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Csonka’s House of Hardcore 24 Review 4.21.17

April 21, 2017 | Posted by Larry Csonka
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Csonka’s House of Hardcore 24 Review 4.21.17  

Csonka’s House of Hardcore 24 Review 4.21.17

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Bull James defeated TJ Marconi @ 4:30 via pin [**]
– Rhett Titus defeated Action Ortiz @ 10:40 via pin [**½]
– Devon Storm, Pat Buck, & Little Guido defeated Gigolo Justin, Vik Dalishus, & Hale Collins @ 13:15 via pin [**¾]
– Alex Reynolds defeated Matt Striker @ 10:35 via submission [**]
– Brian Cage defeated MVP @ 8:30 via pin [**¼]
– Sami Callihan defeated Bobby Fish @ 19:10 via submission [***½]
New Jersey Street Fight: Bully Ray & Tommy Dreamer defeated The Squad (Kenny & Mikey) @ 6:40 via pin [DUD]


– In memory of Matt “Rosey” Anoa’i.

Bull James vs. TJ Marconi: Hoss battle to kick off the evening. They played power vs. power to begin; Marconi stalled a bit, they locked up and attempted to work holds. James then kicked the ropes into the balls of Marconi. James hit jabs and a clothesline, taking control until he tried to climb the ropes and Marconi tripped him up and grounded him with boots and a nerve hold. Marconi missed an elbow drop and ten missed the big boot, jabs and rights by James and then a running cross body foe 2. The corner splash followed, but Marconi then scored with the big boot. James then hit a slam, up top and hits bombs away for the win. Bull James defeated TJ Marconi @ 4:30 via pin[**] This was a solid and inoffensive opening match.

Action Ortiz vs. Rhett Titus: Ortiz looked to use his size and power advantage to begin, he looks like an indie version of Bam Bam Bigelow (size and gear) if you’ve never seen him. Titus tries to trade shoulder blocks, sends Ortiz to the apron but Ortiz takes control and hits a slingshot senton for 2. The suplex follows, Ortiz up top now but Titus rolls away and then attacks the knee. Titus takes control of things with a knee drop and ground and pound strikes. The neck breaker follows for 2. Titus lays in some chops, but that just seems to fire Ortiz up. Titus then cuts him off with the dropkick, and takes the heat, grounding the big man. Ortiz fights to his feet, lays in some strikes and follows with the Samoan drop. Titus then slaps Ortiz, he’s pissed now and hits a knee strike and rapid-fire strikes. The corner uppercut and running side slam follows. Titus fires back, boxing the ears but then runs into the spinebuster for 2. Ortiz hits running forearms and Titus rolls to the floor. Ortiz then hits the cannonball off of the apron. Back in and Ortiz covers for 2. They battle back and forth, and Titus hits a snap German suplex. Ortiz fires up hitting a German and the lariat follows and Ortiz covers for 2. Ortiz up top, Titus cuts him off and follows him up and they battle for position; Ortiz sends Titus to the mat and MISSES the frog slash; Titus hits the big boot and the big dog splash for the win. Rhett Titus defeated Action Ortiz @ 10:40 via pin [**½] Better than the opener, with some good back and forth action, but it felt a bit too long.

