Hybrid Horror this Friday night. Kevin Kelly introduces himself to the fans of MLW. Kelly is here to tells us about some changes to the card at Hybrid Horror. Teddy Hart and Super Porky debut, Da Hit Squad take on the Headhunters in a no DQ match. Well he didn’t actually say anything changed but just announced new stuff but I’m sure there will be lots of no shows anyway.

Vampiro and Nosawa are arguing. Vampiro wants to know if he can trust Nosawa. Nosawa says he is a juggalo just like Vampiro. Vampiro trashes Punk and talks about all his accomplishes.

Samoa Joe Sea talks about how MLW isn’t about wrestling it’s about tables and chairs and that’s not who he is and what he’s about. He came to MLW to wrestle because he is wrestling.

Los Maximos beat Super Dragon and Juventud Gurrera.

CM Punk talks about how it’s great that Vampiro is friends with Nosawa. Punk says that he has friends too and on Friday they will find out whom.

In the main event Christopher Daniels beat Jimmy Yang. He will meet Sonjay Dutt next week in finals of the Junior Title Tournament.

Kevin Kelly hypes Hybrid Horror this Friday one last time and then we go to an awesome hype video of the Terry Funk Steve Corino feud with “Hurt” by Johnny Cash.

My thoughts on the show…
I’m enjoying the interactions between Vampiro and Nosawa right now but not much else. The Hurt video at the end was great as I said.

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Underground TV 2003-10-27 (Matches taped War Games 2003-09-19 from War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla)

Champions
World: Steve Corino
GTC: Simon Diamond & CW Anderson
Junior Heavyweight Champion: Sonjay Dutt

Almost all the matches that will air over the course of Underground TV have been previously reviewed from the home videos so these will be short recaps.

Well some of you might be wondering where the Hybrid Horror review is. The show ended up being canceled, more on that later. Now onto the show.

Joey Styles in a La Parka mask wishes everyone a Happy Halloween and hypes the show but makes no mention of Hybrid Horror.

Mikey Whipwreck beat Norman Smiley in the opening match with a super whippersnapper. Mikey licks the ring post after the match, that’s very gross.

Joey in a new mask hypes King of Kings coming up in November. Extreme Horsemen take on the Samoan Island Tribe for the tag team titles. Barry Windham has signed to take on Sabu.

The Samoan Island Tribe killed Rich Criado, Matt Martel and Monsta Mac. In a match that was originally a handicap match of Mana against Criado and Martel.

Sonjay Dutt beat Christopher Daniels to become the first ever MLW Junior Heavyweight Champion.

My thoughts on the show…
Two of the more enjoyable matches from War Games here. Thumbs up. As an overall regarding the War Games TV airings, Joey made the matches so much better with his commentary instead of Kevin Kelly.

Hybrid Horror?
So Hybrid Horror would end up getting canceled three days prior to the event with the announcement being posted on the MLW website. Still about 500 fans showed up to the arena that Friday night. I’ve seen a rumor that the show had to be canceled because the main investors funds were frozen due to divorce proceedings. Joey mentioned the 2nd Annual King of Kings this week, that show would also never take place. Advertised on TV during commercials the past few weeks has been MLW Wrestlefest set for December, which again, never took place. From the point of War Games on you could almost feel things going down. The poor turnout at War Games and then the following few weeks of TV just looked bad. Styles reading directly from script and holding it on camera. Him sitting at a desk and at one point was in a short sleeve button down instead of his normal suit. It looked like he was just phoning it in. Tonight’s TV would be the last bit of MLW footage we would get until an attempt at a reboot in January.

We’ll be back with that later this week in another edition of the OMG Review.

Fighting Spirit Review: New Japan Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2015

By
Kevin Wilson
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0

Date:  January 13th, 2015
Location:  Osaka BODYMAKER COLOSSEUM #2 in Osaka, Japan
Announced Attendance:  1,300

Last year the CMLL Fantastica events were great fun, so they decided to do it again this year.  These events tend to just be mindless fun, multi-man matches pairing random CMLL and New Japan wrestlers both with and against each other.  No long term consequences, just a sit back and enjoy type of thing.  Here is the full card:

–  Mr. Niebla and El Bárbaro Cavernario vs. Rey Cometa and Triton
–  Ángel de Oro vs. OKUMURA
–  Gedo and Polvora vs. Jushin Thunder Liger and Mistico II
–  Shinsuke Nakamura, Mephisto, and YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tiger Mask, Stigma, and Stuka Jr.
–  KUSHIDA, Máscara Dorada, and Captain New Japan vs. Naito, Ryusuke Taguchi, and La Sombra
–  Hiroshi Tanahashi, Atlantis, and Volador Jr. vs. Okada, Ultimo Guerrero, and Gran Guerrero

Thanks to doing this last year, I know who most of these guys are.  Hooray!

