Firstly, I must say how weird it is to be at a wrestling show and it’s still light outside! Luke Hazard came out to get things under way and introduced his commentary partner for the night – Tommy J. Now this feels like a HRPW show……no wait, Luke & Tommy are allowed to commentate here! (Only kidding) Was actually great to hear them together, doing what they do best, as it only adds to the overall feel of the evening.
The Josh to Jeff transformation is nearing completion – he even does the Hardy pause at the entrance!! (If you ever read my reviews Josh, please know that I’m only playing with you). Joel is a heel in SnakePit after I saw him as a face at the last HRPW show. He covered both very well. Josh and Joel start things off but Bateman is soon kicked to the floor. The Icemen come in but they also fall to the floor after having the ropes pulled down. Josh then climbs the ropes and does a senton onto the three heels, to the cheers of the crowd. Back in the ring and Josh kicks Joel then does the ten punches on the corner ropes and follows that with a drop kick. Joel then blocks a suplex attempt and hits a short arm clothesline, followed by a stiff kick to the back. Iceman Miller is tagged in and puts a big boot to Josh, followed by shoulder block. Josh comes back with a double drop kick and hurricarana that he is just able to execute, through no fault of his own. He then attempts to hit a DDT but the spot is totally messed up by Miller. Mike comes in and together they suplex Miller. They follow that up with a move I believe Sabu and RVD used to do, where RVD picks up Sabu and together they leg drop the opponent at the same time. Josh then pins Miller and he’s eliminated. Now we have Mike v Zak and the members of Large Than Life, square off. Neither holds anything back as they execute a great exchange of reversals and moves as each tries to out do the other. In a sign that they know each other too well, both hit clotheslines at the same time and now both are down! Zak recovers first and whips Mike into the corner but gets hit with a back elbow as he runs in. Mike follows up with a hurricarana but then Zak hits a hip toss and Joel tags himself back in the match. He goes for the low blow and is able to pin and eliminate Mike. Now we are back to the beginning – Joel v Josh. Joel reacts quickly and hits a standing drop kick then chokes Josh using his knee. He attempts a submission using the camel clutch but Josh won’t give up and reverses Joel offence into a hurricarana and now both men are out on the floor. Josh whips Joel into the rails and then comes off the rails himself into a head scissors manoeuvre. Zak is tagged in but Joel gets in first with a drop toe hold and axe handle. He tags in Iceman Morris who whips Zak into the corner but misses the splash attempt. Josh hits him with a spring board drop kick and then Zak comes off the top rope with an awesome senton that allows him to pin and eliminate the remaining Iceman. Zak comes in and is whipped to the corner but when Joel attempts a splash he misses and crotches himself on the ropes. Zak goes to the top but is knocked off by Joel and Josh reacts with an attack, even though he’s not the legal man. Zak is still on the top rope as Joel uses Josh’s head as a battering ram to the groin area! Joel then goes to the top and super plexes Zak off, which enables him to pin and eliminate the remaining member of Larger Than Life. Now we are down to Joel v Josh, just how this whole thing started. Josh reacts first this time and hits a running clothesline and flying cross body from the top rope. Joel comes back with a clothesline of his own and brain buster that brings a two count. Josh is then able to reverse a suplex into a face buster. He does the HBK kick up from the mat and hits a springboard flying cross body then gives him the pin and win. Good, well paced match. Very entertaining and the crowd were into everything the whole way through. I really enjoyed it and will give this Match of the Night.
Kinkaid attacks Ace early with forearm shots, rakes to the eyes and then knees to the midriff. He then hits the HHH knee lift that brings an early two count. Ace reverses out of whip and hits Kinkaid with a clothesline. He follows that up with a body slam and leg drop that also brings a two count but Kinkaid rakes the eyes again to break the count. He’s in control again as he chokes his larger opponent using the top rope and then hits him with some kidney punches. Next is a DDT that Ace sells so well but still that only brings a two count. Ace fights back with some punches and then whips Kinkaid to the corner, following him in with a clothesline. It worked so well, he does it twice. He pushes his luck with a third attempt and Kinkaid moves out of the way. With momentum back on his side, Kinkaid takes the initiative and executes a side Russian leg sweep and rakes the eyes using his boot! He then pain brushes Ace’s face and hits him with clubbing blows. He sets Ace up for the finish but Ace reverses it into a choke slam attempt but once again Kinkaid rakes the eyes and hits a low blow. Kinkaid then gets his chain and is disqualified for hitting Ace with it. Crowd was very quiet on the finish and I must say I was confused too. Why would Kinkaid disqualify himself when he’s got his opponent down? Didn’t make sense to me. I don’t usually get into Kinkaid but the match was good and had potential to be better but was too short. Ace was also not allowed to get in enough offence for me and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do.
