Aperama
08-11-2008, 09:11 AM
WPW Sunday Night Live!
August 10th, 2008
Bluma Appel Theatre
Toronto, ON
I was up in Toronto, for the Ring of Honor show the week before, and ended up sticking about for a few days with my family. I ended up at a local show - turns out, it was actually a Florida-run fed on a full-blown tour up north. So, the August 10th edition of WPW's 'second' show - and coincidentally, my first exposure to WPW, was quite an interesting event. I'll admit, I didn't come in expecting much, but here's my notes, all the same, I even managed to snatch a video link from their website, though.. I'm still feeling guilty about it. The pre-show gave us all a little story background on what was going on, and along with the booklets they handed out, I can only hope it makes as much sense to the proper WPW fans, too.
Tag Team Champion v.. Contender?
Martin Cameron Vs. Beno
The show capped off with a muscly man, who appeared to be mimicking a rapper, save his wrestling attire, trying to tell us all about how great his win over 'Camerone' - it took me a while to work it out, but apparently, this was 'Beno'. I'll not say I've ever seen Beno work - but if his wrestling is as clumsy as his rapping, I'm not going to be a fan. Anyway, even though this match was scheduled for later on - a nigh-psychotic seeming man in face paint (the 'Cameron' in 'Camerone', it seems) a referee made it official as Cameron stormed the ring. The pair seemed perfectly content to throw punch after punch at one another - but it was Beno who finally took it back to brass tacks, the classic thumb to eye-kick to gut combination working a treat for him before he pulled Cameron off the ropes for a sidewalk lift backbreaker. Why do they call it a backbreaker, anyway? They should just call it what it is. A back hurter. Backhurter by Beno. Beno tries to put his opponent away early with a fireman's carry lift - but Cameron battles out, and starts fighting Beno for dear life, even though he doesn't seem to be fully focused on him, head constantly lifting back to the ramp between every vicious strike. Cameron calls for a death valley driver. Beno holds the ropes, drops down, low blow behind the ref's back! The match becomes all Beno as he hits big power moves, all in a row, but he proves his own downfall when he pushes Cameron to the ropes, screaming something about 'knocking him out too', only to find Cameron flying back at him with a spinning heel kick, clearing Beno's lifted boot entirely! He springboards off of the rope and hits what I later find out is called the April Fool's for the one-two-three, having really connected with Beno's face hard. Fellow marks - find this move. Youtube it, or something. The sheer athleticism it must take the guy is frightening. Ever seen Ruckus' moonsault legdrop? He does it from the second rope! You've just gotta see it.
Martin Cameron defeats Beno via April Fools in (12:32).
FLA: 7th & 8th Place Decider Match
Forsaken vs. Mike Corral
I've heard of Mike Corral before. He used to work for this little federation in the middle of nowhere.. was best known for his incredibly flashy moves. I was surprised to see him come out looking so worn out - he looked like he'd just been through a cheese grater, or something. Was completely blown up as he got down the ring, for crying out loud! But when he made it out, looking like he'd just run a marathon.. turns out his opponent asked for a sabbatical. I guess this makes him the 7th in this complicated league thing they have all the instructions for scrawled down the side in a photocopied piece of notepad paper on the booklet? Well, I guess so.
Mike Corral wins by forfeit to become the 7th in the Florida State Title League. (Get a towel, man!)
FLA: 5th & 6th place Decider Match
Nick Comoroto Vs. Blade LaVigne
After the match before it - I'll admit, I was kinda looking for something nice and competitive. Unfortunately.. it just wasn't. Blade LaVigne - another name I've never heard of before - really surprised me. He didn't bring his A-game, I hope - but the man clearly has one hell of a B-game. He was pretty well liked by everyone (a few people seemed to have it in for the guy) - which is nothing that I can say for the other guy, Comoroto. I actually have heard of Comoroto before - when I was doing this title search thing for a magazine, he was actually my first contact with WPW - that way, I know he's actually a former Florida champion. The Florida championship seems to be a pretty big thing here, guess it's like FIP - but you couldn't tell it from these two. Como came out strong, and all, blindsiding Blade as they vied for the fans' attention - but after a few chops and a body slam, that was all the offense we saw from the guy. Even though Blade was constantly motioning to his waist.. For the Florida belt, I'm guessing, though he kept motioning for someone else.. guess it coulda been the tag strap, too. But, he hit several big moves - a gutbuster held in for a neckbreaker, a moonsault for a very, very late 2, a front sitout suplpex holding Comoroto up for a good twenty seconds - eventually, looking entirely in control of the situation, he pushed Como in between his legs, called out for a move - a SIT DOWN POWERBOMB. I have no idea why I wanted to type that in caps, but it felt important, somehow. Easy 3-count.
