wrestling / TV Reports

Csonka’s WCPW World Cup Third Round Review

August 25, 2017 | Posted by Larry Csonka
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7.8
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Csonka’s WCPW World Cup Third Round Review  

Csonka’s WCPW World Cup Third Round Review

OFFICIAL RESULTS
WCPW World Cup Third Round Match: Mike Bailey defeated Travis Banks @ 10:04 via pin [***½]
WCPW World Cup Third Round Match: Penta el Zero M defeated Bad Bones @ 8:40 via pin [***]
WCPW World Cup Third Round Match: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Lucky Kid @ 17:30 via pin [***]
WCPW World Cup Third Round Match: Ricochet defeated Angelico @ 19:30 via submission [**½]
WCPW World Cup Third Round Match: Joseph Conners defeated Joe Coffey @ 9:10 via pin [**]
WCPW World Cup Third Round Match: KUSHIDA defeated Kenny Williams @ 12:18 via pin [***¼]
WCPW World Cup Third Round Match: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Jay Lethal @ 20:48 via submission [****]
WCPW World Cup Third Round Match: Will Ospreay defeated Rey Mysterio @ 19:45 via pin [****]


– I don’t get around to watching WCPW much, mainly due to a lack of time. But I saw that they were posting their World Cup qualifying shows on Youtube, and thought I’d try to fit some of them in. They are using a ton of familiar names and ones I enjoy. I didn’t get to all of the qualifiers as I had hoped, but you can check out my review of the Japanese qualifiers at this link, the US Qualifiers at this link, the ROTW Qualifiers at this link, and Canadian Qualifiers at this link,.

– Like before, I am only covering tournament matches, so no coverage of War Machine & Marty Scurll vs. The Prestige.

Mike Bailey vs. Travis Banks: Both men put on high quality matches on their way here. Banks attacked as Bailey was making his entrance, they brawled and Banks hit a dive and then took control back in the ring, grounding Bailey. They trade kicks, and Bailey hits the speedball kicks, leading to a near fall. Banks quickly fought back, working ground and pound and hitting a cannonball. That allows Banks to fully take control, working over Bailey in the corner. Bailey managed to fight back, and countered a sunset flip with a moonsault knee drop. Bailey missed the knee strike, allowing Banks to hit a shotgun dropkick. Banks lays in kicks, they trade now and after a series of counters, Bailey gets a roll up for 2. Bailey to the apron and pulls Banks out with him and they continue to trade kicks. Banks trips him up and hits the apron PK. Banks hits a suicide dive, but Bailey then hits an asai moonsault to the floor. Bailey is back in, Banks follows and Bailey misses the shooting star knee drop, but then hits a running corkscrew shooting star press for the near fall. Banks avoids kicks and follows with the lariat and Michinoku driver for 2. Bailey counters slice of heaven with a superkick and hits the shooting star knee drop for the win. Mike Bailey defeated Travis Banks @ 10:04 via pin [***½] This was a very good, back and forth match to kick off the show. They didn’t over stay their welcome and left me wanting more.

Penta el Zero M vs. Bad Bones: Penta attacks at the bell, hits a RANA but Bones sends him to the floor and hits the suicide dive. Back in and Bones hits a neck breaker for 2. He whips Penta to the buckles, and then works him over with strikes. Penta fires back with a lariat and enziguri. The corner dropkick follows, and then hits a superkick. Bones sent to the floor, and Penta follows with a dive. Penta lays in big chops and then posts Bones. More chops follow, and back in and Penta heads up top but misses the double stomp. Bones follows with clotheslines, but Penta hits an enziguri only for Bones to hit a spear for a near fall. Penta fights back, hitting sling blades and covering for 2. More chops by Penta, but Bones fights off the package piledriver, covering for 2 after a superkick. Rolling Germans follow by Bones, and then a half and half suplex gets him a near fall. He transitions into a crossface. But Penta makes the ropes. Penta then hits a superkick and two destroyers for the near fall. The double stomp and package piledriver puts Bones away. Penta el Zero M defeated Bad Bones @ 8:40 via pin [***] This was a good back and forth match, and a nice follow up to the opener. They didn’t waste anytime, as both men were looking for the quick finish.

