Mimic def FuZion - Mimic through to tournament
GD Grimm def Adam Gambino - Grimm through to tournament
Just Josh def Pitbull - Just Josh through to tournament
Dienamic def VooDoo - Dienamic through to tournament
Jessie McKay def Savannah Summers
Mimic & Just Josh def Dienamic & GD Grimm
Well we are back at the Estonian Hall but things are a lot different to last month’s show – the crowd numbers are up and there are a lot of new faces who I have never seen at a RCW show before. I know they went home happy as the show was once again excellent and I listened to them commenting on how impressed they were and some were even high-5 each other!!
Andy and Kurt came out first to announce that there would be four matches on tonight’s card, with the winner of each match advancing to a tournament at Epidemic on February 2nd to find a new RCW Champion. They were soon joined by The Enigma, Damon Matthews, who professes to be the Best Wrestler in Australia and whilst not arguing with him, I’d actually give him the title of Best Commentator in Australia. Some commentators spend too much time putting themselves over at the expense of the in ring action or fill matches with dead air but not Mr Matthews. He works the heel persona to perfection but at the same time puts over everything that goes on in the ring and it’s just unfortunate in my eyes he can’t do both………or can he?!!!
I have never seen these two have a bad match together and tonight was no exception. Their skills just compliment each other and the chemistry just works. The crowd went crazy for this match – as they did a lot of the night – right from the first bell and their noise just added to a very entertaining start. Both men lock up and a series of tie ups and reversals follows before Fuzion gets in a kick to the mid section and hair pull. Mimic comes back with a leg lariat and back elbow, which sees Fuzion retreat to the floor. Mimic follows him but Katie is thrown into his path as a diversion, only to be pushed into the barrier. Mimic tries to return to the ring but is caught and put on the ropes, where he’s kicked off. Fuzion follows up with a scoop slam and suplex then chop and sidewalk slam into a back breaker. With the crowd behind him 100%, Mimic fights back with some European uppercuts and a leg lariat coming off the ropes. He then hits some flying forearms and returns the earlier favour with two chops of his own, the second leaving a mark! Momentum is now with the faceless one as he hits a fisherman’s suplex and then whips Fuzion to the corner for the Elijah Experience. Fuzion’s had enough as he reverses into a full nelson slam and then mounts his opponent, dishing out some heavy punches and then a choke for good measure. He then hits a DDT as Katie argues with the ring side fans, who infuriated even more as their hero is choked on the second rope, then gets a leg into his back. Once again Mimic fights back as he reverses off the ropes and hits an enzurguri, which brings the crowd noise to another level. They are soon silenced as Fuzion comes off the ropes and hits a clothesline that nearly takes off his opponent’s face! In desperation Mimic hits a sunset flip but only gets a two count and the same result follows after a two suplexes. Third time is not a charm as another suplex only brings the two fingers again. Mimic takes it to another level as he hits the Miz clothesline to the corner and then the Eddie senton from the apron. Next is a snapmere, stiff kicks and lionsault but still he can’t score the win. The crowd popped big time for the lionsault, which I felt pointed to a lot of WWE fans out there as they did the same for most recognisable signature moves. Out of no where Fuzion hits the spinebuster but now both men are down, which brings Katie to the ring to check on her man. This only serves to distract Fuzion as he gets to his feet and he’s met with the sick double underhook piledriver that gives Mimic the win. The crowd went crazy after that result and it’s been a while since I’ve heard such a loud RCW crowd. Great match to start the show as it had the fans hooked from the start and set up the momentum for the whole night.
Grimm comes out first and immediately it clicks who he has been reminding me of lately – Abyss. Not in appearance obviously but some of his mannerisms. I love the new Dregan and unfortunately for him, so are a lot of other fans too. Most heels don’t want to get a pop from the crowd but he continues to do so and I guess you can put that down to a compliment for his talents that they still want to support him. Adam comes out to a nice pop from the crowd that puts a smile on his dial! He then wins them over even further with a nice put down of The Enigma! Only problem is, as he’s trading insults up to the stage, Grimm attacks from behind with a boot to the back and he never recovers. He’s whipped into the ropes and is hit with a big boot that is followed up with two chops that had to hurt. It’s old school time as the not so gentle giant puts on the sleeper hold but eventually his interstate opponent is able to escape and sends Grimm to the floor with a forearm that sends him over the top rope. Both men are on the floor but Grimm is in command as he whips Adam into the barriers, resulted in head wound that brings more than trickle of blood. A back elbow while Adam’s head is on the apron follows and then a scoop slam, as both men return to the ring. This is other before it got started as Grimm hits not one but two curb stomps, the second being brutal as visibly Adam’s face is planted into the mat. That brings a three count and it’s all over as Grimm advances in the tournament. Not content with just that, he then brings a chair into the ring and hits Adam in the already bleeding head. Not much of a match, time wise but it did its purpose. Grimm came over as the monster he now is, though there were several fans cheering as he returned to the back. I think he needs to kill someone before everyone will hate him!! Big props to Mr Gambino for flying over for what amounted to about ten minutes of work – that is a true professional and company man.
