REVIEW: Full Impact Pro "Ascension" 2015 (WWNLive.com) [2/20/15]

As I'm beginning to watch all of the professional wrestling promotions I used to watch again, it seems only fitting to get back into Full Impact Pro because I've always been a fan of theirs when I watched them before and thought they had a good product.   They were presented to me, back then, as a sort of sister promotion to Ring of Honor somehow but I always kind of like them better.   And I'm talking about watching them back when CM Punk was ruling over Full Impact Pro.   I don't know what it was exactly but I kind of felt like ROH had the established independent stars that you knew about or at least that I became more familiar with over time and then when I would watch Full Impact Pro I would see wrestlers I'd become fans of but I'd think of them as "FIP Guys" because certain ROH wrestlers would go to other promotions and fight as well.

Full Impact Pro now is under different management, as is ROH, and it has come quite a way from the Heartbreak Express days.     At the very heart of it I feel as if Full Impact Pro has just come into its own and isn't that sister promotion to ROH or anyone any more and it is seen as just as legitimate as anything else I watch.   I do like the fact that it has matured, if you will, in my time away from it as opposed to it going away and not being able to survive without being under the wing of ROH.    Essentially you can say that I appreciate Full Impact Pro being around still because it quite possibly faced two cliche choices when everything was shaken up in the world of independent wrestling: Fight or Flight.    Full Impact Pro obviously choice fight and I'm happy for them.


"Ascension" opens with Rob Naylor and Heather Lynn in the ring.   I only know who they are because their names would be said later on in the show and I looked them up to confirm the spelling.  I know Lenny Leonard is on commentary but can't quite make out who the other guy is but that's okay for me.       As Naylor and Lynn are making announcements that will effect the show later on, the MSL Universe comes to the ring.   I thought "MSL" might stand for something, such as the leader's name, but apparently the leader simply is known as "MSL".   Is it just his initials like ACH?   Does it stand for something like "Monster Submission Lucha"?  Or it is something we don't have an answer for?   In any case, he says something about sending Mason Ryan to Japan (Yes, really) and even though that happened he somehow came to an agreement that someone of his choosing from the MSL Universe will receive a title shot at a time of his choice if he keeps his talent booked in Full Impact Pro and doesn't contract them out.     So what this is saying is as follows, for those of you paying attention:  MSL has got to be the smartest person in all of pro wrestling if not alive today.    Imagine you ran a chain restaurant like McDonald's and you owned multiple locations.   You go in on your busiest day and when you, the general manager, ask the manager on duty where the crew is he says he sent them to your other location instead.   Instead of being punished for these actions you give him a promotion.   Wait, what?   Why is MSL being granted this open title shot by agreeing to live up to his end of a contract?   Signing your name on a contract should be why he has to live up to his end of the contract not granting title shots.    Who is running this place exactly, the figure head if you will?   I've got some questions I need answered.    Also, this cost us all a chance to see Mason Ryan which I know for a fact at least four people are upset about.    Anyway, MSL's speech leads to Rich Swann, the current FIP World Heavyweight Champion, coming down to say he'll fight everyone in the MSL Universe.    Naturally, this leads to a five on on mugging before referees come down to break it up.   Roderick Strong, Swann's opponent for later in the show, comes down and goes to work on him as well.   Then the MSL Universe is back in.    The save is eventually made by Aaron Epic, Bolt Brady and Rhett Giddins which brings us right into our first match.


Match One: MSL Universe (Josh Hess / Martin Stone / Michael Tarver) vs. Aaron Epic / Bolt Brady / Rhett Giddins

Josh Hess wears a shirt that says "I'm an MSL Guy" and that's kind of cool.   I also forgot to mention that MSL looks like Phillip Banks.    On the face side of things we have Bolt Brady as my favorite.   I haven't seen any of these three guys before but he kind of reminds me of Ricochet for whatever reason.   He seems like a high flyer who can also be technically sound.    Rhett Giddins is a big dude and at one point it was teased he would go at it with Michael Tarver only to have it broken up so I kind of hope that happens now.   Being able to make me want to see a Michael Tarver match is pretty impressive but he wasn't actually took bad in this match.    He threw some heavy suplexes.   Martin Stone was also impressive looking and I do believe I've seen that name before.    Josh Hess got a roll up for the win and this was all of the action and chaos you'd expect from a six man tag with the MSL Universe working together as a unit.


Match Two: Lince Durado vs. Gary Jay

Gary Jay is a member of the Submission Squad and this is my first time hearing anything of him.    I remember Lince Durado from CHIKARA, I believe.    These two are evenly matched in size and this was a fairly fast paced match.   At one point, Lince Durado slapped away a handshake attempt by Gary Jay.   When Durado was outside the ring, Jay opened the ring ropes to let him back in.   Later on when Durado looked to be returning the favor he instead hit Jay with a swift kick to the head and I'm thinking Durado is playing the rudo here.   In some ways, Gary Jay reminds me of Sami Zayn.   He's kind of built like him but he also just seems to have that underdog appeal on some level.    There were good back and forth moments in this match and Durado hit a Michinoku Driver onto Jay that was only good for two.   Looks like someone needs to visit the K-DOJO.    Gary Jay manages to win the match with a cheap/quick roll up and that left Lince Durado visibly angry.   I wasn't too impressed by that with Gary Jay either, as I would have liked to see a more definitive win where the other man was simply not able to get up before three but what can you do?  It's only the second match.


Gary Jay has a post match interview with Rob Naylor.


Match Three: Jody Kristofferson vs. Earl Cooter

Jody Kristofferson looks like a cross between Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows.   Earl Cooter is leaner and has long hair as he enters with sunglasses on, somewhere between "The Model" Rick Martel and Kid Rock.    During the match, the commentators (or at least one of the two) makes numerous references to Earl Cooter and meth.    I've said before, during a CZW review, that I'm not a fan of mixing illegal drugs into professional wrestling because on the CZW show they were talking about cocaine and yet so many wrestlers have died from overdosing while on it, but if you think of this as being "entertainment" on some levels or are willing to give into that aspect of it such as a show like "Breaking Bad" has illegal drugs in it then it just comes into question why the people in charge at Full Impact Pro would hire someone and put them in the ring if they're a known meth addict.     That being said, Earl Cooter hits a nice high flying spot but ultimately these two are counted out.     I'd say that I'm upset this match didn't have an actual finish but the fact that Earl Cooter is (I hope) portraying the character of a meth head it is better for it to end sooner than later.    Because, you know, everyone who is addicted to meth lives in trailer parks and vice versa.   I'm moving on now.


Match Four: Los Ben Dejos (Eddie Cruz/ Jay Rios) vs. Aaron Solow / Jason Cade

Both teams seem evenly matched in terms of size and being actual tag teams.   Solow and Cade are in black trunks while Los Ben Dejos have matching silver tights with pink boots so they stand out a little bit more.    Jay Rios has the longer hair of the two Los Ben Dejos members and that's how you can tell him from his partner if you're watching at home.    Los Ben Dejos hit a huge spot where one of them (I believe it was Rios) flew outside of the ring through the legs of the other and it got a "lucha!" chant from the crowd.   I'm digging how much lucha libre seems to be mixed in with the wrestlers of Full Impact Pro so far because even though I didn't grow up strictly on lucha libre I still have to say it is currently my favorite style of wrestling, perhaps making AAA my favorite promotion.    As Eddie Cruz was yelling about needing real competition, Aaron Solow rolled Jay Rios up with a small package for the upset victory.   Apparently Solow and Cade are not as established a team as I thought they were but they proved to be the smarter of the two teams by pulling out that win.    Some post match slapping and then Los Ben Dejos leave looking dejected.    And Jay Rios was complaining, telling Solow and Cade to remember who just made them famous.


Match Five:  Blake Edward Belakus vs. Jonny Vandal (w/ Trina Michaels)

Belakus comes out before the match and says that Vandal has made this person so he wants a no disqualification match.   Apparently you can book your own stipulations in Full Impact Pro as that is what we get.    Belakus has that long hair and beard combo that reminds me of some cross between Seth Rollins and Chris Hero.   Vandal comes out in an S&M mask with a dog collar/chain being lead by Trina Michaels.    So where's the dog collar match, Hot Rod?   With Vandal down at one point, Belakus slides a chair on top of him and tries to fly over the top rope back into the ring but Vandal just throws the chair straight up and takes him out.   Wow.   That was a reversal.    As Jonny Vandal beats on Belakus with the chair I realize he has an Amish beard for some reason.    A baseball slide into the chair into Belakus by Vandal reminds me of Tommy Dreamer's old Tree of Woe move.     Someone audibly yells "You suck Vandal!"   Chair shot across the back of Vandal as Belakus takes back control.    Trina Michaels gets involved and as Belakus tries a top rope move onto her, Vandal pulls her out of harm's way... That is until Belakus goes flying out of the ring with a suicide dive onto both Vandal and Michaels.    They crushed that first row of chairs there.    That was harsh and I like the intensity of the Belakus guy.    After Trina Michaels regroups, she distracts Belakus and Jonny Vandal manages to get that chain he was being dragged out by during his entrance.   Vandal chokes Belakus with the chain and in BLK Jeez vs. Sozio fashion we have ourselves a good old fashioned hanging.   The ref calls for the bell and it would appear as if Jonny Vandal wins because Belakus is out.    Post match there is an in ring interview where Jonny Vandal puts his mask back on and Trina Michaels says stuff about being dirty.    Remember when Goldust was paired with Luna Vachon during the Attitude Era?  This is much worse than that.   Trina Michaels calls herself "The Queen of DP" and I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.    Trina Michaels introduces The Savages and this appears to be setting up a stable for her as well as the next match.