Mr. Niebla and El Bárbaro Cavernario vs. Rey Cometa and Triton
Triton and Cavernario start things off.  Armdrag by Cavernario and he kicks Triton down.  They tussle around a bit on the mat while Niebla battles Cometa outside of the ring.  Everyone gets in the ring, Cometa is thrown in the corner but he avoids his opponents.  Niebla catapults Cometa into the air, and Cavernario dropkicks him in mid-air.  Cavernario and Niebla chop Triton, and Niebla comes off the top with a diving body press onto Triton’s leg.  Cometa dropkicks Cavernario and Niebla out of the ring, he and Triton both go for dives but Triton’s legs get caught in the ropes and he faceplants straight to the floor, injuring his knee in the process.  They hit the reset button as Cavernario and Cometa get in the ring, and they trade chops.  Hurricanrana by Cometa and he swings Cavernario out of the ring.  Niebla comes in but Cometa runs around outside and then kicks Niebla as he gets in the ring which knocks him back out of it, making Niebla land on the injured Triton.  Great idea, land on the knee of the guy that hurt his knee.  Cometa hits the 450 Splash and gets the pin, making Cometa and Triton the winners.  Obviously Triton getting hurt wasn’t the plan but he wrestled the next night so was he really hurt that badly?  I dunno.  Not a great opener though, it had no structure and it just wasn’t that smooth.  Score:  3.5

Ángel de Oro vs. OKUMURA
Armdrag by Oro to start things off and he wins the second exchange as well.  They trade armdrags, shoulderblock by OKUMURA and he hits a lariat.  Irish whip by OKUMURA but Oro flips out to the apron and hits a swandive dropkick.  OKUMURA falls out of the ring and Oro hits a hurricanrana from the apron.  With both on the apron OKUMURA grabs Oro and plants him with a DDT.  OKUMURA slides Oro back in and hits a missile dropkick.  Cover, but it gets a two count.  Michinoku Driver by OKUMURA and a tilt-a-whirl slam, he applies a reverse chinlock but Oro gets to the ropes.  Oro ducks a lariat and hits a thrust kick, OKUMURA falls out of the ring and Oro sails out onto him with a perfect Space Flying Tiger Drop.  Back in the ring Oro goes for a hurricanrana but OKUMURA rolls through it for a two.  Oro dropkicks OKUMURA out of the ring, he goes up top and hits a moonsault down onto OKUMURA.  OKUMURA is basically just Oro’s base for this match, in case you haven’t picked up on that.  OKUMURA knocks Oro out of the ring, Oro moves when he charges in and hits a quebrada for a two count.  Another thrust kick by Oro but it gets two.  Oro flips out to the apron but OKUMURA DDTs him back into the ring for a two count.  They trade chops but time expires and the match is a Draw.  More of a showcase for Oro than anything else since OKUMURA’s primary job in the match was to catch him when needed.  But Oro’s spots were pretty.  Score:  5.5

Gedo and Polvora vs. Jushin Thunder Liger and Mistico II
Gedo starts the match with the legendary Liger.  They trade submissions and Liger hits a shoulderblock.  Handspring elbow strike from Liger out of nowhere, clearly Liger is inspired with the lucha theme of the shows.  Liger tags in Mistico while Polvora comes into the ring.  Polvora chops down Mistico but Mistico hits an armdrag.  Polvora dropkicks Mistico and knocks Liger off the apron.  Polvora elbows Mistico and goes for his mask while Gedo tries to take off Liger’s mask; Polvora puts Mistico in the tree of woe and hits a dropkick.  Liger fights back Polvora and Gedo until he is stomped down by Polvora.  Mistico and Gedo face off but Polvora attacks Mistico from behind.  Polvora dropkicks Mistico, Liger comes in the ring and he is double teamed, but Liger gets away and knocks down Gedo.  Polvora kicks Liger but Mistico hits a hurricanrana on Polvora, sending him out of the ring.  Mistico then goes off the ropes and hits a tope con hilo down onto Polvora.  Liger goes for a powerbomb on Gedo but Gedo gets away.  Backbreaker by Liger and he hits a Shotei.  Cover but it gets a two count.  Liger tosses Gedo out of the ring and hits a cannonball.  Polvora and Mistico get back in the ring and Mistico hits a hurricanrana for a two count.  Victory roll by Mistico but that also gets two.  Dropkick to the knee and La Magistral, but Polvora kicks out.  Polvora Driver by Polvora and he gets the three count.  That match ended really quickly, Mistico is weak.  I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Liger do a handspring elbow strike before and Mistico is very smooth.  Ended too quickly but not a bad match.  Score:  6.0