Blade LaVigne defeats Nick Comoroto via SIT DOWN POWERBOMB (again! I have no idea!) in (06:58) to become the 5th in the Florida State Title League.
Evil v Confusion
Jason Silver & Aidan Balor Vs. Dorian White & El Psycho Diablo
I got the idea that this match was supposed to be a little bit of a lightening up sorta thing, because 'Dorian White' and 'El Psycho Diablo' came out looking.. well, like they wanted to be in the movies. Both men seemed to have this uncaring swagger about them as they dozed - er, I mean, cruised, into the ring, with Dorian White looking to completely confuse his new partner. Unfortunately for him, he managed just that - El Psycho Diablo, apparently on his WPW debut, walking back to the back as he scratches at his head, not entirely sure what just happened. For that matter - neither is Dorian, irritated at himself for his gamble not working (or somesuch) - and as Jason Silver, a worker I've heard of a few times from the Texan independent scene, charges the ring, seemingly having done something to piss off the audience by all the heat he's getting - he doesn't have to work to knock White's block off. Music plays as another new guy, someone named 'Aidan Balor' according to the card, slowly walking down, doing his best to look menacing as Silver unleashes a flurry of forearms to White's head, smacking him hard enough for one to leave a completely sick cut mark on his lip - even though the bell rang a minute ago, Silver's already lifting and dropping in for a 'Psychotic Episode' Pedigree variant, and.. I'm beginning to think about looking for my money back. Can I have Cameron and Beno come out again? They knew how to work a crowd, at least.
Jason Silver (& Aidan Balor, I guess) defeats Dorian White (and El Psycho Diablo.. again, I guess) via Psychotic Episode in (01:21).
New Guns Jockey For Position
TK Vs. Xavier Ray
I was almost ready to pack up my bags and go - there was a totally kickin bar around the corner I'd been meaning to look up, and the show was going from one low point to the next - I was happy to see Xavier Ray come out. Even though I'm not a big fan of rap, the guy actually had energy to him - it's something more than I could say for most of the other guys. Turns out he's undefeated - and a reasonably new guy, still, already holding a win over his opponent this week. That said, his opponent, a Canadian local in 'TK' - well, he might have had the energy to him, but one thing he didn't have was the crowd's support, despite his Canadian colors. Match started with TK trying to milk the maple leaf; Xavier Ray still the favorite of the crowd by an almost universal appeal. Early collar and elbow tieup. Ray pushes to the back of the ropes, clean break, Ray getting off fast. TK goes livid - claims his hair got pulled as they go for another lockup. A few quick armdrags and TK is outside the ring, screaming for order, screaming some quite frankly racist remarks that I don't particularly want to re-state here. Ray's quick to rush out - TK manages a lap around the ring before rushing back in, Ray getting boots laid to the back of his head as he comes in. Match falls to the mat as TK targets the head, holding in a few harsh looking, but legal chokes. Xavier slowly losing his grip - but appears to bait TK into making a mistake, an attempt at a kick into the corner going awry as Ray sidesteps then hits one of the riskiest dropkicks I've ever seen, barely having room with the ropes in the way. TK again bails, keeps himself away from Ray - but this time, it's just tantamount to giving Ray a chance to get his breaths back. TK gets back in, goes for a big forearm - Ray ducks, and throws a few closed-fists punches, the third punch followed by a quick over-head belly to belly suplex for a two count. TK manages to hit a cutter out of nowhere as Xavier tries to lock in a standing rear naked choke. TK back on the offense - fighting dirty, targetting the fingers, eyes and throat of Ray with stomps. He pats his Canadian kneepads as he turns Ray over in a sharpshooter, most of the Canadian fans offended to see someone taking what is essentially their national move from them - and they're elated as Ray somehow manages to hop through in a moment of distraction for a rollup. 1.. 2.. no! TK reverses into a rollup of his own. 1.. 2.. no! Ray pushes another rollup down. 1.. 2.. no! TK makes his own rollup attempt again - this time, pulling the tights. Ref sees. While arguing with the ref, Ray gets a chance to recover, baiting TK with one eye on the video screen out the front of the theater as he sells the head in the corner. TK comes flying in, trying to hit a prone Ray with a double axe handle - Ray jumps to the second rope, then flips back over TK for a release german suplex, dropping TK in the middle of the ring. Why do other wrestlers get their own name on their moves, but not Gotch? Not like we call it a 'Japanese' armbar. Gotch Suplex in the middle of the ring. Xavier Ray hops up to the top rope - then comes flying in for something like a Whisper in the Wind - only, dropping it in a leg drop, holding the leg - turns out, that's called the 'Air X-Ray'. Popular pinfall for the 1-2-3.