Match Six: The Savages (Eddie Graves / Teddy Stigma) (Champions) vs. The Submission Squad (Evan Gelistico / Gary Jay) *FIP Tag Team Title Match* 

Gary Jay is subbing for Pierre Abernathy as he had some family business to attend to and that was addressed earlier in the night.    That has to come into play during the match though as I somewhat expect Gary Jay to take the loss now.    This is The Savages first defense of the titles, as per commentators, and they look like the modern day Briscoes, you know, in that hillbilly way.   They have long hair and long beards but just look dirty on top of it.    Gary Jay starts the match because that makes sense since he already fought.    Someone in the audience that commentators refer to as "Mini-Lince" is brought into the ring by the Submission Squad.   Tracy Jordan Says: "Are you a large child or a small adult?"   Gelistico uses Mini-Lince as a weapon, picking him up and down onto Eddie Graves.    Teddy Stigma wrestles in a bandana with his long hair coming out of it like Matt Cappotelli.    This Teddy Stigma barely resembles his Cage Match dot net profile picture.    The Savages seem to be working better together as a team in this match than the Submission Squad.    Gary Jay just gets worked over by both Savages in this match.    Gelistico says he's sorry for breaking up the pin because he can't let them hurt his friend.   Wouldn't it have shown more mercy then for Gelistico to just let the three count end the match?    Gelistico finally gets the hot tag and works over both Savages.     A near fall from Gelistico and he locks a submission hold onto Teddy Stigma.   Trina Michaels distracts the ref and it allows Stigma to get a near fall.    Gary Jay somehow becomes the legal man again, and as he looks to tag in his partner Gelistico is nowhere to be found.   Trina Michaels spits in his eyes and that gives the Savages the chance to score a cheap pin.    This was as good of a match as it could have been, with telling the story of Gary Jay fighting twice in the same night, but I actually liked the fourth match on the show better in terms of tag team wrestling.   Post match, The Savages want to put the Submission Squad through a table but Lince Durado and Los Ben Dejos come down to make the save.    The trio is known as the Full Impact Puerto Ricans.    And even though they came down to save the Submission Squad they turned on them and ended up putting Gelistico through the table with a 3D.    I was hoping for Los Ben Dejos to get a tag team title shot but it looks like they might be busy with the Submission Squad now, most likey in the six man tag.


Match Seven: Chasyn Rance (Champion) vs. Maxwell Chicago *FIP Florida Heritage Title Match*

Before the match, Heather Lynn said that if Maxwell Chicago loses this match he will never able to wrestle in a tuxedo on a WWNLive event again.   So either Maxwell Chicago is going to win this thing or he's on his way to WWE.   All kidding aside, Maxwell Chicago came out to the Lounge Against the Machine version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and he has very much of that Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra type of feel going on only he is a wrestler.    I've never actually seen Chasyn Rance wrestle before but the name does sound familiar, unlike Maxwell Chicago who just falls nowhere on my map.     So if you haven't read the results elsewhere yet Maxwell Chicago did manage to win this match after a hurrincurrana from the top rope.     Chasyn Rance is somewhat of a serious wrestler even though he came out and posed for a picture while roses were thrown in the ring.    He was somehow the heel as this match just felt like a non-wrestler vs. wrestler scenario, even though Maxwell Chicago might be an actual wrestler.    The top two moves of Maxwell Chicago in this match were a bottom rope elbow drop he was visibly upset didn't win him the match and calling for a drink.   He asked the bartender for a Shirley Temple and after taking a swig of it, he put the cup down and slammed Chasyn Rance onto it.    When he tried this a second time, Rance got back to his feet and shoved the drink into the face of Chicago before he could finish drinking it.   I'm not sure how someone who hit spots that would make a wrestler in a comedy promotion blush just became a champion in Full Impact Pro, but this just seemed awkward and somewhat embarrassing because the commentators were listing off some of the great names that have held the Florida Heritage Title and just the overall significance of it and then this guy who is less than a joke goes on to win it.     Look, I understand that Maxwell Chicago is a wrestler and he has had matches before and probably must have even won some to get to this point but the fact is that he's just not presented like a wrestler.   It's not that he doesn't look like a wrestler, but he just doesn't act like a wrestler in the ring-- he seems very unsure of himself.    As a wrestler, Maxwell Chicago reminds me of every non-wrestler who has ever stepped foot in a ring to fight and that goes all the way from Michael Cole in WWE to Jeremy Borash more recently in TNA.    And while I do feel like there has been more than one tuxedo match in WWE (sadly) I can only think that one might have been Howard Finkel vs. Harvey Whippleman and I can only relate the in ring abilities and style of Maxwell Chicago to that.    So while he might be a wrestler I just wasn't won over in this match on his wrestling abilities and I was waiting at any moment for Chasyn Rance to get serious and knock him out.     The match was good for what it was, I just didn't really like what it was.


Rob Naylor was out next to a "We Want Heather" chant.    He was about to make an announcement when Roderick Strong came out.    Strong said that Rich Swann wasn't going to be able to defend the title tonight and so he was being declared the new champion.    Rob Naylor disagreed and said that Strong would be competing in a match for the now vacated title against Trent Baretta.    This was kind of a shock to me, as Rich Swann was beat up by a total of six men in the opening segment but I thought that might just play into the match later on in the show rather than have him stripped of the title.    He actually came out for that fight as well so it makes him look a bit foolish there since he's now no longer the champion after his "valiant" efforts.    Rich Swann is one of the two guys I've heard the most about since being away from professional wrestling so I was looking forward to seeing him fight Roderick Strong but the Strong-Baretta match in itself looks promising.


Match Eight: Roderick Strong vs. Trent Baretta *FIP World Heavyweight Title Match* (The title is currently vacant)

Trent Baretta is the second former WWE superstar we're seeing on this card, though Mason Ryan was mentioned in name only.    As this is the main event I expect big things from Baretta here and this is my first match of his outside of a WWE ring (If you don't count those weird matches he had in TNA that should have given him a contract there but for whatever reason didn't)    Roderick Strong might be the greatest wrestler to ever live.   Every time I see him wrestle and I write a review I'll say about him that he is one of the only guys who has the presence and years under his belt that he has without having really gone to WWE or TNA, which are arguably the two biggest companies in the United States.   (TNA being second is coming into question though, with ROH taking on pay-per-views now)    I'm actually also surprised that Roderick Strong is the only person on this entire card that I recognize in the sense that he was on the Full Impact Pro roster my first time around watching all of the various DVDs that I could.    It has to say something about Strong, that he is still here and doing what he does best.     As such this match was just outstanding.   There were a number of near falls that I believed to be the end.    I wasn't even the closest bit aware going into this who would win but I will say that I had a possibly slight spoiler in the fact that I was watching this while Evolve was promoting their next show with Roderick Strong being billed as the champion.      This show was however on February 20th and some time has passed since then.   There was additionally the situation in ROH where Rocky Romero had selected Trent Baretta as his new tag team partner since someone else bailed and then I believe Trent also bailed on the Evolve show and was replaced by Davey Richards... So, basically, my thought was that either man could win because even if Roderick Strong was Full Impact Pro Champion on March 8th he could have very well won it some time between this show and then, leaving this match really open for everyone.   Roderick Strong did win though and I was most happy.   I really like Roderick Strong and feel like he deserves more credit than he gets some times.    Baretta did have a good outing here though and this one will be going on my "Match of the Year" list for sure.    It's so hard for me to say that WWE blew a chance here with Trent Baretta because even if Baretta was moved up into a main event level, do you think WWE would ever allow him to take some of these chances let alone have this kind of time to work with?     Everyone likes to say WWE is holding their talent down by putting the best wrestlers under the midcard but really the fact that WWE spends so much time talking and recapping and not wrestling is what's holding everyone down there.   Baretta having this chance here to paint the ring with Roderick Strong has come to show me that, yes, he wasn't being used to his full potential there but I don't think they ever could have used him to it.    Also, big props to Roderick Strong for once again working with a former WWE superstar (He has a feud in Evolve with Drew Galloway, the former Drew McIntyre, so matches with PJ Black aka Justin Gabriel seem only inevitable now)


On a show where I didn't know more than half of the wrestlers I must say this was an entertaining show to watch overall.    The Gary Jay matches told the story that they needed to, regardless of my opinions on them, and however I might feel about Maxwell Chicago, looking back at it now, I have to admit that at least the fact that I do FEEL something about it is important.    So many characters come and go in professional wrestling without anyone caring about them.   WWE is constantly struggling to try and get fans to connect with their wrestlers and I just can't do it no matter how many times I see Fandango.   So being able to feel something- really anything here- is good.   Much of the undercard was worth watching as it was the undercard (They can't all be main events, right?) but the main event delivered in a way that I feel like even if you watch this event just to see that single match it would be worth your money.    And it's kind of nice because regardless of how I might have felt about any other moment on this entire show, it was all washed away after the main event of Roderick Strong versus Trent Baretta because that just made it all worth it right there.    And, yes, that is exactly what a main event should do.

