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Fighting Spirit Review: Mr. Gannosuke Produce “KISHINDO RETURNS 17”

By
Kevin Wilson
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0

Date: November 18th, 2014
Location:  Shin-Kiba 1st RING in Tokyo, Japan
Announced Attendance: 248 

Mr. Gannosuke returns! This event has Gannosuke’s second match since returning from retirement, but his first match hasn’t appeared yet in DVD form so this is the first I have gotten a chance to see him. Mr. Gannosuke retired back in 2008, but like most wrestlers do I guess he got ‘the itch’ so here he is back in the ring again. I am not sure what to expect but he is a legend in his own special way so I am looking forward to it. We have a full event of course, it’s not all about Mr. Gannosuke, as Dragon Gate, DDT, and Union are represented here as well. Here is the card:

– Gosaku vs. Guts Ishijima
– Makoto and Haruka Kato vs. Mika Iida and Aki Shizuku
– Keita Yano vs. Taro Yamada
– Shota vs. Yasu Urano
– Isami Kodaka and Takeshi Minamino vs. Yuko Miyamoto and Atsushi Maruyama
– Buffalo vs. Kenichiro Arai
– GENTARO vs. Mr. Gannosuke

I hope everyone else is as excited as I am.

Gosaku vs. Guts Ishijima
Tie-up to start, Irish whip by Gosaku but Ishijima shoulderblocks him down. Kick to the back by Ishijima, he picks up Gosaku and applies a wristlock. Gosaku reverses it and he kicks Ishijima down to the mat. Gosaku picks up Ishijima and applies a wristlock but Ishijima reverses it. Elbow to the arm by Ishijima while keeping the hold locked in but Gosaku trips Ishijima. Kneelock by Gosaku but Ishijima reverses it into an armlock. Gosaku gets a foot on the ropes and is able to break the hold, Ishijima picks him up and goes for a hiptoss, but Gosaku blocks it and applies a cobra twist. Ishijima gets out of it and applies his own cobra twist but Gosaku hiptosses out of it. Gosaku picks up Ishijima, snapmare, and he hits an elbow drop. Gosaku picks up Ishijima and applies a neck crank, he goes off the ropes but Ishijima catches him with a spinning heel kick. Ishijima picks up Gosaku, Irish whip from the corner and Ishijima hits a lariat. Bulldog by Ishijima, cover, but it gets a two count. Ishijima picks up Gosaku and hits a snap vertical suplex. Cover, but it gets a two count. Ishijima applies a stretch hold, cover, but it gets a two count. Ishijima picks up Gosaku, Irish whip, reversed, kick by Ishijima and he goes for a slam but Gosaku gets out of it and hits a DDT. Cover by Gosaku, but Ishijima reverses it with a crucifix pin and he gets the three count. Your winner: Guts Ishijima

Match Thoughts: When Ishijima is the far superior wrestler in a match, you know you have a problem. Also I am taking up donations so that Gosaku can get some pants that fit so he doesn’t have to pull them up during the match. I understand why Ishijima was on here, he can Gannosuke have a really solid working relationship, but they could have fed him someone a bit better than Gosaku who seems to have given up quite awhile ago. I will say that the flash pin was appropriate, neither wrestler was particularly injured so the ending made sense anyway, plus with Gosaku’s size that type of pin would probably have worked on him five seconds into the match. Nothing much good here, although I do appreciate them keeping it short. Score: 3.0

Makoto and Haruka Kato vs. Mika Iida and Aki Shizuku
Iida and Makoto start things off.  Tie-up, side headlock by Makoto, Iida Irish whips out of it but Makoto hits a shoulderblock.  Makoto goes off the ropes but Iida hits a drop toehold followed by a dropkick.  Cover, but it gets two.  Makoto goes off the ropes but Iida rolls her up, Makoto rolls through it and they trade trips before both wrestlers return to their feet.  Iida tags in Shizuku and Makoto tags in Kato.  Kato goes for a double leg but Shizuku blocks it, Kato goes for a triangle choke but Shizuku blocks it.  Shizuku applies a stretch hold but Kato gets out of it and applies a front facelock.  Back on their feet, Makoto runs in and hits Shizuku.  Double wristlock to Shizuku but Shizuku throws Makoto and Kato to the mat.  Shizuku stomps Kato and clubs her in the back.  Shizuku picks up Kato and she tags in Iida.  Iida stomps Kato in the corner and chokes her with her boot.  Iida picks up Kato, snapmare, and Iida chokes Kato.  Iida applies a stretch hold, she picks up Kato and elbows her in the arm.  Iida tags in Shizuku, and Shizuku clubs Kato in the back.  Shizuku picks up Kato, she puts Kato in the ropes and applies pressure to her back.  Snapmare by Shizuku and she applies a stretch hold, but gets a foot on the ropes.  Shizuku picks up Kato and kicks her back down to the mat.  Shizuku picks up Kato but Kato clubs her back.  A hard shot by Shizuku sends Kato down but Kato quickly gets back up only to get knocked down again.  More elbows by Kato and she rolls up Shizuku for a two count.  Kato tags in Makoto, and Makoto kicks Shizuku in the chest.  Makoto picks up Shizuku, elbow by Shizuku but Makoto elbows her back as they trade blows.  Arm breaker by Makoto, drop toehold, and she kicks Shizuku in the ribs.  Double stomp by Makoto, cover, but it gets a two count.  Makoto picks up Shizuku and applies a double underhook, but Shizuku gets out of it and hits an elbow.  Lariat by Shizuku, she picks up Makoto and hits a chokeslam.  Cover, but it gets a two count.  Shizuku tags in Iida, and Iida stomps Makoto in the back.  Irish whip by Iida, reversed, and Iida slams both Makoto and Kato to the mat.  Iida picks up Makoto, Irish whip to the corner and she hits a running elbow.  Cutter by Iida and she hits a dropkick.  Cover, but Makoto kicks out at two.  Iida picks up Makoto and goes for a Fisherman Suplex but Makoto gets out of it, and Iida applies a stretch hold to Makoto.  Iida stomps Makoto and charges her, but Makoto tosses her onto the top turnbuckle and kicks her in the ribs.  Diving body press by Makoto, cover, but it gets a two count.  Makoto goes off the ropes and hits a cartwheel double knee drop, cover, but that gets a two as well.  Makoto tags in Kato, Kato goes off the ropes and dropkicks Iida.  She goes off the ropes again and hits a second dropkick, followed by a third.  Kato picks up Iida, Irish whip, and Iida avoids Kato’s dropkick.  Iida goes off the ropes and hits a dropkick, she goes off the ropes and hits a second dropkick, cover, but it gets a two count.  Iida goes up to the top turnbuckle but Kato kicks her before she can jump off and throws her off the top turnbuckle.  Kato applies a sleeper to Iida and then applies a cross armbreaker, but Iida gets a foot on the ropes.  Kato goes off the ropes and delivers a dropkick.  She goes off the ropes again but Shizuku hits a lariat.  Dropkick by Iida to Kato, she picks her up and hits the fisherman suplex hold for a two count.  Iida goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits a missile dropkick.  Cover, but Makoto breaks it up.  Iida picks up Kato, but Makoto runs in and kicks her.  Spinning headscissors into a roll-up by Kato, and she applies a cross armbreaker.  Shizuku comes in and breaks it up, Makoto and Kato Irish whip Iida but Iida blocks it and hits a leg sweep onto Makoto.  Kato goes off the ropes but Iida applies the Gannosuke Clutch for the three count.  Your winners:  Mika Iida and Aki Shizuku

Match Thoughts:  Whenever I see a Joshi match on a card, I assume that it will blow me away because usually that is what happens.  Unfortunately, it didn’t happen here. Not to say it was a bad match but it wasn’t a great one and wasn’t memorable. Iida and Shizuku came across here as the real deal but Makoto and Kato, while adorable, mostly just stuck to stomps and punches without really trying to mix it up. Business picked up by the end but it couldn’t negate the first part of the match, in which nothing really happened. It just didn’t have the speed and offensive diversity that I have come to expect from Joshi matches and just came across as solid but nothing more than that. Score: 6.0

Keita Yano vs. Taro Yamada
Yano and Yamada circle each other to start, Yamada gets Yano’s arm but Yano hits an armdrag. Yamada gets up, hiptoss by Yano and he applies a wristlock into a grounded hammerlock.  Yamada rolls out of it and reverses the hold, kip-up by Yano and he reverses it back.  Yano twists on Yamada’s arm and pushes him to the mat, but Yamada applies a headscissors.  Yano bridges out of the headscissors and rolls up Yamada but it gets a two count and both wrestlers return to their feet.  Yamada and Yano circle each other again, wristlock by Yano and he hits an armdrag, Yano goes off the ropes and he applies a front facelock to Yamada but Yamada gets out of it and applies a wristlock.  Yano rolls out of it the hold and reverses it, but Yamada returns the favor and hits an armdrag.  Spinning headscissors by Yano and he chops Yamada into the corner.  Yano freezes which confuses Yamada, he goes off the ropes in the corner on both sides before hitting an armdrag.  Dropkick to the leg by Yano and he hits a superkick, sending Yamada out of the ring.  Yano goes off the far ropes and sails out onto Yamada with a tope suicida.  Yano attacks Yamada outside of the ring before sliding him back in, Yano gets on the apron and hits a slingshot leg drop.  Yano applies a leg submission hold but Yamada gets a hand on the ropes.  Yano picks up Yamada and hits an uppercut, Irish whip by Yano but Yamada flips himself out to the apron and snaps Yano’s neck over the top rope.  Springboard corkscrew plancha by Yamada, cover, but it gets a two count.  Yamada throws Yano into the corner and hits a lariat, La Magistral by Yamada but it gets two.  Yamada charges Yano, Yano goes for a backbreaker but Yamada rolls him up for a two count.  Enzigieri by Yamada, cover, but he gets a two count again.  Yamada goes up to the top turnbuckle but Yano is up and armdrags him down to the mat.  Backbreaker by Yano and he hits a second one, he puts Yamada in the Yurikamome and Yamada has no choice but to submit.  Your winner:  Keita Yano

Match Thoughts: I am sure that Yano has fans somewhere that are disappointed in what he has become, an indy garbage wrestler. He clearly has let himself go a bit, but on the flip side he does still occasionally show those flashes of being a skilled wrestler. I mean he is very well trained, has a lot of experience, but just looking at him you just can’t take him seriously now. Yamada I don’t think judging from this match is as skilled, and for the most part this was just pedestrian hold trading without much to get the crowd excited. Yano would occasionally bust out a big move but rarely capitalized on it, although at least he did focus on the back most of the time so I’ll give him some credit for that. Slow and emotionless, but not without its bright moments. Score: 4.0

