From The Shelf- PWX Another Level 2016

PWX Another Level 2016
7-24-16
Charlotte, NC

The Ugly Ducklings (Colby Corino, Lance Lude & Rob Killjoy) w/Coach Mikey vs. Chip Day, Darius Lockhart & Mason Maddox w/Tommy Thomas
Lude and Day start. Springboard moonsault press by Lude and Day comes back with a series of kicks. Sick Kick by Day and Corino and Lockhart come in. Springboard back elbow by Lockhart gets 1 and now Killjoy comes in along with Maddox. They trade blows and Killjoy hits a roaring elbow for 2. A series of Hilos by the Ducklings gets 2. Rapid chops by Killjoy and Thomas grabs the leg, allowing Maddox to catch him with an enzuigiri. Tag to Day and he hits a back suplex. Lockhart comes in to work Killjoy over in the corner and he hits a suplex for 2. Hilo by Maddox gets 2 and he grabs the chin lock. Dropkick by Maddox cuts off the comeback and Day throws some chops at Killjoy. O’Connor roll by Killjoy gets 2 and this gives him the chance to tag Corino who fires away on Maddox. Springboard Cutter by Corino gets 2. Killjoy hits a springboard crossbody onto Thomas on the floor as Maddox moved out of the way!!! Elbow suicida to the floor by Corino and Lockhard follows with a summersault plancha to the floor!!! Asai moonsault to the floor by Lude!!! Coach Mikey and Thomas get into an argument and Day and Killjoy lay them out so they can focus on the match. Corino hits an Alabama Slam into the corner on Lockhart but Day comes back with a super kick. Fisherman’s Buster by Day and he covers but the ref stops himself cause Corino isn’t the legal man. Saito suplex by Killjoy to Maddox and Lude goes up. Ducksday Device by the Ducklings gets 3.
Winners- The Ugly Ducklings *** ( Good start to the show with everyone threw caution to the wind in a display of crazy spots and wild action. They had a number of hiccups along the way though and the awkward moment between Day and the ref was really deflating toward the finish. The Ugly Ducklings are a really hot act for the promotion and were the perfect choice to get this show off on the right foot. )

PWX ITV Championship- Gunner © vs. James Drake
Drake knocks down Gunner to start and he quickly bails. Drake works him over on the floor and back in, Gunner knocks him down with a flying forearm for 2. Back elbow by Gunner gets 2 and he grabs a chin lock. High knee by Gunner gets 2 as Drake starts to fight out. Drake comes back with an inverted atomic drop followed by a European uppercut for 2. Northern lariat by Drake gets 2. Drake goes up but Gunner stops him and follows up. Drake escapes and catches Gunner with the Liger Bomb for 2. Standing summersault senton by Drake and he goes up. Moonsault misses and Gunner hits a Spear for 3.
Winner and Still PWX ITV Champion- Gunner **1/2 ( Match was nothing special until the final few minutes when Drake started to bust out so more flashy and hard hitting offense. He’s fun to watch as a heavier worker, he doesn’t do anything too spectacular but it’s fun to see him break out some stuff you would see from the Jr. Heavyweight style workers and it makes his matches significantly more entertaining.)

Ethan Case leaves the commentary table and heads into the ring. He says he wants to speak some truth and talks about how he has only missed one show in four years in PWX due to injury. He says it hurts him that he doesn’t have a match on this show and yet people who leave the promotion high and dry get opportunities over him. He calls out Elijah Evans IV and calls him a little bitch. Evans comes out and he has some security with him. They hold Case back and Evans tries a sneak attack but Case is able to drill him. Evans quickly bails and he wants no part of Case.