Gigolo Justin, Vik Dalishus, & Hale Collins vs. Devon Storm, Pat Buck, & Little Guido: Guido outwrestled Dalishus to begin. Dalishus then used his size advantage, looked to overpower Guido, but Guido went back to the ground game to keep thing even. Buck tags in, works double teams with Guido but Justin tags in and eats a dropkick from Buck. Buck hits a pair of rolling neck snaps, Hennig style, and then tags in Storm. He and Justin go back and forth, Justin then rakes the eyes but Storm hits a takedown and leg drop to the balls. The basement dropkick follows for 2. The belly to back suplex connects, and then a slingshot splash for 2. Dalishus tags back in, as does Buck. Buck hits shoulder blocks, skins the cat back in and hits a high cross for 2. The wheelbarrow bulldog gets 2, one of Dalishus’ chicks trips him up and she gets tossed to the back. The distraction allows Dalishus to cut Buck off, and the heels play the numbers game and work over Buck in the corner. They work quick tags, isolating Buck and keeping the heat. Buck tries to make the come back but runs into a suplex for 2. More double teams on Buck follow, as he gets choked out in the ropes. Buck manages to hit a jawbreaker, but Dalishus cuts him off with a slam, heads up top but misses a Phoenix splash. Guido gets the hot tag, runs wild with chops and a Russian leg sweep. Guido then hits the Sicilian slice for 2. It breaks down, bodies fly to the floor and Buck takes out Collins and tosses him to the floor. Buck hits a suicide dive onto the pile; Guido teases a dive but one of Dalishus’ chicks distracts him with a motorboat. Yup. Collins lays him out with a superkick, Storm cuts him off and they battle up top, RANA of the ropes by Storm, Guido hits the unprettier and then Buck hits the top rope splash and Guido covers for the win. Devon Storm, Pat Buck, & Little Guido defeated Gigolo Justin, Vik Dalishus, & Hale Collins @ 13:15 via pin [**¾] Pretty good overall, the good news is that the matches are getting a little better as the night goes on; I felt that the heat segment lacked, the interference was a bit too much and the closing stretch was a bit too sloppy/disjointed. Pat Buck looked the best out of anyone in the match.

Alex Reynolds vs. Matt Striker: They grappled early, working a clean, back and forth wrestling match. Striker focused on the arm, but Reynolds fought back and grounded Striker. Reynolds hit a northern lights suplex for 2 as they work some really clean back and forth here. They worked some innovative counter grappling, but Reynolds then tossed Striker to the floor, as Reynolds’ manager attacked and posted Striker. After an interruption in the stream, Reynolds was in control, attacking the shoulder of Striker. Striker tried to battle back, but Reynolds is relentless as he keeps attacking the shoulder. Striker escapes the cobra clutch and hits a knee strike. Striker then hits a draping neck breaker for the near fall. Striker fires up and makes his comeback, rolling into an arm bar but Reynolds’ manager distracts Striker. They trade roll ups and pinning combos, striker does the body scissors roll and gets a near fall. They trade small packages for about 14 near falls. Superkick by Striker, he looks for the pedigree, and Reynolds’ manager gets involved, Reynolds then accidentally hits him and locks in a crossface, and Striker taps. Alex Reynolds defeated Matt Striker @ 10:35 via submission [**] Rock solid match with some really good mat wrestling at times, but too much interference took away from the flow and my enjoyment.

Brian Cage vs. MVP: MVP stalled a bit to begin, and then attempted to outwrestle Cage. Cage then worked a head scissors and did some pushups. Cage then took control, lighting up MVP with clotheslines. MVP battled back, hitting forearms and the running corner kick for 2. MVP then grounded Cage, trying to negate his power and then followed up with the running kick to the face. Cage hit the knee strike and release German, covering for 2. They traded strikes, MVP then hit a clothesline but Cage popped up and was pissed, but MVP hit the face buster and ballin elbow drop. The fisherman’s suplex followed for 2. The play of the day followed for another 2. Cage counters it the second rime, and hits the F5 for a near fall. Cage continues his attack, MVP runs into a powerslam and Cage misses the moonsault. MVP misses the running kick, and Cage hits a lariat for the anticlimactic win. Brian Cage defeated MVP @ 8:30 via pin [**¼] This was a solidly worked, but bland match with an anticlimactic finish. They went back and forth the entire time, there was no drama, and I never bought MVP’s offense against Cage. Surely if you’re going to fly Cage in you can book him against a better opponent.