Shinsuke Nakamura, Mephisto, and YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tiger Mask, Stigma, and Stuka Jr.
YOSHI-HASHI and Stigma start off and they trade flipping moves with neither getting a clear advantage.  Hurricanrana by Stigma and YOSHI-HASHI falls out of the ring while Stigma does a little dance inside of it.  Tiger Mask and Mephisto come in as the legal men, armdrags by Tiger Mask, Mephisto pushes Tiger Mask back and he tags in Stuka.  Mephisto tags in Nakamura and Stuka dropkicks Nakamura in the knee.  Stuka gets Nakamura on his shoulders and slams him to the mat, he goes off the ropes but Nakamura avoids the body press.  Nakamura kicks Stuka in the corner but Stuka avoids the running knee.  Stuka kicks Nakamura and hits a tilt-a-whirl slam.  Mephisto runs in and he lariats Stuka.  Mephisto throws Stuka in the corner, Mephisto falls out of the ring and Stuka hits a moonsault off the second turnbuckle to the floor.  Back in the ring, Mephisto puts Stuka on the top turnbuckle and starts unmasking him.  Mephisto kicks Stuka in the ribs and tags in Nakamura.  Nakamura knees Stuka in the ribs and drops a knee for a two.  YOSHI-HASHI tags in and chops Stuka to the mat.  Lariat by YOSHI-HASHI, cover but Stigma breaks it up.  Irish whip by YOSHI-HASHI but Stuka hits a handspring elbow strike and tags in Tiger Mask.  Crossbody by Tiger Mask and he hits a tiger driver onto YOSHI-HASHI for a two count.  Tiger Mask goes up top but YOSHI-HASHI rolls out of the way of the diving body press.  Stigma and Nakamura run in, and Stigma dropkicks Nakamura.  Tilt-a-whirl headscissors by Stigma to Nakamura, YOSHI-HASHI goes off the ropes and he slides out of the ring.  Tiger Mask tags in Stuka and he is alone with Mephisto.  Elevated armdrag by Stuka but Mephisto hits the Demon Driller.  Mephisto tears off Stuka’s tights, which probably caused more damage than Stuka made for wrestling on the card.  This is why wrestlers have no money.  Nakamura and YOSHI-HASHI come in and they triple team Stuka.  Tiger Mask comes in to help, YOSHI-HASHI dumps him out of the ring but Stigma dropkicks YOSHI-HASHI.  Stigma goes off the ropes and hits a tope con hilo down onto everyone except Mephisto and Stuka.  In the ring Stuka hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, he goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits the Torpedo Splash for the three count.  Tiger Mask and friends win the match.  Some good spots, YOSHI-HASHI seemed like he was having fun, and I adore Mephisto.  So more good than bad for sure.  Score:  6.5

KUSHIDA, Máscara Dorada, and Captain New Japan vs. Naito, Ryusuke Taguchi, and La Sombra
Dorada and Sombra start things off, and Sombra hits the first move of note with a dropkick.  Dorada walks around the ropes in the corner and hits a hurricanrana.  KUSHIDA and Naito tag in, Naito charges KUSHIDA but KUSHIDA holds down the ropes and Naito falls to the floor. Seated senton by KUSHIDA to the floor while Captain New Japan and Taguchi get in the ring.  Taguchi stomps on Captain New Japan but Captain New Japan hits a shoulderblock.  Hip attacks by Captain New Japan but Taguchi hits a jumping hip attack.  Naito is tagged in and Captain New Japan is hit with a double shoulderblock.  Naito applies a wristlock and tags in Sombra and Sombra hits an elbow for a two count cover.  Headscissors by Sombra and he tags in Taguchi, cross armbreaker by Taguchi but it is quickly broken up.  Sombra picks up Captain New Japan and chops him, but Captain New Japan hits a double shoulderblock and tags in KUSHIDA.  KUSHIDA clears the ring and hits a tilt-a-whirl DDT on Sombra.  KUSHIDA twists up Naito in the ropes, catapult dropkick by Dorada and he hits a hurricanrana on Sombra.  Dorada and KUSHIDA go off the ropes and hit stereo tope con hilos, leaving Naito and Captain New Japan in the ring.  Dropkick by Naito to Captain New Japan, Sombra comes in the ring too and Captain New Japan is dropkicked in the corner.  Naito goes up top but KUSHIDA kicks him from the apron.  Swandive dropkick by Dorada to Taguchi but Sombra hits a swandive crossbody.  Sombra dumps KUSHIDA out of the ring and hits a moonsault down onto Dorada and KUSHIDA.  In the ring Captain New Japan hits the Hirai End on Naito for a two count cover.  Hip attack by Taguchi to Captain New Japan, Naito puts Captain New Japan in the Pluma Blancha for the submission victory.  Solid but when every match is so similar the luster starts wearing off.  Dorada is the man though.  Score:  6.0