This was a strange match up for various reasons. Two good guys for a start, though Pitbull will always look like a heel to me. The rabid crowd from the first two matches also died for this one until the end. I am going to put it down to the new fans as the match itself was not the reason. They wanted someone to cheer and someone to boo but couldn’t work out why Pitbull was not acting like a heel in any way and I’m guessing this confused them. Pitbull came through the crowd again and I hope he keeps that entrance as it’s unique to him and suits his persona. This was a true test of speed versus strength and at the start, Josh used his speed advantage to avoid his bigger and stronger opponent. A show of respect was given by both men but they got down to business as Pitbull put in a kick to the stomach and clubbing blow to the back. He then chopped and bit Josh on the chest! A missed shoulder block gave Josh his chance and he got in some kicks and a chop of his own before Pitbull put a boot to his face. A headbutt and forearm shots to the back later and Josh is thrown to the floor. There’s an exchange on the floor before Pitbull puts Josh’s into the apron and rolls him back in for a double drop kick. Josh manages to reverse out of side walk slam into a hurricarana and that brings the crowd back from the dead. Josh hits a double kick then a cross body from the apron to the floor. He rolls Pitbull back in and hits another cross body, this time from the top rope but can only manage a two count. Next is a rolling senton and clothesline, which brings a “Smurf” chant from the crowd. Not sure how Josh would take that but I see it as being insulting, even if done in jest. The guy is in there putting his body on the line and you can see he takes this all very seriously so why go there. It would tick me off but that’s just me. Pitbull rakes the eyes, gets in a kick to the gut and big boot off the ropes. He then wishbones Josh, followed by a backbreaker and punches to the back, which brings two pin attempts, both unsuccessful. A running power slam can’t do the trick either so he hits two axe handles, side Russian leg sweep and scoop slam but loses all that momentum when he misses a dive off the top rope. Josh takes the opportunity this gives him and hits a frog splash from the top but it’s not enough for the pin and he follows up with a hurricarana and kicks that sets up for the best 619 I’ve ever seen him do. Very nice and the crowd pops big time for it. Next is the West Coast plunge, followed by some very confusing booking as Katie Kollision comes to the ring to distract the referee, allowing Fuzion to hit Josh with a chair, which he proceeds to hand to the dazed Pitbull. The referee turns around, sees an unconscious Josh and a chair carrying Pitbull, puts two and two together to get six and disqualifies Pitbull. Josh advances in the tournament. Now I didn’t pick this up but my daughter did – obviously Fuzion wanted Pitbull to lose, which is why he did what he did but why do it when Josh was about to win the match anyway? After the 619 and West Coast plunge, Josh would have pinned Pitbull for the victory. Why risk being caught by the referee using the chair, when the end result was already in the bag? Weird. Still a good match and the crowd warmed to it by the end and were very happy that Josh won.
This one had the potential to be a fast paced, high flying, technical masterpiece and it brought all those things and more……..some not so good! Not sure what gremlin was in the works but slipping over as you run around the ring is not a great start for the crowd favourite! Both men lock up and the start of this match had a lot of well timed chain wrestling that everyone appreciated. Dienamic took it to his level by slapping his opponent and the various ways they executed arm drags had the fans wanting more. After a sunset flip and pin attempt, VooDoo puts on the head scissors and flips Dienamic in an innovative move that keeps the fast pace of this match going. VooDoo attempts to kick up but Dienamic hits him with a stomp in mid air that gives him control. He then proceeds to put in some stiff forearms, a running forearm, clothesline and trademark suplex into a brainbuster. More forearms are followed by a snapmere and some stiff kicks to the back before VooDoo is able to recover for a scoop slam. That momentum is short lived as he’s caught on the ropes for a German suplex. Another clothesline and then a shoulder block but VooDoo is back with a spinning neck breaker off the rope that sends Dienamic to the floor. There’s no rest for the wicked however as VooDoo swings around the ring post and kicks the surprised Dienamic. He follows that up with a head scissors takedown off the apron, running clothesline, split legged moonsault and whisper in the wind. That brings a big pop from the crowd but only a two count from the referee. Dienamic comes off the ropes with a clothesline and the puts one of VooDoo’s feet on the bottom rope and uses it to trip and face plant him. He then hits a stomp to the back and spinning elbow to the jaw, followed by a dragon head suplex but misses the double stomp from the top rope. VooDoo goes for his Canadian destroyer but Dienamic knows its coming and reverses out with a back body drop. VooDoo then blocks the rolling kick and hits the Canadian destroyer but both men are down. When they get to their feet a forearm fest ensues. Dienamic goes for the storm cradle but VooDoo reverses out, only to be met with stiff kicks to the head and then a truly sick looking storm cradle that gives Dienamic the win. How VooDoo is not dead, is beyond me. That finisher looked brutal. The crowd wasn’t happy with the result but the match was still great and now we have a our final qualifier for the RCW Title Tournament.
