wrestling / Video Reviews
Guerrilla Reviewfare: PWG Battle of Los Angeles 2017 (Final Stage)
Loading...While this year’s edition of BOLA’s Stage Two weren’t the all-time great shows that the previous two year’s had been, there was still a lot to love about it. Joey Janela and Sammy Guevara made themselves stars with the best match of the weekend so far and Kenny Omega made a successful return to PWG in an uber-exciting effort alongisde his Elite stablemates The Young Bucks. Couple that with a super fun debut for Travis Banks and Keith Lee’s wonderful hoss fight with WALTER, the stage is set perfectly for Night 3.
We are TAPED from the American Legion in Reseda, CA.
Your hosts are Excalibur and Chuck Taylor.
BOLA Quarterfinal: Ricochet vs. Dezmond Xavier
Both men picked up their wins at Stage One against Flamita and Brian Cage respectively, but neither bout really tore the house down despite both being solid affairs. Dezmond Xavier is improving the more he steps into the ring though and it’s going to be hard to stop given he’s in the ring with the most seasoned high flyer around.
Xavier gets an early advantage, dropkicking Ricochet to the floor after a barrage of quick offense. Ricochet somersaults right into a Hurricanrana from Dezmond for 2 in a neat spot. Ricochet is able to pull off his somersault dropkick though, sending Xavier to the apron. Hilariously, you can see the light fixture that Fenix busted last night in the main event, clear and center on the hard cam. Ricochet starts toying with Xavier, giving him a few paintbrushes only for Xavier to get the upperhand with an Ace Crusher. Dezmond attempts a Sasuke Special into a Hurricanrana, but Ricochet just collapses as Dezmond lands on him. Xavier gives Ricochet a 619 with help of the ringpost, followed by his back handspring Pele for a nearfall. Twisting Brainbuster scores for Ricochet, followed by a standing Shooting Star for 2. He tries King’s Landing, but Dezmond counters out and tries the Reverse Rana-esque cradle he beat Brian Cage with, but Ricochet kicks out. Ricochet lands the Benadryller, but Dezmond kicks out. Ricochet measures for a Shooting Star, but Xavier dodges and tries a running Running Dragonrana, but Ricochet counters out and hits King’s Landing for the win in 11 minutes. **3/4 Solid enough opener but in the grand scheme of things, pretty unremarkable. For some reason I haven’t found myself all that invested in Ricochet’s efforts this weekend, and Dezmond Xavier is still a work in progress. They still both have enough athletic talent to get me into the match to a point and given the fact that this indeed is an opener, maybe that’s all they really needed to get this show going.
BOLA Quarterfinal: Travis Banks vs. Marty Scurll
Banks debuted last night in a super fun match against Mark Haskins that’s probably more memorable because of its botched finish, but it was as “professional” a wrestling match as you’re liable to see. Scurll has taken a bit of a backseat in his efforts this tournament, wrestling Flash Morgan Webster on Night 1 and having a midcard tag match last night. But that’s not to say he hasn’t been all quality, and his style matches up quite well with Banks on the surface.
We fade right into Marty Scurll cutting a promo on Travis Banks, basically the same exact promo he cut on Morgan Webster at Stage One. Banks teases leaving the ring at Scurll’s behest, but he ends up rolling Scurll up for a close nearfall. Marty rolls out of the ring – mic still in hand – and dodges a Banks Heat Seeking Missile attempt. Scurll gets rid of the mic and has it out with Banks proper, grappling as they head back into the ring. Marty starts going after the Kiwi’s arm now with an armbreaker over the top rope. Marty just decides to trap his arm and hit it with a chair as the action spills outside again. Banks is able to sucker Scurll in during a barrage of uppercuts, flipping him into the turnbuckles and coming down on top of him with his gorgeous Cannonball. Scurll counters a Kiwi Krusher with small package, but Banks is game to trade cradles with him. Scurll pulls off a strong style eyepoke, but a Busaiku Knee scores for Banks in retaliation. Scurll scores with a Buckle Bomb, and hits a running Sick Kick for a nearfall. He nails the Just Kidding Superkick to the knee, but nearly falls victim to the 540 Kick… only for Scurll to dodge it and lock in the Chickenwing! Banks tries to get to the ropes so Scurll goes at his fingers… only for Banks to boot out of it and hit the Kiwi Krusher for 2. He locks on the Garga-No Escape immediately after. Scurll goes at the fingers again to break it, and he snaps Travis’ fingers! Scurll starts posturing for the Chickenwing, but BANKS ROLLS HIM UP FOR THE WIN! Travis Banks advances to the semis in 12 minutes! *** Another strikingly professional piece of… well, professional wrestling from Travis Banks, and a very satisfying finish that makes the future of this tournament a lot more intriguing. It was an easy story of Scurll’s ridiculous showboating against Banks’ hyper-focused grit, but it worked and paid off with the upset finish. Easy enough to follow, right?
