Views from the Hawke’s Nest: IWF Chosen One

The show starts with interviews from some of the wrestlers competing in the tournament to crown the first IWF champion.

 

Commentators: Joe DeFalco & Stu Stone

 

IWF Championship Tournament Tournament
Uhaa Nation vs. Matt Sydal

Sydal was heeling it up to a degree early on, but Uhaa’s size was proving too much for him. Uhaa ended up working him over for a bit. Sydal made a comeback and finally hit the bodyslam he kept trying to hit earlier. He got a few nearfalls. Uhaa fought back and finished Sydal with the Uhaa Combination.

For two crazy high-flyers. this was not the athletic display that you would expect (or hope for). They still did some solid stuff though and kept up an enjoyable pace.

Match Rating: **3/4

 

IWF Championship Tournament Tournament
Chris Hero vs. ACH

These two had an unimpressive PWG match when Hero first returned to the indies. Let’s hope they gel together better here.

ACH came to ring ready to dance like it was 2014 PWG. Hero managed to dictate the pace though, which obviously played to his strengths. ACH came back after a tope suicida. Hero cut him off again though and worked ACH over some more. Hero blocked a tope sucida and then kicked ACH in the face. They started going back and forth. Hero finished ACH with the Cyclone Kill.

This ended up being better than I expected. I liked how Hero mostly stayed a step ahead of ACH throughout the match. It kept me interested in the match, as I never knew when ACH was going to make a comeback.

Match Rating: ***

 

Jacob Austin Young vs. Matt Cage

Cage ran through Young for a bit, but Young cut him off quickly enough. Cage came back after avoiding a senton. They started to go back and forth. Young hit a cutthroat backstabber. Cage eventually finished Young with something I believe is called, “The Money Shot.”

This was a solid little match if not too memorable. I like Matt Cage a lot, but he stands out more as a heel.

Match Rating: **1/2

 

IWF Championship Tournament Tournament
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Drew Galloway

Galloway cut one of his trademarked indie speeches before the match. Ciampa got bored and hit him. The match got going after that. Despite the cheap shot, Galloway had a bunch of success early and even gave Ciampa a powerslam on the apron. Ciampa got control in the ring though and worked Galloway over for a bit. Galloway eventually fired back with some punches and then a diving lariat. There’s just something undeniably compelling about Galloway’s act on the indies. They traded strikes until Galloway hit a spinebuster. They continued to go back and forth for a while. Ciampa seemed to be on the verge of winning after a super Air Raid Crash. He didn’t go in for the kill though, and Galloway caught him with the Future Shock: 1…2…3

Easily the most interesting match so far. Galloway really gets how to work on the indie scene in a way that a lot of ex-WWE guys do not. He works physical and mostly leaves the WWE style behind.

Match Rating: ***1/4

 

IWF Championship Tournament Tournament
Brian Cage (w/ Stu Stone) vs. Biff Busick

They struggled for control early on. Cage finally got it after hitting a buckle bomb on the floor. Cage proceeded to work Biff over for much longer than I expected. Biff eventually avoided a Lionsault and then made a comeback. They started going back and forth. Cage appeared to have Biff finished, but Biff made another comeback. He got caught with the discus lariat though: 1…2…3

I’ve really been digging Cage’s work in the last year or so. He’s really stepped up and become a strong all-around performer. He shows a bit more tenacity in his Lucha Underground matches though, and I think he would do well to do that in matches outside the promotion. Biff was his usual good self.

Match Rating: ***

 

Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson cut a promo backstage. Matt said, “We’re shoot celebs!” Great stuff.

 

They were doing some Chikara fan contest or whatever in the ring. Joey Ryan interrupted it though and gave a fan his blow pop. Ryan was annoyed about not being on the card. He gave one of the refs a superkick. Shaun Ricker interrupted him. We have a match.

 

Shaun Ricker vs. Joey Ryan

They did some very weak brawling. Who booked Joey Ryan in a singles match? Ryan got control of the match, and he kept control in the least interesting way possible. You forget how bad Joey Ryan can be when he doesn’t feel like working too hard. It took two tries, but Ricker was able to come back. They briefly went back and forth. Ricker finished him with an Air Raid Crash.

I know Joey Ryan is not the best opponent for a singles match, but Shaun Ricker was shockingly unimpressive here given that he was signed to WWE developmental for a time period. You would think there would be something about him that stood out. I saw nothing like that here. This was a terribly boring match.

Match Rating: 1/4*

 

The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) vs. Trevor Lee & Shane Strickland

The Bucks quickly got control of the match and got the heat on Swerve. This went on for a while. Swerve eventually avoided a PK from the apron, and Lee made the hot tag.  Trevor and Nick seemed to botch Lee’s moonsault spot. The teams went back and forth. Lee hit a hilo over a turnbuckle. Swerve and Lee then each did a highspot into a double superkick. Indytaker to Lee: 1…2…3

This was a well-executed version of a Young Bucks match. Lee and Swerve made for good babyface foils for the Bucks, and they did not look out of place at all. It’s not a match to be overly excited about, but it’s worth watching if you like the Bucks.

Match Rating: ***1/2

 

IWF Championship Tournament Final
Chris Hero vs. Drew Galloway vs. Uhaa Nation vs. Brian Cage (w/ Stun Stone)

The match started as a brawl on the floor. I did not find this portion of the match to be entertaining. They returned to the ring and traded some movez. This was some good, brainless fun. Galloway managed to eliminate Hero with the Future Shock DDT.

The remaining competitors went at it. They did a Tower of Doom spot. Uhaa seemed to get the upperhand on the other two until Cage caught him out of nowhere with the discus lariat: 1…2…3!

Cage vs. Galloway for the title. The crowd was not happy about the elimination. They traded some nearfalls and whatnot. A Stu Stone distraction allowed Cage to hit the Fucking Machine Suplex. They traded a bunch of strikes. Galloway eventually hit the Future Shock, but Stone got Cage’s leg on the ropes. Galloway got distracted, and Cage then kicked the ropes into Galloway’s junk. Discus lariat: 1…2…3. Cage is your first IWF champ.

This was solid, but the pedestrian brawling and the Stu Stone finish brought it down for me. You never want a tournament for a title to end in such an unsatisfying manner. It just makes the tournament feel like a waste of time.

Match Rating: **3/4

 

Watch IWF for free!

Austin Aries vs. Ricochet

Chris Hero vs. Chris Masters

The Young Bucks vs. Reno Scum

AR Fox vs. Rich Swann vs. Tony Nese vs. JT Dunn

6.0

The final score: review Average

The 411

This was a decent indie show. It felt like something I would have enjoyed seeing live a hell of a lot more than watching it on tape, as there were a bunch of randomly cool matches. The matches just didn't mean much nor come across as important.