Our commissioner comes to the ring and invites all four winners to do the same, to acknowledge their achievement. Dienamic slaps Josh and Grimm pushes his brother and Andy has seen enough, calling a tag match for the Main Event = Josh and Mimic v Grimm and Dienamic.
Someone asked me what I thought of Savannah’s new ring attire for this show. Two words came to mind – hot and HOT! The best looking woman in Australian wrestling? I’d be willing to enter that discussion. So glad to see Jessie back in RCW but this crowd wasn’t and they let her know it in no uncertain terms. It’s so refreshing to see someone – male or female – who knows how to work a crowd and you know that at no point during her match, is she not doing something. If she’s not wrestling, then she’s posing, if she’s not posing then she’s working the crowd. There’s no “down time” with Miss McKay. They lock up and soon enough she’s off as she complains twice about Savannah pulling her hair. She soon forgets that as she takes control and hands out three chops, the third having a sting to it! She then proves she’s just not a pretty face (did I mention that she’s H O T?) as she executes three textbook suplexes, rolling over in the third to the mount position where she smashes Savannah’s head into the canvas. Over to the flexibility as she does a cartwheel into a body drop! The dominance continues as she gets in a scoop slam and elbow drop as you can feel the heat rising from the crowd as they call for her blood! Savannah hears their calls as reverses into a hurricarana and clothesline, which send Jessie to the floor, where she checks on her make up on face! Jessie then catches Savannah on the ropes and a double clothesline follows with both women now down. Jessie recovers first and throws Savannah’s head back to the canvas before setting up for a surfboard like submission through the ropes, capping it off with a double kick to the back. She then hits a DDT but that only brings a two count. Two Nash big boots to the throat later and she distracts the referee, allowing time to get some kind of rope or ribbon from her purse to use as she chokes her opponent. Savannah’s had enough as she hits a back elbow and cross body off the top, then puts the boots in. The comeback doesn’t last long as Jessie manages to hit a brutal big boot off the ropes and then a hair toss. She attempts the pin whilst her feet are on the ropes but the referee catches her. As she’s arguing with the referee Savannah attempts the roll up but she has no strength to hold her down and Jessie gets up to hit a sit out t-bone suplex for the pin. Not content with just winning, she then rips off Savannah’s top and chokes and whips her with it before returning to the back. A dazed Savannah gets up to find her bra exposed and after hearing the obvious cheers from the men in the crowd, plays up to it. Excellent match. I really enjoyed it and not because of the ending, which I didn’t like. Hey, I’m a red blooded male like any other and I have no issue with seeing a beautiful woman, half naked but this is “wrestling”. Their choice, their company but I don’t agree with the decision to do it. Up to that point, this had been an entertaining wrestling match and that last incident just demeaned what was a great performance, for me. Bag me with you want but that’s how I feel. I gave this my 2nd favourite on the night behind the awesome Main Event.