BOLA Quarterfinal: Donovan Dijak vs. Keith Lee
Welp, this is it. The match that has gotten the most hype by far from this weekend, it’s gotten a big five star rating from Dave Meltzer and plenty of other spectators have hyped their praises on it as well. Given Keith Lee is basically God and Donovan Dijak is obscenely talented himself, I don’t find it hard to believe that this has MOTY potential.
Dijak kips up out of a Keith Lee shoulderblock and cartwheels away from him, but ends up on his ass as Keith flips him away. Keith Lee catches a leapfrog in Spirit Bomb position, but Dijak monkeyflips him… only for Keith to LAND ON HIS FEET. Keith clotheslines him to the apron and takes out a fan for good measure, and he tries a powerbomb there. Dijak gets out and CHOKESLAMS HIM on the apron! Dijak nearly falls victim to a Spirit Bomb outside, but he powers out and gives him a rolling Mafia Kick. He rolls inside and tries a Spaceman, BUT KEITH LEE CATCHES HIM AND POSTS HIM! TOPE CON HILO FROM KEITH LEE~! He measures for the Spirit Bomb in the ring, but Dijak flips out of it… only for Keith Lee to nail him with a DISCUS PUNCH that sends him flying. Keith hits a flapjack and POUNCES Dijak into the corner, before trying Ground Zero, only for Dijak to counter out. He tries a boot, but Lee FLIPS HIM INTO A 180 and pins him for a 2 count. So far, I must say this match is doing it for me. Lee sits Dijak on the top rope, but Donovan is able to chuck Keith over onto the apron. Keith climbs back up, only for Dijak TO GIVE HIM A FIREMAN’S CARRY SPINEBUSTER TO THE MAT~! Keith manages to kick out. Keith rolls to the floor as Dijak jaws at him, and Dijak hits a SPRINGBOARD CORKSCREW SENTON TO THE FLOOR~! Dijak rolls him into the ring and measures for a Chokebreaker, but Keith FLIPS OUT AND HITS A SPIRIT BOMB~! DIJAK POPS UP AND SUPERKICKS HIM~! MOONSAULT FROM DIJAK! KEITH LEE SITS UP AND ROLLS INTO GROUND ZERO~! DIJAK KICKS OUT~! Keith heads up top for a MOONSAULT OF HIS OWN! DIJAK POPS UP AT ONE~! MONGOLIAN CHOPS! DIJAK LAUGHS AT HIM~! SUPERKICK… INTO FEAST YOUR EYES~! KEITH LEE PUSHES HIM OUT OF THE RING AT ONE~! SENTON ONTO KEITH LEE… COUNTERED INTO A SPIRIT BOMB~! DIJAK KICKS OUT AGAIN!!!! Keith Lee drags Dijak into the center of the ring, but Dijak brings the Monstars jerseys with him to try and barter! BUT HE SUPERKICKS HIM! FEAST YOUR EYES~! BUT KEITH LEE DOESN’T GO DOWN!!!!!! HE RIPS OFF THE JERSEY~! GROUND ZERO! ONE, TWO, THREE! Keith Lee finally puts Dijak away in 22 insane minutes. ****3/4 Well, there’s your North American Match of the Year sorted then. This will no doubt go down as one of the great PWG matches in its 14 year history, and for good reason. I would not hesitate whatsoever to put it in the same pantheon as the famous Steen/Generico and Threemendous ladder matches, Richards/Hero, Sabre/Strong I, and Superkliq vs. Sydal, Ospreay, & Ricochet. And the best part about it? It’s a completely different match from any of those I just mentioned. As with any match Dave Meltzer rates highly, there came (mostly baseless) complaints with this match getting the perfect rating. And on the surface, I can see the impulse to just call this a “spotfest.” It certainly has spotfest qualities at points, what with the maddening finisher kickouts and athletic feats. It’s not the unreal festival of striking that the Matt Riddle vs. WALTER matches were, nor is it the somewhat plodding-but-smart match Keith Lee’s match with the aforementioned WALTER was. It’s much more akin to Keith Lee’s matches with Lio Rush in structure, incredibly enough. They didn’t tell the same story obviously, but the way they went at each other in this match was actually very similar. Both men were defiant in the face of the huge punishment they were taking, and that made for an incredible story of oneupsmanship as the match wore on. They wholeheartedly understood each other’s athletic prowess, and went to immense lengths to win that battle. Keith Lee did a Tope Con Hilo? Well, Dijak is going to do a