REVIEW: EVOLVE 38 (WWNLive.com) [3/8/15]

Back when I was most into professional wrestling, EVOLVE was just starting out as a promotion.  I do remember watching some DGUSA DVDs but I feel like at the time that EVOLVE was starting I was beginning to fade from the pro wrestling scene.   I haven't ever watched a full EVOLVE event so this will be my first and I'm not sure I've even seen any matches from EVOLVE either outside of the EVOLVE 35 Drew Galloway vs. Roderick Strong match which is currently up for free still on the official YouTube channel.   I know EVOLVE is going to be different, so I am going into this with high hopes, so I'm just going to get right into it and see how it goes for me.


The ring announcer takes us right into our first match and I like that there is no opening in ring talking nonsense-- right to the action.


Match One: Martin Stone vs. Biff Busick

Martin Stone comes out to a child singing "London Bridges" but then it turns into some form of hardcore metal.   Creepy.   I saw Martin Stone on the Full Impact Pro event "Ascension".  This is my first time seeing Biff Busick though and he is over with the plans.   Rob Naylor checks in on commentary and says that Martin Stone was trained by William Regal so I'm surprised he isn't in NXT for some reason.    Trevin Adams checks in on commentary as well.   Is it odd that this is my first time watching EVOLVE but I can already tell the commentators apart and know their names?   Can't say that since Lucha Underground, haha.    Martin Stone was part of a six man tag when I saw him on "Ascension" so it is nice to see him in singles action.     Stone is strong and technical, like William Regal, and he has some good near falls.    As Busick is trying to mount a comeback, he gets a punch to the face by Martin Stone and as Rob Naylor claims he's knocked out Busick seemingly comes back with a choke hold out of nowhere to get Stone to tap.   I feel like this match was fairly one sided, with Martin Stone doing all the work and Biff Busick just getting a quick move in at the end to win.   I am not yet impressed by Biff Busick to say the least, but Martin Stone is on my radar now.     Busick calls out Chris Hero after the match and he doesn't refer to an upcoming EVOLVE event but rather just says "San Jose", so what it will be at a Target or something?  He's just going to jump in him the dressing rooms?    Anyway, if someone can bring out the good in anyone it would be Chris Hero so perhaps that will be my chance to see what Biff Busick can really do.


Match Two: Team Tremendous vs. Earl Cooter / Jody Kristofferson (w/ Larry Dallas)

Team Tremendous is out first and of course I know them from CZW and that trainwreck known as House of Hardcore VIII.    Earl Cooter and Jody Kristofferson were both on the Full Impact Pro "Ascension" iPPV only they were opponents.    Both commentators say they met in China, but if we have two guys who were opponents not that long ago (and fought to a double count out because they were so much at odds) facing a solid tag team we know who's winning, right?    Trevin Adams mentioned that Larry Dallas has managed tag teams to gold in both Dragon Gate USA and Full Impact Pro and yet "Ascension" is ignored.    Bill Carr hits some heavy chops on Earl Cooter as the crowd chants "One More Time".     Team Tremendous worked over Earl Cooter as he plays the victim waiting for the hot tag from Kristofferson.   Kristofferson ended up tagging himself in as Cooter ran the ropes.    Trevin Adams once again talks of how Earl Cooter has singles fights as well as being part of a tag team, but no mention of their "Ascension" match yet again.   Naylor calls Cooter "goofy" and it's better than how he's portrayed in Full Impact Pro.    With Dan Barry in trouble, Earl Cooter prevents him from making the tag, but eventually he does get the tag and Bill Carr goes to work on Earl Cooter.    Carr had a three count with a Boss Man Slam variation (Thanks, Naylor) but it was broken up by Kristofferson.   Everyone freaks out as Bill Carr hits a head scissors.   Dan Barry flies to the outside and Bill Carr follows him.     This is my third time seeing Team Tremendous (two CZW iPPVs and that awful HoH8) and so if you've seen them before you now what Bill Carr is capable of in that ring.   I wonder if the shock of it will wear thin eventually but I don't think so because it's just as impressive the fourth time around as it was the first.    Team Tremendous is quickly becoming one of my favorite tag teams and unlike the Young Bucks I actually can see the appeal of Team Tremendous.    Kristofferson ends up missing a clothesline on Barry and he hits Earl Cooter instead.   A double team top rope move sort of like the old Legion of Doom finisher has Team Tremendous win.   Naylor calls it the electric chair into sliced bread number two and that seems about right.    They need a name for that finisher though if there isn't one already.     Good showing by Team Tremendous and it would have only been made better by the commentators acknowledging the fact that Kristofferson and Cooter were opponents at Full Impact Pro "Ascension" not that long ago.


Match Three: Matt Cage vs. AR Fox

This is the EVOLVE debut of Matt Cage.   I've heard so much about AR Fox, but this is my first time actually seeing him in the ring.    I actually started watching the promotion AAW from their first episode (review forthcoming) and Matt Cage is a part of that so he does seem familiar to me for that reason.    AR Fox is from Ansonia, Connecticut and no one wants to claim being from Connecticut, c'mon, man.     Well, right away Matt Cage flies to the outside and shows why his nickname is money.    AR Fox tries for one of his own in another sequence but ends up getting dumped on the ring apron for his efforts.    With Matt Cage on the top rope, AR Fox hits a dropkick on him, sending Matt Cage to the outside.   AR Fox goes flying over the ring post and near the entrance way onto Matt Cage.   That was quite a distance to go and you also have to clear that post just right so props to AR Fox on that one.     Top rope leg drop on the ring apron by AR Fox as the commentators begin to say that Matt Cage is endorsed by Uhaa Nation.   Yes, I need to watch more Dragon Gate soon.    A sequence of chain wrestling in the ring leads to a corkscrew suplex by AR Fox who goes up top for a swanton bomb and two count only.    Apparently, AR Fox vs. PJ Black has been booked for an upcoming EVOLVE show.    Fox vs. Wolf?   Naylor says that no one has been such a daredevil in the ring as AR Fox since the prime of Sabu.   That could be argued.   AR Fox has some near falls and seems to be having trouble putting Matt Cage away.   I have to continue to call him "Matt Cage" because just saying "Cage" reminds me of "Brian Cage" and I don't want to go there.   Matt Cage locks the Tazmission onto AR Fox.   Rob Naylor says he hasn't seen that move in years but I feel like I saw it somewhere not that long ago (in Japan).   Still, I assume Taz sheds a tear somewhere out there.    Dueling chants for both men.    AR Fox goes up and over the top rope only to be caught face first into the knees of Matt Cage.   It's good for a two count.   Matt Cage hits a few punches to the face and it looks like he has AR Fox done but Fox gets into the ropes to break the three count.    AR Fox lights Matt Cage up with kicks, hits something Rob Naylor calls "Lo Mein Pain" which looks pretty and then following a 450 splash AR Fox gets the pin and win.   This match was just non-stop action.   It was full throttle the whole way, you know, they were set in a gear that they just stayed in the whole time.   I am equally impressed by both men but am certainly looking forward to seeing AR Fox vs. PJ Black and just any match AR Fox wants to be a part of in the future.   Wow.     How was that only the third match so far?   How can it possibly be topped??


Match Four:  Drew Gulak vs. Chris Hero

This is perhaps the match on this card I wanted to see most.   I love the new Drew Gulak I've seen in CZW and to give you some perspective when I was most into professional wrestling some odd years ago I purchased via eBay a DVD set of Chris Hero matches from Germany.     So Chris Hero and I do have some history, yes, but I won't get into that here and will just say that it is all good history.    Gulak cuts a pre-match promo about how wrestling has lost its integrity and wrestlers are more concerned with style over substance.    This is true to an extent, as too many wrestlers are showoffs.     Chris Hero is out next and he is the obvious crowd favorite.   With his entrance, Hero is kind of just proving the point that Gulak just made.   Did anybody else get that?    Drew Gulak is introduced in ring as merely "Gulak", which is cool.    Chris Hero is introduced as "The Knock Out Artist" and I've never really said anything about it before but does it bother anyone else that Chris Hero was Kassius Ohno in NXT, with the initials "KO" on his gear, and now Kevin Steen has taken over the "KO" with Kevin Owens?   I'm moving on.   Rob Naylor also says this was the match he was most looking forward to so I am not alone.   I wondered how that last match between AR Fox and Matt Cage could be topped and now I've found an answer because these two should deliver.    Chris Hero looks to be in great shape and the two men start with strong holds within the center of the ring.    It's like an MMA contest only not quite as boring.    There is a definite Japan influence and it's nice to see Gulak in such control as he has just been so wild and seemingly wreckless in his attacks in CZW.    Knowing that Gulak can brawl and also hang with Chris Hero on the mat makes Gulak a very dangerous man.    Trevin Adams, I believe it was, called this "the definition of catch as catch can" wrestling.   After a near fall, the two reset in the middle of the ring on their feet.    Gulak grabs a leg and takes him down.    This almost turns into a submission but Chris Hero gets out of the ring for a breather.    Chris Hero shakes hands with Drew Gulak only to light him up with a flurry or strikes and knees.    Gulak fires back and then somehow ends up on Hero's back.   Both men are dumped to the outside and Hero hits that big roaring elbow on Gulak.    Chris Hero gets back into the ring and Gulak barely avoids being counted out.    Drew Gulak kicks out of a pin attempt at one and then Hero locks on a crossface type move.   Adams says Hero had him in a good spot but they were right in the corner and it was easy for Gulak to get to the ropes.    Now Gulak goes outside to rest but Chris Hero comes out after him.   The two men trade blows outside the ring and this has gone from an amateur classic into a fist fighting brawl.    At an eight count Chris Hero throws Gulak back into the ring.    Chants for Gulak.    Gulak works over the knee of Chris Hero and after a submission attempt the two trade blows in the middle of the ring.   Gulak puts an ankle lock on Gulak and when Hero rolls through the ref is slow to get to the two count.   Another roll through and this time Gulak keeps the ankle lock on.   Chris Hero gets to the ropes to break the hold but the damage has been done.    After coming back into the ring, Gulak is hit with a roaring elbow but Chris Hero barely manages a two count.    Neither man seems able to put the other away.   Dueling chants of "Let's Go Hero" and "Let's Go Gulak".  I am also divided on who I want to win this match.     Some strong hits by Hero but Gulak gets a two count with a backslide.    This once again breaks down into a slapfest in the middle of the ring.   Hero hits a big elbow and can't pin Gulak with a folding press though.   This is hard hitting at its best now and neither of these men are staying down.    Chris Hero hits a tombstone piledriver on Gulak for the three count and the way that Gulak's head bounced off the mat on that move-- like a pogo stick-- was just ugly.    I don't care if Gulak only wants the wins, this match made him a winner in every way.    Post match, Chris Hero gets on the mic and calls Gulak a "tough son of a bitch".     Chris Hero says there are two types of people: "Chris Hero and those coming for Chris Hero".    Hero calls out Busick and Busick gets into the ring.    Hero went to check on Gulak but shoved him into Busick but Busick gets the better of Hero still as Hero has to escape through the crowd.   Now Trevin Adams says that it's Biff Busick vs. Chris Hero at EVOLVE 40 in San Jose which, sadly, means they won't be fighting at some random location as I thought earlier (like a Target)