Scarlet and Graves (Dezmond Xavier and Zachary Wentz) vs. The Revolt (Caleb Konley and Zane Riley)
Wentz and Riley start. Handspring enzuigiri by Wentz and they tag their parents in. Hurricanrana by Xavier sends Konley to the floor and he hits a dropkick on Riley. Catapult spear combo on Konley gets 2 as Riley saves. Riley trucks both men and Riley grabs a body scissors. He rolls Wentz around the ring and tags Riley. Double back elbow to Wentz and now Riley works the body scissors. Wentz fights out but Riley ends the comeback with a tilt-a-whirl face plant for 2. Wentz fights back and tags Xavier. STO on Koley and he follows up with a standing twisting press for 2. Tag to Wentz who hits a springboard knee strike on Riley. Bronco Buster to Konley gets 2 as Riley saves. Riley with the double thumb in the bum and he hits a double bum suplex. Belushi Driver followed by the Lionsault by Konley gets 2. Knee strike by Wentz and he hits a standing moonsault. Buckle Bomb by Konley and he hits a back fist on Xavier. Cannonball by Riley and Konley goes up. Moonsault by Konley gets 3.
Winners- The Revolt **1/2 ( The crowd wasn’t too hot for this since Wentz and Xavier were a new act but they looked solid against the veteran unit. Xavier in particular is incredibly athletic and is probably worth keeping an eye on in the future.)

Corey Hollis vs. David Starr
They grapple to start and we reach a stalemate. Starr toys with Hollis so Hollis throws a head butt. Cross body by Starr gets 1. Chin lock by Starr but Hollis fights to the apron to break. He snaps Starr’s arm off the ropes and begins to target the injured arm. Starr trips up Hollis and Hollis sends Starr shoulder first into the post to come back. Starr rolls Hollis up for 2 and Hollis throws a battery ram head butt to the arm for 2. Hammerlock from Hollis but Starr attempts to fight out so Hollis cuts him off with a back suplex. Hollis goes up for a diving head butt but Starr gets his boot up. Starr peppers Hollis in the corner and he hits a springboard clothesline knocking Hollis to the floor. Suicide dive by Starr and he follows up with a second one!!! A third one by Starr and they begin to fight on the apron. Arm wringer driver onto the apron by Hollis and he drives Starr deep into the crowd, looking for a countout!!! Starr makes it back in before the 10 count and Hollis stomps on the bad arm. Key lock by Hollis but Starr powers him into a DVD in the corner. Tombstone by Starr gets 2. They trade blows and Hollis flips him off, so Starr hits a super kick. Corner forearms by Starr but Hollis catches him with a roll-up using the tights for 2. They trade reversals for near falls and Starr uses his legs to catch Hollis in a cradle for 3!!! Gunner attacks Starr after the match, sending Starr shoulder first into the post before laying him out with a power bomb.
Winner- David Starr ***1/2 (I really enjoyed the hell out of this match. The arm work played into the entire portion of the match which I appreciate and the finish of Starr using his legs strength to catch Hollis with a roll-up was genius. This had some great grapple exchanges and good drama, so an all-around excellent showcase. David Starr is one of the hidden gems of indy wrestling right now and I could see him fitting in extremely well in a place like EVOLVE based on his style. )

Anthony Henry vs. Roderick Strong
They grapple and Strong attempts the Stronghold but Henry quickly gets to the ropes to block. They trade chops and Strong hits a knee strike knocking Henry to the floor. Back in, Henry hits a hurricanrana and follows with a butterfly suplex for 2. Powerslam by Henry and he works over Strong on the floor. Running dropkick on the floor by Henry and Strong comes back by pressing Henry onto the apron!!!! Strong presses Henry into the post and back in, Strong grabs a chin lock. Henry fights out so Strong catches him with a dropkick for 2. Backbreaker by Strong and he stretches Henry against the ropes. Olympic Slam by Strong and he follows up with a second one right away. Strong stomps him to the floor and back in, they trade blows. Enzuigiri from the apron by Henry and he goes up. Missile dropkick by Henry and he hits a leaping clothesline for 2. They have an awkward spot where Strong tried to dropkick Henry off a springboard attempt but doesn’t cleanly connect and Henry lands more of a kick to the head of Strong instead for 2. Henry leaps off the top but Strong attempts to dropkick him on the way down but overshoots him. Strong charges at Henry in the corner and he hits a release back suplex for 2. They go up and Henry escapes Strong’s clutches, trapping him in the tree of woe. Three basement dropkicks by Henry and he goes up. Coast to Coast dropkick by Henry gets 2!!! Henry goes up but Strong pulls him off the top into a back breaker for 2. Strong puts Henry on top and follows up. Superplex by Strong gets 2. Spin kick followed by an enzuigiri by Henry and both men are down. Gutbuster followed by a Sick Kick by Strong gets 2!!! Series of forearms by Strong and Henry comes back with an enzuigiri. Air Raid Crash by Henry and he goes up. Frog Splash by Henry gets 2!!! Knee strike by Strong knocks Henry back to the floor. Back in, Henry catches Strong with the small package for 3!!!
Winner- Anthony Henry **** ( Anthony Henry took a hellacious beating from Strong in the early portion of the match and yet continues to go blow for blow with Strong and not looking inferior, a great sign for his potential on a national scale. They had some glaring botches from trying to go big on certain spots but they recovered nicely from it and the final stretch was absolutely fantastic. )