Xavier Ray defeats TK via Air X-Ray in (15:23), in what was probably the match of the night.
Former Tag Partners Collide
The Main Man Vs. Jamie Parker
Not the most competitive match. The preshow booklet seemed to harp on about how Jamie Parker and The Main Man were former WPW tag team champions - well, that might be the case, but Jamie Parker didn't seem to want to have anything to do with his former partner this week. He seemed moreso disinterested than hurt, or anything of that nature - but Main Man's intensity almost makes up for it. He comes out first, pulling out the microphone in a clearly heart-felt promo about the way he was going to change the history between him and Parker - only to be interrupted by a pair of utter goons, screaming and telling him they have his back. Thank god they get thrown out to the back. Parker out. He actually yawned on his way to the ring. This isn't looking good. Main Man constrains himself, holding himself at the ropes in wait as Parker takes his time to get into the ring. Thank god I'm a Maiden fan, or I woulda been pissed. This man makes golfing look entertaining. Bell rings. Main Man goes to lock up, only to get surprised by a boot to the gut. Okay, the guy does have a little fight to him. Another kick. Hammer blow to the back. Another hammer blow. Pushes Main Man in between his legs.. what the hell is he going for? Main Man quickly throws him over his body in a back body drop. All Main Man now. Main Man seems to think a lot of Parker - I don't really see why. Body slams, knees, a Samoan drop to boot. I figure he could've pinned, given Parker only wants to get up to spit on Main Man, flipping him the bird. Main Man responds with a kick to the gut of his own, and a harsh DDT. Parker in the center of the ring, TMM locks on an ankle lock and starts pulling back in a single leg crab - Parker taps out instantly, before the move is even locked in properly, the ref awarding the win to TMM - who looks more or less stunned, Parker only interested in rolling out of the ring and looking generally disgusted.
The Main Man taps Jamie Parker via the Lethal Injection in (04:41).
Handicap Main Event
Johnny Tapia & The Shockmaster Vs. The Killing Joke
The pre-show booklet said that this was a complete mismatch - for the tag team, apparently! 'The Killing Joke' was supposed to be a returning main eventer, where 'The John Shock Association' were a somewhat unrespected pairing, to say the least. The main event took a few more minutes to set up for, as a complicated rig with a box was set up to the tune of Black Sabbath.. by Black Sabbath. Despite the fact that several young children seemed ready to jump out of their seats in fear (given the thunderbolts, et al), the theatre roof stayed firmly planted on - and by the time the house lights came back on, a large box sat in one corner. Not seeming too curious, 'You're The Best' by Joe Esposito begins playing again, and, perhaps just due to the fact that the scary music was done for, riotous cheers erupt for.. ugh, Johnny Tapia as he comes down the ramp, climbing into the ring and jumping up and down, hands held up high. He announces his partner, the Shockmaster, to the.. confusion, of the majority of the crowd, saying something about a Killing Jerk getting ready to be shocked - but soon, things become obvious, as the large man again bursts through a paper mache screen, tumbling through - somehow, managing to keep his helmet on as he half-climbs, half tumbles into the ring, then slaps belly and elbow both with his partner. The crowd, growing increasingly less happy with the pairing's antics, seem both shocked and awed to see the box in the corner suddenly burst open, a la a jack-in-the-box - with a fake mannequin head of what one can only presume to be The Killing Joke, staring lifelessly at the pair. Johnny Tapia, somewhat confident, begins to test the box for anything, grinning as he looks back to his tag partner - only to suddenly find his eyebrows singed off by a burst of flame out of the mannequin head's face! Each man quickly (quickly) bailed, only to have guest celebrity ring announcer, Stephen Baldwin (youngest of the Baldwin brothers) announce that them, indeed, as having won their match by forfeit, due to Killing Joke not physically being here. Goddamnit. These idiots win?
