Voodoo def FuZion
Pitbull def Zak in his RCW debut.
Grimm def Dragonspawn and goes through for the title shot in march.
Mimic def Dienamic and likewise gets a shot
Damon Matthews def Just Josh, and proceeded to kick the crap out of him until the whole locker room came out to break it up......
Commissioner Andy Cruise then called 3 on 4 tag team elimination match, with Mimic coming out with a victory.
Well we are back at the Karadinga Centre for this show and I soon remembered why I hated coming here during the warmer months – it’s a sweat box. Saturday certainly wasn’t that hot but when there is no air-conditioning, the building soon absorbs what heat there is and it really detracts from your enjoyment. Can’t wait to be back at the Estonian Hall next month where we can freeze to death!!
Through no fault of their own, the entire show had to be changed on the day because of various injuries and illness and unfortunately it impacted on the show. No woman’s match. No real flow to the whole evening. Whilst the overall show wasn’t bad by any means, when compared to the past three months, it wasn’t great either.
I hate laying the criticism in but I like to think I’m not biased when writing these reviews, irrespective of which promotion I’m seeing and the commentating for this show was really bad in my opinion. Maybe it was the rushed atmosphere back stage or the loss of Damon Matthews to the team but I just felt that Andy and Kurt did not gel at all. One was too interested in making pathetic jokes and the other kept on incorrectly naming moves; moves my ten year old was correcting him on. Harsh maybe but I felt it detracted from the in ring action and their purpose is to put the wrestlers over, not themselves. It just seems the more relaxed Andy gets in the role, the cockier he gets and I just don’t feel that’s right for the Commissioner who is supposed to be keeping every one else under control. And whilst funny and probably over their heads, I don’t think sexual jokes are appropriate when you have that many kids in attendance.
Fuzion v VooDoo
Not their best effort – chemistry just seemed to be off and it showed in some missed spots. VooDoo reminds me of Jayson Cooper from about 3 to 4 years ago, maybe less. All the talent in the world but just sloppy in the ring and if he cleans that up, like Jayson has done, then he’s going to be a star and not just here. He has the look, the body and the fearless attitude to be anything. Both men lock up, with a quick pace to start things off. Arm bar by Fuzion is reversed into a drop toe hold by VooDoo and then a shoulder block off the ropes by Fuzion. VooDoo retaliates with a back slide for 2 but then Fuzion takes over with a low double drop kick, scoop slam and elbow drop. He further dominates with a suplex, chop, hang man over the top rope and side walk slam. In an unusual step he goes to the ropes but is caught and suplexed off, followed by a clothesline. Fuzion fights back but gets the boots when he tries to rush his opponent in the corner. VooDoo puts the knees into the back for a kind of back cracker and follows up with a double spring board into a sunset flip for a 2. He maintains control with a Japanese arm drag into an arm bar and snap mere takedown, which he follows up with a short arm clothesline that brings another 2 count. After some forearms he goes for his high elbow spot but its messed up and I’m not sure if Fuzion was hurt or not in the fall – he either was or sold it very well. Fuzion gets up from the incident and hits a spinebuster but VooDoo is straight back with more forearm shots and this time he hits the high elbow spot but again it only brings 2. Fuzion comes back with a full nelson into a choke slam but then Pitbull comes to ring side and they both brawl outside the ring. Interesting point brought up by my daughter here – why did the referee put a count on Fuzion for being out the ring when this is not a non-disqualification match and he was attacked? Shouldn’t he have won the match right there via disqualification for outside interference? Anyway, Fuzion notices the count and returns to the ring where he’s met with a Canadian Destroyer and VooDoo scores the pin, to a good pop from the crowd. Short, solid, but a bit sloppy.
Damon Matthews comes out before the next match can start and attacks a photographer for taking his photo! He smashes the man’s camera onto the floor and the “Damon Sucks” chants start early! He calls out Dienamic, his opponent in tonight’s tournament match and offers him $1,000 to take the fall. Andy puts a stop to that by changing the matches and now Damon will face Just Josh, much to his amusement. Dienamic gets Mimic.
