411’s FCW TV Report 01.11.09

The views and opinions expressed herein are those solely of the author and may not necessarily reflect those of the rest of the human race.

Hey there and thanks for checking back in. Before this gets underway, I have to say—no, this has nothing to do with my personal life. It’s actually related to what I do here and the fact that Gavin Spears was released before he could even make it to the main roster.

I know, I know…lousy economy, cutbacks, trim the fat, and all that bunk. But I still say letting Spears go was a mistake. He had more talent – both in the ring and on the mic – than most of the roster down here. Not to say that most of the roster sucks, but Spears had every tool you could think of to move up to the big time and succeed. And because of the cuts, he doesn’t get a chance to prove it. Just a damn shame.

FCW – 01.11.09

Highlights of last week’s FCW Title change start us off. I still…just…bleh. I really hope Escobar’s improved since his last title opportunity and isn’t still a poor man’s Eddie Guerrero…

Opening clip package brings us to the FCW Arena at 4535 South Dale Mabry. Josh Matthews and Dusty Rhodes welcome us to the show where TONIGHT: The “Queen of FCW” Tournament (!) starts, the Tag Titles are on the line in the main event, and we’ll hear from new champion Eric Escobar. But first, we’ll see the former one…

Sheamus O’Shaunessey vs. Kafu

I know Kafu’s a big, tough guy, but Matthews and Rhodes are going on about how pissed O’Shaunessey is about losing the belt. I expect nothing more here than a right and proper ass-kicking.

Kafu, however, is as expecting of O’Shaunessey’s temper as anyone and uses that against him, avoiding a charge at the opening bell and using his unorthodox striking style to gain an early lead. O’Shaunessey is tough as leather, though, and shakes it off to show Kafu what brawling is all about. It’s what made O’Shaunessey as successful as he’s been to date – not only a rough, strong fighter but there’s very few attacks he can’t recover from to hand out a greater beating.

O’Shaunessey keeps up the heat, employing his MO of beating a man senseless and wearing him down with moves such as a modified Million Dollar Dream. Kafu makes multiple attempts to strike back with Capoeira (think Blanka from “Street Fighter”, only without the electricity) but O’Shaunessey keeps recovering too fast for Kafu to maintain any momentum. Kafu finally finds his opening when O’Shaunessey takes a little too much time and lets his feet mount a sustained offense. He gets caught by an angry O’Shaunessey, though, who shows him what a high kick can really do before putting Kafu out of his misery…

Finish comes when O’Shaunessey hits the Fiery Red Hand for the pinfall victory. Not a bad match if you’re not a big fan of actual wrestling holds. However, given their styles, what else is to be expected? O’Shaunessey is kept strong for (I would like to think) the inevitable bout with Escobar. An irate O’Shaunessey leaves the ring and takes us to commercial.

Back to ring announcer Tiffany (Lillian Garcia, she ain’t) introducing FCW Champion Eric Escobar. Escobar immediately starts his promo in Spanglish (strike one). Escobar states that it takes a lot to be FCW Champion and that he’ll defend the title anywhere, anytime—

—which brings out Byron Saxton, who’s proud to call Escobar “champion” on behalf of the Conglomerate. Saxton just happens to know someone who wants a shot at the Title – Black Pain. Cue Pain’s entrance and he and Escobar stare down. Saxton tries to interrupt (kinda) before the two slug it out. Pain gets the better of the exchange and splashes Escobar before apparently laying down a challenge in Spanish. Jigga what? The heels celebrate and take us to commercial.

Back to

Rosa Mendes vs. Angela – Opening Round Match in the “Queen Of FCW” Tournament

Let me say, first off, that I think a “Queen Of The Ring” tournament is a pretty cool idea. Our bracket is as follows:

“Girl From Mexico”. Man, they just don’t pay the creative staff enough these days.

Rosa gives Angela a free shot, a move she comes to regret as Angela takes over. Mendes tries to recover with a dive but Angela pulls a Matrix bridge, leaving Mendes to miss, sail to the outside, and maybe think twice about underestimating Angela’s dexterity. Mendes walks around the ring and Angela’s speed comes to fruition again as she’s all over Mendes. Mendes then digs into her dirty bag and fights dirty on the outside, something Angela didn’t look like she was counting on.

Back inside, Mendes lays on the chicanery before going for a few submission moves,. Showing she can do more than just catfight. Mendes keeps that strategy, weakening Angela with hard blows before trying to tap her. Angela gets wise to the game and retaliates using her speed after a failed pin attempt by Mendes. Angela pours on the speed attack (including a dropkick that Mendes completely forgets to sell…boo) and Mendes turns to the trickery, putting her feet on the ropes for a quick count but the referee spots and stops it. Angela goes for a quick cover (only getting two also) before deciding to finish the opening round…

Finish comes when Angela hits a reverse DDT for the pinfall victory. Angela advances in the “Queen of FCW” Tournament in a decent match marred by the no-sale of, ironically, the one that’s been called up to Raw. Huh.

Our bracket as it stands now:

Angela celebrates and Mendes is mad before Matthews announces that next week, Goldust makes an appearance in the FCW Arena. The commentary on that should be enlightening.

Commercial.

Back to

Hade Vansen vs. Lupe Santiago

Vansen takes the mic pre-match, saying we’ll see a lot of pure talent here in FCW – and that no one cares, because he outshines them all. Vansen targets Escobar, staking his claim for a shot in not so many words.

(And, by the way, if Escobar is a poor man’s Eddie Guerrero, then Santiago is a poor man’s Tito Santana. You tell me which one’s worse.)

