Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Midwest Wrestling Tag Team Warfare 2012

I reviewed this promotion’s first show back in February. This is their second show.

April 22, 2012
Niles, OH

Commentator: Denver Colorado

Michael Elgin vs. Drake Younger
Midwest has the worst hardcam from 50 yards away that they periodically cut away to. It’s horrible. Younger came out and buried the live crowd. Real basic rudo 101 promo.

Elgin was about to cut a promo countering what Younger said, but Younger attacked him from behind. Elgin quickly came back though. Elgin was in full control. Elgin went for a crippler crossface, but Younger made the ropes. Younger caught him with a swinging neckbreaker. Younger started to get the heat after that. Younger got a chinlock. Elgin escaped and hit a Brogue Kick. They traded a lot of strikes. Elgin actually gave Younger a Buckle German Suplex: 1…2…NO! Fuck, that looked like it hurt. Younger came back with a Gibson Driver for a nearfall of his own. Elgin reversed a tornado DDT into an Emerald Frosion: 1…2…NO! Bridging German from Elgin: 1…2…NO! Younger got a low blow and a small package: 1…2…NO! Darke tried for the Drake’s Landing, but Elgin escaped and hit an enzuigiri: 1…2…NO! Crippler Crossface from Elgin! Younger escaped and hit a Michinoku Driver: 1…2…3!

This was a real solid opener and pretty much just as good as any match on the first Midwest DVD. The finish was a little anti-climatic, but that is pretty much my only complaint about this match. Younger has become so much more interesting this year. I would honestly love to see a rematch some day.
Match Rating: ***

The show then cut to the opening Midwest Wrestling video package. This made Elgin/Younger seem like the “cold open” of a television sitcom. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before, and I thought it was really cool.

Mikey vs. Irish Jack
I don’t think I’ve seen either of these guys before. Irish Jack seems to be doing a Irish stereotype gimmick. Mikey is doing an eight year old boy gimmick. This match is gonna suckkkkk.

Jack jumped him early. Mikey came back with a back suplex and a splash. Irish Jack tried to use his flask as a weapon, but the referee blocked it. Jack spat in his whisky in Mikey’s face. Jack kicked him out of the ring and then brought him back. This is the worst thing ever. Mikey came back with a vertical suplex. Mikey avoided some offense from Jack. Mikey then hit a flapjack for a nearfall. Ugh, this may be the last match I ever review in my life. I hate myself for spending my free time this way. Mikey hit an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Mikey hit a buckle bomb and a backpack chinbreaker: 1…2…3. I don’t care if the crowd was somewhat into it. This was fucking terrible and a waste of life. I rather watch the Best of Steve Weiner than either of these men again.

Shindy.
Match Rating: DUD

Eddie Graves vs. Darin Corbin
Slow motion wrestling or riot.

Graves tries to get heat by saying that Twilight is a good movie. Corbin put a stop to the action and pulled out his air guitar. Corbin and Graves then did a battle to see who was the better rock star. Eddie Graves promotes himself as the “Last Rock Star,” so that’s why that happened. Dave “The Potato” Dawson even showed off his air guitar skills. The crowd liked Corbin and Potato more than Graves. Graves rolled to the floor and managed to drop Corbin on the ropes to cut him off. Graves got the heat for a bit. They ended up on the top rope, and Corbin was able to hit a sunset flip powerbomb. Corbin followed that with a draping DDT: 1…2…NO! Corbin then hit an Ace Crusher: 1…2…NO! Graves came back with a poke to the eye and a Knee Trembler: 1…2…3

This was an OK match. Neither guy seemed especially motivated, but it was fine for what it was. The sunset flip powerbomb was cool, and based on the effort throughout the rest of the match, I was surprised they did something like that.
Match Rating: **1/4

The Sex Bob-ombs (Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett) vs. Team Magnum Pro (Brian Gott & Derek Cornell)
Team Magnum Pro lost to two pirates on the first show. I’m not making that up.

Fitchett and Vega were in control early. Neither Fitchett, nor Vega seemed to be taking this match too seriously. Fitchett hit a standing moonsault for an early nearfall. Fitchett got cut off, and the rudos worked him over for a bit. Fitchett was eventually able to escape, and Vega made a hot tag. The tecnicos had the advantage back, until Vega got caught with a lung blower from Gott and a double stomp from Cornell. Cornell then hit a running knee: 1…2…3

Another OK match. I like Vega and Fitchett a lot, but this was not their best effort. Gott and Cornell did not make much of an impression on me.
Match Rating: **1/4

Justin Mane vs. Gregory Iron
Mane made a strong impression on me at the Debut Show. Iron is obviously well known, but he doesn’t get enough credit for being a talented wrestler.