Zak v Pitbull
Zak was making his RCW debut and I’ve definitely seen him better than this. Again a bit sloppy and the match was a bit disjointed. I felt the crowd was also a bit quiet because they had no idea who to cheer for. Pitbull is now a face in RCW and Zak’s mannerisms implied he was also and I don’t think face v face matches always work. Again Pitbull came through the crowd, which now seems to be his thing and suits the character. He over powered Zak early got in some fists to the head and a stiff clothesline that sent Zak to the floor to reassess his strategy. Pitbull opens up a chop fest on his chest but Zak comes back with a standing drop kick and two elbow drops. He tries to lock in an arm bar but the stronger man rolls that into a pin for 2. Pitbull then hits a head butt and arm bar that he turns into a side Russian leg sweep. He comes off the ropes with a diving head butt and then throws Zak to the floor, where he puts his opponent’s head to the mat. Momentum shifts as Pitbull attempts a double axe handle off the apron but misses and hits the barriers. Zak takes the fight back to the ring with two rolling sentons and a senton splash. He then locks in an arm bar that is broken with the classic low blow. Pitbull gets up and hits a running power slam then makes a wish to further inflict injury to that already sensitive area! He then chokes him and hits a running clothesline to the corner. In desperation Zak is able to reverse out of a side walk slam attempt and hit a hurricarana. He goes to the top rope but is caught and suplexed off. Pitbull then hits a fisherman’s suplex before Zak comes back with a drop kick and cross body splash. That’s not enough to stop Pitbull as he hits the Celtic Cross for the pin and another crowd pop. Mix of styles that produced a good match that with more time could be excellent. Zak needs to establish himself next time to register with the fans.
Tournament Match #1
GD Grimm v DragonspawnIt was announced earlier in the night that we’d be having three matches and the winners of those matches would go into a three way at next month’s show to crown the new RCW Champion. Grimm tried to attack from behind but Dragon was clued into that and managed to avoid any contact, whilst also getting some kicks in himself. That just ticked off Grimm who literally threw his opponent into the corner but got a boot in the face for his efforts as he tried to rush in. That resulted in an early roll up and 2. Grimm gets a big boot in, followed by a scoop slam and elbow drop before Dragon comes back with kicks and a spinning round house kick. He then hits a drop toe hold that puts Grimm onto the ropes and he takes the opportunity to hit a guillotine leg drop from the apron. The action then hits the floor where Grimm puts Dragon’s head to the apron twice before taking things back to the ring. He then puts on an arm ringer and starts to work on the shoulder. Dragon fights back with more martial arts kicks and a side Russian leg sweep. He then kicks Grimm in the mouth and comes off the top rope with a side kick. Grimm reacts with how he knows best and hits a low blow then goes back to work on the shoulder. He goes to the top rope but is caught as Dragon hits them and knocks him down to the turnbuckle. Dragon then hits an enzuguri whilst Grimm is still on the ropes and that brings a 2 count. More kicks, this time to the midriff and then a snap mere takedown before Grimm takes the low road again, raking the eyes. Dragon comes back with Val Venis knee lifts off the ropes and then a roll over into a neck breaker. He then hits a face buster but is blocked with a suplex attempt and gets suplexed himself for his troubles. By this time Grimm has had enough of the fans taunts and confronts them at ring side. He then goes back in and hits a running clothesline to the corner and puts the boots in. Dragon hits a standing enzuguri and gets in two kicks to the head before the third goes to the throat. Grimm’s had enough and locks on the sleeper hold then proceeds to “hang” Dragon from the second rope using his body and arms as the noose. A curb stomp later and this one is all over as Grimm scores the pin. Again the crowd pops for the curb stomp – who wouldn’t! Not sure how to totally get over with them but maybe less of the growling noises might help! I just think some people are always going to like the character, with its dark undertones, no matter what treachery unfolds. Good, solid match with great efforts from both.
