wrestling / Video Reviews
Views from the Hawke’s Nest: The Very Best of Mike Quackenbush in wXw – Discs 2 & 3
Disc 2
Broken Rulz
Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen
August 21, 2004
Mike Quackenbush, Jigsaw, & Gran Akuma vs. Hallowicked & The Wild Cards (Eddie Kingston & Jack Marciano)
This match seemed to be going along fine, as I am found of the Chikara trios style and this was clearly that. However, I then realized that nothing was happening and nothing was seemingly being built to in the match…and we were already at the 20 minute mark. We got a couple of obligatory heat segments later on, but this match was sadly all about going for an absurdly long time for the sake of going a long time. That is my least favorite kind of professional wrestling. You want to go a long time? That’s fine. Just have a story to tell. To call this self-indulgent does not do it justice. This was just the style of the time though, and the crowd clearly appreciated their effort (even if it would definitely be a stretch to say they were hot for it). Quack eventually finished Wicked with the Quackendriver II around the 40 minute mark. (1/4*)
Quack was attacked after the match by a group that I believe was led by Steve Douglas. There was no commentary on this match, and it was hard to tell as a result. Douglas challenged Quack to a Lightweight Championship match. Quack accepted the challenge. The silver lining of the Chikara trios going an absurdly long time is that it leads to a good story for Quack’s second match on the show. At least I hope so. Unfortunately, that match is not on this set! Life is not this hard!
Joint@Venture
Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen
February 11, 2005
Mike Quackenbush(c) vs. Emil Sitoci [CZW Junior Heavyweight Championship]
This match was almost entirely competed on the mat with both men enjoying periods of firm control. I love competitive mat work, but I don’t think these two ever managed to tell a worthwhile story with it. Then, the match devolved into a handful of highspots and more traditional indie work. With no cohesive story during the time on the mat to pay off, that stretch very clearly felt like a waste of time. Eventually, Quack had Sitoci tied up in a hold, but Sitoci refused to submit. The thirty minute time limit expired with Sitoci still fighting the hold. (*)
Quack offered five more minutes, and Sitoci accepted. Unfortunately, Steve Douglas ran in with his crew. Douglas prevented the five extra minutes from happening because his match was due to start.
Disc 3
Joint@Venture
Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen
February 12, 2005
Mike Quackenbush, Jigsaw, & Gran Akuma vs. Hallowicked, Eddie Kingston, & Skayde
(Unlike the last Chikara trios match on this set, this was the main event of the show. They may go two hours.)
Much like the previous Chikara trios match on this set, this match went on entirely too long. Unlike that one though, they incorporated a heat segment into this match (Quack doing the honors of getting worked over) to add some much-needed structure to the proceedings. Unfortunately, they did not even really do a hot tag which felt awkward and like a missed opportunity after such a lengthy heat segment. It’s something that happened in Chikara tag matches quite a bit due to using lucha tag rules. After Emil Sitoci was able to help Quack thwart Steve Douglas in his attempt to interfere and attack Quack, Quack eventually managed to put Skayde away with a pinning combo. This was yet another match on this set that prioritized length at the expense of using the time they had to tell a compelling story. This match was not quite as obnoxious as the previous Chikara trios match on this set, but it was nearly equally as boring. (*1/2)
Quack told Emil that he would be brought to the US for a shot at the CZW junior title.
Anniversary Show
Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen
December 17, 2005
Mike Quackenbush vs. Chris Hero [2/3 Falls]
This was very underwhelming which is disappointing because it started off with so much promise. They were doing cool arm work early on, and Quack running through Hero really did a great job of engaging the crowd. Then Hero took over. He just did not have anything interesting to do with the excessive time he had to work over Quack. Now, there was a nice moment when Hero failed to win in two straight falls. Hero continued to just have nothing to say with the work after that though. Quack’s fairly anti-climatic made it all the more annoying. An absurd use of fifty minutes. (*)
Quack then cut an emotional promo about how he has to get surgery to remove potentially-cancerous growths and that this may be his last weekend of wrestling ever. That would obviously prove to not be the case.
Back to the Roots
Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen
March 18, 2006
Ares(c) vs. Mike Quackenbush [wXw Heavyweight Championship]
This was Quack’s return to the company, and he was a surprise challenger to Ares. He was very over and made for an excellent challenger as a result. Ares dominated the majority of the match, but Quack managed to survive long enough to hit the Quackendriver II to win the match and the title. The win got a great reaction. Ares’ period of control was just solid enough to ensure that this title win felt like a “moment.” (***)
Watch some Quack matches for free!
Quack vs. Claudio Castagnoli [Their best match]
Quack vs. Eddie Kingston [GREAT stuff]
Quack & Jigsaw vs. Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli
Quack, Jigsaw, & Manami Toyota vs. Amazing Red & The SAT
Quack & Jigsaw vs. The Young Bucks
Quack, Skayde, & Lance Steel vs. Damian, Exess, & Kid Kamikaze
Quack & Jigsaw vs. Neo-Solar Temple
Quack, Eddie Kingston, Jigsaw, & The Colony vs. GEKIDO
Quack, Icarus, & Dave Cole vs. Claudio Castagnoli & The Colony
Quack vs. Amazing Red vs. Quiet Storm
Click here for a meticulously organized list of all of my wrestling reviews.
More Trending Stories
- More Details On Mercedes Mone’s Deal with AEW, Confirmed To Be Multi-Year
- Raquel Rodriguez Reportedly Pulled From Active WWE Roster, Listed As ‘Out of Action’
- Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, Rhea Ripley Top This Week’s WWE Superstar Instagram Photos
- Backstage Reaction To Booker T Saying He Had a ‘Run In’ With CM Punk At NXT