springboard corkscrew senton to the outside to one-up him. Dijak no-sold a Spirit Bomb? Well, Keith is going to catch him on a moonsault and give him a finisher. Dijak kicked out of that finisher at one? Keith Lee is going to no-sell your finisher and throw you out of the ring before the referee even counts 2. Not only does that make for one of the most exciting matches in all of 2017, but it makes for an equally riveting story around all that excitement. You even had the delightfully scummy heel move by Donovan Dijak at the end, trying to use his partnership with Keith Lee and the associated jersey to get the last ditch upperhand. Only Keith Lee was tougher than that, and he used his last gasp to get the hard-fought win. Wrestling can be so damn overcomplicated sometimes when in fact, the simplest stories end up being the most gratifying. Sometimes you need to tell a story of two men just BATTLING. And when you have two of the most freakishly talented pro wrestlers in the world executing that story, you get one of the best matches of not only the year, but in PWG’s history.
BOLA Quarterfinal: Rey Fenix vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
If there was ever a pair of wrestlers to follow something so great, these two are certainly talented enough to do so. Fenix is one of the most diverse workers you’re liable to see anywhere, and Zack Sabre Jr can have a good match with a broomstick. What’s not to love?
We get some wonderful Lucha grappling to start off, with Zack pulling at Fenix’s mask to try and get his stuff going. Fenix is very game early on, going hold for hold with the Brit. They pick up the pact as Fenix goes after Zack’s ankle, getting a sizeable ovation from the audience. Zack ends up just giving Fenix a thumb to the eye instead of keeping the grappling going, and he toys with him a little bit afterwards. Fenix is able to dodge a running uppercut from Zack though, and hits a double jump Moonsault Press in the ring after a similarly styled doublestomp on the apron. Fenix puts him on the top rope and hits a thrusting uppercut, but Zack boots him off and comes down with a flying armbar! He transitions into a Triangle, but Fenix hoists him up and counters with a Ligerbomb. Zack dodges a 619 from Fenix and uses that to hit a running uppercut and a PK, mostly just to take a rest. Zack runs right into a spinning heel kick, but COUNTERS A ROLLING ACE CRUSHER INTO AN ARMBAR~! He transitions into an arm-trap Dragon Sleeper, before transitioning again into a Stump Puller of all things. Fenix knocks Zack on his ass with an overhand chop before hitting his step-up spin kick, followed by finally hitting his rolling Ace Crusher! Fenix looks for an Omori Driver, but Zack COUNTERS IT into a Dragon Sleeper! He tries it again, but Zack counters it again into Hurrah! Another Year, Surely This One Will Be Better Than The Last; The Inexorable March of Progress Will Lead Us All to Happiness! Sabre transitions into a behind-the-back Octopus… but FENIX ROLLS HIM UP FOR THE WIN! Fenix upsets the former champion in 14 minutes. ***1/2 I know it’s a tricky road to go down using the word “perfect” to describe matches like this, but for its spot on the card, I don’t think I can come up with a more fitting adjective. Following a match like Lee vs. Dijak, there isn’t an easy road to travel. Even with the usually liberal PWG crowd, you never can tell what they look for to follow things up. Fenix and Sabre cooled things down with a lively grappling affair, and worked it at just the right pace to not only let the crowd come down, but keep them up for whatever’s to come later. Would I have loved to see these guys go balls out? Sure. I think they could really tear the house down if they put their minds to it. But coming right after one of the best matches of the year? This was perfect. There was just enough excitement to make the grapple-heavy build worth it, and an immensely satisfying finish to boot. Any wrestling show would be glad to have this match on its undercard.