Hiromu Takahashi vs. Lucky Kid: Daryl is here! Kid tries to talk with Daryl, and we get to action. Takahashi rakes the eyes and works chops. Kid hits a RANA, sends Takahashi to the floor and Kid then waits on him. Back in and Takahashi dares Kid to chop him. He does and they trade back and forth, until Takahashi sends him to the floor. We get some floor brawling as Takahashi is just lighting up the chest of Kid with chops. Back in we go, and Takahashi picks up the pace, scoring with a sliding lariat for 2. They trade chops again, but Takahashi cuts him off and hits the superkick for 2. He then grounds Kid, before grabbing Daryl and attacking Kid with him! Kid fights off the time bomb, and hits an enziguri. Kid follows with a shotgun dropkick, and then a tornado DDT for 2. Kid fires up, looking for a suplex but Takahashi fights that off and tries for the sunset bomb to the floor. Kids fights, so Takahashi opts for the apron bomb. Kid counters the time bomb, but Takahashi takes him to the apron and they brawl. Kid hits a superkick, sending Takahashi to the floor and following with a dive. Takahashi beats the count back in, and Kid then hits an emerald flowsion variation for the near fall. Takahashi fights off the dragon suplex, and then catches Kid with a dropkick as he flies in. Kid then counters the time bomb into a cradle for 2. Takahashi then counters the back handspring with a German; they go face-to-face, trading chops once again. Takahashi then hits the sitout powerbomb for a near fall, and follows with the dynamite plunger for 2. Takahashi pulls Kid up but Kid fires back with a huge lariat and sliced bread for 2. Kid argues with the ref, and then hits a German, but Takahashi battles back, hitting the time bomb for the win. Hiromu Takahashi defeated Lucky Kid @ 17:30 via pin [***] This was another good, back and forth match, with Takahashi giving Kid a lot and making it very competitive. I do feel that they went a bit long, and would have benefited by peaking sooner instead of dragging it out as long as they did.

Ricochet vs. Angelico: They work a slower than expected opening stretch, neither man can get the advantage just yet. They are trying to tell the story that these guys are so evenly matched that they are canceling each other out. Angelico finally scores with a dropkick, sending Ricochet to the floor and following with a dive. Back in they go, and Angelico maintains control with strikes. Angelico keeps the pace slow, hitting a suplex and again covering for 2. Ricochet manages an uppercut and after catapulting Angelico under the ropes, covers for 2. Ricochet then grounds the action with a head scissors. Angelico escapes and they trade strikes center ring. Angelico fires up with kicks and knee strikes, and then scores with a roundhouse kick, covering for 2. Angelico looks for the crucifix buckle bomb, but Ricochet counters out and hits a 619. Angelico quickly cuts him off and hits the double stomp off the ropes. Ricochet now hits a knee strike, neck breaker and running shooting star press for 2. They work through some counters, with Angelico hitting a standing double stomp for 2. Angelico again looks for the crucifix bomb, but Ricochet escapes to the ropes and they workup top, Angelico cuts him off with a kick and Ricochet falls to the apron. Angelico follows Ricochet, they trade strikes and kicks. Ricochet then hits the apron neck breaker and both roll to the floor. Back in and Ricochet hits a springboard 450 for 2. Angelico gets a victory roll for 2, and they work into a double down. Ricochet counters the crucifix bomb into a sunset flip for 2. Angelico then follows with a flatliner for 2. Angelico again looks for the crucifix bomb, Ricochet counters and sends Angelico to the corner and follows with a reverse RANA. Ricochet locks in what I believe was the Masato Yoshino Sol Naciente submission and Angelico has to tap. Ricochet defeated Angelico @ 19:30 via submission [**½] This was a painfully average match overall, and for a Ricochet match this, was extremely disappointing. I don’t know if someone from WCPW “helped” them put this together or if it was all the performers thinking that they came up with a good match. It was slow, plodding, lacked drams and went against everything that these two do well as wrestlers. The work was clean and the right guy won, which is the best I can say for this. I excepted more.