Vansen wastes no time, opening fire on Santiago before the opening bell to daze his opponent. Santiago keeps eating strike after strike as Vansen doesn’t give him room to breathe. Smart game. Vansen finally settles into wearing down Santiago, making the mistake of giving Santiago a chance to recover. Then again, given how quickly Vansen recovers and regains control, maybe it just doesn’t matter. Vansen goes back to the strikes with the object of hurting Santiago’s pride as well as the rest of him (including the dick move of kicking the middle rope into Santiago’s face. Owch). Santiago takes exception to that and uses his quickness to gain and keep some momentum. Santiago surprises Vansen for a minute or two, but not enough to keep the match in his favor…

Finish comes when Vansen reverses the Crossing The Border (seriously, that’s the name of Santiago’s finisher…I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried) into the South City Killa for the pinfall victory. Decent semi-squash that made Santiago look pretty good as well. Not much more you can hope for here.

Video package gives us some history between Johnny Prime and The Conglomerate. Prime had his arm targeted, then had Caleb O’Neal come to his side to aid in the fight a week later before we go to commercial.

Back to Matthews and Rhodes talking about their new “broadcast colleague”. That takes us backstage to our new feature, “Hangin’ With Scotty”. Nice.

In the back, Scotty Goldman says he likes hanging out at a lot of places – but one place he’s not allowed to hang out in is the Women’s Locker Room. But, there’s a Girl From Mexico he wants to meet, so he talks his cameraman, Doug, into going in anyway. They open the door and immediately get kicked out. The Girl From Mexico appears – a blond girl in a Lucha mas—aw, hell, words don’t do this lunacy any justice…

(Love the pimp hat. That just makes the look. Somehow, I’m not convinced that’s a girl from Mexico…

Oh, and I take back the snide comment about Creative earlier. I get it now.)

Goldman gives her an opportunity to make the spotlight her own, and she responds with…”Si.” That’s it. That’s all she’ll say. Goldman turns that into a funny exchange before giving up and turning things back over to the Arena.

Jon Cutler vs. Alex Riley

Cutler comes to an abysmal rip off of Def Leppard’s “Let’s Get Rocked”. Of all the songs to come out to. Playing the heel, though, it’s a great way to get some heat before he even hits the ring.

Cutler reminds me of early Kennedy in so far as his style being one to show his opponent how much better of a wrestler he is and being cocky about it. Riley has enough of that after a minute and uses power to drive Cutler out of the ring. He then tries to use some aerial ability to take the fight outside, but Cutler is smart enough to see it coming and take control once again.

Back in the ring, Cutler uses his skill to wear down Riley, throwing in some body-blows for good measure. Riley uses his own skill to work his way out of being tied up and uses his agility to take control. Cutler tries a wild strike to turn the tide but that proves to be his undoing…

Finish comes when Riley ducks a haymaker and turns it into a back suplex/uranage for the pinfall victory. Pretty good back-and-forth action here; I’d like to see that on a more regular basis. Replay takes us to commercial.

Back to

DH Smith & TJ Wilson vs. Johnny Curtis & Tyler Reks (c) – FCW Tag Team Title Match

Last week, Smith and Wilson made the mistake of using too much teamwork and it cost them dearly.

Wilson and Reks start off and Reks frustrates Wilson early on. Curtis tags in and the champs show some double-teaming power of their own. Reks and Curtis are doing early on what Smith and Wilson should have done last week – picking out one man and keeping the heat on him mercilessly with agility and power. Wilson is targeted as Curtis and Reks work him over in their corner, giving no quarter and no room to breathe. Matthews even points out that “you are seeing tag team wrestling 101 by the champs.” Wilson is tossed outside and Smith comes to his aid only for both challengers to eat stereo pescados. The champs are dominant until the challengers use the referee to distract Reks as they damage Curtis on the outside. The experience of their teachers shows as the challengers take over.

Smith and Wilson, without the titles and the arrogance that came with them, work as a smooth unit, beating and stretching Curtis in their corner and teaching the champs a lesson in “tag team wrestling 101”. A prime example comes when Wilson takes a sunset flip from Curtis, but Wilson makes the blind tag to Smith who keeps on the targeted back of Curtis. Smith’s power plays a big part in their strategy as a Boston Crab from Smith almost causes Curtis to submit. Curtis escapes and spends some time doing his damndest to escape the challengers’ corner, but Wilson is in to use his agility and striking to take control. Excellent use of blending abilities (Smith’s power and Wilson’s speed) to isolate Curtis; much better than last week.

Curtis finally takes advantage of a charge off the ropes by Smith to tag in fresh man Tyler Reks. Reks lets his adrenaline clean house. (Matthews, already eyeing the award for Announcer of the Year for 2009, states that Reks “is dropping Smith like 3rd period French”. Hah! Reks works on Smith (actually smarter, given he’s the stronger of the two), but Wilson makes the blind tag and, in another brilliant show of teamwork, Smith holds Reks up as the Bulldogs hit the Hart Attack~! Curtis breaks up the count and Wilson shows tenacity by simply tossing Curtis outside and trying another cover. Wilson’s tenacity and the challengers’ teamwork, however, still prove to be no match in the end…

Finish comes when, as the referee keeps Smith at bay, Curtis hits a Falcon Arrow on Wilson. Reks, the legal man, makes the cover (as Curtis keeps Smith at bay) for the pinfall victory. MUCH better than last week’s match. I said it last week and I was right on: “Saving this for a main event of another show and giving it a little more time would have made this great.” Matthews calls this “five-star” – I wouldn’t quite go that far. The faces celebrate to end the show.

One of the better shows since FCW started. Some oddball incidents made for surprising entertainment and the main event was top-notch. Hell, even the squash match had something going for it! I’d love to see this on a consistent basis.

L8. Thanks again for reading.

For more interesting (?) viewing, click here. If you live on the US West Coast and didn’t see this exchange on Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards show, you’re welcome.