Shota vs. Yasu Urano
Tie-up to start, Urano pushes Shota into the ropes, Shota switches positions with him and he gives a clean break.  Tie-up, waistlock by Urano, reversed by Shota, Shota applies a wristlock but Urano rolls out of it.  Single leg takedown by Urano and he twists on Shota’s ankle.  Shota rolls out of the hold, hammerlock by Urano but Shota reverses it.  Waistlock by Urano and he hits a drop toehold, front facelock by Urano but Shota reverses it as they trade holds on the mat with neither wrestler getting the advantage.  Wristlock by Urano, reversed by Shota but Urano punches him in the stomach and reverses it back.  Shota gets the hold back on, Urano tries to roll out of it but Shota rolls with him.  Urano goes for an armdrag but Shota blocks it and throws Urano to the mat.  Tie-up, side headlock by Shota, Shota applies a hammerlock but Urano reverses it into a side headlock.  Shota tries to Irish whip out of it but Urano keeps the hold applied, finally Shota reverses it but Urano quickly reverses it back.  Elbows by Shota, Irish whip, but Urano hits a shoulderblock.  Side headlock takedown by Urano and he keeps the hold applied on the mat.  Shota rolls up Urano to get out of it, and both men are back up again.  Shota and Urano lock knuckles, Urano pushes Shota to the mat but Shota bridges and hits a monkey flip.  Urano hits a monkey flip of his own and we are back to where we started.  Shota and Urano both go for kicks and punches, they run off the ropes and Shota hits a hiptoss.  Scoop slam by Urano but Shota kicks him away, Irish whip by Shota and he hits a back bodydrop.  Shota picks up Urano, wristlock by Shota, Irish whip, reversed, but Shota avoids Urano’s dropkick.  Shota monkey flips Urano into the corner, roll-up by Shota using the ropes for leverage, but the referee notices.  Urano charges Shota and hits a Frankensteiner, Urano cover Shota but Shota bridges out of it.  Backslide by Shota but Urano rolls through it and rolls up Shota with the Cazadora for the three count!  Your winner:  Yasu Urano

Match Thoughts:  Maybe I watch too much wrestling (is that a real thing?) but I just don’t see the appeal of matches like this. Literally nothing happened, it was just two veterans slowly trading holds all the way up until the last minute or so of the match. How is this entertaining? This isn’t the first match of Urano’s that I have seen like this, it appears he has reached the ‘coasting’ phase of his career. Neither wrestler is bad, they just put on a really uninspired and dull match here and I don’t know why when I am sure they are capable of more. Just listless mid-card filler. Score: 2.5

Isami Kodaka and Takeshi Minamino vs. Yuko Miyamoto and Atsushi Maruyama
Miyamoto and Minamino start things off. Waistlock by Minamino, Miyamoto reverses it into a wristlock, drop toehold by Minamino and he applies a leglock. Back up, side headlock by Minamino but Miyamoto hits a drop toehold and applies a chinlock. Minamino gets out of it and they lock knuckles, and Miyamoto tags in Maruyama. Minamino tags in Kodaka, and Kodaka applies an armbar to Maruyama. Kodaka goes for a cross armbreaker but Maruyama gets out of it and applies a leglock. Kick to the back by Kodaka, he picks up Maruyama and hits a snapmare. Reverse chinlock by Kodaka but Maruyama gets a foot on the ropes. Kodaka tags in Minamino, Minamino picks up Maruyama, snapmare, and he elbows Maruyama. Minamino applies a chinlock and he rakes Maruyama in the eyes. Irish whip by Minamino and he hits a back elbow. Minamino tags in Kodaka, Kodaka picks up Maruyama and elbows him in the back of the head. Another elbow by Kodaka but Maruyama elbows him back. Kodaka picks up Maruyama and he tags in Minamino. Minamino and Kodaka choke Maruyama in the corner with their boots, Minamino picks up Maruyama and hits a chop. Minamino and Maruyama trade chops and kicks, and Minamino rakes Maruyama in the eyes. Minamino tags in Kodaka, Kodaka picks up Maruyama and goes for a suplex, but Maruyama blocks it and hits a vertical suplex of his own. Maruyama tags in Miyamoto, Miyamoto goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits a diving chop to the head. Miyamoto knocks Minamino off the apron, Miyamoto picks up Kodaka, Irish whip, but Kodaka avoids the dropkick. Overhead belly to belly suplex by Miyamoto, Miyamoto knocks Kodaka into the corner and puts him up on the top turnbuckle. Miyamoto goes for a Frankensteiner but Kodaka blocks it and hits a diving attack off the top turnbuckle. Chop by Miyamoto but Kodaka elbows him and they trade blows. Irish whip by Kodaka and he dropkicks Miyamoto.

Kodaka tags in Minamino, Minamino picks up Miyamoto and hits a chickenwing front slam. Cover, but it gets a two count. Minamino picks up Miyamoto, he puts him on his shoulders but Miyamoto slides off. La Magistral by Miyamoto, but it gets a two count. Minamino goes off the ropes but Miyamoto catches him and applies a cobra twist. Minamino gets to the ropes to force a break, and Miyamoto tags in Maruyama. Kodaka runs in but Maruyama superkicks him, Maruyama throws Minamino into the corner before kicking Kodaka again. Roll-up by Maruyama on Minamino but it gets a two count. Maruyama throws Minamino into the corner and hits a jumping kick, he goes off the ropes and hits a lariat followed by a jumping heel kick. Cover, but it gets a two count. Maruyama picks up Minamino but Minamino elbows him and they trade shots. Maruyama goes off the ropes but Minamino hits a jumping kick and tags in Kodaka. Kodaka goes up to the top turnbuckle and goes for a diving doublestomp, but Maruyama moves out of the way. Miyamoto comes in and both he and Maruyama kick Kodaka in the corner. Maruyama dives in to Kodaka but Kodaka moves out of the way, Minamino comes back in and he chokeslams Maruyama. Diving double knee drop by Kodaka, cover, but Miyamoto breaks it up. Irish whip by Miyamoto to Kodaka but Kodaka drops him with a backdrop suplex. Kodaka picks up Maruyama, he goes off the ropes but Maruyama avoids the superkick and rolls up Kodaka for a two count. Leg sweep by Kodaka to Maruyama and he applies the 689 for the submission victory. Your winners: Isami Kodaka and Takeshi Minamino

Match Thoughts: Interesting that Kodaka and Miyamoto were on opposite sides here since they have been a tag team for years, not sure if there was a backstory. Things did pick up a bit for this match compared to the rest of the card up to this point, as they definitely showed some emotion and actually looked like they cared about winning the match. Minamino doesn’t impress me, never has, but when he wasn’t in the ring the action went up a notch and Maruyama did a good job of being the face in peril so to speak. There were some transition issues, as if someone just said the magic word and they switched who was on offense, but for the most part it was well structured and they kept it entertaining from beginning to end. Nothing overly memorable but fun nonetheless. Score: 6.5

Buffalo vs. Kenichiro Arai
Arai chops Buffalo before the match starts and throws him out of the ring. Baseball slide by Arai and he clubs on Buffalo out on the floor. Arai chokes Buffalo and throws him into the chairs at ringside. Arai slides Buffalo back into the ring, Irish whip, and Arai hits an elbow. Irish whip by Arai but Buffalo hits a shoulderblock, Buffalo goes off the ropes but Arai slides out of the ring. Buffalo goes out after him but Arai gets back in the ring, Buffalo returns but Arai kicks him as he goes through the ropes and dumps him back out to the floor. Arai picks up Buffalo and rakes him in the eyes. Wristlock by Arai and he goes for an Irish whip into the post, but Buffalo reverses it. Lariat by Buffalo, he gets a chair and hits Arai in the stomach and back with it. Buffalo picks up Arai and takes him up into the crowd to continue his assault, they end up on the ramp and Buffalo clubs Arai to the mat. Buffalo picks up Arai and clubs him off the ramp to the floor. Arai is bleeding by now as he gets back into the ring, Buffalo picks him up and rams him into the corner. Irish whip by Buffalo and he hits a running elbow. Buffalo picks up Arai and punches him back to the mat. Vertical suplex by Buffalo and he hits a leg drop. Cover, but it gets a two count. Buffalo picks up Arai and punches him against the ropes. Kicks by Buffalo and he goes off the ropes, but Arai drop toeholds him into the second rope and then kicks the rope into his throat. Arai goes out to the apron and goes for a swandive move, but misses the top rope. Buffalo dumps Arai back into the ring, he drapes him over the bottom rope and hits a leg drop. Dropkick from the floor by Buffalo, cover, but it gets a two count.

Buffalo picks up Arai, Buffalo puts Arai up on the top turnbuckle and he hits a superplex. Cover, but Arai kicks out at two. Buffalo picks up Arai and applies a double underhook, but Arai blocks it. Back bodydrop by Arai, punches by Buffalo and he goes off the roes, but Arai hits an atomic drop followed quickly with a DDT. Stomps by Arai in the corner but Buffalo throws him to the mat. Buffalo picks up Arai and hits a headbutt, punches by Buffalo and they trade punches and chops. Buffalo goes off the ropes but Arai moves and Buffalo flies out of the ring. Arai goes off the ropes but Buffalo hits him from the floor with a chair. Buffalo charges Arai and hits a lariat in the corner, he goes off the ropes again but Arai collapses to the mat. Buffalo drags up Arai and hits a backdrop suplex. Cover, but it gets a two count. Buffalo waits for Arai to get up, he goes off the ropes and hits a lariat to the back, but Arai catches the one from the front and goes for an armbar. Buffalo gets out of it and lariats Arai to the mat. Buffalo lariats Arai out of the ring to the floor, he goes out after him and slides Arai into the ring. Buffalo goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits a missile dropkick. Buffalo picks up Arai and puts him on the top turnbuckle. Buffalo joins Arai but Arai reverses it into an avalanche atomic drop. Arai spits water into Buffalo’s face and applies the backslide for the three count cover. Your winner: Kenichiro Arai

Match Thoughts: I wish that Buffalo had won…. not just because I am biased (which I am) but he was just so much more interesting than Arai in this match. I will give Arai some credit, he knew that he was overmatched and tried everything he could to level the playing field. But Buffalo was just so dominating, Arai was bleeding everywhere and nothing Arai did looked like it was really hurting Buffalo. The backslide made sense, just as a fan I would have preferred to see Arai get crushed instead. Smartly worked, the ending just didn’t feel right and when Arai was on offense things slowed down quite a bit. Score: 6.0