Match Five: Caleb Konley (w/ Anthony Nese) vs. PJ Black

If you've ever seen PJ Black compete in NXT as Justin Gabriel, you know he is one of those former WWE superstars who can actually go in the ring.    This is the EVOLVE debut of Black and it's my first time seeing Caleb Konley in the ring.   Black is in his La Parka tights, much like he wore in his final days in WWE and, yes, on the sorry excuse for a wrestling show known as House of Hardcore 8.     AR Fox comes in on commentary because he has an upcoming match with PJ Black.    AR Fox says he doesn't know what a darewolf is and I have to agree with him.   Naylor agrees as well.   Lots of back and forth by Konley and Black until they do that thing where they both stand up opposite in the ring and everyone claps.   It is good to see PJ Black working against someone who isn't also a former WWE superstar.    Outside the ring, Konley walks up the ring post for a tornado DDT onto Black.   Wow, I haven't seen that one before.   AR Fox says "I don't know a lot about comic books..." and I immediately stop listening to him.   Konley has a near fall in the ring as Rob Naylor wants to know if they are correct in saying that AR Fox is like Wolverine.   AR Fox does not have adamantium in place of his bones I assume, nor claws and all that so I will say... no.    With Konley on the outside, Black hits a poor looking suicide dive as it looked more like Konley caught him with a spear.   Black then tried a dropkick through the ropes but barely caught Konley with his foot.   A sloppy sequence by PJ Black.    Back in the ring now, the two begin trading chops.   AR Fox explains why wrestlers- including him- wear gloves.   If you want to know watch the show or tweet to AR Fox and ask him yourself.  It's not that thrilling of an answer.   A "Let's Go Konley" chant.   Konley misses a moonsault but Black connects with one of his own from the top rope.   Konley catches Black with a rolling palm strike as he is on the top rope.   Konley ends up taking Black down with a head scissors but Black rolls through for a two count.   According to Trevin Adams, AR Fox is facing PJ Black at a WWN Super Show so not the same event as Busick-Hero then.    Konley is really impressing me here, as AR Fox drops the first f-bomb of the night on commentary.   Classy.   Both men are back on the top rope and Black drops Konley over the top rope and into the ring neck first.   PJ Black then comes from the apron into the ring with a springboard 450 onto Konley for the pin and win.     This match might not have been able to outdo the previous two but it was still the best match I've ever seen PJ Black have.    Post match, Anthony Nese gets on the mic and says he's the King of the 450.   Nese says he's fired up and says to bring Davey Richards out right now.


Match Six: Anthony Nese (w/ Caleb Konley) vs. Davey Richards

So I was impressed by Nese on that House of Hardcore 8 show, but of course I know Davey Richards from back when I used to watch wrestling the most.   Can someone tell me why he's Anthony Nese now and Tony Nese in House of Hardcore though?    Davey Richards doesn't have those red claw marks on his chest, so thankfully that was just body paint and not an awful tattoo.   For the record, I'm not a fan of the American Wolves because I really don't like Eddie Edwards but I am a fan of Davey Richards as a singles wrestler.    Apparently, Caleb Konley and Anthony Nese are the Open the United Gate Tag Team Champions, which are the tag team championships of DGUSA.     After both these men show what they can do for a bit, Davey Richards begins working over Nese with submission manuevers.   There is a lot of good back and forth action here and I'm not typing a lot as I watch it because I'm just watching it.    Davey begins fighting back as these two men seem exhausted and if you happen to watch this match and have only seen Davey Richards before this as a member of the American Wolves in TNA then odds are pretty good you wouldn't like the American Wolves either because he is just leaving it all in the ring right here.    Kurt Angle vs. Davey Richards given thirty minutes or so in TNA would be where their money is at.    Anthony Nese is also really impressing me in this match.    Nese hits an acecrusher for two.    There really is no old school equal to Davey Richards, as I'm trying to think of him as being the modern version of a Bret Hart or Ric Flair, but really, Davey Richards is just in a category all his own.   The two trade blows in the middle of the ring and this is just breaking down now.   Wow.    Dueling chants of "Let's Go Tony" and "Davey Richards".   Nese looked to be in an arm bar by Richards but picked him up and dropped him into the corner.   Wow.   How Nese has this much power still in the match is amazing.   Nese misses a top rope move and Richards hits a running kick on the seated Nese.    Top rope double foot stomp and Richards can only get two.    Davey Richards wraps the leg of Anthony Nese around his leg and Nese has no choice but to tap.    This match showcased the best parts of Davey Richards, but even in his losing efforts it also helped to make Anthony Nese look like a star.    If you're not familiar with what Davey Richards can do outside of TNA, then watch this.   If you are familiar with Davey Richards outside of TNA then watch this one for Anthony Nese.    If you are familiar with both of these men then I probably don't have to tell you this.


A brief intermission is called for as they set up the cage for the main event.   Richards-Nese definitely kicked it up a match so this match is going to have a lot to live up to in the main event slot here.    A video package is shown, highlighting the history between these two men.   It is worth noting that there are no titles on the line here as this one has become so personal.


Match Seven:  Roderick Strong vs. Drew Galloway

Roderick Strong's music makes me think it's going to be "Panama" but it never is.   Strong gets on the mic and says that he wasn't on that terrible House of Hardcore 8 show, so maybe the only wrestling I should watch from the USA is what he's on.   Okay, not really, but the mic is cutting in and out and this has just been a problem for EVOLVE all night.   Roderick Strong is trying to tell a story but it sounds like he's driving through a tunnel in 2001.    Strong says he's a "bad motherfucker" but then says he's leaving because the cage is an "unsafe work environment".    This brings out Drew Galloway and he goes right to work on Strong outside of the ring.    Yes, the match has not started yet and they're already brawling outside of the ring.   For the record, Drew Galloway fought Kenny King in jeans on a taped show that aired for Impact Wrestling just two days before this.    They're finally locked inside the cage and Strong goes for a top rope move right away but is caught with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker by Galloway.   Strong takes control though and begins working over Galloway.    This is the first steel cage match in the history of EVOLVE, just to show you how far this feud has gone since EVOLVE 35.   Both men are walking on the top rope while holding the cage and there is a "Please Don't Die" chant.   Both men end up crotched on the ropes and Adams reminds us on commentary there must be a winner via pinfall or submission they won't be given the ten count.    Strong begins just smashing Galloway into the cage now.   Dueling "Let's Go Roddy" and "Let's Go Drew" chants as Strong dumps Galloway into the steel cage.   Galloway is taking a beating.   Strong starts climbing but Galloway takes him off the cage with a legsweep and both men are down now.   Galloway begins his comeback with a flurry of punches to Strong.    Galloway pulled Strong out of the corner with his legs hanging over his shoulders and Galloway planted Strong face first into the mat.   That was just one of those power moves you've never seen before but know they wouldn't allow in WWE.   Near falls by Galloway now.    Both men climb the cage again, but I'm pretty sure they can't escape to win so I'm not sure why.   A superplex by Roderick Strong takes them back into the middle of the ring.   Strong can only get a two count though.    Adams says that is the largest superplex we will see all year from Roderick Strong but I like to think we have more to look forward to than that.   An Olympic slam into a backbreaker is good for another two count by Roderick Strong.   Galloway is staging a comeback once again.    Roderick Strong hits a powerbomb for a two count and even though both men are running low on energy Strong just cannot put Galloway down.    Both men climb to the top corner and Galloway is crotched.    He goes down into the tree of woe but then sits up and hits a huge belly to belly release suplex on Strong sending him across the ring.   The crowd chants "That Was Awesome" and it was.    Strong comes off the ropes and is caught by Galloway who powerbombs him straight into the cage.  Ouch.  Galloway hits a piledriver on Strong for a two count only.    Two running knees and a forearm by Strong but Galloway still kicks out at two.   The ref checks on Galloway, who is not knocked out but is bloody.  Strong hits some hard knees on Galloway and begins a series of dropkicks that crush Galloway between the ropes and cage.   It looks like the wall of the cage might break they're so strong.    Galloway is stuck in between the ropes and cage and as the ref checks on him he calls for the match to end.    Roderick Strong wins via ref stoppage and that was amazing.    Strong pulls Galloway back in the ring and locks on a Texas Cloverleaf before PJ Black comes in to save his former WWE superstar friend.    I often think Justin Gabriel was in 3MB anyway.    PJ Black asks for the title belt and a fan can clearly be heard yelling for Galloway to watch out because he was going to hit him with it.   The mic is still cutting out on PJ Black as he is trying to tell his life story about them being in WWE together.   Galloway says the title is no longer the most important thing to him anymore and if Black wants a match he can have it because he'll defend the title against anyone at any time.    Galloway said he wasn't sure if he'd disappear from wrestling forever after WWE because he was in 3MB and someone can very clearly be heard yelling "Fuck 3MB!".    Galloway does the whole thank you speech and the mic doesn't cut out too badly.    Galloway recaps his feud with Roderick Strong and says that it's not over.   So much for the cage idea, huh?   That was a hell of a match but did Drew Galloway really just piss all over it by saying it wasn't the end of the feud?   And people complained when The Authority came back and they said it diminished Dolph Ziggler winning at Survivor Series.    Drew Galloway seemingly killed this whole match in one post match promo.    He also talks about there being one, which may or may not be in reference to uniting the Full Impact Pro title but I'm not sure.    Galloway lists off his Wrestlemania weekend matches pretty well for someone who was just knocked out.   He has Uhaa Nation first, then Justin Gabriel (Drew Galloway might get sued now) and he says he wants to unify the EVOLVE and Dragon Gate Championships against Johnny Gargano, which makes sense because DGUSA is on hiatus.