BOLA Quarterfinal: Jeff Cobb vs. Sammy Guevara
Talk about two separate ends of the spectrum in this tournament. Jeff Cobb had the weakest match of the tournament with Sami Callihan on Night 2, while Sammy Guevara had one hell of a coming-out party in his match against Joey janela. That’s not to say I don’t think Cobb can cut it, just an observation. He ought to be supremely entertaining throwing Guevara around.
Cobb offers a handshake, so Guevara flips him off and smacks him in the face en route to using his speed and quickness to get things started. Cobb’s solution? Punching him in the face. Sammy hits an INSANE shoulder-stand/Frankensteiner to Cobb before whiffing a Spaceman Plancha. He instead settles for a double kneedrop. Cobb takes over and threatens to Powerbomb Guevara on the stage, but Sammy ends up climbing on the stage and COMING OFF THE TABLES WITH A TORNILLO~! Guevara gets him back in the ring and hits a Shooting Star for 2. Sammy hoists Cobb up for a Samoan Drop, but Cobb pops right back up and folds him with a headbutt! He tries the standing Shooting Star, but Sammy moves for another Shooting Star from the top, but COBB CATCHES HIM AND SUPLEXES HIM~! TOUR OF THE ISLANDS! Jeff Cobb advances in 5 minutes. *** Probably one of the better five minute matches you’re liable to see anywhere, and it didn’t manage to come off rushed either. It was worked like it needed to be, with Sammy trying to mount up all the crazy offense he could before succumbing to the gargantuan strength of Jeff Cobb. So not only did it do its job of shortening the occasionally cumbersome Final Stage of BOLA, but it gave us a super entertaining sprint to go along with it.
BOLA Quarterfinal: Penta El 0M vs. Matt Riddle
It’s probably a little hyperbolic to call this a proper “dream match”, but it’s about as close as can be. These are two of the most naturally charismatic men in the wrestling business and putting them in a PWG environment can only mean good things, even if it’s in a potentially abbreviated BOLA setting. It kind of reminds me of how excited I was to see Zack Sabre face off against Pentagon in 2015’s tournament, and we can only hope this match is of the same high quality.
It’s a staredown to begin, and Penta lets Riddle know about the fear he possesses, of which is zero. Riddle combats it with an equally hearty “Bro… Bro” in one of the funniest moments in wrestling all year. Pentagon uses all the posturing to take down Riddle and put him in a Wacky Lucha Submission™, but he soon falls victim to a flying Cross Armbreaker. Penta puts in a HAAS OF PAIN, and just chucks him off afterwards mostly because he can. Riddle puts in a heel hook, but breaks it to taunt some more. Penta asks for mercy via a handshake, but initiates a trading of chops that again results in him tearing his shirt open for no real reason. Riddle hits a jumping knee, but runs right into a Superkick and a Slingblade for a 2 count. He hits the Backstabber, but only gets 2. Riddle counters out of a Fear Factor and hits an Exploder, followed by a huge spinning Broton. Penta looks for his Armbreaker, but Riddle chucks him out of it… only to eat a nasty Pumphandle Driver for 2. Penta goes up top, but Riddle meets him mid-Cero Miedo for an attempted Superplex, but Penta knocks him down and hits the Panama Sunrise! Penta tries to follow up, but RUNS INTO A BROSTROYER! DESTROYER FROM PENTA! RIDDLE POPS UP AND HITS ANOTHER ONE! They meet on the apron and stare each other down, and they TRADE CHOPS LIKE MADMEN! FISHERMAN’S BUSTER ON THE APRON FROM RIDDLE~! Riddle looks for a Brope, but Penta kicks him in stride and FEAR FACTORS HIM ON THE APRON~! He rolls Riddle into the ring for an Axe Handle, but RIDDLE KNEES HIM OUT OF THE AIR! BRO 2 SLEEP! EVEREST GERMAN! PENTA KICKS OUT! Penta lands a series of leg kicks as Riddle tries to follow up, but RIDDLE COUNTERS A SLINGBLADE INTO A BRO MISSION~! TILT-A-WHIRL… COUNTERED INTO A CRADLE BROSTONE~! DANIELSON ELBOWS! BROMISSION! Matt Riddle advances in a fabulous 14 