Csonka’s WCPW World Cup ROTW Qualifier Review

Csonka’s WCPW World Cup ROTW Qualifier Review

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– WCPW World Cup ROTW Qualifier: Travis Banks defeated Mark Davis @ 6:30 via submission [***]
– WCPW World Cup ROTW Qualifier: Jurn Simmons defeated Tom La Ruffa @ 9:04 via pin [*¾]
– WCPW World Cup ROTW Qualifier: Flash Morgan Webster defeated RJ Singh @ 9:05 via submission [**¾]
– WCPW World Cup ROTW Qualifier: Angelico defeated Icarus @ 9:46 via pin [**¾]
– WCPW World Cup ROTW Qualifier: Travis Banks defeated Jurn Simmons @ 9:13 via pin [***½]
– WCPW World Cup ROTW Qualifier: Angelico defeated Flash Morgan Webster @ 8:20 via pin [***]

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– 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. Today I’m moving onto the “Rest of the World” qualifiers, you can check out my review of the Japanese qualifiers at this link and the US Qualifiers at this link.

Travis Banks vs. Mark Davis: Banks isn’t here to fuck around, so he wipes out Davis with a dive as he makes his entrance and then kicked the shit out of him on the floor. Davis is the bigger dude, so Banks’ sneaky attack made sense. Once they get in the ring, Davis quickly starts to fight back and hits a powerbomb for a near fall. Banks keeps attacking as they trade chops and strikes, but Davis starts to toss him across the ring. Banks uses his speed, hitting a super kick and charging uppercuts, but then runs into Davis’s version of an STJoe. Banks makes the comeback, using his speed and tripping Davis into the corner, where he hit the dropkick and cannonball. Davis counters the slice of heaven into an Angle slam for 2. Davis then plants Banks with a jumping piledriver for a good near fall. Banks manages to fire back with kicks, and then hits the destroyer and the slice of heaven (springboard kick) but Davis kicks out and he locks in the lion clutch (Gargano escape) for the submission win. Travis Banks defeated Mark Davis @ 6:30 via submission [***] This was a good little sprint, with Banks showing a ton of fire; quite a nice way to kick off the show.

Tom La Ruffa vs. Jurn Simmons: Tom La Ruffa worked as Sylvester Lefort in NXT and Basile Baraka in TNA. Simmons is a wXw regular. They shake hands, and La Ruffa then looks to work the arm, but Simmons tosses him aside with ease. La Ruffa then grounds Simmons, and he powers out. Back to the ground by La Ruffa, working a side headlock. Simmons gets to his feet and escapes, hits some am drags and La Ruffa then cuts him off with the side headlock again. Simmons powers out again, and then delivers clubbing strikes to La Ruffa. He follows with a toss slam, covering for 2. La Ruffa avoids the big elbow drop, and follows with a clothesline for 2. Simmons battles back, shoots him to the corner and hits the running powerslam for 2. La Ruffa cuts him off with a Russian leg sweep, but Simmons hits a uranage, covering for 2. Simmons misses a knee strike, La Ruffa hits some slow motion kicks, heads up top and hits the splash for 2. La Ruffa sets, but Simmons blocks the superkick, thy work into some counters and Simmons hits a running dropkick. The piledriver finishes La Ruffa. Jurn Simmons defeated Tom La Ruffa @ 9:04 via pin [*¾] This was a really rough and lethargic match thanks to La Ruffa. He is not a good professional wrestler, and I have no idea how he still gets booked. I wish Simmons had a better opponent to work with here, because I’ve heard good things about him.

Flash Morgan Webster vs. RJ Singh: Webster has been working all around the UK scene since 2010. Singh is a veteran of the UK scene, who started working back in 2001. They shake hands and we’re friends to begin. Singh targets the arm right away, but Webster counters out, using his speed and they work into a series of trips and into a stand off. Singh takes Webster back down, working a Japanese strangle hold, but Webster escapes, hitting arm drags and a standing, inverted senton for 2. Singh battles back with kicks and knees, sending Webster to the floor. Singh follows with a PK from the apron, but Webster works a guillotine, but Singh slams him to the barricade to escape. Webster then heads to the apron, and hits a RANA to the floor. Back in the ring and Webster hits a moonsault pres for 2. Webster locks in the guillotine choke again, but Singh escapes and hits a series of knee strikes, covering for 2. Singh goes for a palm strike, blocked and they trade big strikes and kicks; Webster hits a head butt for the double down. They get to their feet, Webster hits a clothesline and corner attacks. They work up top and Webster looks for a superplex, but Singh sends him to the mat and the swanton eats knees. Webster hits a neck beaker across the knee, goes back to the guillotine and Singh has to tap. Flash Morgan Webster defeated RJ Singh @ 9:05 via submission [**¾] This was pretty good overall, they worked hard and tried to build to a good climax, but it just lacked the overall energy and sense of urgency of the opener.