This iPPV just delivered on all levels and I don't think there was a bad match on it.   It's really the best thing you can watch for your money.    The first two matches were good in themselves but after that the card just built match by match, each one outdoing the other with the only exception possibly being Black-Konley.     Still, having those last five matches so solid and four of the five being some of the best matches of the year just go to show you how special of a card this was.   I have to note that at some point within the last week or two I actually started adding matches to a Word document to try and create an eventual end of the year sort of list for the best matches.    This isn't just going to be done in the overall sense, though I will probably list something like my top ten favorite matches in a general sense, but also by promotion so I will award most every promotion I watch a spot for their best match.   Anyway, for most promotions thus far this year I've picked at least one match per show to make this list and at the most there have been two matches for a single show.   The fact that I could easily pull four matches off of this card just for my EVOLVE list really says something about the show as a whole.    Not to mention the fact that those four matches from EVOLVE are better than any of the other matches currently on my list from certain promotions.   (That is to say any of these four matches is better than the best match put on by TNA so far this year, which isn't saying much but it is up for debate as to whether or not they also trump the top matches of other promotions as well)    I think my favorite part of this iPPV though, as I look at it now and didn't see it this way before I watched it, was the pairings in these top matches as well.    In each of the top four matches prior to the main event you have sort of the veteran going against the sort of younger, hungrier competitor with something to prove.  This came out a lot with Gulak being the future over Chris Hero in their match, but it's there as well with AR Fox, PJ Black and Davey Richards.   Those stories being told and EVOLVE being able to tell them is just incredible and makes me happy to be a wrestling fan.   (And yes, I realize I just name dropped Justin Credible there)    On top of that, you have two bonified stars in Drew Galloway and Roderick Strong leaving it all out there in the main event.   I kind of thought that the EVOLVE Champion wouldn't lose in EVOLVE but thankfully there seemed to be no concerns there and the right man won, as I was pulling for Strong the entire time.   My initial favorite professional wrestling show of 2015 was an early entry with Wrestle Kingdom 9, but EVOLVE 38 is every bit as good if not better than that.   It's going to be a tough call by the end of this year to pick a favorite event and we're only barely into our third month here.    The future looks bright to this reformed wrestling fan.

REVIEW: CHIKARA "A New Start" 2015 [1/25/15]

When I was at the height of my professional wrestling watching I had always loved CHIKARA.   I had my favorite promotions but I also had them for different reasons.   CZW was the ultraviolent one with all of the hardcore matches that reminded me of ECW and FMW.   ROH was where wrestling was a sport and not entertainment.    CHIKARA wasn't really either of those things, although there was a sports aspect to it because there is a sports aspect in all wrestling except for maybe thumb wrestling.

To understand what I like about CHIKARA is to explain it to someone who has never seen it before.    CHIKARA, to me, is what professional wrestling was like for me growing up before my teens even.    It's the 1980's and the early 1990's WWF.   It's WCW before the Monday Night War ruined it.   It's the idea that Papa Shango can perform his crazy voodoo and you don't question it but rather just go along with it.

Not long after I took a break from watching professional wrestling CHIKARA shut down.   They hit the button on their laptop to fade to black, but yes, they did eventually return.   Living in Texas I was watching most all wrestling I could get my hands on and I was always kind of bummed when I'd read about CHIKARA coming to Connecticut (where I used to live) and I wasn't there.     I moved back to Connecticut recently and now I'm getting back into CHIKARA, which exists once again, and everything just feels like it's falling into place.

I also have a three year old son now, so I was excited to be moving back closer to CHIKARA because they are a family friendly promotion, PG before WWE was and actually doing much better at it than WWE ever did.    My son doesn't really care if he sees someone getting hit with a chair or fist because he knows both aren't something to do in real life, yet the language in most promotions is what I don't want him repeating and so CHIKARA having that non-swearing policy makes them ideal for me for this reason as well.    I remember watching a CHIKARA VHS once where they announced to the live crowd not to swear and I thought that was cool, kind of going against what most wrestling promotions are doing.

Essentially, as I keep telling my wife, the thing about CHIKARA is that they are doing something right now that no one else is doing.    There are promotions out there operating under similar circumstances and in a lot of ways that's fine because I'll watch AAA and CMLL no problem.    But there just isn't anything out there like CHIKARA.   (Wait, Osaka Pro is still out there.   Must.  Find.  Shows.)

In any case, I'm not sure what all that means but it's kind of a brief version of how I got from there to here, even though I'm sure I'll be throwing in hints during the matches of where my CHIKARA timeline last left off.


The show opens with a slide show type package of all of the matches coming up.    It's something that every promotion should really think about doing because it lets you know what you're getting into.    Granted, I don't have as much trouble with that when I'm watching wrestling with English commentary but those Mexican and Japanese promotions can get tricky when you don't know the languages.  

Leonard F. Chikarason, Bryce Remsburg and Mike Quackenbush check in at ringside and then send it over to Gavin Loudspeaker who heads to the ring talking.     Loudspeaker goes around the ring and calls people out by name, from a kid who is at his first show to someone eating food to a little girl with a comb.    This will either make you want to go to a show so Gavin Loudspeaker will talk to you or have you cringe in fear at the thought.   [Personal Parental Note: If Gavin Loudspeaker came up to my three year old to talk to him it would be interesting to say the least.   I can't promise Mr. Loudspeaker would leave in any way other than tears though, sadly]    Gavin Loudspeaker encourages everyone to take lots of photos but not videos.    We then get into our first match.


Match One: The Wrecking Crew (Blaster McMassive / Flex Rumblecrunch / Max Smashmaster) / Jaka / Oleg The Usurper (w/ Sidney Bakabella) vs. The Throwbacks (Dasher Hatfield / Mark Angelosetti) / Jervis Cottonbelly / Princess Kimberlee / Shynron 

Sidney Bakabella had the pre-match promo, but really he said it all headed to the ring when he declared "Opening tag is main event money".    The Wrecking Crew side is made up of the heels or rudos as these matches are contested under lucha libre rules (It's how I remember them)   For the rudo team, the combination of The Wrecking Crew is somewhere between Demolition, Powers of Pain and the Road Warriors.    Each member is a sort of mix of others so you can't really say that Blaster McMassive, for instance, is an homage to The Barbarian (Powers of Pain style) though that might be the closest character to compare him with.    Jaka reminds me of when Taz was originally in ECW as the Tazmaniac and there is nothing wrong with that.   Oleg The Usurper (who gets the award for best name in the match) is a bit like Berzerker with his entrance gear on but not as much when you see him in the match.     On the technicos side of things (the good guys) we have the Throwbacks of Dasher Hatfield who I have to remember because his mask looks like a baseball and Mark Angelosetti who I don't remember as much but comes out with a football.    If you're just seeing the name "The Throwbacks" around you're probably either thinking of a) Deuce and Domino in WWE or b) The Vaudevillains but these Throwbacks are not like either of those.   Wasn't Sugar Dunkerton an original member of the Throwbacks?  I feel like that's how I remember them.     Jervis Cottonbelly came into CHIKARA at the time that I had stopped watching it so I remember his name but don't really remember seeing much of him.   For a little bit in the beginning of this match I kept trying to think of who else had that yellow head mask and then I remembered The Sharecropper (that was my era CHIKARA) which of course took my mind to "Sweeney Eats Corn" chants, which of course made me a little bit sad.    Shynron is a young high flyer wearing a mask and for whatever reason he reminds me of a cross between Ricochet and someone I can't quite place.    Princess Kimberlee is the lone woman in the match and I've had some problems with women fighting men in Lucha Underground but since she's in a multi-person match and as such more of a wrestler than Sidney Bakabella I'm okay with it.    (To be fair, in Lucha Underground I wouldn't mind seeing six person tag matches with one woman on each side and two men, but what can you do)   Mike Quackenbush made the comment during the match, about Kimberlee being in it, that they are "Equal rights and equal fights".   I can go with that.    This match reminded me of something straight out of the old school WWF Survivor Series days.   Remember when the Headshrinkers used to come to the ring and it was always around Thanksgiving so they'd be carrying carcasses of meat with them, eating it along the way?   Yeah, there was no buffet here but I realize this might be my most complex match to think about as it has the most competitors in it.   Why would CHIKARA give me so much all at once and right away?  Couldn't we open with a nice singles match?   It was a good opener though and everyone got in their fair share of spots.    It started with a joke about the football being deflated of Angelosetti and this was before the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl, not that it matters anyway.   Shynron was a bright spot in the match and they played up his taped ribs quite a bit.   Apparently, Oleg The Usurper's finisher is called "Off With HIs Head" and now I like him even more.    Max Smashmaster worked over Kimberlee before Blaster McMassive came in and hit a superplex for the win.    After the match The Wrecking Crew was shown walking backstage talking about pay days and all that.    Pay days in the sense of making money, not the candy bar.   Someone should bring Sidney Bakabella a candy bar at an event and see what happens.