Tournament Match #2
Dienamic v MimicMimic comes out to a HUGE pop from the crowd and an early “Mimic” chant. They start off with a test of strength but Mimic stomps on Dienamic’s hand and hits a standing drop kick. They go back for another test this time Dienamic rolls into a pinning position for a 2 count. He follows up with an arm wrench and two arm drags before Mimic comes back with an arm drag of this own and then they both go for a drop kick at the same time. Mimic then gets in some offence with a double kick to the back, some stiff kicks and a snap suplex. That’s followed up with a scoop slam, lionsault and some wicked chops. Then out of nowhere Dienamic hits a German suplex that throws Mimic back into the corner turnbuckles. He then gets hit with a running clothesline and a spinning clothesline, which Dienamic follows with some stiff kicks to the back but the best he can get is a 2 count. Next is a snapmere into a DDT and a clothesline that turns his opponent inside out. The brutality continues with his patent snap suplex into the brainbuster and a spinning elbow off the ropes. Mimic fights back and soon has Dienamic hanging over the 2nd rope where he hits him with a leg drop off the top rope. He follows that with a northern lights suplex and leg lariat, then forearms and European uppercuts. Have to mention that Mimic used the Europeans a lot in this match and it was a refreshing change to the standard punch to the head. When done properly, I think the uppercuts look so much more brutal. Dienamic rakes the eyes and then trips Mimic using the bottom rope and stomps him on the back. He then gets in a shining wizard before one of the most brutal sequences I’ve ever seen….German suplex by Mimic, tiger suplex by Mimic and a tiger suplex by Dienamic. Ouch, ouch and ouch!!! It was like a game of who could break the other one’s neck first! Mimic comes out of it with a clothesline and now both are done. Mimic recovers first and hits some chops, a leg lariat and rapid punches to the stomach. Dienamic comes back with forearms and scoop slam then is caught on the ropes and is German suplexed off! He’s then dropped on his head and hit with a moonsault from the top. Mimic then misses the 450 and again, both men are down. When they both get to their feet a forearm v European uppercut battles ensues before Mimic hits a clothesline and then the double underhook piledriver for the pin to a huge pop from the crowd. Stuff the main event; this was match of the night for me. Brutal, stiff, well executed and on a night when most didn’t bring their A game, this one shone like a beacon.
Tournament Match #3
Damon Matthews v Just JoshNice touch with the photographer refusing to take any shots of Damon coming to the ring. We get “Smurf” and “Matthews Sucks” chants to start us off. Throw things at me if you must but I’m really over the whole Josh thing. It’s like watching Rey Mysterio - the same set of moves, with the same persona ever single time. Josh needs a change, an angle, something to freshen things up. What? I don’t know but I just don’t care every time he hits that ring. Sure he can wrestle but I’m not under 15 and I need a reason to care. Damon didn’t like the crowd reaction so left but soon returned when the referee started to count him out and he let the crowd know all about it. He got on his knees to show his disdain for his smaller opponent and that drew an “Enema” chant from the fans. They finally locked up and Damon got the early takedown into a head lock. Josh reversed that with a flip into an arm drag of his own but then Damon spun out to take back control. Josh then put on a head lock with his legs and a springboard arm drag before Damon hit a boot to his jaw to put an end to that. With Josh’s head on the apron he then put some elbows to his head and followed up with a chop and then picked him up and rammed his back into the ring post. An arrogant pin attempt with one foot on Josh’s chest got the result it deserved. Damon then hit a running double drop kick to the corner and set up Josh over the 2nd rope so he could kick him in the head, coming from the floor onto the apron. A drop kick off the top rope only resulted in a 2 count. The crowd was behind Josh as he had a head scissor take over and then hurricarana to get back in the match. A chop and drop kick sent Damon to the floor where Josh hit him with an axe handle off the top rope. A flying cross body only resulted in another 2 count and “Flying Smurf” from the fans. A couple of chops later followed by a clothesline, Josh attempted a frankensteiner from the top but was blocked and power bombed to the mat – was messed up and luckily no one seemed to be hurt. “Matthews sucks” started up again and Damon hit Josh with some very stiff looking forearms to the head and a suplex but his snapmere from the top was blocked and in turn he blocked Josh’s attempt at the Hardy double kick off the ropes. Not to be denied, Josh then did get the double kick in and a face buster later, he set up and executed the 619. In true Rey style he went for the west coast plunge but was caught and the hit with a brutal super kick for the pin. Short, sharp and to the point. Not a great match and if Josh had won, I swear you would not have seen me next month. So that sets up GD Grimm v Mimic v Damon Matthews for the RCW Title. If all 3 bring their A game, it could go down as one of the all time classics in RCW. We shall wait and see….
Not content with his victory, Damon then proceeds to hit Josh with two more brutal super kicks and the crowd is incensed as they chant “Matthews Sucks” once again. Mimic comes out to make the save but then Dienamic comes out to attack him and VooDoo comes out to make the save, then GD Grimm comes out to attack VooDoo and this is now an all in brawl. Pitbull comes out because who loves a fight more than him and after Zak joins the fray, the good guys manage to clear the ring. Andy gets on the microphone and makes a four on three tag team match for the Main Event. Why was it 4 on 3? Why didn’t Josh come back and even the numbers?