Angelico vs. Icarus: This is not CHIKARA Icarus; this is Icarus from Budapest, who held the RPW & HCW titles. This is my first time seeing him. Angelico is likely best known for his work in Lucha Underground & AAA. They work some nice back and forth, with some nice counters before ending in a stalemate. They shake hands and Angelico hits a jumping knee strike for 2. Angelico stars to work some leg kicks, but Icarus battles back, hitting a missile dropkick and covering for 2. Icarus follows with chops in the corner, but Angelico fires back with another knee strike and then they trade strikes center ring. Angelico land rapid-fire kicks, the knee strike and follows with an enziguri for 2. Icarus fights off a powerbomb, but Angelico up top and hits the double stomp to the back of Icarus for 2. Angelico now looks for the crucifix bomb, but Icarus counters, sends him to the floor and hits a moonsault to wipe out Angelico. Back in and Icarus up top, and hits the swanton for 2. He follows with kicks, hits a rolling forearm and then a powerslam for 2. Icarus sets Angelico up top, lays in rights and follows him up. Angelico fights out, and then looks for a superplex but Icarus sends him to the mat, the swanton hits knees, Angelico hits a running knee strike and crucifix buckle bomb for the win. Angelico defeated Icarus @ 9:46 via pin [**¾] This was pretty good, really solid through out, but was completely devoid of any real drama and felt flat due to the lack of crowd reaction.

Travis Banks vs. Jurn Simmons: Banks tries to attack Simmons as he enters, but Simmons will have none of that and immediately cuts him off. This leads to a floor brawl, with Simmons beating down Banks. Simmons sets him in a chair and lays in chops, and then takes him back into the ring to continue his assault. The delayed suplex follows, and Simmons just drops him and walks away to celebrate. Banks fires up with kicks and strikes, but Simmons hits the uranage for a near fall. Banks pulls the ref in front of a Simmons attack, distracting him and then laying in some ground and pound. Banks lays in kicks, but Simmons no sells and fights to his feet. He then fires up with chops, but Banks hits a double leg takedown and works ground and pound. Simmons gets to his feet and hits a series of clotheslines. But Banks hits the shotgun dropkick and running uppercuts, but Simmons cuts him of with the Oklahoma stampede for a good near fall. Simmons looks for a suplex, countered and Banks hits a superkick and basement dropkick. The cannonball follows and gets 2. Simmons then counters the slice of heaven into a big spinebuster, covering for 2. Simmons misses the elbow drop, Banks hit the lariat and Michinoku driver, covering for 2. Banks follows with strikes, but Simmons is pissed and about kills him with a lariat and sitout powerbomb for a good near fall. Simmons looks for the spear, but Banks hits the slice of heaven for the win. Travis Banks defeated Jurn Simmons @ 9:13 via pin [***½] This was a very good, back and forth match withed with a great sense of urgency as the winner was moving onto the final 16. Simmons got to shine more here, working with a much better opponent, giving us the best match on the show so far.

Angelico vs. Flash Morgan Webster: Webster hits the knee strike right away and follows with a tope to the floor. This boy is fired the fuck up, slamming Angelico off of the apron and then laying in chops. Webster follows with forearm strikes, but Angelico cuts him off flap jacking him to the apron. Angelico then looks for a tope, but basically misses Webster, but lands on his feet and celebrates as if it worked. Back in the ring and Angelico hits the double stomp to the back, covering for 2. Webster fights of the crucifix bomb, and then head butts him and follows with the neck breaker across the knee. The inverted senton follows, and then a neck breaker by Webster. He follows with crossface strikes, and then uppercuts. Angelico hits the boot and then the enziguri, covering for 2. Angelico follows with kicks to the head, Webster keeps fighting out of the crucifix bomb, and just as Angelico is about to hit it he turns it into a RANA and follows with running knees, takes Angelico up top ad hits the RANA. Webster up top, and hits the big senton to the back of Angelico and covered for 2 He locks in the guillotine choke, but Angelico makes the ropes. They trade strikes, Webster hits a back elbow but the moonsault press eats a superkick. Webster counters the crucifix bomb into a RANA, but Angelico rolls through into a sunset flip for the win. Angelico defeated Flash Morgan Webster @ 8:20 via pin [***] This was a good main event, with both guys working hard. The only negative to the match was no matter what they did they couldn’t really capture the crowd and get them really hot for the action, which is why I can’t call it anymore than good.

– Travis Banks & Angelico advance.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

6.2

The final score: review Average

The 411

The WCPW World Cup ROTW Qualifier was a solid show, with a flat crowd, and nothing must see. The good news is that there were clean finishes up and down the card, which was appreciated.