A promo is shown where Ophidian is in a candlelit room in front of a mirror discussing his upcoming match.   I don't know who on any other roster could pull this type of atmosphere off (Bray Wyatt?) but this could have been taped in a bathroom for all we know and yet it still looks like a million bucks and gives us a look we're not used to seeing.   Better than standing in front of a company logo or lockers.


Match Two: Nokken vs. Ophidian

Ophidian is one half of the Osirian Portal and his partner for that tag team, Amasis, joins him at ringside here.    I like the Ophidian Facebook page and remember not that long ago his gear was stolen and he needed a match for a mask and someone who bought one from him (as a fan) shipped it to him right quick so he would have it and that still amazes me to this day-- how we're all so connected and living in our own wrestling community.   You get me one lucha libre fan at Fed Ex and that mask is getting there before expected delivery date!    Nokken is a lot bigger than Ophidian and that feels like it could become a factor here.   Nokken has a mask that has bull horns on the top of it and yet this piece of fabric that drapes down over his mouth like a female character in Aladdin.    He is also a member of the BDK, who last I remember them were lead by one Claudio Cas... Umm... Cesaro.     In this match, each man has two points so as it is explained by the commentators the winner would be in line for a title shot.   So apparently in CHIKARA you need three victories in a row for a title shot and your final victory would be against someone else who also has two victories in a row.   Since they have to be in a row whoever loses this match loses all their points so it is a bit of a winner takes all situation.     In an odd spot, Nokken had Ophidian up for a backbreaker outside the ring and he dropped him down onto his leg/knee.    Would he have been disqualified if he planted Ophidian on the floor instead?   Is thay why he didn't do that?  Because I think that move would've made more sense.    Quack plays up the body control of Ophidian a lot during this match as Ophidian paints up Nokken with knees.    At one point in the corner he seemingly climbs up Nokken and even does a hand stand to hit him in the head with knees.    Nokken did end up using his size to his advantage though as he hit his finisher on Ophidian, "The Nokken Driver", for the pin and win.    The Nokken Driver, for the record, has Nokken hold up his opponent in a cradle suplex-like manner and then spike them on their head like a DDT.   I was once told that move was too dangerous to do to another human being and my "fantasy wrestling" was too far fetched.    A Nokken title shot will be interesting though, as he has a distinct size advantage over seemingly most of the CHIKARA roster and what's next for Ophidian also leaves me wondering in a good way.


Next up is a promo from Jakob Hammermeier and Nokken.   It's basically about how Nokken won and so the BDK will win again later tonight because Jakob (pronounced "Yock-um") Hammermeier is the new leader of the BDK with Nokken and Pinkie Sanchez.


A promo for N_R_G next which is a tag team that look a lot like High Energy, mostly in their wardrobe.    This might seem wrong, but Race Jaxon is the more energetic of the two while Hype Rockwell is a bit more laid back.    Yes, Race Jaxon is hyper and Hype Rockwell is not the hype man.

Match Three: N_R_G vs. The Colony Xtreme Force (Arctic Rescue Ant / Missile Assault Ant)

I vaguely remember The Colony but not these Ants.    There are a lot of Ants in CHIKARA now, are there not?     Following a superkick and tilt-a-whirl backbreaker Hype Rockwell scores a three count on Arctic Rescue Ant in about as much time as it took me to type all that.    N_R_G leaves the ring excited and Missile Assault Ant yells at Arctic Rescue Ant about how he never even got into the match and then walks out on him.   An audible "That's Not Teamwork" chant brings a smile to my face.


UltraMantis Black, who I do remember so well, cuts a promo and in it he says he vanquished Delirious which explains what happened to him.   Apparently something else happened with him as well where his stable of Hallowicked and Frightmare turned on him and I remember them but don't remember that happening.   Should I go through the CHIKARA alumni yearbook and name all of the names I remember?  Where's Crossbones?


Match Four: Juan Francisco de Coronado vs. UltraMantis Black

Prior to the match there was an in ring plug for the next CHIKARA event, National Free Wrestling Day, and it is also worth noting that for whatever reason the referees in CHIKARA seem to be heavily booed.    Juan Francisco de Coronado has very quiet music and as he walks gingerly to the ring he actually draws a "Hurry Up" chant.    I can hear a single person yell at him "Even the Big Show's faster than that!"   Funny stuff.    JFdC cuts an in ring promo which is subtitled in both English and Spanish.   He says that our leader in the United States is Borris Oprah and I'm not sure why.    He gets booed a lot and reminds me of a lucha libre heel who doesn't wear a mask.   For someone current I'd say Texano Jr. but for someone you might have to look up I'd say Latin Lover and not just because JFdC also happens to rock the bow tie.    UltraMantis Black has a cool spot in this match where he's inside the ring and drops JFdC to the outside and JFdC lands butt first on the ring apron.    It looked like a good way to break your butt.    This match reminded me of everything I love about UltraMantis Black while also introducing me to JFdC who is a most excellent heel.    One of the commentators (I won't name names) wondered where Hallowicked and Frightmare were, to the extent of whether or not they were in the building because they hadn't been in the same building with UMB since turning on him.    I wanted to let him know that they do have a match later on in the card so I'd hope they were in the building but no one brought it up and when the day comes that televisions work both ways like that it won't matter because I wasn't watching this live.   UMB ends up hitting a spike piledriver on JFdC for the win and I'm only hoping this leads to the eventual UltraMantis Black title shot.


Another BDK promo.   This time targeting the match more specifically and Pinkie Sanchez is there.


Match Five: Die Bruderschaft des Kreuzes (Jakob Hammermeier / Pinkie Sanchez) / Solider Ant vs. The Colony (Fire Ant / Silver Ant / Worker Ant) *Trios Match* 

For The Colony, these are the Ants that I remember.   Apparently Soldier Ant is not their friend any more but he doesn't seem to like the BDK really either.    Mike Quackenbush left the commentary postion at this time to give us the combo of Leonard F. Chikarason and Dasher Hatfield.    Dasher Hatfield has some great things to say on commentary and if there was a way to get alternate commentary for all CHIKARA events with him doing commentary I would listen to that as well.   Something I Learned In This Match: Pinkie Sanchez used to be Carpenter Ant.   I recognize the name Pinkie Sanchez but I don't remember there being a Carpenter Ant as much.   Dasher Hatfield and LFC had a great exchange during this match about the different Ants and their various forms, as Dasher kept thinking there was a Blue Ant and LFC had to explain it to him.   Though it is worth noting that Silver Ant used to be Green Ant but he upgraded.   See!  See how confusing and fun all of these Ants can be.    So this means there are at least six Ants in CHIKARA and four of them are in this match.     At one point it looked like Soldier Ant might be doing something to rejoin his fellow Ants (Has there ever been a female Ant?) but it was quickly broken up.    Worker Ant, or as Dasher kept calling him "Blue Ant", eventually was locked into some sort of Texas Cloverleaf/sharpshooter type of submission hold and had to tap out to Jakob Hammermeier.    After the match Dasher says "I'm going for a hot dog" and is off commentary.    It's worth noting that, as this was a Trios Match, one thing I always loved about CHIKARA was that they had the King of Trios tournament as well as the Tag Team World Grand Prix.   I remember seeing Necro Butcher and Mad Man Pondo in the Tag Team World Grand Prix and they were "Team CZW".   I just thought it was so overdue that we could finally see different promotions being represented in one giant tournament as promotions don't really seem to work together for some reason.   I realize pride is an issue (If the champion of Promotion A fought the champion of Promotion B and A won then it would imply that A is better and thus people might be inclined to choose A over B in terms of watching, spending money, etc. but if the fight was big enough why not?   There could be money in it and that'd be good for business for everyone!)