The John Shock Association defeats The Killing Joke via forfeit. Ugh, another forfeit win.
Quick to celebrate, albeit wary of the ring, with fire still occasionally bursting out without warning and all, the Shockmaster grabbed the microphone for an unfortunately.. memorable promo, attached under (for you Windows users, anyway).
Shockmaster: They call me The Shockmaster. You've ruled the world long enough, tag team champions. Come on, you want a piece of us? You want a piece of us? Come and get us. Come after us, tag team.. uh.. champions! We're ready! Raaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggghhhhh!
Tapia: Yeah! We're the only undefeated tag team on the roster! Well, I think. Are we? I should check that up later. But like my good friend, the Shockmaster says, we are ready, I am sure of it! Come and get us! Wait, who are the tag team champions, anyway?
Just as the team seems ready to leave, they find themselves ambushed.. by who I later found out to be the Innovators of Wrestling, Mike Adams, Jeremiah Ranks and Chris Cage all ambushing the John Shock Association - with the aid of several large steel pipes! With no Main Man (apparently managing the pair) to help them out, due to their actions minutes earlier, the pair were soon decimated on the outside of the ring, with John Tapia being viciously thrown headfirst into the fire-spouting Killing Joke doll, only narrowly avoiding blinding the young up and comer by luck, with Shockmaster seeming to be content knocking himself out, repeatedly running into the ring(post) and winding himself every time he tries to climb in and help Tapia! Adams, Ranks and Cage, all universally vilified by the crowd, didn't bother gathering up the microphone - Cage and Ranks simply motioning to their waists in that 'belt' way just about every wrestler in the world has done before amid stomping a hole straight through the back of Tapia's head, celebrating at the top of the ramp as the show closed!
Overall.. the high points were high - but there were an awful load of low points. I'd come again - they had the most strangely loaded concession stands I've ever seen in my life.
~ Nick Paglino, wrestlezone.com
August 10th, 2008
Bluma Appel Theatre
Toronto, ON
I was up in Toronto, for the Ring of Honor show the week before, and ended up sticking about for a few days with my family. I ended up at a local show - turns out, it was actually a Florida-run fed on a full-blown tour up north. So, the August 10th edition of WPW's 'second' show - and coincidentally, my first exposure to WPW, was quite an interesting event. I'll admit, I didn't come in expecting much, but here's my notes, all the same, I even managed to snatch a video link from their website, though.. I'm still feeling guilty about it. The pre-show gave us all a little story background on what was going on, and along with the booklets they handed out, I can only hope it makes as much sense to the proper WPW fans, too.
Tag Team Champion v.. Contender?
Martin Cameron Vs. Beno
The show capped off with a muscly man, who appeared to be mimicking a rapper, save his wrestling attire, trying to tell us all about how great his win over 'Camerone' - it took me a while to work it out, but apparently, this was 'Beno'. I'll not say I've ever seen Beno work - but if his wrestling is as clumsy as his rapping, I'm not going to be a fan. Anyway, even though this match was scheduled for later on - a nigh-psychotic seeming man in face paint (the 'Cameron' in 'Camerone', it seems) a referee made it official as Cameron stormed the ring. The pair seemed perfectly content to throw punch after punch at one another - but it was Beno who finally took it back to brass tacks, the classic thumb to eye-kick to gut combination working a treat for him before he pulled Cameron off the ropes for a sidewalk lift backbreaker. Why do they call it a backbreaker, anyway? They should just call it what it is. A back hurter. Backhurter by Beno. Beno tries to put his opponent away early with a fireman's carry lift - but Cameron battles out, and starts fighting Beno for dear life, even though he doesn't seem to be fully focused on him, head constantly lifting back to the ramp between every vicious strike. Cameron calls for a death valley driver. Beno holds the ropes, drops down, low blow behind the ref's back! The match becomes all Beno as he hits big power moves, all in a row, but he proves his own downfall when he pushes Cameron to the ropes, screaming something about 'knocking him out too', only to find Cameron flying back at him with a spinning heel kick, clearing Beno's lifted boot entirely! He springboards off of the rope and hits what I later find out is called the April Fool's for the one-two-three, having really connected with Beno's face hard. Fellow marks - find this move. Youtube it, or something. The sheer athleticism it must take the guy is frightening. Ever seen Ruckus' moonsault legdrop? He does it from the second rope! You've just gotta see it.