– Coffey was supposed to have a bye due to changes in the tournament (Michael Elgin had to bow out). So he arrived and decided to cut a promo about having the night off, that’s always a mistake. He demands that the ref come and raise his hand, but a random unnamed hipster with some sort of authority arrives to announce his new opponent, Joseph Conners.

Joseph Conners vs. Joe Coffey: Conners worked the WWE UK Classic, and is under a WWE UK contract. They brawl at the bell; Conners takes early control and hits a delayed suplex. They brawl to the floor now, but Conners fights him off and then hits a suicide dive. Back in and Coffey hits the side back breaker and side slam, scoring a near fall. He takes the heat, looking to work the arm. Coffey then hits what looked to be a shit version of a dodon. Conners fires up, hitting an atomic drop and clothesline; the powerslam follows for 2. Conners then hits a sitout spinebuster for 2. Coffey counters the tornado DDT, hits a corner splash and then a high cross for 2. Conners counters the German, they go for pinning combos and Coffey lays in soft strikes, allowing Conners to hit a backslide for 2. Coffey hits a pop up strike and German for 2. Coffey hits a lariat for 2. Conners comes back with a slingshot DDT, and follows with don’t look down for the win. Joseph Conners defeated Joe Coffey @ 9:10 via pin [**] This was ok at best, but easily the weakest thing on the show.

KUSHIDA vs. Kenny Williams: KUSHIDA immediately looks to attack the arm, so that he can work into the hover board lock. They work into some back and forth and into a stalemate. Williams looks to pick up the pace, scoring with a back spinning elbow. KUSHIDA then counters the back handspring into arm bar, but Williams struggles for the ropes and gets the break. KUSHIDA then works a cattle mutilation, Williams escapes but KUSHIDA maintains control, once again attacking the arm. Williams tries to fire back, but KUSHIDA stops that by kicking at the arm. Williams tries to play keep away, catches KUSHIDA with an enziguri and slingshot spear. The suicide dive follows, and back in Williams heads up top but KUSHIDA cuts him off with kicks. They battle up top, but KUSHIDA gets sent to the mat and Williams hit the back elbow off the top and covers for 2. KUSHIDA back to the arm, rolls into the hover board lock but Williams makes the ropes. KUSHIDA kicks away at the arm, and they trade strikes. Williams hits a big lariat for the double down. KUSHIDA hits a DDT, but Williams counters back to the future into a roll up for 2. The running knee strike follows for 2. KUSHIDA then counters Williams off the ropes, and hits back to the future for the win. KUSHIDA defeated Kenny Williams @ 12:18 via pin [***¼] This was good, KUSHIDA gave Williams a lot and made him a believable opponent, as Williams’ near falls felt believable. I just was that the finish was built to a bit better, as it came across as anticlimactic.

Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Jay Lethal: They lock up and work a basic and traditional start. Sabre quickly takes things to the ground and targets the legs of Lethal. Lethal escapes, but Sabre then transitions to arm work. Early on Sabre is working his more playful grapple boy style, rather than the more aggressive rip your arm off style he was working during the G1. It’s fine, but I prefer the more aggressive Sabre. Lethal looks to pick up the pacing, but Sabre quickly takes him back to the ground. Sabre then works uppercuts, but Lethal cuts him off and works him over with rights. Lethal takes the heat, whipping Sabre to he buckles and hitting a back breaker. They work to the ropes and Sabre ties Lethal up in the ropes, but Lethal fights back and hits a superkick; Sabre cuts of the Lethal injection and then sends Lethal to the floor. Back in and Sabre goes to work on the arm, grounding Lethal and then sending him to the floor. Lethal back in, but Sabre locks in the octopus right away, but as Lethal tries to fight back, Sabre cuts him off and again keeps trying to rip off Lethal’s arm. Lethal manages to send Sabre to the floor and hits a suicide dive. Back in and Lethal hits the Lethal combination. Lethal starts to work the knee, and then hits a sitout powerbomb for 2. Sabre counters the figure four and locks in an a triangle. Lethal just barely makes the ropes. Sabre continues to focus on the arm, trips up Lethal and hits the PK for 2. Lethal cuts off Sabre, but Sabre counters the figure four. Lethal fights back with a rolling torture rack, looks for the top rope elbow drop but Sabre catches him in the arm bar. Lethal counters out, and locks in the figure four, but Sabre makes the ropes. Lethal works leg kicks, trying to take out the leg but Sabre then starts kicking away at the arm. They start trading rapid-fire strikes, an Sabre locks in the sleeper, but Lethal hits the cutter. He looks for lethal injection, but Sabre counters into the arm bar and transitions into a double arm bar and Lethal has to tap. Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Jay Lethal @ 20:48 via submission [****] This was an absolutely great match, easily the best on the show so far. It went nearly 21-minutes and didn’t feel like it at all. The pacing was excellent as was the work as a whole. This was one of Lethal’s best matches of the year, and another in a long line of great Sabre performances in 2017; simply great stuff here.