Mane cut a pre-match promo that established him as the rudo, in case the crowd forgot about him at the last show. He’s got a lot of charisma. Iron then cut a pre-match promo, where he pimped all the magazines/websites that have interviewed him. He said that Mane would leave the match with a disability. Mane slapped him and then Iron gimp slapped him. Iron was in control early. Mane took a bump and started selling his right arm as injured Both wrestlers walked to the back. All of a sudden, Mane threw Iron onto the floor. He screamed that he faked it to Dave The Potato. Something, something, something, cuckold. Back in the ring, Iron went for a springboard move, but Mane caught him with a German suplex: 1…2…NO! Mane got the heat for a while. Mane hit a moonsault for a nearfall. Mane went for a diving elbow, but Iron avoided it. Iron made a comeback. Iron went after Mane’s right arm with a series of big moves. Iron hit a neckbreaker and a lariat: 1…2…NO! Iron went to the top rope and hit a diving elbow drop: 1…2…NO! Mane came back with a neackbreaker for a nearfall. Ryan Burke came to ringside, and Mane got distracted. Mane left the ring and got in a shoving match with Burke. Iron went to take out both with a tope suicida, but Mane avaoided it so that Iron only took out Burke. Mane then threw Iron back into the ring and hit a TKO: 1…2…3

Burke and Mane brawled after the match and some of the wrestlers and referees ran out to break them up. Burke then got on the microphone to challenge Mane to a Street Fight for the next show. Mane said he did not accept the challenge.

This match was as solid as the opener, but it was worked in a completely different way. Mane and Iron’s roles were well established, so it was easy to get invested in the match. The segment after the match wasn’t anything special, but it was a good way to set up the next show.
Match Rating: ***

Austin Mannix vs. Joey Diamante
They traded some strikes. The crowd wasn’t really interested in this match seemingly. Mannix hit a running knee for a nearfall. Diamante came back with a discus lariat for a nearfall of his own. Diamante got the heat after that. This is such a nothing match so far. Mannix came back with a spinebuster for a nearfall. Mannix made a comeback. Mannix hit a running Ace Crusher for a nearfall. Diamante came back with a release Northern Light Suplex for a nearfall. Mannix came back with a TKO for a nearfall. Diamante then came back with a pair of neckbreakers, and he then light-heartedly grabbed the tights as he pinned him: 1…2…3

Such a nothing match.
Match Rating: *3/4

ACH vs. Bobby Beverly vs. Jason Gory [Elimination Match}
Watch this match for free!

ACH is the best. That sentence sums up everything that happened before the bell rang. Before there was any action, they cut to a horrendous hard camera angle that must have been fifty yards away from anyone in the crowd or the ring. They did a lot of “one man out, two men in the ring” stuff early on. ACH hit a snap Falcon Arrow on Beverly for an early nearfall. Gory spat something in ACH’s face and then locked in a Cobra Clutch variation. ACH had to tap out. Bullshit. Gory worked over Beverly. Gory eventually went for a Superfly Splash, but Beverly avoided it. They traded Tombstone attempts. Beverly then hit a superkick and Emerald Frosion: 1…2…3!

Beverly is really over in his hometown, so I think it makes sense that he is booked to be strong in this promotion. However, I definitely disagree with ACH being eliminated by Jason Gory. Gory is fine and all, but ACH is someone who should be getting a big push no matter where he is booked. This match also probably would have been better if it was a four-way with two heels or something similar. The two babyface/one heel dynamic was awkward.
Match Rating: **1/2

BJ Whitmer & Rickey Shane Page vs. Arik Cannon & Aaron Epic
At the Debut Show, Page defeated Cannon in the opener and Whitmer defeated Epic in the main event. The rudos (Epic & Cannon) attacked Whitmer after the show, and Page made the save. Thus, we get this.

Epic and Cannon attacked the tecnicos before the bell rang. All four men started the match with some brawling in and around the ring. Whitmer got laid out on the outside, which allowed the rudos to work over Page in the ring. A tag team match then broke out. Whitmer eventually returned to the ring apron, but Page was still getting beat down. RSP finally escaped and tagged in Whitmer. Whitmer made a very professional hot tag. Whitmer got a nearfall on Epic with a spinebuster. Epic hit a running forearm strike on Whitmer for a nearfall of his own. Page finally recovered hit Epic with a boot stomp for a nearfall. Epic locked in a guillotine, and he then hit RSP with the Fastball Punch: 1…2…NO! RSP came back with a roundhouse kick, a buckle bomb, and a Trouble in Paradise: 1…2…NO! Cannon hit RSP with a big punch and a Glimmering Warlock. Epic threw Cannon out of the ring and pinned RSP: 1…2…3! Cannon was upset with Epic after the match. Whitmer then gave Cannon an exploder, as Epic celebrated outside the ring.