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Atlantis, and Volador Jr. vs. Okada, Ultimo Guerrero, and Gran Guerrero
Hey look, Gran and Ultimo have on identical outfits so I can’t tell them apart.  Fantastic.  Wait, I found a difference in the mask, I’m good.  Ultimo attacks Atlantis before the match starts and the action spills out of the ring.  Tanahashi and Gran get into the ring as the legal men, kick to the ribs by Gran but Tanahashi hits a rebounding crossbody.  Volador and Okada come into the ring as the legal men and they go back and forth just for show.  Atlantis and Ultimo come in the ring next but it breaks down into a brawl, and Atlantis’s mask is ripped.  Atlantis and Ultimo go outside the ring and Ultimo rams his head into the table before sliding him back in.  Atlantis continues to be triple teamed, Tanahashi comes in the ring and he gets beat down as well.  Volador is next and he eats a lariat.  He is then dropkicked off the apron down to the floor, and everyone dances in the ring.  Atlantis comes back and Okada jumps down onto Atlantis.  Volador comes off the top turnbuckle with a hurricanrana and Tanahashi hits a dragon screw onto Okada.  Atlantis starts working on Ultimo’s mask and gets it untied, but he gets out of the ring.  Gran comes in instead and punches Atlantis but Atlantis armdrags him and hits backbreakers on all three of his opponents.  He then takes off Ultimo’s mask (don’t fret, Atlantis beat Ultimo in a mask match last year, he shouldn’t have been wearing it in the first place) before monkey flipping Ultimo out of the ring.  Volador and Okada get in the ring and Volador hits a hurricanrana.  Ultimo gets in the ring with Volador, Volador armdrags him out of the ring and Gran takes his place.  Spinning headscissors by Volador, Gran falls out of the ring as well and Volador hits a slingshot hurricanrana.  Tanahashi and Ultimo get in the ring, Gran tries to help but Ultimo kicks him on accident and Tanahashi hits a Sling Blade on Ultimo for two.  Tanahashi tags in Atlantis but Ultimo hits a front suplex on Atlantis.  Atlantis armdrags Ultimo off the top turnbuckle and goes for a Frankensteiner but Ultimo blocks it and hits a powerbomb.  Volador and Gran get in the ring and Gran hits a side slam.  Twisting cutter by Gran, but Volador hits a backstabber for a two count.  Volador puts Gran up top but Gran throws him to the mat.  Fireman carry slam by Gran, he goes up to the top turnbuckle but Volador kicks him before he can jump off and Gran hits a hurricanrana while both of them are standing on the top rope.  Okada and Tanahashi come in, and Okada hits a flapjack.  Okada and Tanahashi trade elbows and uppercuts, Tanahashi ducks the Rainmaker and hits a Sling Blade.  Ultimo and Atlantis are back in but Ultimo tumbles over the top rope, Atlantis then hits a tope suicida on him.  Back in, Atlantis puts Ultimo in the Atlantida and Ultimo quickly submits, Atlantis and company are the winners!  This match got lots of time, had two different stories (although only Atlantis vs. Ultimo was really explored), and had great spots by Volador.  A little disjointed at times but overall really fun.  Score:  7.0

Final Thoughts:
These shows kinda are what they are.  Not a lot of hard hitting action, just having fun watching the CMLL and New Japan wrestlers mix it up against each other.  There were some good spots and all of the matches went by quickly, and overall it was enjoyable.  Just nothing really memorable, which will probably be the status quo for this tour.

Grade:  C+

Kevin Wilson of Puroresu Central

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