GENTARO vs. Mr. Gannosuke
Gannosuke shakes GENTARO’s hand before the match starts, tie-up, side headlock by Gannosuke, GENTARO Irish whips out of it but Gannosuke shoulderblocks him down. Side headlock takedown by Gannosuke but GENTARO quickly gets out of it. Tie-up, GENTARO gets an armbar applied on the mat but Gannosuke rolls out of it and applies a side headlock. GENTARO quickly reverses it into a hammerlock and he wrenches back on Gannosuke’s arm. Gannosuke gets into the ropes to force a break as they return to their feet, tie-up, and Gannosuke tosses GENTARO to the mat. Armbar by Gannosuke and he knees GENTARO in the arm. Wristlock by Gannosuke and he applies a hammerlock on the ground, GENTARO struggles back up but Gannosuke brings him back to the mat. GENTARO gets a foot on the ropes to force a break and he rolls out of the ring to re-group. GENTARO returns after a moment, wristlock by Gannosuke butt GENTARO reverses it and suplexes Gannosuke to the mat. Back up, punch by GENTARO and he elbows Gannosuke in the back. Neck crank by GENTARO and he applies a headscissors. Gannosuke gets out of the hold and elbows GENTARO in the back, he picks up GENTARO and hits a scoop slam. Snapmare by Gannosuke and he applies a reverse chinlock, GENTARO struggles back up and elbows out of the hold before hitting a scoop slam. GENTARO picks up Gannosuke and hits another scoop slam, cover, but it gets a one count. Side headlock takedown by GENTARO but Gannosuke rolls him up for a two count. Clubs to the back by Gannosuke but GENTARO hits him back, GENTARO puts Gannosuke into the corner and hits a bulldog. Cover, but it gets a two count. Reverse chinlock by GENTARO into a headlock, he picks up Gannosuke and hits a snap vertical suplex. Cover, but it gets a two.

GENTARO picks up Gannosuke again and elbows him in the back. Another elbow to the back by GENTARO and he applies a stretch hold. Gannosuke gets out of it and applies a headscissors while twisting GENTARO’s arm, but GENTARO wiggles out of it and re-applies the stretch hold. Gannosuke gets away and applies an armbar, but GENTARO gets a foot on the ropes. Gannosuke eventually releases the hold, kicks to the arm by Gannosuke and he applies a wristlock before slamming GENTARO’s arm into the mat. Gannosuke picks up GENTARO and again applies an armbar before slamming down GENTARO’s arm. Elbow to the arm by Gannosuke but GENTARO snaps off a backdrop suplex. GENTARO picks up Gannosuke and hits another backdrop suplex, he picks up Gannosuke and delivers a third. Cover, but Gannosuke gets a shoulder up. GENTARO goes off the ropes but Gannosuke ducks the lariat and applies the Gannosuke Clutch for a two count. GENTARO picks up Gannosuke and applies a neck crank, but it gets a two count. GENTARO puts Gannosuke in the Scorpion Deathlock but Gannosuke gets to the ropes to force a break. GENTARO goes for a backdrop suplex but Gannosuke blocks it and gets a hand in the ropes. Club to the back by GENTARO, he goes for the backdrop suplex but Gannosuke lands on him for a two count cover. GENTARO goes off the ropes but Gannosuke ducks the lariat and hits a release dragon suplex. Gannosuke grabs GENTARO and goes for a powerbomb, but GENTARO back bodydrops out of it. Gannosuke gets back up and hits a lariat to GENTARO, cover, but it gets a two count. Gannosuke picks up GENTARO and plants him with a powerbomb, cover, but it gets a two count. Gannosuke quickly gets GENTARO up and drops him with the Fire Thunder, cover, and he picks up the three count. Your winner: Mr. Gannosuke

Match Thoughts: I am not sure how well it holds up, but my memory of Gannosuke from FMW was that he was one of the wrestlers better at structuring matches. By that I mean he had really good timing and was a lot more than just a garbage wrestler. I can honestly say after watching this match that Gannosuke still ‘has it’ as this was a really good match and there was no evidence from it that it was his first singles match in six years. There were things here and there I didn’t like, such as arm work (which was done very well) being disregarded by both wrestlers, but beyond that I thought it was very solid. The crowd was eating up everything, the Gannosuke Clutch came at the perfect time, and he was still busting out big moves such as the dragon suplex like it was the 90s. Equally important, he was also taking the moves as GENTARO planted him hard with the backdrop suplexes, so no one was taking it easy here. The Fire Thunder is one of the best finishing moves, ever, and it was great to see it being done by the master once again. It started slow as they set the tone and at first I was concerned it was going to be an old person exhibition style match, but then they kicked it up a gear. I admit part of the reason I liked it so much was just the joy of seeing Gannosuke not only wrestling again, but wrestling at a high level, but even without that it was a really fun match. Score: 7.5

Final Thoughts:

Best Match: GENTARO vs. Mr. Gannosuke. This match was not a lock to be good, there was always a chance that Gannosuke physically couldn’t go anymore, or would be too rusty off the bat to put on a fun match. Luckily for all of us that wasn’t the case as Gannosuke was just as good as I remembered him from the old days. GENTARO of course is a solid hand, he can have a good match with anyone but he isn’t able to elevate a match by himself. They worked together very well and aside from shrugging off the limb work there is really nothing bad I can say about the match. Definitely recommended for old school Gannosuke fans.

MVPs:   Mr. Gannosuke.  I probably would have given it to him anyway, but he earned it. To be out of the wrestling ring for so long, he came back in better shape than when he left and was ready to go. At the end he wasn’t struggling or huffing around the ring, he was still hitting his moves and moving around the same he was when the match started. I was hopeful he would be his old self but I knew there was a chance it wouldn’t happen, but he definitely came back ready to go. I still love the Fire Thunder and the fans definitely went home happy.

Overall:  There is only one reason to get this event, and the one reason delivered. The card up to the main event wasn’t bad, the tag match was really solid and the Joshi match wasn’t unwatchable. But besides that, the matches in the undercard were just really uninspired, it felt like the wrestlers were given $20 and put that much effort into their matches, none of them were sore the next day. I thought the main event was great though, as you’ve probably picked up on by now, and anyone that orders this event to see Gannosuke I don’t think will be disappointed. Only a mild recommendation for the event as a whole, but the main event is worth watching.

Grade: C

The “OH MY GOD!” Review: ECW TV 10/15, 10/22, & 10/29/96

By
Heels Inc
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0

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TV 1996-10-15 (Matches taped Ultimate Jeopardy 1996-10-05 ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA)

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

We get highlights from last week’s Ultimate Jeopardy Match.

Opening video.

Joey Styles welcomes us to the show and tells us World Champion Sandman will join via satellite from Massachusetts. Lori Fullington now joins Joey via satellite and she just rubs her arm and acts like a heroin addict. Lori says Raven hasn’t just quit wrestling he has quit his life. She says that Raven has taken Tyler and left the country.

Back from break and Joey tells us that Sandman has walk off from his press conference after learning what just happened. Joey talks about the chokeslam Tommy Dreamer took last week. Coming up on October 26th it’s a High Incident Match. Dreamer and “Primetime” Brian Lee will be on a scaffold with the ring below filled with tables.

Submission Match: Taz (w/ Bill Alfonso & Team Taz) vs. Johnny Smith, ref Jim Molineaux
Rematch from last months Arena show. Taz won that one with the tazmission injuring Smith in the process. Mat wrestling to start. Taz drops into the collegiate wrestling position and Taz escapes. Smith does the same and then he escapes. Smith does it a second time but Taz stomps him. Taz takes it to the floor and then hits a northern lights back in the ring. Taz sends Smith into the corner and then locks in a submission but Smith gets to the ropes. Smith with a hip toss and he locks in a cross arm bar but Taz gets to the ropes. Smith stomps away on the arm. Taz ducks a clothesline and locks in a bow and arron type move that Joey calls the red hook ringer. Taz breaks the hold. Smith ducks a clothesline and locks in another arm bar. Taz gets to the ropes. Smith sends Taz to the corner charges but catches a boot to the face. Taz comes out but gets powerslamed and Smith locks in the STF. Taz to the ropes, Smith goes up top and hits a missle dropkick followed by a clothesline. After a body slam Smith goes back up top but Taz gets the knees up on a splash. Smith blocks a german but Taz hits a wheel barrel suplex instead. Taz quickly puts on the tazmission and Smith is forced to submit in 9.47. Taz and Alfonso want to know who can stop the path of rage. Pretty good match.

A highlights package of the feud between the Eliminators and Terry Gordy and Steve Williams is shown. The two teams will meet on October 26th.

The Eliminators vs. Samoan Gangsta Party, ref Paul Richards
Samoans attack before the bell but the Eliminators are able to fight them off. Sammy the Silk hits a double clothesline though to gain control. Big Matty Smalls is on Kronus, Sammy with Saturn. The Samoans hug and the Eliminators pop off the mat and hit total elimination and get the win in 2.03.

TV Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas (w/ Francine) vs. Pitbull 2 (w/ Pitbull 1), ref John Finnegan
Pitbull hits the ring and the fight is on right away. Pitbull nails Shane with the belt but Francine climbs into the ring. Shane picks up the belt and nails Pitbull with it. “She’s a whore” chant to Francine. DDT by Shane but no sold by Pitbull. Pitbull with a press slam into a brain buster! They go the floor. Pitbull puts Shane in a chin lock on the floor. What? Shane sent into the guard rail. Back in the ring a chokeslam by Pitbull gets 2. Pitbull attacking the neck of Shane as the fans chant for him to break it. These people are going to flip their shit if Pitbull ever takes the title from Shane. Shane sent into the corner but he comes out and hits a swinging neckbreaker and a piledriver. Suplex by Shane and then he attacks the neck. Pitbull tries to comeback by sending Shane into the corner but Shane moves out of the way of a charge and again hits a swinging neckbreaker. Pitbull comes back and puts Shane on the turnbuckle but the Eliminators hit the ring. Pitbull clotheslines both of them and then stands there pounding his chest while they give him total elimination. Shane comes off the top with an elbow drop but only gets 2. Again Pitbull tries to come back and sends Shane into the corner and charges but Shane gets a boot up 3 times in a row. Shane goes up top but is knocked down onto the buckle and Pitbull with a super fall away slam. Francine is seen taking something out of her dress. She throws it to Shane and Pitbull grabs her. Haha she goes to her knees to beg him off and the crowd begins to chant “suck his dick”, oh man. He hits her with a running powerslam instead of raping her. Shane throws powder in Pitbulls face. Pitbull can’t see and he belly to bellys the ref. Shane with a single arm DDT and then he puts the dog collar around Pitbull’s neck. Full nelson as Shane tries to break his neck. Pitbull 1 is on the apron cheering on his partner Shane hits a single arm DDT. Pitbull 1 gets in the ring and Shane grabs him by the halo that is screwed into his skull and shakes it!!! Shane goes after Tod Gordon who is now at ringside as multiple fans jump the rail and get tackled by cops and security. Shane is being led out of the back as the locker room empties. Tommy Dreamer goes after Shane in the locker room. Joel Gertner begins to announce Shane as the winner and Gordon punches him. Joey has been in the ring and we have had no commentary for a few minutes. Gertner gets the mic back and this time Paul E. Dangerously attacks him. Wrestlers now begin to threaten him so he leaves. Pitbull is stretchered out and leaves in an ambulance. Things fell apart at around the 17 minute mark.