PWX Tag Team Championships- The Bravado Brothers (Harlem and Lancelot) © vs. Team I.O.U (Kerry Awful and Nick Iggy)
I.O.U work over Lancelot to start and Lancelot comes back with a lariat. Tag to Harlem and Awful is able to take control of him. Iggy takes in and Harlem catches him with a deadlift suplex. Tag to Lancelot and he catches Iggy in a half crab but Iggy makes the ropes. Awful catches Lancelot with an STO on the apron and Iggy covers for 2. Awful works on the back of the neck of Lancelot and he drills Lancelot with a mule kick for 2. Chin lock by Iggy but Lancelot fights out so Iggy cuts him off with a dropkick for 2. Full nelson slam by Iggy into a seated senton by Awful gets 2. Awful leaps off the second rope but Lancelot catches him with an overhead belly to belly suplex. Tag to Harlem and he hits a bicycle kick. Clothesline by Harlem gets 2. Harlem hits an exploder suplex on Iggy into Awful and he follows up with a Tiger Driver for 2. Dropkick/Michinoku Driver by Team I.O.U gets 2. Harlem fights back and he tags Lancelot who hits a forearm smash for 2. Harlem hits a summersault plancha onto Awful and Lancelot hits a slingshot DDT onto Iggy. Assisted springboard cutter onto Iggy gets 2 as Awful saves. Team I.O.U force Lancelot to hit Harlem with a Canadian Destroyer for 2!!! Enzuigiri by Harlem followed by a release German suplex by Lancelot to Awful. Lancelot hits the Doomsday Suicide Dive onto Iggy!!! Back in, the Bravados hit Gentlemen’s Agreement on Iggy for 3.
Winners and Still PWX Tag Team Champions- The Bravado Brothers **3/4 ( They had a challenge having to follow Henry/Strong so they tried to go hot and heavy on the action to get the crowd engaged. The match was fun with some car crash elements to it but they just couldn’t captivate the crowd despite their best efforts.)

Cedric Alexander vs. Marty Scurll
Alexander targets the arm of Scurll to start but Scurll is able to turn that into his favor. Head scissors takeover by Alexander and he hits a dropkick. Basement dropkick by Alexander gets 1 and Scurll comes back with an arm wringer driver. Kick to the head blocks a head scissors takeover attempt and Scurll hits a super kick from the apron onto Alexander. Back suplex onto the apron by Scurll and he drives Alexander’s knees into the mat. Another arm wringer driver gets 2 and Scurll stomps on the elbow. Chin lock by Scurll but Alexander fights out. Knee strike by Alexander and he hits a PK knocking Scurll off the apron. Suicide dive to the floor by Alexander and back in, he hits a springboard clothesline for 2. Michinoku Driver by Alexander gets 2. Alexander goes up but Scurll follows and Alexander fights him off. Frog Splash eats knees and Scurll gets a small package for 2. Basement super kick followed by a piledriver by Scurll gets 2. They trade blows and Scurll hits a super kick to the knee. Enzuigiri by Alexander but Scurll answers back with a lariat. Brainbuster by Alexander and both men are down!!! They trade blows again and Scurll hits a basement super kick. Alexander catches him with a backslide for 2 and follows up with a spin kick for 2. Scurll rolls Alexander into a crucifix for 2 and he goes for the Chickenwing. Alexander fights out so Scurll snaps the fingers of Alexander. Alexander catches him with the Lumbar Check for 3!!!
Winner- Cedric Alexander ***1/2 ( This didn’t have the collection of villain antics from Scurll that make his matches unique and they went with a more competitive back and forth match which the crowd ate up. This was a really good match that was just missing somethign to really take this to the next level, but nonetheless still a damn good effort from two of the best going today. Alexander is just on fire right now, putting on killer performances on any show he’s booked for and he has had one of the stronger runs this summer on any wrestler in the world. )