Blake came out with no Krystal and no cane. I know this is not HRPW but he looked a bit naked without them as its all part of his persona now. He got into the crowd’s face immediately and the “boring” chants were soon ringing in his ears. Tommy J then had a dig at Raven, which I know was done as part of the moment but I still did not agree with. Blake refused to lock up and at one point returned to the locker room. This worked the crowd up even more and they really let him have it! Finally both men lock up but when Joe goes for a punch, Blake drops down and slides out the ring. Joe’s had enough and he chases Blake around the ring. Blake attempts to catch Joe coming back in but ends up axe handling the mat instead, as his younger, smarter opponent has seen it all before! Joe has control now as he hits a side walk slam and vertical suplex. Reverting to the lowest form or retaliation, Blake hits a low blow and starts work on Joe’s back. He chokes him with the knee and then works on the back again, using headbutts and kicks. He then whips him into the corner and follows in with a clothesline. Joe is down in the corner so Blake uses the ropes to propel himself up and then comes down with a headbutt to the groin! Blake then hits a discuss clothesline – wonder where he got that from! – but then misses on his second attempt at the same move and Joe gets in a leg lariat and splash to the corner for a two count. Blake throws Joe to the floor and as he attempts to come back in, hits him with a shoulder block to the midriff. Joe sunset flips over the top ropes but Blake rolls him over and holds onto the ropes to get the three count and win. Again, this was too short for me. Just when it started to get moving, it was over. The crowd was really into it thanks to their hatred for Blake and I would have liked to see more.
I hate Rocky’s new entrance music but I like the new Rocky who seems to be getting on the microphone more, every time I see him. Tonight he reads from the program, listing all his credentials and raising the question of whether he is the best wrestler in Australia. Chaos gets a good reaction from the crowd who obviously want to hate Rocky, even if he’s wrestling a Victorian!! Chaos gets in an early kick and Rocky retreats to the floor but there’s no rest as his opponent comes over the ropes with a plancha. Things get heated as both men fight up on the stage and Rocky uses the hard surface to hit a suplex. Chaos comes back though and hits him with a clothesline off the stage and onto the floor. Rocky then whips Chaos into the ring post, then rails and then back to the ring post! Chaos reverses out of another attempt and puts Rocky’s head into the ring apron. Rocky retreats to the ring and catches Chaos coming in with knees to the midriff and back. He then slams Chaos and hits what I am going to call the “Menero Elbow” – think of the people’s elbow but with less theatrics! Rocky chops Chaos but that just wakes him up and now both men are chopping each other. Rocky comes off the ropes with a kick to the midriff and follows up with a DDT and choke using the top ropes. A punch to the head is then followed up with a boot to the throat and Thai kicks to the head. A submission is then attempted with the abdominal stretch but he’s caught using the ropes for leverage. A clothesline then turns Chaos inside, out. He kicks him to the floor and poses for the crowd. Chaos tries to come back in but as his head is over the second rope, Rocky hits him with a leg drop. Chaos fights back with some punches but that’s stopped with a kick to the midriff. Chaos is then pulled off the ropes, onto his back and is hit with a low blow as the referee is distracted. Rocky sinks in the sleeper hold but Chaos fights back and forces him to release the hold after being rammed into the corner. Chaos chops Rocky but then is hit with a back elbow as he runs in for more offence. Rocky then tries to come off the ropes but misses and is hit with two clotheslines. Rocky then misses again as he attempts a splash off the top but Chaos blows the opportunity as he misses a corkscrew moonsault off the top, himself. Rocky hits him with a low blow and then the roll of the dice for the win. What is it with low blows tonight and why are they all being ignored by the referee? It’s a move that should bring a disqualification or should only be used when the referees has been distracted, not when he’s looking straight at the wrestlers!! A good match but I’d expect nothing less from one that involves Rocky Menero. Surprised he wasn’t used in the main event.
I was really looking forward to this one as its always interesting when we get new female wrestlers for our locals to work with. Lola comes out to the single biggest pop of the night so far, with Vixsin looking for intimidating and about twice her size! To emphasise that point, she simply pushes Lola away when she attempts to lock up early. Lola goes to her speed and executes two arm drags but then Vixsin simply clubs her down. Vixsin attempts a side walk slam but Lola reverses it into a very crisp hurricarana. Vixsin goes to the floor but Lola doesn’t let up and comes off the apron with a flying cross body. Neither girl got up and soon it became apparent that something was wrong. Lola was on her feet and by her body language you could tell that Vixsin was hurt. The referee signalled to the locker room that a wrestler was down and the match was ended. I believe Vixsin hit her head on the rail as she fell back from the cross body and there were fears that she may have hurt her neck. An ambulance was called and they took her away to receive medical attention. I believe she is alright and I’m glad to hear that as I hope she returns to Adelaide again and these two can finish off where they started.