My thoughts on the show…
Good opening match. With just the main event this was probably one of the best TV episodes I have seen so far. The Shane/Pitbull storyline has been heating up for weeks now and Douglas showed tonight that he will do what ever he can to make sure he hurts his opponents. The fans were so into the match that some even jumped the rail at the end. This is a must see episode!!!

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TV 1996-10-22 (Matches taped 1996-10-05 Ultimate Jeopardy at ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA)

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

Recap of last week’s main event.

Opening video.

Joey Styles welcomes us to the show. Joey is scheduled to interview TV Champions “The Franchise” Shane Douglas and Francine. Joey says that he has always done his job like a professional but he will not interview Douglas. Joey turns his attention to the Sandman and Raven. Next week it doesn’t get any easier for the Sandman as he faces the number 1 international contender and his good friend 2 Cold Scorpio. We then get the entire Scorpio and Chris Jericho match from The Doctor is In back in early August.

We go to Hype Central with Joel Gertner and he is outside of the hospital with Shane Douglas and Francine. They make fun of Pitbull 1 for being in the hospital and crippled.

Tag Team Champions The Gangstas vs. The Eliminators, ref Jim Molineaux
They brawl. Saturn hits a cutter on both New Jack and Mustafa and the Eliminators pose. The Gangstas get up and attack from behind. New Jack’s weapons tonight include a nightstick and crutch. Match gets clipped to a bloody New Jack. Mustafa with a running powerslam on Saturn. New Jack is a mess. Clip to the end Mustafa with a running powerslam on Kronus and New Jack comes of the top with the 187. 5.43 is shown and the announced time of the match is 11.13. Eliminators attack after the match and hit total elimination on both Gangstas. They lay a table across the top turnbuckle and Kronus jump off it with a splash to New Jack. Saturn opens a ladder and puts it on the table now! Kronus holds the ladder as Saturn climbs it. Saturn comes off the ladder with an elbow drop! Saturn climbs back up this time hitting a splash on Mustafa.

Hype for High Incident.

“Misirlou” promos. Tommy Dreamer, Bill Alfonso, Shane Douglas and Francine, Doug Furnas, Lori Fullington, Rob Van Dam, The Gangstas, Eliminators and Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy and “Dr. Death” Steve Williams all hype there story lines.

My thoughts on the show…
Throw away episode. A two month old match that we have already seen and a brawl that is clipped like crazy. High Incident looks to be pretty good. Dreamer/Lee in a scaffold match, Furnas and Kroffat take on Van Dam and Sabu, Sandman against Scorpio for the belt and The Eliminators take on Gordy and Williams. That show looks good, this show was not. Skip it!

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TV 1996-10-29 (Matches taped 1996-10-26 “High Incident” at ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA)

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

They open with the end of the Tommy Dreamer “Primetime” Brian Lee scaffold match. Dreamer knocks Lee down and just as Lee hits the tables it goes to the opening video.

Joey Styles is in the ring and he welcomes us to the show. Joey says ECW is hardcore but they also like amateur sports. Joey welcomes 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle to the ring. Little Guido comes to the ring and Joey says he is a good amateur wrestling also. Guido says it’s an honor to meet Angle. Joey then introduces Guido’s opponent Taz. Taz shakes Angle’s hand and tells him he is one of the greatest amateur wrestling ever. Taz said he once thought about joining the Olympic team but he would rather do it on TV and make money. Taz is glad Kurt is there to commentate on his match so he can tell the world what a great wrestler Taz is. Taz again says Kurt is a great amateur but that he is a great pro.

Shoot Fight: Taz (w/ Team Taz & Bill Alfonso) vs. Little Guido, ref John “Pee Wee’ Moore
Angle questions why Taz has such a bad attitude. Taz dominates with different submissions and hits a wheel barrel suplex. Taz follows that up with a tbone and locks in the tazmission getting the win in 4.10. Angle talks about how great of a job Taz did. Taz gets on the mic and says that even Angle must agree that it was a gold medal performance. Taz then turns his attention to Sabu. He says for over a year he has been asking for him. His patience is running out and he wants Sabu.

Joey says he and ECW were honored to have Angle there with them after he turned down offers from WWF and WCW.

TV Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas (w/ Francine) vs. Cody Michaels, ref Paul Richards
Douglas gets the mic and talks about how he broke Pitbull’s neck again last time he was in the arena. Pitbull 2 hits the ring right after the introductions but he is held back by a bunch of guys. We go to break and when we get back we are joined in progress and Michaels hits a inverted atomic drop and flying forearm. Michaels goes up top and hits a drop kick for 2. After a body slam he goes up again and hits a nice cross body that nearly gets 3. Michales back drops Shane over the top ropes to the floor and knocks him back into the guardrail with a baseball slide. Michaels nails Douglas with a chair and then sits him in it and dives off the apron with a crossbody. Michaels sends Shane into the rope but Douglas drops him with a single arm DDT and then a tombstone. The ref goes to stop the match because Michaels is out but Francine won’t let him. Shane picks up Michaels and ends it with the belly to belly. 3.32 of the match airs. After the match Douglas puts Michaels in the full nelson. Pitbull 2 hits the ring chasing off Douglas. A bunch of guys follow Pitull into the ring to calm him down but he beats them all up. Douglas comes in the ring with a chair but Pitbull no sells that shot to the head. Douglas again runs as Pitbull chases him around the ring. Francine is in the middle of the ring watching and Shane jumps into the ring and bumps into her knocking her down. Pitbull goes after her but all the other wrestlers are back up and hold him back. Francine and Douglas are able to escape. Joel Gertner gets in the ring to announce Douglas as the winner. Pitbull gets in his face and he actually shoves him back. Pitbull grabs him and throws him out of the ring onto all the other wrestlers. A good showing by Michaels and the fans were into this.

Spike Dudley vs. Chris Candido, ref John Finnegan
Candido makes his return to ECW for the first time in 3 years and after an unsuccessful run in the WWF as Skip. “Skip is dead” chant from the fans. Spike with a head scissor but Candido ducks and clothesline and drops Spike on his head with a german. Spike sent hard into the corner. Snap suplex by Candido followed by a leg drop. Candido picks Spike up for a suplex but hangs him over the top rope instead. Candido puts Spike on the turnbuckle and goes up with him. Candido hits a power bomb off the top rope as the fans go crazy and he gets the win in 3.25. Candido says that the WWF gave him a lot so he isn’t here to complain about them but he is proud to be back in the place that gave him his first big break. He is here to bring ECW to the top and out of the shit hole that it’s in.

World Champion Sandman vs. 2 Cold Scorpio, ref Jim Molineaux
Joined in progress in the opening moments of the match. Former partners facing off tonight. After some back and forth Scorpio gets a chair and Sandman takes his cane. They put down the weapons and hug but Scorpio knees him in the stomach and takes over. Scorpio gets the cane and nails Sandman with it. Scorpio with a side slam and he goes up top. Big leg drop gets a 2 count. He goes back up and hits a moonsault but only gets 2. He goes up again but Sandman nails him with the cane. Super rana gets 2. Scorpio with a powerslam. Scorpio misses the moonsault leg drop and Sandman covers for the win in 6. Tyler Fullington shows up in the ring and he hugs his father. Jus then Raven shows up behind Sandman hits him with the cane and DDTs him. Tyler and Raven pose as we go off the air.

My thoughts on the show…
This was a very good episode. The Douglas Pitbull feud continues to go full steam ahead. Candido returns with a bang. And Raven throws himself right back into his feud with Sandman.

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WWE Tribute To The Troops Results 12/17/14

By
Jim Somers
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0

Credit: Sean Ross Sapp

– The show stars with a tribute package featuring the Osbournes, Taylor Swift, Bradley Cooper, Will Ferrell, Kelly Ripa, Michael Strahan and a ton of other celebrities and WWE superstars thanking U.S. military for their service.

– Hulk Hogan comes out to thank the the troops to a great ovation. The Miz and MizDow interrupt him and The Miz says he was honored to portray a Marine in a film, but says he’s sure the Marines were more honored. John Cena comes out and clowns The Miz. They argue for what seems like forever before they finally get into it, with Cena coming out on top and Sandow mimicking Miz.

Seth Rollins, Kane, Luke Harper, Big Show and J & J Security all come out and surround the ring. Dolph Ziggler, Erick Rowan and Ryback all come out to even the odds and clear the ring.

– A message from Angelina Jolie is shown.

The Usos vs. Gold & Stardust
Stardust avoids a few moves from Jimmy Uso and dances to taunt him. Stardust and Goldust start working him over, but then Uso works out of the corner and avoids a move from Goldust and dances himself. Both Usos then fly on to Gold & Stardust for a suicide dive before the commercial. Back from the break Stardust is controlling Jey Uso, locking on an armbar. As Uso tries to arm drag out, Stardust hits the Rhodes family uppercut and tags to Goldust. Uso knocks Stardust off the apron and tosses Goldust over the top rope to the floor, then makes the hot tag to Jimmy. Jimmy is fired up and totally launches Stardust with a Samoan drop. Uso then utilized the running hip bump in the corner as Jey goes over the top rope onto Goldust. As Jimmy turns around, Stardust hits the Beautiful Disaster kick but only gets two. Jimmy Uso gets a two off Whisper in the Wind. The Usos land a set of superkicks and splashes for the pin.
Winner: Usos via pinfall (Superfly Splash)

– Florida-Georgia Line performs. Oh.

Santa’s Helper Divas Battle Royal with Naomi, Cameron, Emma, Rosa Mendes, Alicia Fox, Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, Paige, Natalya, Summer Rae

Emma and Rosa are pulling all the shenanigans in the middle of the ring, but then Rose eliminates her. Then Summer challenges Rosa to a dance off while everyone watches, then tosses them out. Naomi boots a screaming Cameron from the ring, and this is a total comedy match. Paige, trying to bring back some semblance of wrestling to this contest headbutts Naomi in the face. The Bella Twins bounce Alicia Fox and then focus on Paige. Paige tries to distract them with mistletoe, which unfortunately doesn’t go as planned. Paige eliminated. Brie tries to baseball slide Natalya, but she moves and Brie slides right out of the ring. Nikki tries to attack, but Naomi comes up from behind and tosses both of them out.
Winner: Naomi

– Sgt. Slaughter wants you to stay tuned for the Boot Camp match!