PWX Championship vs. Career – John Skyler © vs. Jake Manning
They slug it out and take the fight to the floor. Manning backdrops Skyler on the floor and he sends Skyler into the post. They brawl in the crowd for a bit and Manning tosses Skyler into a pile of chairs. Skyler suplexes Manning on the floor and they finally head back in. Manning goes up and hits a flying clothesline for 1. Jawbreaker by Skyler and he hits a back breaker into a DDT for 2. Manning drives Skyler’s head repeatedly into a chair and he goes for a bulldog onto the chair but Skyler counters into a knee breaker onto the chair!!! Skyler goes right to work on the injured leg and he grabs the post Figure-4. Basement super kick by Skyleer and he grabs the Indian Deathlock. Manning fights out and they begin to slug it out. Skyler goes low to end that and he takes the belt off the referee. He whips Manning with the belt but Manning fights out. Skyler drills Manning in the head with the belt for 2 and he drives a chair into the bad knee of Manning. Skyler places a chair onto the leg of Manning and he leaps off the second rope but Manning gets the chair up to block!!! Manning repeatedly drives the chair into the leg of Skyler and he throws some jabs. Manning grabs an Indian Deathlock of his own but Gunner and Hollis come out to attack Manning. They set up a table in the ring and the Revolt save Manning from a triple power bomb. They brawl on the floor and Manning dives onto everyone on the floor!!! Back in, Manning catches Skyler with the piledriver for 2!!! Manning pours thumbtacks onto the table and they head up. Skyler catches Manning with a Sunset Bomb through the table for 2!!! Sharpshooter by Skyler but Brian Kanabroski, the PWX owner, comes out and orders the ref to ring the bell. The ref won’t do it and George South takes him out!!! Manning rolls up Skyler for 2!!! Skyler kicks the leg of Manning and goes for the Pedigree but Manning catapults him into the corner to block. Pedigree by Manning gets 3!!!!
Winner and NEW PWX Champion- Jake Manning ***3/4 ( An excellent blow off to close out a really good show. I’m glad they saved all the brawling and weapon stuff for this match instead of using it all over the card, it legitimized the brawl they had here and made everything with the chairs and the crowd brawling more effective. They had a good brawl before the interference kicked in and after that they did some overbooking that hooked the crowd big time between the thumbtack spot and the attempted screwjob, resulting in the MONSTER pop of Manning’s win. This was great storytelling and was a fantastic payoff to Manning’s two year journey for a win.)

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

This was another strong outing from PWX, topping their excellent effort from last month. One of the things I have really enjoyed from this promotion is the structing of their cards, showcasing primarily local talents in the opening matches, mixing in veterans workers (Strong and Scurll) against the top local stars (Henry and Alexander), and closing the show with their hottest feuds (Skylar/Manning). It's a simple concept that gives you a good mix on a show and doesn't subject the fans to burn outs. It really helped in the case of the main event as their brawl and the overbooking got over huge and resulted in one of the stronger pops I've heard on an indy show in some time for the finish. Going forward, I hope they continue to structure their cards like this but start shifting the focus toward talents like Darius Lockhart and the Bravados that seem ready to take over from the likes of Cedric Alexander as he prepares to move on to bigger and better things. This was a breeze of a show to watch with a collection of really solid matches and one great one in Henry vs. Strong, so go out of your way to watch this one.