Match Six:  Eddie Kingston vs. Kevin Condron (w/The Lithuanian Snow Troll)

Eddie Kingston had a backstage pre-match promo, as seems to be the theme here.    Kevin Condron is out first and this is my first time seeing him.   I thought he might be somewhat of a "normal" guy in CHIKARA but as it turns out, when he takes his entrance gear off, you can see he has rather large, golden Pegasus wings on his sneakers.    As Dasher left the commentary table at the end of the last match, for this match we are joined by UltraMantis Black.    If there is any justice in this world the newest piece of CHIKARA merchandise shall soon be a stuffed animal resembling The Lithuanian Snow Troll.   Eddie Kingston comes out in a duster and has a shirt that says "I Hope You Suffer".    Yes, I want that shirt now.    There are dueling chants for both of these men somehow, which baffles me because Eddie Kingston is a staple of CHIKARA to me and whether he's a rudo or technico he's always just been this all around tough guy you don't want to mess with.   In some ways (and I might only be saying it because it's relevant right now) he reminds me of what Samoa Joe was to TNA before leaving.   The fact that the crowd is chanting for someone I don't know confuses me but I suppose the crowd knows who Kevin Condron is and that's why.   Funny thing, the Cage Match dot net profile picture for Kevin Condron shows him in a mask.    He wasn't in a mask during this match but now I'm going to have to look into why/how he lost the match or if it was just a choice of rebranding.     I really expected this to just be a fight where Eddie Kingston pushed the younger kid to his limit but the experience paid off and Kingston came out on top but it ended with a cheap tactic.    Condron ended up acting as if he had been hit with a low blow by Kingston so when the ref thought that he disqualified Eddie Kingston giving Kevin Condron the victory by DQ.    CHIKARA made the play in the opening match about the deflated footballs, but in both the NFL and MLB now they have the replay rule so why not do something with that where Eddie Kingston can challenge the disqualification?   Even if they don't want to go to the truck (Does CHIKARA have a truck?) they could at least just ask the commentators or poll the fans by a round of cheers or boos.    Could be something worth looking into because even if Eddie Kingston was still found guilty of committing a low blow by the crowd in attendance when he clearly didn't then that would be an angle in and of itself, right?


Match Seven: Frightmare / Hallowicked vs. The Batiri (Kodama / Obariyon) 

UltraMantis Black remained on commentary for this one and it was interesting to hear him discuss Frightmare and Hallowicked since they turned on him.    I do remember them and even had custom figures of them at one point, but I'm not familiar with The Batiri so I'm trying to think of how to describe this team.    They wear neon green face paint with matching tights and they have tattoos so that's probably the best way to tell them apart.    I like to think of them as The Usos if only because the tattoos are how to tell them apart, but I still can't tell The Usos apart so you might not want to go that way.    Their face paint gives off that vibe of something between The Great Muta, Sting and Chessman so I obviously have to stick with Chessman because he's lucha libre.     As far as tag team matches go this is a good one because there are a lot of back and forth moments and you're just not sure who will win.   I'm not sure how long The Batiri have been a tag team but it doesn't really seem to matter because since they look so similar it connects them as a team so they seemingly think the same way as well.    That isn't to say that Frightmare and Hallowicked don't look similar because they do, but they also have been aligned with each other for as long as I can remember.     Something about this match though just generated the impression that these were two tag teams on the same page with each other and no one was going to say that maybe one of them hadn't been partners enough and that inexperience would come into play.    That's pretty much how you want to see tag team wrestling, which WWE portrayed well in their days of the Smoking Gunns and Men on a Mission.    Back then I never questioned how long a tag team had been together because they looked similar and that alone made me feel like they were a legitimate threat.   Frightmare and Hallowicked though have this... I don't want to say dark side because that seems too obvious but they've just become ruthless and they tear up The Batiri in this match without remorse.   From a superkick into a crucifex pin Frightmare and Hallowicked win this and now that you think about UltraMantis Black being on commentary it just seems right.     As good of a match as this was- and it was a good match- the real story here is in what happens next with Frightmare, Hallowicked and UltraMantis Black.   

Before the main event of the evening, Chuck Taylor cut a backstage promo and, yes, I do believe he was wearing a Lucero t-shirt.   He ain't nobody's darling.


Match Eight:  Icarus (Champion) vs. Chuck Taylor *CHIKARA Grand Title Match* 

In an attempt to once again show where I left off watching CHIKARA this match will prove it to you because I remember when Icarus was a part of Team F.I.S.T. only I remember him as being with Gran Akuma.   Chuck Taylor would only later join F.I.S.T. and that was about the time I had stopped watching professional wrestling on the whole.   I actually remember Chuck Taylor from IWA-MS more than any other promotion but we can see how far he has come, competing in other promotions and just becoming a staple in the professional wrestling scene.   It's also worth noting that Chuck Taylor has a finisher called "The Awful Waffle" and that makes the pre-teen in me very happy.    Icarus somehow managed to kick out of it during this match though and they did have a good back and forth with near falls that made me think this is what CHIKARA is all about because this match was just fun.   For one thing, Leonard F. Chikarason and Mike Quackenbush were on commentary- no guest commentators here- to show the importance of the match being both the main event and a title match.    Both men were evenly matched but also equal fan favorites I would say as neither really seemed to be the rudo nor playing the heel role either.    It was just two guys at the top of their game going out there and wrestling their hearts out.    Really, shouldn't it always be that great?  But sometimes, yes, we do need that villain role to be filled.   I was just happy to see this and wonder which one was the rudo only to realize it was neither.     There were not one but suplexes onto chairs outside of the ring and Icarus actually did end up hitting Chuck Taylor with the title belt and then a pedigree but it was only good for two.   I thought at that moment maybe Icarus was the rudo because of the belt shot, but it was just more of him not being able to finish Chuck Taylor otherwise and that he was doing whatever it takes over cheating.    Needless to say, he wasn't really booed for it.    The match came to a close when Chuck Taylor tapped to the CHIKARA Special and this is just something you can't describe.    When I think of CHIKARA and how I relate it with the older WWF days and such I try to think of where this match would be in there.    It's hard to place because when I was growing up I remember a lot of formulaic main events with Diesel as champion and Psycho Sid and guys like that.   I'm talking about before Shawn Michaels was champion even and so it's hard to put this somewhere between that place and when Macho Man became a commentator.    If nothing else, I think of this for comparison by using action figures as my guide and as such I think of this as that Hasbro era of WWF toys.   I had Shawn Michaels when he was IC Champion but the big champions I had were Bret Hart, Ultimate Warrior, Hulk Hogan... But CHIKARA is an era after Hogan and Warrior so I'd say maybe this would be like Bret Hart defending the WWF Championship against Mr. Perfect only both of them are fan favorites (Which it's hard to find someone Bret Hart faced around that time who was a face and the level of talent as Mr. Perfect) and it's the Perfectplex versus the Sharpshooter.   Since that did kind of lack something as a comparison it just goes to show how CHIKARA truly is carving out their own genre here, no matter how much I might think of them as reminding me of something else.


Overall this was a most excellent show by CHIKARA.   The matches were all really good and I don't have any complaints which is odd because I usually have at least one complaint for everything.    Icarus now has some serious competition coming up the ladder for him and the future of the tag team division as well as other wrestlers on this card has been shaken up a bit, but more than anything this show just left me wanting more and that's the best way to leave 'em.  

REVIEW: House of Hardcore VIII [3/7/15]

This is my first time watching House of Hardcore but only are they in the old ECW arena but this is a promotion run by Tommy Dreamer so you have to feel the ECW vibe in it throughout the night.    Someone on Twitter @Trav923 is on commentary with The Hurricane Shane/Gregory Helms and I believe Danny Doring under a different name.    We go right into the action.


Match One: Brian Meyers vs. PJ Black

For those WWE fans scoring at home this was Curt Hawkins vs. Justin Gabriel.   The fans chanted "We Want Ryder" which got a legit laugh from me.   PJ Black was a surprise opponent and this was his HoH debut, as he wore his La Parka legs for the match.   PJ Black won win the 450 splash but this was a match that could've been on WWE Superstars but I'm not going to bother looking it up to see if it ever was.    You know how WWE likes to wish superstars their best in their future endeavors and they go off to do better things?   Trent Baretta, John Morrison, Carlito, Drew McIntyre, Ezekial Jackson and others that I can't name right off the top of my head... But, yeah, Curt Hawkins aka Brian Meyers is just not one of those guys who has "it".  I think he's friends with someone in the right place and that's how he got booked here.


Match Two: Matt Striker vs. Amazing Red

Matt Striker was out first in his argyle sweater vest and matching shorts.   He looked like some sort of strange golfer.   He was introduced as being from Boyle Heights, which is where The Temple is so that made me laugh as well.   His surprise opponent was Amazing Red who was also making his HoH debut tonight.    The commentators noted that Tommy Dreamer doesn't always announce all of the wrestlers performing for the night and so there are often surprises and yet they claim they had to turn away 200 people at the door in this sold out arena.     Amazing Red hits a Code Red from the top rope followed by a standing shooting star press for the pin and win.   I'm glad to see Red back as I liked him in the earliest days of Ring of Honor and feel as if he was greatly under-utilized while in TNA, but please get Matt Striker out of the ring.   I was just finally being able to tolerate him on commentary so there is no way I'm going to be able to get behind him as a wrestler.    And I watched him on compilation DVDs when he was tag partners with Robbie E.   If Lucha Underground puts him in the ring it's over.    Having him in the ring here was just a poor booking decision in my opinion.