– Katherine Heigl wishes the troops Happy Holidays. Sgt. Slaughter is out to do the ring announcing for the match.

Boot Camp Match
Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt

Ambrose gets the upper hand with a dropkick, but Wyatt quickly strikes him down, then body slams him. Wyatt works Ambrose over in the corner, but Ambrose floors him with a huge bulldog that sends Wyatt outside. Ambrose follows with a suicide dive, and starts dragging Wyatt all around the ring, beating him with anything he can grab. Ambrose throws a bunch of weapons in the ring but Wyatt starts lighting him up with kendo stick shots. Wyatt runs Ambrose into a chair before the commercial.

Back from the break Wyatt is still in control and runs right through Wyatt. Ambrose gets to the cane, and Wyatt begs off. It doesn’t do him any good as Ambrose beats him down with the cane. Ambrose even busts out the White Russian Leg Sweep, Sandman’s old finish! Ambrose gets two off a second rope elbow drop with a chair. Finally after being chanted at the whole match, Ambrose sets up a table, but gets put right through it by a Wyatt uranage. Ambrose kicks out at two. Wyatt goes out and gets another table as Slaughter looks on. Ambrose rolls Wyatt up for two, but then hits the rebound clothesline for two. Slaughter tosses Ambrose the steel toed boot! Ambrose connects, and Wyatt is on the table. Elbow drop from the top for the win!
Winner: Dean Ambrose via pinfall (top rope elbow drop through the table)

– Ambrose salutes Slaughter after the match.

– Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz salute the troops, as do the Kardashians.

– Rusev and Lana are in the ring and Rusev says he’s crushed all of the American heroes and proven Russia’s dominance. This gets a huge “USA” chant.

Daniel Bryan comes out and leads the crowd in “Yes” chants! He says Americans don’t back down and fight for what they believe in. He tells Rusev to go back to Russia if he doesn’t like it. Rusev challenges Bryan, but Bryan says proud Americans can come from anywhere including over the wall and from the sky. Military members come out of the crowd and repel from the ceiling as Bryan enters the ring. Rusev backs down and the crowd goes wild as Bryan celebrates with the military.

– All members of The Today Show give their thanks to the troops.

– Florida-Georgia Line is back singing about windows being down. So is Larry the Cable Guy. Grumpy Cat apparently doesn’t care about our troops.

John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, Ryback and Erick Rowan vs. Seth Rollins, Big Show, Luke Harper and Kane

Ryback and Rollins start off, and Rollins puts the boots to Ryback. Rollins is lifted, carried across the ring and slammed into the buckles before Ryback tosses him overhead and tags Rowan.

Rowan with a big body slam and splash to Rollins and tags in Ziggler. Dolph hits a big neckbreaker as Rollins tags Harper. Ryback comes in and uses a delayed vertical suplex on Harper then tags Ziggler back in.

Harper tags Rollins, who attacks Ziggler with elbows. Ziggler counters a Curb Stomp attempt with a big DDT, but the count is broken up. All hell breaks loose and everyone brawls.

Back from the break Big Show is controlling Ziggler, then tags Kane who applies a chinlock. Ziggler boots Kane, but runs in to a sidewalk slam and tags Rollins, who taunts Cena.

Rollins is punching and stomping Ziggler as the crowd tries to motivate Ziggler to get back in to the match. He does, landing a Fameasser and hot tags Cena.

Shoulderblock, shoulderblock, belly-to-back slam, Five Knuckle Shuffle, STF on Harper, but Kane breaks it up. Everyone comes in the ring, which ends in Ryback pressing Rollins onto his teammates. Show chokeslams Ryback, but Ziggler superkicks him into an AA from Cena. Cena AA’s Harper on Show and pins him.

Winners: John Cena, Ryback, Dolph Ziggler and Erick Rowan via pinfall (Attitude Adjustment)

Hulk Hogan comes out and celebrates with the winners to close the show.

Rey Mysterio Return Update, Tag Team Turns Down WWE Tryout, WrestleMania 32, More

By
Jim Somers
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0

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

– There has been a lot of speculation about WWE signing top indie star Uhaa Nation. Word is that he has been offered a developmental deal and there’s no word yet if he has accepted the deal. There is some talk on the indies that Nation is not taking dates past a certain point.

– We noted a while back that WWE creative was told to start working on a return storyline for Rey Mysterio. The storyline was supposed to run from the Survivor Series pay-per-view and end at WrestleMania 31. With Survivor Series long gone, the return storyline is now off. No word yet on if Rey will still be returning to WWE TV as was expected.

– Top indie tag team The Young Bucks were invited to WWE’s tryouts back in September but they politely turned it down.

– The December 13th WWE live event in Wheeling, West Virginia drew 4,000 fans. Monday’s RAW from Detroit drew a near sellout of 11,800 fans.

– We noted before that former TNA Knockout Brittany (Santana Garrett) was backstage at last week’s NXT Takeover special. She was actually scheduled to wrestle NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte at the Friday night NXT TV tapings but Charlotte was booked twice already so the match was nixed. The entire set of NXT TV tapings were actually re-written that afternoon.

TNA Makes Another Play For Alberto Del Rio, Rumor On What Money They Offered Him, More

By
Brian Grey
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0

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

– TNA recently made another play for former WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio (El Patron). Apparently they made a very serious money offer – a rumored one-year deal for $400,000.

TNA is reportedly asking for exclusivity, which could be a problem as Del Rio is planning to work with El Rey and AAA’s Lucha Underground in 2015. TNA may have to drop the request for exclusivity or up the money to get Del Rio. TNA is trying to sell Del Rio on the idea that he will have more US TV exposure with TNA than with anyone else.

TNA is trying hard to get Del Rio due to John Gaburick working closely with Del Rio in WWE.

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Fighting Spirit Review: “Tenryu Project 19” from 8/5/14

By
Kevin Wilson
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0

Date:  August 5th, 2014
Location:  Shin-Kiba 1st RING in Tokyo, Japan
Announced Attendance:  Unknown

PuroresuCentral.com

During the summer, Tenryu decided to throw a little “tag team” tournament together.  I am not going to bother post the brackets since I have no idea how many matches took place in the tournament and if they were all taped, but all the tag team matches on this card are part of the Mizuchi R Tag Team League.  Only the wrestler that gets the pin gets the points and it looks like they are teamed together randomly.  That’s all I got.  There were six matches, but one was won via forfeit.  Here is the card:

– Mitsunobu Kikuzawa  vs. Ricky Fuji
– BUKI and Winger vs. Kengo and NOSAWA Rongai
– Arashi and Kazuki Hashimoto  vs. Classic Kid and Masao Inoue
– Genichiro Tenryu and Kengo vs. Great Kojika and Ryuichi Kawakami
– BUKI and YASSHI vs. Dragon JOKER and TARU

This shouldn’t take too long.

Mitsunobu Kikuzawa  vs. Ricky Fuji
Kikuzawa is Kikutaro, not sure why he wrestled here under his real name.  They dance around to start the match, but Kikuzawa hits Fuji from behind.  Kikuzawa puts his foot against Fuji’s throat and kicks Fuji, chops by Kikuzawa in the corner but Fuji switches positions with him and elbows Kikuzawa in the head.  Kikuzawa switches things back and punches Fuji in the head but Fuji blocks one and punches him back.  Kikuzawa distracts Fuji and punches him in the head, stomp by Kikuzawa and he clubs Fuji in the back.  Fuji punches Kikuzawa back and hits a series of mounted punches in the corner.  Kikuzawa switches positions with him, he straddles Fuji in the corner and shakes the ropes.  Kikuzawa picks up Fuji, snapmare, and Kikuzawa rakes Fuji in the eyes before hitting a kneedrop.  Side headlock by Kikuzawa, Fuji gets out of it and they trade hammerlocks.  Fuji pushes Kikuzawa into the ropes and he gives a clean break.  They lock knuckles, wristlock by Kikuzawa and he hits an armbreaker.  Snapmare by Kikuzawa and he hits a rolling senton.  Cover, but it gets a two count.  Kicks to the leg by Kikuzawa and he applies a figure four leglock.  Fuji gets to the ropes, and Kikuzawa kicks Fuji in the leg.  Punches by Kikuzawa and he hits a shoulder tackle in the corner.  Kikuzawa mounts Fuji in the corner and hits a series of punches, Irish whip by Kikuzawa but Fuji kicks him as he charges in.  He tries again with the same result, he then throws the referee into Fuji and that works.  Kikuzawa charges in but Fuji kicks him back, punches by Fuji and Kikuzawa falls to the mat.  Fuji picks up Kikuzawa, he puts him on his shoulders but Kikuzawa slides off and dropkicks Fuji in the knee.  Shining Wizard by Kikuzawa, cover, but Fuji kicks out.  Kikuzawa picks up Fuji and goes for a vertical suplex, but he talks too much and Fuji reverses it into a suplex of his own.  Fuji puts Kikuzawa on his shoulders and hits a rolling fireman’s carry followed  by a trapped DDT.  Cover, and he picks up the three count.  Your winner:  Ricky Fuji

Match Thoughts:   A typical Kikutaro match.  Kikutaro has been doing this for a long time, and his matches generally start the show and gets the crowd into the event.  He used the same cute spots he always does and Fuji of course played along because that is what you do when you are against Kikutaro.  So it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t anything new either, one day Kikutaro is going to do something that surprises me but today was not that day.  Score:  5.0

BUKI and Winger vs. Kengo and NOSAWA Rongai
BUKI and Kengo start things off.  BUKI and Kengo tie-up but they break cleanly.  Tie-up, waistlock by BUKI but Kengo gets into the ropes but BUKI clubs him in the chest.  BUKI and Kengo trade elbows and BUKI hits a double chop.  BUKI and Kengo trade chops, and BUKI knocks Kengo into the corner.  BUKI kicks Kengo against the ropes but Kengo kicks him back.  BUKI kicks Kengo into the corner and he applies a front facelock, and BUKI tags in Winger.  Winger applies a wristlock to Kengo but Kengo gets a foot on the ropes.  Kengo rolls out of the ring but returns after a moment, and Kengo locks knuckles with Winger.  Wristlock by Kengo to Winger but Winger reverses it into an armbar.  Winger gets in the mount, Kengo gets back up and Winger tags in BUKI.  Club to the ribs by BUKI to Kengo and he rakes him in the eyes.  Kicks by BUKI and Kengo elbows him back as they trade blows.  Side headlock by Kengo, BUKI Irish whips out of it and they trade unsuccessful shoulderblocks.  Elbow by Kengo, he goes off the ropes but BUKI knocks him down with a shoulderblock.  BUKI goes off the ropes but Rongai knees him from the apron.  Kengo tags in Rongai, double Irish whip and they hit a drop toehold/dropkick combination.  Cover by Rongai but the referee doesn’t count as he never saw the tag (if there was one).  Rongai and Kengo tag in and out, and Rongai chops BUKI against the ropes.  Snapmare by Rongai and he kicks BUKI in the back of the head.  Headbutts by Rongai and he hits BUKI in the back of the head.  Cover, but it gets a two count.