Will Ospreay vs. Rey Mysterio: The crowd is hot even before the bell rings. They lock up and work a slow beginning, working some nice back and forth opening stretch, as they pick up the pace and continue on into a series of counters. Rey takes the first control, sending Ospreay to the floor and shitting a dive. Back in and Rey hits a slingshot leg drop, covering for 2. Rey then hits a baseball slide dropkick to the balls of Ospreay. He follows with a head scissors, Ospreay battles to his feet but Rey hits the dropkick and then looks to springboard back in, but Ospreay cuts him off with a dropkick. Ospreay the hits the senton atomico, covering for 2. Ospreay then grounds Rey, tying him up and then working a cloverleaf. Rey escapes and powders to the floor. Ospreay follows and shoots him to the barricade, and then slams Rey’s knee off of the apron. Back in they go as Ospreay tries to keep Rey grounded, but Rey hits the tornado DDT for the double down. Rey heads up top, the seated senton and high cross follows; Rey hits a head kick and covers for 2. Ospreay hits an enziguri and springboard forearm. Rey counters the rainmaker and hits a destroyer for a great near fall. Ospreay cuts off the 619, and hits the hesitation dropkick in the corner. The running shooting star press gets 2. Rey battles back, hits a head scissors but Ospreay catches the 619 and connects with the trapped superkick in the corner. Ospreay then cradles Rey for 2. Ospreay lays in kicks and he goes for a 619, Rey avoids and he hits the 619 but Ospreay hits the back handspring kick and both men are down. Ospreay gets to his feet, heads up top but Rey cuts him off. he follows him up, goes for the RANA but Ospreay tries to counter but they almost blow it. Ospreay recovers, they battle back up top and Rey hits the bulldog off the ropes for a great near fall. Rey lays in strikes, but Ospreay hits the Spanish fly for another great near fall. Ospreay can’t believe that Rey kicked out. Ospreay takes Rey back up top, follows him up and looks for a razor’s edge off the ropes, but Rey lands on his feet and Ospreay connects with the head kick. Rey counters the suplex into the RANA, hits the 619 but as he goes for the slingshot splash, Ospreay gets the knees up and hit the tornado kick. The Oscutter connects and Ospreay has defeated Rey. Will Ospreay defeated Rey Mysterio @ 19:45 via pin [****] This was another great match, and a fitting way to close the show. Ospreay gets his dream match with Rey and they didn’t disappoint. I thought that they worked a really fn and smart match, with Rey initially holding the advantage due to his experience. But as things went deeper into the match, Ospreay’s speed and resilience were able to overcome the legend of Rey Mysterio.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

 photo fe36ffd0-0da4-4e3b-a2d3-b026b341dd87_zps41ef5d61.jpg
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.8
The final score: review Good
The 411
This was a really good show, which got a bit weak in the middle, but recovered with a great co-main and main event. Make sure to catch the final two matches, they are a ton of fun, very different from each other and helped elevate an already strong show. The quarterfinals are Joseph Conners vs. Hiromu Takahashi, Will Ospreay vs. Mike Bailey, Ricochet vs. Penta El Zero M, and Zack Sabre Jr vs. KUSHIDA.
legend