minutes. **** I am incredibly surprised I didn’t hear more about this match the weekend it happened, because I thought this was an easy second or third place in terms of tournament matches thus far. It was literally everything I wanted it to be and possibly more, despite some uncharacteristic sloppiness on both ends during the slower middle portion. It was one of those things where the two wrestlers participating in the sloppiness were still so damn entertaining that it really didn’t matter whatsoever. They just accepted the botch and went on with it, and still had a fantastic match in spite of it. A lot like the earlier Dijak/Lee match, this was the classic story of oneupsmanship… even down to their signature taunts. They used that to transition into slightly tentative grappling, all the way to trading uber-dangerous bombs when the intensity ramped up. It wasn’t as drop-dead explosive or as well laid-out as the aforementioned Dijak/Lee match, but the match was able to compensate wonderfully by using its dynamic personalities to keep the story afloat. I was a bit blindsided by the quality of this bout, but in the best possible way.
BOLA Semifinal: Travis Banks vs. Ricochet
Much like the unlikely run of Mark Haskins last year, Travis Banks has made a real go of it this weekend. He’s had a few of his trademark rock solid pro wrestling matches, and it’s going to be a fun clash of styles seeing him in there with Ricochet, who – dare I say – has been a little underwhelming up to this point.
Banks doesn’t even let Ricochet get to the ring before jumping him with a LOPE~! He chucks him inside the ring to continue the onslaught, but Ricochet boots him out of a Leapfrog and gives him a suicide dive of his own. He rolls Travis back inside now, and a springboard clothesline knocks the Kiwi down. Stun Gun/Neckbreaker combo scores for Ricochet after Travis tries to mount something of a comeback. Ricochet heels it up and toys with Banks a little bit and when Travis tries to reciprocate with physicality, he runs right into a Spinebuster and a People’s Moonsault… only Banks dodges the latter part and starts mounting on some offense. He trips Ricochet into the corner, leaving him prone for his Cannonball. Slice of Heaven misses, but Ricochet is clotheslined out of a rolling Ace Crusher attempt. Shotgun Dropkick lands for Travis, who follows up with a step-up Double Stomp to the back for a two count. Ricochet manages to boot Banks off during the follow-up, and he hits the rolling dropkick for a 2 count. He hangs Travis up on the second turnbuckle, assisting him in a Lungblower for another nearfall. Banks dodges the Benadryller, and turns it right into a Kiwi Krusher for 2. Things soon devolve into a slugfest, but Ricochet hits the Brain Spiller for a 2 count of his own. Ricochet measures for a 630 perhaps, but Banks rolls out and tries to get him back to the mat. He goes up to the top rope himself, but Ricochet catches him up and HITS A FLUX CAPACITOR~! BANKS KICKS OUT! Ricochet hits an Axe Stomp, but Banks COUNTERS KING’S LANDING INTO A PRAWN HOLD! KING’S LANDING! Ricochet advances to the finals in 14 minutes. ***1/2 The moral of the story here is that Travis Banks is really good at professional wrestling, and he came through with Ricochet’s best match of the tournament so far. He’s just so heinously fluid as a worker that even if there’s not much to write home about action-wise, you still get so much out of the sheer execution of everything he does. My emphasis on Travis Banks here isn’t to discount Ricochet’s talents of being similarly cohesive, but I’ve frankly been far more impressed with Banks this weekend than Ricochet. Maybe that’s because I only see Banks in PROGRESS and don’t see him quite as often, who knows. I get in these moods sometimes where I just feel like giving all the credit to one wrestler, I guess. But this was another one of those perfect midcard matches that mixed in just enough grit with just enough insanity to create a satisfying package, so thumbs way up here.