Rongai applies a wristlock to BUKI and applies an arm submission hold, with Kengo coming in to help.  Stomps by Rongai and he tags in Kengo.  Snapmare by Kengo to BUKI and he kicks him in the back.  Kengo applies a facelock, cover, but it gets a two.  Kengo picks up BUKI and throws him into Rongai’s boot.  Rongai is tagged in and he kicks down BUKI in the corner.  Rongai chokes BUKI in the corner, wristlock by Rongai and he headbutts BUKI in the arm.  Rongai applies a keylock, cover, but it gets a two count.  Rongai picks up BUKI and hits a vertical suplex, cover, but it gets a two count.  Rongai tags in Kengo, and Kengo hits a kneedrop.  Headscissors by Kengo, he picks up BUKI, snapmare, Kengo goes up to the top turnbuckle but BUKI avoids the diving doublestomp.  BUKI punches down Kengo and tags in Winger.  Winger clubs Kengo and knocks Rongai off the apron before hitting a vertical suplex on Kengo.  Winger picks up Kengo and he hits a backdrop suplex.  Cover, but it gets a two count.  Winger picks up Kengo and applies a wristlock before putting Kengo in a stretch hold, but Rongai breaks it up.  Irish whip by Rongai, reversed, and Winger hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker before kicking Rongai out of the ring.  Winger picks up Kengo and hits a side Russian leg sweep.  Winger tags in BUKI, BUKI picks up Kengo and hits a vertical suplex.  Cover, but it gets a two count.  BUKI throws Kengo into the corner and hits a jumping elbow smash.  Dropkick by BUKI, he picks up Kengo, snapmare, and BUKI kicks Kengo in the back.  Lariat by BUKI, cover, but Kengo gets a shoulder up.  Irish whip by BUKI and he hits a superkick, cover, but Rongai breaks it up.  Rongai holds BUKI for Kengo, but BUKI ducks and Kengo hits Rongai by accident.  Winger comes in and throws Kengo out of the ring, BUKI and Winger kick Rongai but Kengo trips Winger from the floor.  Rongai applies La Magistral onto BUKI and he picks up the three count.  Your winners:  Kengo and NOSAWA Rongai

Match Thoughts:  Guess the referee lost track of the legal man but it made sense as basically Rongai stole the win from his partner so he could score the points.  None of these wrestlers are very good which naturally hurt the match quality, but it wasn’t a bad match.  Nothing special about the structure or the action itself, just middling throughout.  I can’t point to one moment that was poorly done, the wrestlers just didn’t stand out.  A thoroughly average match.  Score:  5.0

Arashi and Kazuki Hashimoto vs. Classic Kid and Masao Inoue
Hashimoto and Classic Kid start things off.  Waistlock by Hashimoto but Classic Kid reverses it into a hammerlock.  Hashimoto reverses it back, wristlock by Classic Kid and they trade submissions.  Wristlock by Hashimoto, snapmare, and he applies a side headlock.  Classic Kid quickly gets out of it and applies a hammerlock, punches by Hashimoto and he applies a side headlock, Classic Kid Irish whips out of it but Hashimoto shoulderblocks him down.  Backslide by Classic Kid, but it gets a two count.  Side headlock takedown by Hashimoto, they jockey for position but neither can get an advantage so both tag out.  Arashi and Inoue circle each other, Arashi pushes Inoue into the ropes and he gives a clean break.  Tie-up, side headlock by Inoue, Arashi Irish whips out of it and they collide with no result.  Inoue tries to shoulderblock Arashi, but it doesn’t work.  Arashi goes off the ropes and he shoulderblocks Inoue, sending him staggering.  Irish whip by Inoue and Arashi shoulderblocks him to the mat.  Scoop slam by Arashi and he hits an elbow drop.  Cover, but it gets a two count.  Stretch hold by Arashi and he tags in Hashimoto.  Hashimoto and Inoue circle each other, kick by Inoue and he elbows Hashimoto in the back of the head.  Inoue tags in Classic Kid, and Classic Kid elbows Hashimoto in the back of the head.  Irish whip by Classic Kid and he hits a lariat, cover, but Hashimoto kicks out at two.  Classic Kid picks up Hashimoto and throws him into the corner before tagging in Inoue.  Inoue kicks Hashimoto down in the corner, he picks him up and applies a side headlock.  Punches by Inoue and he elbows Hashimoto, but Inoue rakes him in the eyes.

Inoue tags in Classic Kid, and Classic Kid kicks Hashimoto in the stomach.  Chop by Classic Kid but Hashimoto elbows him back and they trade shots.  Classic Kid goes off the ropes and hits a sliding kick, cover, but it gets a two count.  Kicks by Classic Kid in the corner and he tags in Inoue.  Inoue stomps on Hashimoto and elbows him in the back of the head.  Eye rake by Inoue and he elbows Hashimoto in the back of the head.  Hashimoto throws Inoue into the corner but Hashimoto kicks him back and hits a lariat.  Hashimoto tags in Arashi, Arashi picks up Inoue and clubs him in the side of the head.  Irish whip by Arashi and he lariats Inoue in the corner.  Uranage by Arashi, cover, but it gets a two count.  Arashi applies a chinlock to Inoue but Classic Kid breaks it up.  Inoue tags in Classic Kid, Classic Kid elbows Arashi repeatedly but Arashi punches him to the mat.  Arashi picks up Classic Kid and he tags in Hashimoto.  Hashimoto throws Classic Kid into the corner and hits a jumping kick followed by a front suplex.  Cover, but it gets a two count.  Reverse chinlock by Hashimoto and he applies a sleeper, but Classic Kid gets into the ropes.  Classic Kid and Hashimoto trade elbows, Hashimoto goes off the ropes but Classic Kid hits a jumping kick.  Backdrop suplex by Classic Kid, cover, but it gets a two count.  Vertical suplex by Classic Kid, he goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits a diving headbutt.  Arashi and Inoue get in the ring but Arashi hits them with a double shoulderblock.  Arashi charges them both but Classic Kid dropkicks him out of the ring.  Inoue hits a lariat onto Hashimoto, Classic Kid grabs Hashimoto and he hits a Blue Thunder.  Cover, and he picks up the three count.  Your winners:  Classic Kid and Masao Inoue

Match Thoughts:   Oddly I enjoy Arashi now that he is in the grumpy fat veteran phase of his career, I find it amusing, and I like the match ended with a real finish as so many matches I have watched the last few days have just had flash pins instead of a definite winner.  When Inoue and Arashi were in there it slowed down, but Hashimoto and Classic Kid looked fine even if neither are memorable.  I have a feeling all these tag matches are going to be a bit dull, but this one was a bit better as Arashi was fun and Hashimoto/Kid kept the match going at a decent pace.  Certainly a watchable match, might have been better without Inoue.  Score:  5.5

Genichiro Tenryu and Kengo vs. Great Kojika and Ryuichi Kawakami
Kengo and Kawakami start things off.  Tie-up, Kawakami pushes Kengo into the ropes and he gives a clean break.  Tie-up again, Kengo gets Kawakami into the ropes this time and he elbows him in the face before backing off.  They lock knuckles, Kawakami pushes Kengo to his knees but Kengo breaks out of it and elbows Kawakami.  Kawakami chops him back and they trade shots, side headlock by Kawakami, Kengo Irish whips out of it but Kawakami shoulderblocks him down.  Kawakami goes off the ropes but Kengo hits an armdrag.  Kengo tags in Tenryu, Tenryu wants Kojika so Kawakami tags him in.  Kojika pushes Tenryu into the ropes and he chops him in the chest.  Tie-up, Tenryu pushes Kojika into the ropes this time but he lets him go.  Tie-up, side waistlock by Tenryu but Kojika gets into the ropes to force a break.  Tie-up, wristlock by Tenryu but Kojika rolls out of it.  Kojika punches Tenryu against the ropes and chops him, but Tenryu punches him back.  Kojika tags in Kawakami as he has had enough, chops by Tenryu to Kawakami but Kawakami hits him back.  Hard elbow by Kawakami, Kawakami tags in Kojika and Kojika knees Tenryu in the ribs.  Knee drops by Kojika to Tenryu and he clubs Tenryu in the chest.  Kojika tags in Kawakami, Kengo comes in the ring but Kawakami elbows him.  Kawakami kicks Tenryu and chops him in the chest.  Kawakami tags in Kojika, and Kojika chokes Tenryu with his knee.  Kojika chokes Tenryu against the ropes, Kawakami comes in the ring and stomps on Tenryu.  Kawakami chops Tenryu in the chest, he goes off the ropes but Tenryu chops him and hits a lariat.  Tenryu tags in Kengo, and Kengo stomps on Kawakami.  Kengo picks up Kawakami, Irish whip, and he hits a back elbow.  Cover, but it gets a two count.  Kengo applies a reverse chinlock but Kawakami gets a foot on the ropes.  Elbows by Kawakami and he tags in Kojika.