Rocky came out to help Luke with commentary while Tommy J was with his boy, Fuzion, at ring side. Had to laugh when he got out a flick comb and used it on Fuzion’s back then his own head! The crowd loved Tony’s entrance though the audible groans for his ring attire could still be heard over the cheers! I think he’s finally managed to beat Radic for the longest entrance in Australian wrestling!! Radic cuts a promo on Tony and the crowd but there was no need as they already hated him and wanted Tony & Dragonspawn to win. Fuzion and Dragon started things off and the SnakePit Champion offered his hand in a gesture of goodwill but when his gullible opponent attempted to accept it, he was met with stiff forearms to the head! Fuzion then comes off the ropes with a shoulder block and boot to the chest. He uses the ropes again for his clothesline but only gets a two count. Kicks follow and then a delayed suplex but again, only for two. Fuzion attempts to put Dragon in a bear hug but is hit to the head. Dragon takes his chance and hip tosses and then elbow drop’s Fuzion. He then comes off the ropes for a flying clothesline. Fuzion fights back, working on Dragon’s leg but is hit by an enzuguri and both men are down. Tony comes in and stops Fuzion from tagging in Radic. He hits him with a side walk slam and then an elbow drop. Dragon comes back in with an axe handle off the top rope and then gets in some chops. Fuzion rakes his eyes and tags in Radic who hits a standing drop kick and then low blow, using his knee and head. Dragon is able to tag in Stone and Radic challenges him to a test of strength but decides a poke in the eye will do the job better! He then chokes Tony with his bandana and tags back in Fuzion who uses the second rope to choke Tony and hit him with a leg drop. The tags are now coming fast as Radic is back in; off the top rope with an axe handle. Tony fights back with a scoop slam off the ropes and then a spine buster on Fuzion as he attempts to help Radic. Dragon is tagged back in and he stradles Radic on the ropes then kicks him off. A suplex follows but then Radic hits an elbow drop and pokes Tony in the eye. Radic & Fuzion then go to work on Dragon’s legs. Dragon fights back and again, both he and Fuzion are down. Fuzion tries for the choke slam but Dragon escapes and attempts the super kick but can’t because of his leg – now that is match psychology 101! Nice touch. Radic comes in and together the give Dragon the wishbone. Radic then slams him and hits two leg drops but on the third he misses. Dragon goes over and tags Tony but the referee doesn’t see it and won’t allow him in. Fuzion then DDTs Dragon but only gets a two count. Radic is back in and puts on a figure four, and then while the referee is distracted, Fuzion hits an elbow drop with the submission still on. Tony comes into break up the hold. The referee takes him back to the corner and this allows Radic to hit a low blow and clothesline. He hits a wicked chop and then tags in Fuzion. The break in momentum allows Dragon his opportunity and his face plants Fuzion, and then tags in Tony. Tony puts an atomic drop on Fuzion and goes Taker old school from the top rope, before tagging Dragon back in. He whips Fuzion into the corner and then monkey flips him out. A drop kick from the top follows but Radic comes in to drag Fuzion over to the corner so he can tag himself in. Tony spears Radic and then chops both opponents before spearing them each in opposite corners. He then knocks their heads together. Dragon and Tony then go to the top and do the ten punches, stopping at five to swap sides. They then throw them to the floor and Dragon uses Tony’s back as a spring board to a cross body over the top ropes and to the floor. Tony also goes to the top but gets scared (hehe) and decides an axe handle off the apron is the safer option! Dragon and Fuzion are back in the ring and Dragon opens a full on assault as he puts in kicks to the midriff and back of the head, then a double punch to the throat! Fuzion and Dragon then enter a slug fest, which leads to a series of attempts by each to execute their finisher, only for the other to reverse out. Out of no where Dragon hits the super kick and pins Fuzion for the win. I liked that ending – it built up into a frenzy and then bang, out of no where comes the super kick. Good, entertaining, exciting match and probably deserved MOTN too but I’m going with the kids tonight!
Good show. Not spectacular but entertaining and I’m glad I made the effort to go by myself. What was an enjoyable evening, was spoiled by the actions of a minority in the audience, with some people being asked to leave and others starting trouble with the wrestlers both in and out of the venue. I saw some of it first hand but was not witness to everything that went on so I don’t feel it’s my place to comment on who started what. Sitting there, I could see things brewing with some people purely because of their alcohol consumption. How you police that I don’t know – give legal age drinkers a drink card as they enter? Each time they buy a drink, it gets marked so they can only purchase so many. I can see them getting around that. Maybe more security who can deal with issues before they escalate and deal with them in a controlled fashion, defusing the situation before it becomes an issue. I just know that I am glad my daughter was not there to witness what happened as she would not want to come again and I would not want to bring her. This was the first time I’ve seen these kinds of scenes at a wrestling show and I’m going to put it down to the people in question and hope it remains an isolated incident.
Scott