Martin Cameron defeats Beno via April Fools in (12:32).
FLA: 7th & 8th Place Decider Match
Forsaken vs. Mike Corral
I've heard of Mike Corral before. He used to work for this little federation in the middle of nowhere.. was best known for his incredibly flashy moves. I was surprised to see him come out looking so worn out - he looked like he'd just been through a cheese grater, or something. Was completely blown up as he got down the ring, for crying out loud! But when he made it out, looking like he'd just run a marathon.. turns out his opponent asked for a sabbatical. I guess this makes him the 7th in this complicated league thing they have all the instructions for scrawled down the side in a photocopied piece of notepad paper on the booklet? Well, I guess so.
Mike Corral wins by forfeit to become the 7th in the Florida State Title League. (Get a towel, man!)
FLA: 5th & 6th place Decider Match
Nick Comoroto Vs. Blade LaVigne
After the match before it - I'll admit, I was kinda looking for something nice and competitive. Unfortunately.. it just wasn't. Blade LaVigne - another name I've never heard of before - really surprised me. He didn't bring his A-game, I hope - but the man clearly has one hell of a B-game. He was pretty well liked by everyone (a few people seemed to have it in for the guy) - which is nothing that I can say for the other guy, Comoroto. I actually have heard of Comoroto before - when I was doing this title search thing for a magazine, he was actually my first contact with WPW - that way, I know he's actually a former Florida champion. The Florida championship seems to be a pretty big thing here, guess it's like FIP - but you couldn't tell it from these two. Como came out strong, and all, blindsiding Blade as they vied for the fans' attention - but after a few chops and a body slam, that was all the offense we saw from the guy. Even though Blade was constantly motioning to his waist.. For the Florida belt, I'm guessing, though he kept motioning for someone else.. guess it coulda been the tag strap, too. But, he hit several big moves - a gutbuster held in for a neckbreaker, a moonsault for a very, very late 2, a front sitout suplpex holding Comoroto up for a good twenty seconds - eventually, looking entirely in control of the situation, he pushed Como in between his legs, called out for a move - a SIT DOWN POWERBOMB. I have no idea why I wanted to type that in caps, but it felt important, somehow. Easy 3-count.
Blade LaVigne defeats Nick Comoroto via SIT DOWN POWERBOMB (again! I have no idea!) in (06:58) to become the 5th in the Florida State Title League.
Evil v Confusion
Jason Silver & Aidan Balor Vs. Dorian White & El Psycho Diablo
I got the idea that this match was supposed to be a little bit of a lightening up sorta thing, because 'Dorian White' and 'El Psycho Diablo' came out looking.. well, like they wanted to be in the movies. Both men seemed to have this uncaring swagger about them as they dozed - er, I mean, cruised, into the ring, with Dorian White looking to completely confuse his new partner. Unfortunately for him, he managed just that - El Psycho Diablo, apparently on his WPW debut, walking back to the back as he scratches at his head, not entirely sure what just happened. For that matter - neither is Dorian, irritated at himself for his gamble not working (or somesuch) - and as Jason Silver, a worker I've heard of a few times from the Texan independent scene, charges the ring, seemingly having done something to piss off the audience by all the heat he's getting - he doesn't have to work to knock White's block off. Music plays as another new guy, someone named 'Aidan Balor' according to the card, slowly walking down, doing his best to look menacing as Silver unleashes a flurry of forearms to White's head, smacking him hard enough for one to leave a completely sick cut mark on his lip - even though the bell rang a minute ago, Silver's already lifting and dropping in for a 'Psychotic Episode' Pedigree variant, and.. I'm beginning to think about looking for my money back. Can I have Cameron and Beno come out again? They knew how to work a crowd, at least.
Jason Silver (& Aidan Balor, I guess) defeats Dorian White (and El Psycho Diablo.. again, I guess) via Psychotic Episode in (01:21).