BOLA Semifinal: Rey Fenix vs. Keith Lee
It’s honestly mindblowing to me that Keith Lee is still scheduled to wrestle after that madness with Dijak earlier, but I don’t ever see myself complaining about a Keith Lee match unless someone books him with like, Cody Rhodes or something. Very interested to see how he humbles young Fenix here.
Fenix makes the mistake of tying up with Keith, who just swats him away effortlessly. Fenix soon realizes the error of his ways and starts picking up the pace, but Lee catches him with a lariat on the rebound about 10 seconds later. He just throws poor Fenix around at will, and he walks through some stiff overhand chops and crumbles Fenix with one of his own. Double Jump Missile Dropkick scores for Fenix, and a trio of dives END IN KEITH LEE POWERBOMBING HIM INTO THE RINGPOST~! Keith goes up top, but Fenix kips up and starches Keith with a pair of chops before trying a super Frankensteiner… only for Keith to HIT A SUPER SPIRIT BOMB! FENIX KICKS OUT! GROUND ZERO! Keith Lee heads to the finals in 6 minutes. *** Basically a continuation of the story Jeff Cobb and Sammy Guevara told in the last round, but achieved with a tad more cohesion and grace. One really cool wrinkle was Fenix trying to tie up with Keith early, but adjusting immediately as he learned that it was mostly an exercise in futility. He used his dives and generally scatterbrained style to try and upend the big man, but he was grossly overmatched in the power department, meaning he was toast after a couple big moves. Wrestling is fun when done correctly.
BOLA Semifinal: Jeff Cobb vs. Matt Riddle
These two had a total barnburner at PROGRESS’ Super Strong Style 16 back in May, and they finally get to face off one-on-one in PWG. They had a fabulous interaction in the 10-Man Tag from 2016’s Battle of Los Angeles weekend, and since then have become quite the formidable team in the PWG ranks. But given this is in the dead heat of both BOLA and the American Legion, I’m not sure if it’s fair to expect the near MOTYC levels their PROGRESS bout got to… but I also have trouble believing I’ll come away underwhelmed even so.
Riddle uses a handshake to get the first strike in with a chop, and they slug it out early on. Cobb tosses him with a German, but Riddle pops up and hits one of his own… only for Cobb to shake it off and stare Riddle down! More chops land for both men until Riddle lands a jumping knee, and he plants Cobb to the canvas with an Exploder, followed by a twisting Broton. Cobb corners Riddle and lands a bevvy of strikes, before catching a Riddle kick and transitioning it into a leg-capture Fallaway Slam. Riddle tries another one, but Cobb counters it this time into a Pumphandle Suplex. Cobb looks for a running Uppercut, but Riddle tries countering into a Rear Naked Choke! He takes his back, but Cobb COUNTERS INTO A TOMBSTONE! COBB LIFTS HIM BACK… BUT RIDDLE COUNTERS INTO A JUMPING BROSTONE! They throw down with chops again, but Riddle cracks him with a Pele. Riddle rolls out out of a German and is able to land another jumping knee, followed by a Fisherman’s Buster for a 2 count. Riddle lands another Broton, but Cobb kicks out again. Riddle tries a Jumping Knee again, but Cobb headbutts him out of midair, suplexes him, and nails Tour of the Islands for the win in 8 minutes. *** This was the reliably fun little hoss fight I figured we were getting on paper, although not quite as psychologically sound as the match that came before it. That’s not something I’m going to hold against either man as they’ve been working their asses off for three straight days in sweltering heat, and Cobb has another match coming down the pike too. Overall, I think if you scale down your expectations and understand the context, you’ll get a lot out of this match as a spirited brawl between two guys with fabulous chemistry. For a less abbreviated affair though, please check out their PROGRESS match.
Joey Janela, Mark Haskins, Flamita, Flash Morgan Webster, & Chuck Taylor vs. Trevor Lee, WALTER, Sami Callihan, Jonah Rock, & Brian Cage
Well if this isn’t the most delightfully insane booking of teams in the world. Almost makes up for Jushin Thunder Liger not getting thumb-blasted this year.