Mimic, VooDoo & Pitbull v GD Grimm, Zak & Damon Matthews
Mimic and Zak start things off. Dragon twist by Mimic, then a side head lock takedown, which Zak manages to roll into a head lock of his own. Mimic then puts in some stiff kicks and leg lariat before Grimm breaks his pin attempt. This allows Zak to gain momentum and hit his double rolling senton and senton splash combination. With Mimic in the wrong corner, Grimm chokes him as Zak gets in some punches. Pitbull comes in for the save and chaos ensues as fights break out every where! People pair off in and out of the ring until calm is restored and now we have brother v brother. Grimm whips his older brother hard into the corner and then gets a cheat shot on VooDoo after which he removes a top turnbuckle. Mimic blocks his head being put to the exposes steel and fights back with uppercuts and chops. Next is the Miz clothesline and Eddie senton from the apron. Now Pitbull is tagged in. He headbutts Grimm but that is countered with a clothesline and Matthews attacks Pitbull. Chaos reigns again as all seven wrestlers start fighting and there is no way I have time to write anything down as I look in every direction trying to pick up all the action. Most have taken to fighting on the floor until Dienamic takes a dive over the top rope and takes them all out. Not to be outdone, VooDoo joins him with a dive of his own and then Mimic makes it third time a charm with a springboard splash. Damon goes to the top but thinks better of it and returns to the ring for some push ups and sit ups! When order is restored we have Pitbull v Dienamic in the ring. Dienamic puts in some kicks and knees and goes to set up a suplex but Damon comes to make it a double….then Mimic joins in to even the numbers and eventually we have everyone in but Grimm and the good guys triple suplex their opponents! Awesome that was slightly spoiled by Zak either flipping late or not being caught correctly in the execution. Now we have Pitbull v Grimm. Grimm hits him with a stiff clothesline off the ropes but VooDoo manages to get the tag and returns the favour, followed by a suplex. Now Zak is tagged in and so is Mimic and we’re back where we started. A chopfest breaks out and Mimic eliminates Zak with a move I can’t name or describe! Wait a second! Who said this was an elimination match? I don’t recall that being mentioned? Oh well… Dienamic comes in and hits Mimic with the suplex / brainbuster. Pitbull is tagged in and hits a scoop slam. He then tags in VooDoo who hits a clothesline and running clothesline in the corner, then split leg splash and Japanese arm drag. Grimm makes the save from the pin and puts a big boot on VooDoo. Dienamic then comes off the top with the double stomp and eliminates VooDoo. Pitbull is back in and we’re down to three on two. He hits a headbutt and two running clotheslines but Dienamic comes back with a running drop kick and belly to back suplex. Another double stomp from the top and Pitbull is eliminated. It’s down to John Cena v 3 opponents, I mean Mimic v 3 opponents and my daughter’s prediction of how this whole match was going to end is becoming very clear…bloody smart arse!! Mimic hits Dienamic with an uppercut and some stiff kicks then a front slam. A 450 later and Dienamic is eliminated. Damon comes in and hits a stiff clothesline then tries for his vertebreaker but Mimic wriggles out and hits an awesomely brutal looking double under hook pile driver that eliminates Matthews. Grimm comes in but immediately he’s hit with the same move but imagine that move with a guy over 6 feet tall and imagine where he’s head is going to go! That made Matthews’ look weak in comparison – I though Grimm had broken his neck! He’s eliminated and Mimic wins to the loudest pop of the night. A “RCW” chant breaks out as the night comes to an end with all three men staring each other down, knowing the other two are stopping them from winning the RCW title.
I don’t know if it was time restraint or straight booking but the ending to that match is just one of the reasons why wrestling really ticks me off sometimes. Why would you book Mimic defeating Matthews and Grimm so easily? They are his opponents for the title next month and you’ve just made both of them look pathetic. Sure they lost to an awesome finisher but Grimm runs in and is immediately hit with it? Um, wouldn’t he fight back? Just makes no sense to me but I probably think too much of these things. That is the same Grimm who took Gambino out of RCW. Why would he lose so quickly and easily? Going on that, they might as well hand the title to Mimic now. If he can beat 3 on 1, surely he can win a three way. I would have had the match come down to the three of them fighting it out in the ring, just beating each other senseless to the point where the referee just calls it a no-contest and the other wrestlers come from the back to pull them apart. That sets up next month, not one guy going over the other two in true WWE style.
Oh well, as usual they will probably prove me wrong and I hope they do. See you all next month.
Scott