Mimic & Dienamic started off the match and I must apologise now because the action was frantic and I think I missed some stuff. I can’t be sure because a couple of times I was more interested in saving my life, my daughter’s and that of a very expensive camera, so if you notice anything missing, all the power to you for remembering it! These two start off fast with lots of lock ups and reversals, with no one person getting a real advantage so they both tag in their partners. Grimm thinks he’s easily going to dominate the smaller Josh but twice he’s taken over with arm drag reversals, which the crowd pops to. He rides that wave with a drop toe hold, head scissor, Hardy double kick off the corner ropes and kicks to the back before Grimm rakes the eyes to put a stop to proceedings. Grimm puts the boots in and begins to work on Josh’s legs. Dienamic is tagged in and goes to work with a kick to the stomach and his trademark suplex into a brainbuster. A couple more forearm shots and he tags Grimm back in, taking out Mimic first to ensure there will be no tag or rescue. Grimm & Dienamic then beat down Josh in their own corner before a brutal side walk slam from Grimm brings a two count. He goes back to working on the leg and gets a cheap shot of his own on Mimic before tagging his partner, leaving the ring with a double clothesline assist. Josh attempts to fight back but Dienamic cuts off kind of hope and puts in some brutal kicks to the back before bringing back Grimm who hits clubbing blows whilst standing on the second rope. Josh is out……or dead! Grimm distracts the referee allowing Dienamic to choke Josh before Grimm gets in a big boot. He then runs at Josh who puts up his legs to block the attack and then hits a running double drop kick, which gives him the window to tag in the red hot Mimic. Mimic cleans house, taking out both Grimm and Dienamic, which ends up with Mimic and Grimm fighting outside the ring. Josh goes to the top rope and comes crashing down on them both, so not to be outdone Dienamic goes over the top rope and takes out everyone. Anything you can do I can do better…so Mimic gets up off the floor and climbs the top rope. He leaps off but his moonsault attempt falls short and most of him hits the wooden floor, not the other combatants. Ouch! The sound as he hit the floor was sickening. Grimm, all 6 foot 6 of him, decides to have a turn! Holy shit! I was sitting front row. In front of me were the other three guys as Grimm came flying and I mean FLYING over the top rope! Stuff them, I feared for my own life as about four rows all moved back and both of his legs hit the top of the barriers. It was one of the most amazing sights I’ve ever seen in live wrestling. Friggin awesome but totally insane! Dienamic gets up and whips Josh into the barriers, allowing him to work with Grimm on Mimic in the ring. Dienamic tags in but Mimic hits a suplex and they are both down. He gets up first and puts him some stiff knees, not forgetting to take out Josh again so they can’t tag. The minuscule break gives Mimic his chance as he reverses into a stiff clothesline and follows up with a flying clothesline before Dienamic reverses his suplex attempt into the suplex brainbuster. Grimm is now back in and I’m exhausted! He puts in a low blow but is not seen and then hits the jack knife power bomb. (Damn, that reminds me. Did I see a Diesel signal before hitting that move? Forget to ask!) Josh stops the pin attempt and now the crowd his chanting his name – “Josh, Josh, Josh”. Grimm silences them with another cheap shot as he stands on the apron awaiting the desperately needed tag. Grimm then sets up Mimic for the curb stomp and Dienamic comes off the top rope with a double stomp at the same time! Awesome double move. Dienamic is now tagged in but somehow Mimic catches him off guard and hits a double underhook suplex – ouch!! Josh is finally tagged in and so is Grimm, who gets kicked and then splashed in the corner. He’s then kicked to the floor where Josh rams his head into the apron and then tags in Mimic. Mimic & Josh then hit a double kick and double enzuguri Mimic then gets in some forearms and chops before hitting the Elijah Experience. Josh then comes off the top rope with a leg drop as the enemy is hanged over the ropes. Mimic & Josh then work together again as they both come off the top rope – Josh with the frog splash and Mimic with a leg drop. Dienamic stops the count and Grimm hits a low blow on Mimc to allow himself to tag in his partner, who goes to work with forearms and running elbow. After a kick to the face he takes out Josh, the distraction allowing Grimm to choke his brother. Grimm is tagged back in and sets up Mimic for the cut throat but this time with a twist, as Dienamic again comes off the top rope with a double stomp at the same time! Josh pulls down the ropes, which sends Grimm to the floor and they continue to fight there, leaving the other two in the ring. Mimic attempts but misses the lionsault, allowing Dienamic to hit the storm cradle but Josh is back in. Not a wise move as Grimm puts on a sleeper / choke hold and then stands on the second rope, leaving Josh’s legs to dangle in the air. Grimm then whips Dienamic into a forearm shot on Mimic but then gets Mimic’s boots to his face as he runs in. Josh comes off the top with a dropkick on Grimm, allowing Mimic to hit the double under hook piledriver on Dienamic for the win! The crowd goes nuts and gives the biggest pop of the night! What a match! All four guys gave it their all, put everything on the line and it’s going to be hard to top that match in 2008!
But wait, we’re not over……Damon Matthews comes to the ring and puts over Mimic’s contribution to RCW and offers his hand as a sign of respect. Reluctantly Mimic takes it and the two embrace and walk away but as he turns around, Mimic is hit with the hardest superkick I’ve ever heard! The crowd goes nuts again but not in a good way! Damon gets a chair and threatens to commence The Enigma Incident #3 unless Andy gives him a title shot. Andy offers a place in next month’s tournament to Damon but explains his first round opponent with be Dienamic!! Damon then hits a hard chair shot to Mimic’s back to show he can do as he bloody well pleases in RCW….
Another awesome show. I questioned whether they could keep this momentum up but that would now be four shows in a row that have been all top quality so when the bar is set that high, you either keep it there or it falls…..we shall see.
See you all on February 2nd!
Scott
(For Michael Coppola's full gallery of pics visit: http://www.pbase.com/mcphotographics/080112. Do NOT repost without credit to Michael Coppola Photographics)