New Guns Jockey For Position
TK Vs. Xavier Ray
I was almost ready to pack up my bags and go - there was a totally kickin bar around the corner I'd been meaning to look up, and the show was going from one low point to the next - I was happy to see Xavier Ray come out. Even though I'm not a big fan of rap, the guy actually had energy to him - it's something more than I could say for most of the other guys. Turns out he's undefeated - and a reasonably new guy, still, already holding a win over his opponent this week. That said, his opponent, a Canadian local in 'TK' - well, he might have had the energy to him, but one thing he didn't have was the crowd's support, despite his Canadian colors. Match started with TK trying to milk the maple leaf; Xavier Ray still the favorite of the crowd by an almost universal appeal. Early collar and elbow tieup. Ray pushes to the back of the ropes, clean break, Ray getting off fast. TK goes livid - claims his hair got pulled as they go for another lockup. A few quick armdrags and TK is outside the ring, screaming for order, screaming some quite frankly racist remarks that I don't particularly want to re-state here. Ray's quick to rush out - TK manages a lap around the ring before rushing back in, Ray getting boots laid to the back of his head as he comes in. Match falls to the mat as TK targets the head, holding in a few harsh looking, but legal chokes. Xavier slowly losing his grip - but appears to bait TK into making a mistake, an attempt at a kick into the corner going awry as Ray sidesteps then hits one of the riskiest dropkicks I've ever seen, barely having room with the ropes in the way. TK again bails, keeps himself away from Ray - but this time, it's just tantamount to giving Ray a chance to get his breaths back. TK gets back in, goes for a big forearm - Ray ducks, and throws a few closed-fists punches, the third punch followed by a quick over-head belly to belly suplex for a two count. TK manages to hit a cutter out of nowhere as Xavier tries to lock in a standing rear naked choke. TK back on the offense - fighting dirty, targetting the fingers, eyes and throat of Ray with stomps. He pats his Canadian kneepads as he turns Ray over in a sharpshooter, most of the Canadian fans offended to see someone taking what is essentially their national move from them - and they're elated as Ray somehow manages to hop through in a moment of distraction for a rollup. 1.. 2.. no! TK reverses into a rollup of his own. 1.. 2.. no! Ray pushes another rollup down. 1.. 2.. no! TK makes his own rollup attempt again - this time, pulling the tights. Ref sees. While arguing with the ref, Ray gets a chance to recover, baiting TK with one eye on the video screen out the front of the theater as he sells the head in the corner. TK comes flying in, trying to hit a prone Ray with a double axe handle - Ray jumps to the second rope, then flips back over TK for a release german suplex, dropping TK in the middle of the ring. Why do other wrestlers get their own name on their moves, but not Gotch? Not like we call it a 'Japanese' armbar. Gotch Suplex in the middle of the ring. Xavier Ray hops up to the top rope - then comes flying in for something like a Whisper in the Wind - only, dropping it in a leg drop, holding the leg - turns out, that's called the 'Air X-Ray'. Popular pinfall for the 1-2-3.
Xavier Ray defeats TK via Air X-Ray in (15:23), in what was probably the match of the night.
Former Tag Partners Collide
The Main Man Vs. Jamie Parker
Not the most competitive match. The preshow booklet seemed to harp on about how Jamie Parker and The Main Man were former WPW tag team champions - well, that might be the case, but Jamie Parker didn't seem to want to have anything to do with his former partner this week. He seemed moreso disinterested than hurt, or anything of that nature - but Main Man's intensity almost makes up for it. He comes out first, pulling out the microphone in a clearly heart-felt promo about the way he was going to change the history between him and Parker - only to be interrupted by a pair of utter goons, screaming and telling him they have his back. Thank god they get thrown out to the back. Parker out. He actually yawned on his way to the ring. This isn't looking good. Main Man constrains himself, holding himself at the ropes in wait as Parker takes his time to get into the ring. Thank god I'm a Maiden fan, or I woulda been pissed. This man makes golfing look entertaining. Bell rings. Main Man goes to lock up, only to get surprised by a boot to the gut. Okay, the guy does have a little fight to him. Another kick. Hammer blow to the back. Another hammer blow. Pushes Main Man in between his legs.. what the hell is he going for? Main Man quickly throws him over his body in a back body drop. All Main Man now. Main Man seems to think a lot of Parker - I don't really see why. Body slams, knees, a Samoan drop to boot. I figure he could've pinned, given Parker only wants to get up to spit on Main Man, flipping him the bird. Main Man responds with a kick to the gut of his own, and a harsh DDT. Parker in the center of the ring, TMM locks on an ankle lock and starts pulling back in a single leg crab - Parker taps out instantly, before the move is even locked in properly, the ref awarding the win to TMM - who looks more or less stunned, Parker only interested in rolling out of the ring and looking generally disgusted.