This was a solid main event that set up Aaron Epic as one of the promotion’s main players. Since Whitmer and Cannon haven’t been back since this show, Epic and Page deserved to be the focus of the show. Personally, I would have had Epic go over Whitmer, but it’s not that big of a deal.
Match Rating: **3/4

Bonus Free Match Reviews

January 20, 2012
Justin Mane vs. Ryan Burke from Midwest Wrestling’s Debut Show

Mane was recently squashed on WWE TV by Ryback. He cut a pretty good promo right before Ryback killed him.

Mane was on commentary earlier on the show, and he came across very cocky. Mane grabbed the microphone from the ring announcer and ran down the crowd and the city of Niles. Burke then came out to a big pop, because they hated Mane and Burke was a hometown guy. Burke completely dominated the beginning of the match, much to the delight of the crowd. Burke then killed Mane with a suicide dive, which the crowd popped huge for. Back in the ring, Mane pretty much immediately cut him off and started to work him over. The crowd did not like Mane, and they were quite ready for Burke to come back. Mane went to the top rope and went for a moonsault, but Burke dived out of the ring. Burke came back with a diving cross-body and some big kicks. Burke went to the top rope and hit a double stomp on Mane’s back that drive Mane’s head into the mat. That looked sick and made for a great nearfall. Mane came back with a TKO: 1…2…NO! Mane used a lowblow behind the referee’s back and then hit Star Struck (a Pele kick): 1…2…3

This was probably my favorite match of the show so far. Mane wasn’t very subtle, but his heel antics were so enjoyable and worked perfectly for this crowd. He’s got a lot of personality, so he should be one to keep an eye on going forward. I hope he gets a strong push here. Burke and Bobby Beverly should do a big tag match together in Niles together as the crowd would really love them together.
Match Rating: ***

March 3, 2012
Aaron Epic vs. Uhaa Nation from Midwest Wrestling’s Secret of the Ooze

Epic jumps Nation with a Sick Kick and then repeated strikes in the corner. Uhaa managed to shove Epic down, but Epic came right back with a step-up enzugiri. Epic got cocky and then ate a brogue kick from Uhaa as his punishment. Uhaa made a comeback and hit Cross Rhodes: 1..2…NO! Epic came back with a one-legged Codebreaker: 1…2…NO! Uhaa avoided the Fastball punch and hit a German suplex: 1…2…NO! Epic followed that up with a discus forearm and then a Sliding D: 1…2…NO! Uhaa came back with a powerslam and a standing moonsault: 1…2…NO! Epic avoided a standing Shooting Star Press, but Uhaa drove him into the corner. Epic distracted the referee and then kicked Uhaa dead in the balls: 1…2…3!

This was fast and furious action from two talents that need much more exposure at the moment. The match was short but always fun.
Match Rating: **1/2

July 20, 2012
Aaron Epic vs. Bobby Beverly from Midwest Wrestling’s The Invasion

This match was supposed to be Epic vs. Rickey Shane Page, but the latter had some issue that prevented him from making the show. Epic asked the referee to declare him the winner right now, but instead, Bobby Beverly’s music hit. Nothing like an impromptu main event.

Beverly and Epic started brawling right away. They brawled all over the ringside area. Both men ended up on the apron, and Epic was able to cut him off with a DDT on said apron. Epic brought him back in the ring and started to get the heat. Epic went for a middle rope dive at one point, but Beverly caught him with a Mic Check. Beverly made a comeback. He got a nearfall with a urinagi backbreaker. Beverly hit a saito suplex for another nearfall. Epic came back with a knee to the face for a nearfall of his own. They traded some strikes. Somehow the referee got caught in the corner and got caught in teh cross-fire. Beverly hit a superkick and got a phantom pinfall. Eddie Graves ran out and distracted Beverly. Epic then hit a low-blow and the Fastball Punch: 1…2…3. The crowd did not like that finish.

This was a solid main event. It didn’t light my world on fire, but I definitely enjoyed it. Epic has been a good heel in Midwest, and Beverly has been very over in the promotion since they have only run his hometown. I question whether or not it was wise to have Beverly lose when he is a hometown hero.
Match Rating: **3/4

Check out Midwest Wrestling on their website, their Facebook, and their Twitter.

Thanks everybody for reading! You can send feedback to my Twitter or to my email address: [email protected]. Also, check out my site: FreeProWrestling.com .

The 411: This show was OK, but rather lifeless at times. The opener, the Mane/Iron match, and the main event were all enjoyable, but I can in no way recommend that you buy this DVD just to watch those matches. I’ve definitely seen worst shows, but it’s impossible to get excited about these shows. Nothing on the shows seems to have a purpose. You never get the sense of some larger picture. It’s just matches that don’t feel important, which is a shame because there are some real talented guys on the Midwest Wrestling shows. Elgin, ACH, Younger, Vega, Fitchett, Page, Epic, Whitmer, and Beverly are all good-great wrestlers, but this show didn’t make the most of them. If you want to support Midwest Wrestling, buy the DVD. Also, check out a full/organized list of all the wrestling show reviews I've done at 411mania.

Final Score:  4.5   [ Poor ]