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Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Scenic City Invitational 2016 – Night 1

August 21, 2016 | Posted by TJ Hawke
Chris Hero Image Credit: WWE, EVOLVE
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Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Scenic City Invitational 2016 – Night 1  

sci

August 5, 2016

Watch the Scenic City Invitational here.

Scenic City Invitational First Round Match
Jimmy Rave vs. John Skyler
This was a strong start to a tournament. Rave and Skyler worked a crisp pace, packed in plenty of action, and managed to tell a compelling story. Rave kept trying to slow the match down at the beginning. The younger (right?) Skyler kept trying to pick up the pace though and was progressively getting more and more successful. Rave managed to cut him off once with the apron STO and then again by stalling on the floor in the most trollish fashion possible to bait Skyler to the floor. Skyler overcame all of that though and seemed to be on the verge of victory…only for Rave to catch him with a super tight small package to squeak out the victory. This was good. (***¼)
You can watch this match here.

 

Scenic City Invitational First Round Match
Ray Fury vs. Joey Lynch

While watching this match between one guy I barely know (Lynch) and one guy I don’t believe I’ve heard of at all (Fury), I could not help but be reminded of inexperienced public speakers speeding through a speech without realizing it in order to get it over with as soon as possible due to nerves. It does not mean that the content of the speech would be automatically bad, but the presentation would certainly weaken the overall effect.

That’s not to say both guys always looked nervous or that both of them clearly were. The comparison was more about the pacing, and the fact that it seemed off because they were moving a bit too quickly.

Anyway, the match was definitely not bad. Lynch moves around very smoothly, and he seems to have a ton of potential. Fury seems to have some good ideas in the ring, but he just needs to probably slow down a little as there were a handful of very awkward moments that probably could have been easily prevented.

The review of this match sucked to be honest. Let me sum it up: I knew little about these two guys going in, and it may have lowered my expectations to the match’s benefit. A few notable awkward moments and an overall disjointed feeling brought it down for sure sure though. Lynch won (thankfully). (**½)

 

Scenic City Invitational First Round Match
Billy Buck vs. Drew Delight
Despite both guys looking like total local yokels, they genuinely proved to be quite solid in the ring and put together a fun and easy-to-watch midcard contest that did not overstay its welcome. Billy Buck will never be on the radar of most companies, and it would certainly be misleading to imply that he’s this fantastic talent who needs to be everywhere or anything. He just flat out delivered here. Delight was less compelling to me, but he got the the job done. The match was completely basic in structure, but the pacing and timing of everything worked out so well. Billy Buck won after a superkick. (***)

 

Scenic City Invitational First Round Match
Anthony Henry vs. Lio Rush
Damn, this was really good. The key to this match was that there was a great sense of urgency, but they did not ruin it with overly choreographed action. They were running around and working very fast which can turn out badly. However, that action was always based on trying to hurt the opponent which is the key to pulling that go-go-go style off in a compelling way.

Henry was super determined here to make up for losing in the first round of the SCI last year. That led to him working with a degree of focus and control that you rarely see in pro wrestlers. It’s what separates the good from the great quite frankly in a lot of ways.

Rush did not back down though, and he seemingly matched Henry’s intensity, urgency, and physicality throughout the match. Rush genuinely comes across like the future of pro wrestling right now, and it is fucking nuts no one is pushing him in that manner. This was a very good match overall with two performers who should be everywhere by now. Henry ended up winning cleanly via his GTS variation. (***¾)

 

Scenic City Invitational First Round Match
Chip Day vs. Odinson

The crowd can’t get enough of Billy Buck, but they go right to sleep for Odinson mauling Chip Day. Unfucking believable.

This match was basically worked personally for me. Odinson is a big muscular fucker, and he just tossed Chip around for 95% of the match. It was great. Chip sold like a motherfucker for him and a desperate fruit roll-up allowed him to steal the win.

This was not only a good match in its own right, but it also was a great way to add some variety to the show. The lack of crowd reaction was downright bizarre though. Don’t tell me any nonsense about weird southern wrestling fans not used to seeing Chip Day not being a dick. It’s fucking ODISON tossing fools. Get with the fucking program, ya dorks. (***¼

 

Scenic City Invitational First Round Match
Gunner Miller (w/Jeff G. Bailey) vs. Mikael Judas

Haha, if you see a review that puts over this match in any fashion, you can dismiss that reviewer entirely because they are worked into a shoot in regards to the SCI. Mikael Judas is like a prototypical shindie southern indie guy. He is absolutely terrible and controlled the great majority of this match. Thankfully he lost. Avoid this match like the plague. (DUD)

 

Scenic City Invitational First Round Match
Corey Hollis vs. Matt Riddle

This was a really fun match all the way through. It was also a neat treat to see Riddle play total babyface here. He did a great job of staying true to his character despite completely switching in-ring roles. That’s something about 95% of wrestlers struggle with, and he’s still a rookie. He legit may one day become the greatest of all time.

Hollis was obviously also good. He controlled a fair amount of the match. He played up the NXT connection a fair amount which was a bit too cartoonish. It did not overwhelm the match at least.

They got in, packed in some fun, and then got out leaving you wanting more. Kudos to them. Riddle won with his submission fairly out of nowhere. (***¼)

 

Scenic City Invitational First Round Match
Chris Hero vs. Kyle Matthews

It’s so nice when a booker recognizes how to maximize their use of Chris Hero in 2016. He is the biggest and baddest motherfucker. He beats up little wrestlers and eats them for all seven meals a day. It’s glorious. Just glorious. The little wrestlers then do their best to fight back and look for openings to do any damage. They may seem close. They may seem to be making some headway. Then Hero finishes them off. And it’s very good or great every time. All fucking hail. (***¾)

 

Watch these matches for free.

Jimmy Rave vs. AJ Styles

Chris Hero vs. KENTA

Matt Riddle vs. Chuck O’Neil

Kyle Matthews vs. Davey Richards

Chip Day vs. Gunner Miller

Corey Hollis vs. BJ Hancock

Joey Lynch vs. Matt Fortune

Anthony Henry vs. Cedric Alexander

8.0
The final score: review Very Good
The 411
The 2015 SCI (night 1 & night 2) was a mixed bag to say the least. Night 1 of the 2016 tourney was a major upgrade in every single way. There was an objectively better talent list (Hero and Riddle are for sure two of the best going today. Henry and Rush are world class talents. Rave can be great. I could go on.) The booking through was super consistent and well done. Hell, even the production and setting were both a million times better. This show would be worth your time, and I encourage everyone to check it out. If nothing else, it will be one of the easiest wrestling shows you watch all year.
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