Match Three: Alex Reynolds (w/ DG Haven) vs. JT Dunn

I do believe I've seen Alex Reynolds in CZW before and so when I looked him up it was confirmed that he is indeed a member of The Beaver Boys.   And yet I believe it was The Hurricane who said on commentary that when he did a Google search of Alex Reynolds no results came up.   Is HoH at war with CZW and the two aren't allowed to talk about each other?   Was that a shot at CZW by HoH?   Interesting none the less.     This was also JT Dunn's HoH debut, which is odd that this is the eighth show for them and they already have this much debuting talent.     Alex Reynolds ends up hitting a codebreaker and wins while holding the tights.     And Alex Reynolds slowly begins to grow on me.


Match Four: Eddie Kingston vs. Rhino

Eddie Kingston is bad ass.   This should have been higher up on the card, but you knew these two were going to tear the house down.   Kingston attacked Rhino before the match was even started and I feel like it's strange to see Rhino live here on this show and yet also a somewhat active member of the NXT roster.    Two hard hitting men and it seems only natural that Rhino would win with the gore.   I know Eddie Kingston has been around for more than a minute but I feel like Rhino is the veteran in this match and maybe he should have put Kingston over, especially since Kingston can go and the reason why this match was lower on the card is only because Rhino is rather limited in the ring.   I like both these guys though, I just wish it turned out differently.


Match Five:  Ben Ortiz (w/ DG Haven) / Hale Collins (w/ Patricia Bateman) / Vik Dalishus (w/ The Duprees) vs. Team Tremendous / Tony Nese

While I recognize Team Tremendous from CZW, which the commentators here failed to mention, I don't know any of these other guys except for Anthony "Tony" Nese, if only by name.   Sadly, Vik Dalishus came out with a bunch of women and The Duprees had nothing to do with Rene Dupree.     Before the match, Team Tremendous busted the ref with what the commentators said was aregano and as such they brought out Mikey Whipwreck as a special guest referee.    There was an announcement of some sort of Mikey Whipwreck tribute here tonight.    As the teams fought, eventually most everyone ended up outside the ring and Mikey Whipwreck flew out there as well, at the crowd's urging.    Bill Carr, who is the bigger of the two men in Team Tremendous, pinned Vik Dalishus with the Canadian Destroyer for the win.   It was a really impressive spot and I'm on the Team Tremendous bandwagon now.


Up next was the tribute to Mikey Whipwreck and a lot of the wrestlers he trained were in the ring after a video and the crowd chanting "Thank You Mikey".


Match Six: Lance Archer vs. Carlito vs. Matt Hardy 

This was billed as being some kind of hardcore match.   No mention of WWC for Carlito, who was sometimes referred to by his real name, but they did note Lance Archer's accomplishments in New Japan.     Some weapons came into play but mostly ladders as Matt Hardy hit a move onto a ladder for him to get the pin on Carlito.   I haven't said this since his WWE days, but Carlito deserves better than this.    Archer is a monster but what Matt Hardy have to gain by winning this match?


After intermission, Justin Roberts was in the ring.   The fans hated him and shat all over him trying to speak.    Justin Roberts had this "shoot" style promo talking about how when he was in WWE there was a talented roster sitting in the back watching the same thing week in and week out and he was tired of the fans having to suffer for it... blah blah blah.   Look, I know this was live and the episode of Impact that aired the night before was taped, but Drew Galloway cut all too similar a promo the night before this.    I really don't want to see Justin Roberts EVER unless this leads to him being put through a table.   To show you how the fans felt about this, someone had a young child up on their shoulders and the kid was flipping the double bird to Justin Roberts.   The crowd was bowing to the kid and chanting "He's Hardcore", which eventually distracted Roberts enough that the camera man also went over to see the kid.    So, basically, someone who was probably under the age of ten just got put over at the expense of Justin Roberts.    Think about that next time you decide to book Justin Roberts I say to you, Mr. Dreamer.     Maybe Roberts should have just written an angry blog.


Match Seven: Christopher Daniels / Frankie Kazarian vs. Team 3D

There were Dudleys chants but they were never called that by name.    Also, Kaz and Daniels were never referred to as "Bad Influence" or "The Addiction" which was kind of odd they couldn't at least be "The Addiction".  (Where's the love, ROH?)    Daniels and Kaz were in control for most of the match but when Team 3D began to take control back, Trinidad (?) came down to support Daniels and Kaz.    This lead to Bully Ray's girlfriend in Velvet Sky coming out and we have a catfight that was acceptable in 1997 but now is just sort of... lame.    They did that "wazzzup" spot on Trinidad and Devon made the motions of performing oral sex on her.   I can only assume this is all happening while Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian are off wondering why they signed up for this stupid bit.    In the original days of ECW I still might have cringed at this a little but in 2015 this just made me wonder why I was watching this to begin with.   Is this really what someone thinks wrestling fans want to see?  After the match, were Devon's comments about it "cool"?    The whole thing just made me embarrassed to be a fan of professional wrestling and the best part is it came AFTER a promo from a former WWE guy saying how lame WWE was.   If you want to call out WWE on their antics that's fine but I'm going to call you out on how much creativity that spot lacked.   3D on the Fallen Angel for the win.   Let's move on.


Match Eight: Eric Young vs. Tommy Dreamer *Street Fight*

These two have had some issues going on in TNA and the fact that they had to spill over here into House of Hardcore just goes to show you how many ideas Tommy Dreamer has.    There really wasn't anyone better that could've been in this match?   I'll always remember Eric Young as being in Team Canada and the "Don't Fire Eric" bit, but I've never taken him seriously.   In fact, when this match started my wife asked me what happened to Eric Young.   I replied with the following.

Dixie Carter: Do you want to be TNA Champion, Eric?
Eric Young: Yeah, all right.
Dixie Carter: Can you grow a big beard?
Eric Young: Yeah, sure, whatever.
Dixie Carter: Do that, and a champion you shall be!

So with shenanigans with the referee and all Eric Young managed to get the win.   Ethan Carter III actually had a cameo in this match and it was about the only thing that made it worthwhile.   I also tweeted to EC3 to ask him about the shirt he wore when he appeared and he tweeted me back to point me to a link for it.   It was the old "EC F'N W" style shirt only it said "EC F'N 3".    So one good thing came of this match: EC3 replied to one of my tweets.    Oh yeah, and Rey Mysterio came out and hit a double 619 on both EC3 and EY.    Mysterio said something about how when he first came to the United States his first home was in ECW and Tommy Dreamer said he'd always be family.    Touching, but that could have been an in ring promo instead of the blow off on a feud no one probably cares about because it's not like people are actually watching Impact other than those writing and complaining about it, right?   So I'm saying that if you have seen the Tommy Dreamer-EY thing play out on television you probably aren't a fan of it and don't want to see it here.   Maybe it's just me.


Match Nine: Austin Aries / Bobby Roode vs. Young Bucks

As this match starts, and I didn't read spoilers because who cares (I watched it after it aired, yes) I realize that the Young Bucks are going to win because they are a tag team and Austin Aries and Bobby Roode are just being strung together tonight for what might even be their first time teaming together.     They are the epitome of a makeshift tag team so this is pretty terrible as far as main event matches go.   And I STILL don't like the Young Bucks.   I didn't really care about their match at the ROH 13th Anniversary show but at least they were facing an actual tag team in reDRagon.   There were quite a few "Bullet Club" chants here and I'm wondering if maybe that's why so many people like the Young Bucks.   Is it because they're in the Bullet Club?   Because that's not a good enough reason to like them.    So on a scale of one to ten, ten being the highest, I'd say that the Young Bucks vs. reDRagon at the ROH PPV was about a five.    When they fought O!4K at the CZW 16 show it was a 10.    And this is just a big fat zero.   Sorry, Austin Aries.    You never should have signed up for this.    And, yes, it's funny that the crowd had dueling chants of "Bullet Club" and "Austin Aries" because that must have made Bobby Roode feel great about his life choices.     There was also a crowd chant of "Tag Team Wrestling" but I must disagree as, um, AUSTIN ARIES AND BOBBY ROODE ARE NOT AN ACTUAL TAG TEAM.    I was kind of surprised when the Team 3D match didn't go on last, but when I saw it I realized why.   The fact that this closed out the show left Young Bucks fans happy but it just felt too predictable for me and I wonder why this wasn't buried somewhere in the midcard.


As this was my first time watching House of Hardcore in full (I had previously only watched the clip where Alberto El Patron appeared with Ricardo Rodriguez) I must say that I was not impressed.    Was I going into this with too high of hopes?  (Someone was high, but it wasn't me)    Is there other wrestling out there that is just that much better than this and that's why it's suffering?    What was it about this card that just left me feeling so disappointed?   I guess it was because the show was all right for the first half, up to intermission, because I can forgive the in ring presence of Matt Striker in the face of what happened after that.    I was really amped up with the idea that anything can happen and this would be so exciting but then it just took such a boring, pointless and often times head scratching turn after intermission.   If you got up and left during intermission you probably would've seen a much better show than I did by watching the whole thing.    I've been a big believer in the fact that wrestling shows should build and the matches should just outdo each other throughout the night, but what did those last three matches outdo?   Put aside the unnecessary sexual spot in the Team 3D match.   Put aside the TNA connection in the Tommy Dreamer match.   Put aside the fact that I still don't get why people like the Young Bucks.   But how did ANYONE in their right mind go into the main event thinking anything other than what happened would be the end?    You can't have an established tag team versus a makeshift tag team as your main event.    That just doesn't work for me.     Maybe someone else out there feels differently, and maybe you'll watch this and see something good that I didn't (EC3 saved the show for me) but if you waste your money on this one don't blame me.   You have been warned.