Sami Callihan vs. Bobby Fish: Callihan vs. Bully Ray was advertised, but we’re getting Bobby Fish with no real explanation. They work a fast paced back and forth to begin. They then play to the crowd and get back to action, with Callihan attacking and back and forth brawling. Fish quickly goes to his submission game, but Callihan avoids the heel hook. Callihan looks for the stretch muffler, trading submissions. To the floor and Fish hides under the ring, and then sneak attacks Callihan as they brawl on the floor. Fish lays in kicks, taking control. Callihan lands a head kick and then a lariat to send Fish back to the floor. Fish then trips him up and Callihan crawls away on the floor. Fish up top and Callihan cuts him off, pulling him to the floor. Callihan lays in forearm strikes, spits on his hand but Fish moves and he chops the post. Fish looks for a kick, but Callihan moves and Fish kicks the post. Callihan sets him in a chair, and lays in chops. Callihan sits Fish in the chair again, and hits the running kick. Things have really slowed after a fun opening stretch. Callihan then takes a lap and runs into a high kick. Back into the ring and Fish hits a suplex and covers for 2. The slingshot senton follows by Fish, lays in some kicks but Callihan fires up and eats a kick, but Fish is selling the kick to the post earlier. Callihan dares Fish to kick him again, so Fish goes to the other leg and lights up Callihan. More kicks by Fish follow, Callihan spits on Fish and Fish gets pissed and attacks with strikes and more kicks. Callihan sidesteps a charge and Fish flies into the corner. Fish hits a running kick in the corner, but Fish cuts off the second but Callihan rolls him up for 2. Callihan then decapitates him with a lariat for a near fall. They trade strikes center ring, Fish back to the kicks and has decided he’s done selling the leg. Fish then follows with a flapjack, and the cover gets 2. They battle in the corner, and then trade charging strikes and knees. XPLODER to the corner by Fish, the falcon arrow (HE DID THE DEAL) follows, and Fish transitions into the heel hook, but Callihan makes the ropes. Callihan holds onto the ropes, Fish attacks but Callihan locks in the sharpshooter but Fish roll shim up for 2. Sitout powerbomb by Callihan, into the stretch muffler and Fish taps. Sami Callihan defeated Bobby Fish @ 19:10 via submission [***½] This was an overall very good match, which was hurt by the slow and lackadaisical middle portion and the fact that Fish stopped selling the leg. I also with it would have been a bit shorter and worked in the sprint style that Callihan thrives in. I have to believe that they have a much better match in them.

– They brawled post match.

New Jersey Delete Street Fight: Broken Matt Hardy vs. Tommy Dreamer: Matt is out to his Broken piano music and proclaims that this is wonderful & delightful! Matt cuts a promo, and says he knew the man that dreams would come. He promises to make Dreamer obsolete, singing the song to the delight of the crowd. The Sprit Squad then arrives and says they have deleted the main event. They claims that “their boss Vince” won’t allow this and claim that they are coming to Raw to take the titles. They demand that Matt return to Stamford with them. Matt tries to fight them off, they toss powder in his face and attack Matt and Dreamer. Bully Ray makes the save. He calls then Ziggler’s bitches; I guess WWE pulled Matt from the match so we now get The Squad (Kenny & Mikey) vs. Bully Ray & Tommy Dreamer.

The Squad (Kenny & Mikey) vs. Bully Ray & Tommy Dreamer: We get the big floor brawl to begin, some various weapons are used and Kenny hits the drop toehold into the chair on Dreamer. The Squad takes the heat on Dreamer as Bully plays cheerleader. Dreamer hits a cutter out of nowhere, tags in Bully and he runs wild, scoring a near fall. Bully & Dreamer land the stereo flip flop and fly, and the Squad’s “cheerleader in training” as he’s called gets involved, Velvet Sky in to make the save with low blows and a spear. They tease hitting her with a chair, but the Sandman’s music hits, fresh off hernia surgery to a scary lack of reaction. Kendo stick shots to the Squad, 3D to Kenny and Bully picks up the win. Bully Ray & Tommy Dreamer defeated The Squad (Kenny & Mikey) @ 6:40 via pin [DUD] They tried to play the hits to make up for not delivering the advertised main event, and it just didn’t work. The match felt lazy, flat and not even fun.

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– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

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“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

3.0
The final score: review Bad
The 411
So I decided to give House of Hardcore a shot tonight, there were some guys on the card I wanted to see and figured what the hell I had the free time. This was not a show that made me want to see another show; the wrestling was largely fine, but only had one match I felt was worth my time (Callihan vs. Fish). If you look at the graphic above, I was told Matt Riddle would be here. I was told I would see Sami Callihan vs. Bully Ray. I was told I would see Tommy Dreamer vs. Matt Hardy. I got none of this, I get that card is subject to change, but as a new customer, I felt lied to and that the show did not deliver what was promised and there was no definitive explanation as to why; I can speculate like we all can that WWE pulled Matt from the match, leading to changes. But if I had the time to catch the next show, I doubt I would because I would be afraid that the Hardys would be pulled from their advertised tag match. House of Hardcore did not deliver a good first impression tonight.
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