The Main Man taps Jamie Parker via the Lethal Injection in (04:41).
Handicap Main Event
Johnny Tapia & The Shockmaster Vs. The Killing Joke
The pre-show booklet said that this was a complete mismatch - for the tag team, apparently! 'The Killing Joke' was supposed to be a returning main eventer, where 'The John Shock Association' were a somewhat unrespected pairing, to say the least. The main event took a few more minutes to set up for, as a complicated rig with a box was set up to the tune of Black Sabbath.. by Black Sabbath. Despite the fact that several young children seemed ready to jump out of their seats in fear (given the thunderbolts, et al), the theatre roof stayed firmly planted on - and by the time the house lights came back on, a large box sat in one corner. Not seeming too curious, 'You're The Best' by Joe Esposito begins playing again, and, perhaps just due to the fact that the scary music was done for, riotous cheers erupt for.. ugh, Johnny Tapia as he comes down the ramp, climbing into the ring and jumping up and down, hands held up high. He announces his partner, the Shockmaster, to the.. confusion, of the majority of the crowd, saying something about a Killing Jerk getting ready to be shocked - but soon, things become obvious, as the large man again bursts through a paper mache screen, tumbling through - somehow, managing to keep his helmet on as he half-climbs, half tumbles into the ring, then slaps belly and elbow both with his partner. The crowd, growing increasingly less happy with the pairing's antics, seem both shocked and awed to see the box in the corner suddenly burst open, a la a jack-in-the-box - with a fake mannequin head of what one can only presume to be The Killing Joke, staring lifelessly at the pair. Johnny Tapia, somewhat confident, begins to test the box for anything, grinning as he looks back to his tag partner - only to suddenly find his eyebrows singed off by a burst of flame out of the mannequin head's face! Each man quickly (quickly) bailed, only to have guest celebrity ring announcer, Stephen Baldwin (youngest of the Baldwin brothers) announce that them, indeed, as having won their match by forfeit, due to Killing Joke not physically being here. Goddamnit. These idiots win?
The John Shock Association defeats The Killing Joke via forfeit. Ugh, another forfeit win.
Quick to celebrate, albeit wary of the ring, with fire still occasionally bursting out without warning and all, the Shockmaster grabbed the microphone for an unfortunately.. memorable promo, attached under (for you Windows users, anyway).
Shockmaster: They call me The Shockmaster. You've ruled the world long enough, tag team champions. Come on, you want a piece of us? You want a piece of us? Come and get us. Come after us, tag team.. uh.. champions! We're ready! Raaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggghhhhh!
Tapia: Yeah! We're the only undefeated tag team on the roster! Well, I think. Are we? I should check that up later. But like my good friend, the Shockmaster says, we are ready, I am sure of it! Come and get us! Wait, who are the tag team champions, anyway?
Just as the team seems ready to leave, they find themselves ambushed.. by who I later found out to be the Innovators of Wrestling, Mike Adams, Jeremiah Ranks and Chris Cage all ambushing the John Shock Association - with the aid of several large steel pipes! With no Main Man (apparently managing the pair) to help them out, due to their actions minutes earlier, the pair were soon decimated on the outside of the ring, with John Tapia being viciously thrown headfirst into the fire-spouting Killing Joke doll, only narrowly avoiding blinding the young up and comer by luck, with Shockmaster seeming to be content knocking himself out, repeatedly running into the ring(post) and winding himself every time he tries to climb in and help Tapia! Adams, Ranks and Cage, all universally vilified by the crowd, didn't bother gathering up the microphone - Cage and Ranks simply motioning to their waists in that 'belt' way just about every wrestler in the world has done before amid stomping a hole straight through the back of Tapia's head, celebrating at the top of the ramp as the show closed!
Overall.. the high points were high - but there were an awful load of low points. I'd come again - they had the most strangely loaded concession stands I've ever seen in my life.
~ Nick Paglino, wrestlezone.com