Kojika picks up Kengo and chokes him in the corner.  Kojika picks up Kengo, punches by Kojika and throws Kengo into the corner.  Kojika tags in Kawakami, and Kawakami punches Kengo down into the corner.  Scoop slam by Kawakami, cover, but it gets a two count.  Stomps by Kawakami, he picks up Kengo and throws him into the corner.  Kawakami tags in Kojika, double Irish whip to Kengo and they hit a double chop.  Cover by Kojika, but it gets a two count.  Kojika picks up Kengo and throws him into the corner.  Kojika tags in Kawakami, Kawakami picks up Kengo and clubs him in the back.  Kawakami picks up Kengo and they trade elbows.  Kawakami tags in Kojika, Kojika picks up Kengo, Irish whip, and Kojika connects with a knee.  Kojika picks up Kengo and they roll around the ring, Kengo gets close to his corner and he tags in Tenryu.  Tenryu chops Kojika but Kojika chops him back.  Eye rake by Kojika, double underhook by Kojika and he pushes Tenryu into the ropes.  Tenryu chops Kojika and punches him, but Kojika chops him back.  Punches by Tenryu, and Kojika falls to the mat.  He slowly gets back up, punches to the stomach by Kojika as Tenryu continues punching him.  They trade chops for a bit longer before tagging in Kengo and Kawakami.  Kengo goes for a suplex on Kawakami, Kawakami blocks it but Kengo hits a DDT.  Big kick by Kengo, he goes up to the second turnbuckle and hits a diving double kneedrop.  Kengo goes up top again, but Kawakami grabs him and throws him off the top turnbuckle.  Single leg crab hold by Kawakami but Kengo makes it to the ropes.  Kawakami picks up Kengo, Irish whip by Kawakami and he hits an elbow.  Knee by Kojika to Kengo, Irish whip, and Kojika hits another knee.  Kawakami goes off the ropes and he hits a hard elbow, cover, but it gets a two count.  Kawakami picks up Kengo but Kengo hits a dropkick.  Lariat by Tenryu to Kawakami, roll-up by Kengo but it gets a two count.  Punches by Kengo, he goes off the ropes but Kawakami hits a hard elbow.  Kawakami picks up Kengo but Kengo rolls him up and gets the three count.  Your winners:  Genichiro Tenryu and Kengo

Match Thoughts:   Speaking of things slowing down, I have no idea why a 72 year old wrestler is wrestling so much this year. I just have trouble getting into a match with a senior citizen in it, his offense didn’t look good and other wrestlers were afraid to hit him too hard in case he would break. Not quite at Giant Baba levels, but too close for comfort. The match was also way too long, the longest on the card when it probably should have been the shortest. Kengo and Kawakami did what they could but they couldn’t make this match entertaining, and while I respect Tenryu as a legend he didn’t do a lot for me here. Just too long and too slow without enough interesting action. Score: 3.5

BUKI and YASSHI vs. Dragon JOKER and TARU
TARU and YASSHI knock their own teammates out of the ring to start the match, so they can face off against each other.  Tie-up, and TARU trades elbows with YASSHI.  They both go off the ropes but their teammates trip them from the floor and beat them up.  Now BUKI and Dragon JOKER are facing off, waistlock by Dragon JOKER, reversed by BUKI and BUKI elbows BUKI in the arm.  Side headlock by Dragon JOKER but BUKI gets out of it.  Stomps by Dragon JOKER, he picks up BUKI and drives him back into the corner.  YASSHI applies a neck crank to Dragon JOKER and hits a snapmare before hitting a rolling neckbreaker.  Cover by YASSHI, but it gets a two count.  YASSHI drives Dragon JOKER back, and TARU tags himself in.  TARU punches YASSHI, kicks by TARU and YASSHI falls out of the ring.  YASSHI rolls back into the ring, and TARU throws YASSHI into the corner.  Dragon JOKER tags in, and Dragon JOKER hits an armbreaker to YASSHI.  Stomps by Dragon JOKER, but YASSHI rakes him in the eyes.  Dragon JOKER knees YASSHI in the arm, elbows by YASSHI and he goes off the ropes but TARU hits him from the floor.  YASSHI falls out of the ring and TARU hits him repeatedly with a pole.  TARU picks up YASSHI and throws him into the crowd, and they battle around the ring.  TARU throws YASSHI back in the ring, cover by Dragon JOKER but it gets a two count.  YASSHI is bleeding everywhere while Dragon JOKER stomps him in the face.  Dragon JOKER tags in TARU, and TARU kicks YASSHI in the corner.  TARU applies a chinlock to YASSHI before kneeing him in the arm.  Elbow to the arm by TARU, he picks up YASSHI and twists on his fingers.  Armbar by TARU but YASSHI gets a foot on the ropes.  TARU picks up YASSHI, Irish whip, YASSHI kicks TARU when he charges in but TARU plants him with a chokebomb for a two count.

TARU gets a steel chair but YASSHI ducks the swing and hits TARU in the head with it.  Another chair shot by YASSHI but the referee fights him for it and gets the chair out of the ring.  YASSHI picks up TARU, who is bleeding now too, and elbows him in the head.  YASSHI goes off the ropes and hits a lariat, he goes off the ropes again and hits another one but TARU stays up.  He tries a third time but TARU hits a lariat of his own.  Headbutt by YASSHI, and both men are down.  YASSHI tags in BUKI while TARU tags in Dragon JOKER, kick by Dragon JOKER to BUKI and he hits a DDT.  Cover by Dragon JOKER, but it gets a two count.  Dragon JOKER elbows BUKI but BUKI elbows him back and they trade shots.  Vertical suplex by BUKI, cover, but it gets two.  BUKI picks up Dragon JOKER, snapmare, and he kicks Dragon JOKER in the back.  Lariat by BUKI, cover, but YASSHI breaks it up.  TARU comes in the ring and lariats Dragon JOKER, he then punches both BUKI and YASSHI.  TARU goes off the ropes but he eats a double chop, YASSHI then kicks BUKI in the corner and tags himself in.  YASSHI pulls TARU into the ring, he picks him up and goes off the ropes, but he is kicked in the chest.  Scissors kick by TARU and he hits a Buzzsaw kick.  Cover, but Dragon JOKER breaks it up.  Dragon JOKER throws TARU in the corner and tags himself in, BUKI comes in the ring, Dragon JOKER and BUKI Irish whip TARU and hit a double elbow.  They then do the same to YASSHI, Dragon JOKER picks up YASSHI and hits a jumping knee followed by a running knee.  Cover, but it gets a two count.  Falcon Arrow by Dragon JOKER, cover, but it gets another two.  Dragon JOKER goes out to the apron and goes for a swandive splash, but YASSHI gets his knees up.  YASSHI goes off the ropes but Dragon JOKER connects with a jumping kick, waistlock by Dragon JOKER but YASSHI sneaks in La Magistral for a two count.  German suplex by YASSHI but Dragon JOKER rolls through it, Dragon JOKER goes off the ropes but TARU hits him with the metal pipe from ringside.  German suplex hold by YASSHI, and he picks up the three count.  Your winners: BUKI and YASSHI

Match Thoughts: This was a really entertaining brawl and what more of the matches should have been. These aren’t real teams, they are just paired together to make the matches more interesting (in theory). TARU and YASSHI were the only ones on the card that really demonstrated that, and immediately beating up their own partners set the tone. Any time the match started to fall into a rut of feeling like a normal tag team match, TARU or YASSHI would do something to remind you that it wasn’t, whether it be attack their own teammate or start using various weapons on anyone within reach. I am not sure at the end why TARU decided to help YASSHI but I saw it as TARU just didn’t like anyone in the match and cared more about causing carnage than getting two points. After the first four matches this was a breath of fresh air, it won’t hold up compared to matches on other cards but it was just what this event needed. Score: 7.5

Final Thoughts:

Best Match: BUKI and YASSHI vs. Dragon JOKER and TARU. As I just said above, and will say below, this was far and away the best match on the card. Not only was it different but it was smarter, if the Voodoo Murderers came in and just wrestled a normal tag match it would have come across as incredibly silly as that just isn’t their style. Brawls with blood and creating random madness is what the Voodoo Murderers are all about, and that is what they did here. BUKI and Dragon JOKER were game but this was about TARU and YASSHI, and they delivered here.

MVPs:   TARU and YASSHI.  I couldn’t separate these two as they both contributed about the same to the main event. Immediately attacking their own teammates quickly showed where they stood in this match, and even though they were friends before and after the match, during the match they just tore into each other. It really made the tournament feel important that these two attacked just about anyone to try to win the match. BUKI and JOKER played their roles but it was TARU and YASSHI that made the main event so fun.

Overall:  The card was just limping along until the main event came around, but that was a great brawl which really helped the card. I was worried that Tenryu Project was just going to keep being simple tag matches, like the other event I have reviewed so far was, but then TARU rolled in and mixed things up a bit. If you miss Voodoo Murderers and their brand of matches, you will likely enjoy the main event, but the rest is just middling indy stuff that doesn’t require anyone’s attention.

Grade: C-

The “OH MY GOD!” Review: ECW In Bensalem, PA 10/19/96

By
Heels Inc
-
0

1996-10-19 at Boomerangs in Bensalem, PA

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

JT Smith, Axl Rotten & D-Von Dudley vs. Buh Buh Ray Dudley, Spike Dudley & “Shah” Hack Meyers (w/Sign Guy Dudley), ref Jim Molineaux
Oh boy. Four of my least favorite ECW guys in one ring! Hack and Axl start off but D-Von tags in before anything happens. Buh Buh tags in they get nose to nose and they slap each other across the face crazy hard. They come to blows and Buh Buh ducks a clothesline and hits a cutter. D-Von goes low and all six men jump in and brawl. Hack gets taken out by Axl. Some refs and Louie Spicolli come to check on Hack. Smith shit talks Spicolli from in the ring and slaps him. Spicolli joins the match!!! Smith with a powerslam but Spicolli no sells it hits a DVD and lets Spike get the pin in 4.15. Axl hits Spike with a DDT and short arm clothesline after the match. They brawl after the match with the heels having the upper hand. Big Dick Dudley shows up and hits a chokeslam on all three of them. Well that was short enough to be painless. I feel cheated out of some Louie Spicolli though.

Doug Furnas vs. Hard Rock Hamilton, ref John Finnegan
Hamilton is a HUGE black guy. I google him and learn that he used to own Soul City Wrestling in the late 90s. They ran shows of the family variety. I also learn that he was a cool guy giving away free tickets to troubled kids and offering them counseling, as that was his previous job. Unfortunately for him here though he will be getting his ass kicked. Fan chant “You fat fuck” at Hamilton. I am now upset with the fans for being mean to that nice man. Furnas hits a drop kick and an overhead belly to belly on the 300 plus pound Hamilton. Hamilton comes back with a clothesline and body slam. Hamilton misses a corner charge and Furnas with a school boy for the win in 2.56.

Taz (w/ Bill Alfonso) vs. Roadkill, ref John “Pee Wee” Moore
Roadkill has some shirt on that Alfonso talks shit to him about wearing. Roadkill tries to shake Taz’s hand. Taz rips off Roadkill’s shirt. Roadkill awkwardly throws his hands up to be all “Hey man what’s that all about”. Roadkill swings Taz ducks german suplex and tazmission end this in .29. Taz talks lots of shit on Sabu and the fans. He argues with a fan and gets in his face.

Tag Team Champion New Jack vs. Kronus, ref Jim Molineaux
They fight in the bar of the arena and over to the merch area. In the ring New Jack with a piledriver and the 187 with what looked like a typewriter instead of his usual chair. Time of the match was 4.34.

Saturn vs. Mikey Whipwreck, ref John Finnegan

We should finally get a match that’s over five minutes tonight. Mikey controls the arm to start. Saturn breaks away but Mikey keeps going back to the arm drag takedown. Fans getting restless and we are only 3 minutes in. Mikey with a top rope drop kick. Mikey goes for a back drop but Saturn with a swinging neck breaker. Mikey comes back with a tornado bulldog for 2. Saturn right back in control though. Russian leg sweep from Saturn. Mikey ducks a line, Saturn ducks one from Mikey and hits a superkick. Saturn goes for a superplex but Mikey knocks him down and hits a crossbody for 2. Mikey with a tornado DDT for 2. Mikey leaps off the top rope and lands on Saturn’s shoulders going for a rana but he gets power bombed instead. Saturn now going up top and he hits a diving headbutt that almost gets a 3 count. Mikey with a roll up for 2 and Saturn hits a super kick. Big elbow drop from Saturn off the top but Mikey kicks out. Saturn goes back up he comes off the top but Mikey drop kicks him and gets a 2 count. Mikey ducks a clothesline and hits a reverse rana that looks like garbage for 2. Saturn with a small package as he’s getting up gets the win in 9.12.

“Primetime” Brian Lee vs. Pitbull 2, ref John “Pee Wee” Moore
Lee goes on the attack early but Pitbull fights back with a clothesline. Lee comes right back though and lands a swinging neck breaker. They go to the floor and a chair comes into play with both men taking a shot to the back. Lee misses a corner charge in the ring and Pitbull scoops him up into a running powerslam. Lee kicks out at 2. Lee takes back over and hits a big boot for 2. Suplex by Lee, Pitbull no sells it and then gets kicked in the nuts. Lee beats away on Pitbull. He goes for a big boot but it’s caught and Lee gets kicked low. Pitbull fires away at Lee. Spin kick in the corner. Pitbull charges in the corner again. Lee moves though and tries to pull the ref in the way. The ref doesn’t move in front fast enough and fucks up the spot. Lee goes up top but Pitbull cuts him off and hits a super fall away slam. This is clearly the part the ref was supposed to down for as it takes him about 10 seconds just to get down to count and then he hesitates once on the ground. HAHAHA they fuck up another ref bump spot! Pitbull sends Lee into the ropes and charges after to clothesline him. Lee ducks and the ref is supposed to be behind him to get hit but he again doesn’t move fast enough. Pitbull just grabs him and shoves him down. Pitbull hits Lee with a clothesline and goes for the pin but there’s no ref now! TV Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas comes out and hits Pitbull with the belt. Now remember fans the ref was only PUSHED to the mat about 45 seconds again. Chokeslam by Lee gets the win in 9.42. What a mess.

2 Cold Scorpio vs. Sabu, ref John Finnegan
Could it actually be a match worth looking at? At about 2 minutes in Sabu goes for a springboard leg lariat but the middle rope is loose and he just falls. They go to the floor and Sabu hits a triple jump dive into the crowd. Table is set up but Sabu ends up coming back into the ring with a spring board DDT after some back and forth on the table. Scorpio takes over and locks in a boston crab. Scorp off the top with a crossbody for 2. Scorpio throws Sabu out of the ring and then comes off the apron with a clothesline. Back in the ring Sabu with an Arabian press for 2. Sabu with a spin head scissor after some back and forth action. Scorpio comes back and gets a 2 count after a top rope splash. Scorpio bulldogs Sabu on a chair. They fight back and forth Sabu with a spring board standing moonsault for 2. He goes for another moonsault but Scorpio gets the knees up. Scorp now misses a leg drop. Sabu goes for another springboard leg lariat but gets caught and hit with a belly to back suplex. Sabu comes back and hits the triple jump moonsault for 2. Sabu comes off the top with a rana for 2. Urinagi by Scorpio as we cross the 15 minute mark. After another back and forth spot of trying to put each other through the table Sabu gets splashed through. Very rare that’s it’s not Sabu as the one that uses the table. In the ring Scorpio misses a corner charge and Sabu hits a clothesline and then triple jump leg drop for 2. Scorpio stops Sabu from going up top and hits the super powerbomb/sunset flip for 2. Scorpio goes up but again Sabu cuts him off. Scorpio throws Sabu to the mat hits the moonsault leg drop and gets the win in 18.15. One of the more boring matches I have seen these two have together.

TV Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas vs. Tommy Dreamer (w/ Beulah), ref John “Pee Wee” Moore
Dreamer hits the ring and they go at it. Why does Dreamer get a title match and not Pitbull 2? Dreamer baseball slides a chair into Shane’s face. A terrible camera angle as you can see Shane peeking around the chair so he knows when to set himself. Shane comes back with a swinging neck breaker. Piledriver gets 2 for the champ. Shane bulldogs Tommy onto a chair. Good job doing a spot that was just done in the last match! Shane puts the chair on Tommy’s face and comes off the top but Tommy puts the chair into Shane’s face. Dreamer with a powerslam and piledriver onto the chair. Each get him a 2 count. Dreamer tries to run Shane into a chair but Shane puts on the breaks and sends Shane in. They reverse a belly to belly a few times and Dreamer hits a DDT. Beulah and Francine fight on the floor, which distracts Dreamer. Shane with a single arm DDT followed by a tombstone. He locks in the full nelson and Dreamer starts to fad but he kicks Shane low and locks in a full nelson himself. Brian Lee comes which distracts Tommy. He turns into another single arm DDT. Chokeslam by Lee as Pitbull 2 now hits the ring and press slams Douglas. Lee and Douglas bail. Joel Gertner gets in the ring but Beulah hits him with the mic and he gets super bombed. Call this one a no contest in a bit over 8 minutes.

World Champion Sandman vs. Stevie Richards (w/ Blue Meanie & Super Nova), ref Jim Molineaux
Stevie gets on the mic before the match and talks shit about Raven. Sandman attacks Meanie and Nova and Stevie hits him with a super kick. To the floor they go and Sandman takes over suplexing a table onto Richards. Sandman gets in the ring with a chair and goes after Meanie but Stevie superkicks that chair into him. Meanie hits a meaniesault. Nova goes for a top rope drop kick but Sandman moves and it hits Richards. Sandman nails Nova with the chair and then suplexes him out of the ring. Stevie with a school boy for 2. Sandman throws Stevie to the floor and planchas onto everyone. Sandman puts a piece of guardrail in the ring and suplexes Stevie onto it for a 2 count. After some back and forth Meanie accidentally splashes Richards in the corner. Richards hits another steviekick and rocker dropper for 2. Sandman with an irish whip sends Richards into the rail. Richards then sends Sandman in and Meanie follows with a splash that gets Richards 2. Nova now with a top rope drop kick and Richards gets another 2. Sandman now getting overwhelmed but Sandman is able to get his cane low blow Richards with it and hit a DDT for the win in 9.13.

My thoughts on the show…
This was a pretty bad show. The first four matches were just over a total of 12 minutes. Not at all worth seeing here.

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Lucha Underground Results 12/17/14

By
Jim Somers
-
0

Credit: Sean Ross Sapp

Prince Puma vs. Fenix vs. Mascarita Sagrada vs. Drago vs. Super Fly vs. El Mariachi Loco vs. King Cuerno vs. Son of Havoc vs. Pentagon Jr. vs. Big Ryck

This action is crazy, and quickly all competitors end up outside the ring after attacking Big Ryck. Pentagon hits Sagrada with a mini-lung blower, then monkey flips Sagrada onto the opponents. Havoc fakes a dive outside, but Prince Puma attacks and the two trade reversals in insane series that sees Puma hit a backflip headscissors. Puma then springboards from inside the ring to the outside with a flip over the top.

Ryck comes in the ring and cleans house, destroying everyone in sight before Puma and Fenix bounce him rom the ring. Puma and Fenix then go at it, and the crowd is really into it as they trade big kicks. Fenix goes up top, but then Puma, Cuerno and two others join in on a Tower Of Doom. Son of Havoc hits Fenix with a shooting star press but the count is broken up at two.

Drago tries to score a pin with Dragon’s Tail but it’s broken up. Cuerno lands his finish but the pin is broken up. Mariachi Loco totally misses a superkick and gets punted in the face by Pentagon, followed by a package piledriver. Sagrada breaks up the three count, but Prince Puma tosses him in the air and drills the little fella with a big kick.

Ryck clotheslines Puma, and somehow they’re the only two in the ring. Puma escapes Ryck’s finish, and everyone else in the match comes in and kicks Big Ryck. As soon as the teamwork stops, half of the field does flip dives to the outside. It is total anarchy. Finally Fenix pins Puma with a Rikishi Driver.

Winner: Fenix via pinfall (over-the shoulder belly-to-belly piledriver)

– A vignette for Cage is shown.

– Konnan is in the back berating Prince Puma for losing the ten man match. Puma stands up for himself shortly, but backs down. Konnan was really good in this segment.

Boyle Heights Battle Royal
Chavo Guerrero vs. Cortez Castro vs. Mr. Cisco vs. Bael vs. Johnny Mundo vs. Sexy Star vs. Pimpinela Escarlata vs. Ricky Mandell vs. Famous B vs. Mil Muertes

Muertes eliminated Pimpinela quickly and Sexy Star and Chavo continue their feud in the middle of the ring, while everyone else brawls along the sides, but Chavo eliminates her. Johnny Mundo is then attacked by Castro and Cisco, but hangs on by skinning the cat, then eliminates Bael and Cortez.. Right after that, Muertes tosses Cisco.

The three remaining participants are Mundo, Chavo and Mil Muertes. The three hit a really cool monkey flip spot into a slam. Mundo knocks Chavo off the top and hit a kick to eliminate him. Muertes and Mundo stared each other down until Muertes hit a big spear. Muertes throws some hideous punches after too. Both guys end up on the apron but Mil escapes. He tries to untie Mundo from the ropes, but no dice.

Mundo slides between Muertes’ legs to get back inside, then unloads a kick. Mundo went up top, but Muertes got his knees up. Muertes then eliminated Mundo and got the win.

Winner: Mil Muertes

– Danny Trejo is shown as Dario Cueto unveils a championship belt. He said the winner of an upcoming “Aztec Warfare match” would become the first Lucha Underground champion. He said since Fenix and Muerted were the winners of the big matches tonight, they’ll face off and the winner goes into Aztec Wafare last, while the winner goes in first.

Mil Muertes vs. Fenix

Fenix goes at Muertes immediately with an awesome springboard arm drag, but gets dropped by Muertes. Fenix gets worked over for a while, but knocks Muertes from the ring and does another awesome corkscrew to the outside. Muertes makes it in just in time to avoid being counted out.

Muertes blasts Fenix with a spear and follows up with a running powerslam but only gets two. He hits another slam and overpowers Fenix, but gets caught with a cutter for two. Fenix goes up top but gets caught with a huge uppercut. Muertes hits the Flatliner for the win.

Winner: Mil Muertes via pinfall (via Flatliner)

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