Trevor Lee takes the mic and says that he just got off the phone with Jeff Jarrett, who apparently says that everyone on his team gets Impact contracts if they win. Surprisingly level-headed behavior from Double J considering he had a hand in putting title belts on the Crist Brothers. Sami Callihan postures at Chuck Taylor at the commentary booth shaped like a table, who says he’ll join Team Janela after he gets dressed. Team Trevor jump the babyfaces, and it’s a Pier Sixer. Morgan Webster faces off with Jonah Rock in the ring, which is one of the most unbelievable size differences in wrestling history. Webster gives a couple headbutts to Callihan and Trevor, but ends up flat on his ass when he tries it with Jonah. Walter tags in Brian Cage as the big men work over Flash. Joey Janela tags himself in and wipes out Trevor with a crazy Lope before DDT’ing Sami in the ring. He tries the Arn Anderson DDT with Walter, who just stares at him and boots him into the shadow realm. Janela soon finds himself suffering the same fate as Webster minutes earlier. Walter puts Jonah Rock on his back and SPLASHES JOEY JANELA with the Australian on his back! Janela misses a triple splash with Sami and Trevor on Walter’s back, and here comes Mark Haskins! Haskins puts in the Star Armbar on Cage, who counters into a Reverse Neckbreaker and begins working Haskins over now. Joey Janela has enough of that shit, and he tells Trevor Lee “fuck you, Jeff Jarrett, AND Karen Jarrett!” You’d think we’d see a Jeff run-in there, but what you don’t know is that he passed out backstage. Chuck Taylor runs out as Mark Haskins gets beaten up by the hosses, but Chuckie laments that he’s forgotten his wrist tape! That leaves Haskins to get destroyed some more, but the crowd understands. Flamita finally tags in and runs wild, cleaning house with his wacky speed. Walter turns him inside out with a lariat, but Haskins and Morgan Webster save the day. Jonah eats a Reverse Rana from Webster, but Brian Cage stops that noise. He picks up Haskins in a Fallaway Slam position, but Webster tries a seated senton… only for Cage to CATCH HIM AND POWERBOMB HIM WITH HASKINS IN HIS ARMS~! Sami gives Janela a Headlock Driver, but runs right into a C4 from Flamita… who in turn, runs right into a turning Crossbody from Trevor Lee… and enter Chuckie T~! Here comes YOUR PWG Champion! He suplexes Trevor into Sami in the corner before diving out onto the rest of his opponents with a Tope Con Hilo! He accidentally gives Joey Janela a Spinebuster, mistaking him for Trevor Lee, and that allows the heels to get the upperhand again. Everybody Avalanches the Gentleman in the corner except Trevor Lee, and his partners come in with superkicks for everyone. Chuckie and Haskins hug it out as Flamita gives Sami and Trevor a Cancun Tornado from the top rope to the floor. Webster looks to dive, but Chuckie gives him his helmet before Flash hits a huge Swanton to the outside! Janela measures for a dive, but gets stopped in his tracks by Walter, who gives him a Razor’s Edge to the floor on top of everyone. Walter and Jonah Rock have it out with each other and end up just having a full on opening sequence of a match, and Chuckie T brings out TK COOPER ON CRUTCHES. Trevor takes one of his crutches away, but TK hobbles over and takes it away. Chuckie hits an Awful Waffle on Trevor to pick up the win in 22 minutes. **3/4 I hate to say it, but this was probably the least entertaining Night 3 tag I’ve seen since I reviewed my first BOLA in 2012. I mean it’s hard to match up to Team Statutory or Timothy Thatcher doing slow-mo spots, but this one had a lot of ideas that just didn’t click. There was less of an emphasis on comedy which makes sense given it’s going to be impossible to follow last year’s “legendary asshole of Jushin Liger” call, but I don’t know that it was for the better. A lot of the wrestling felt aimless and meandering, although I totally understand what they were going for. The psychology of the big men vs. the little men was a really fun booking decision from PWG, and there were a lot of spots that did it justice… but they were clearly lost on what to do in the middle portion before TK Cooper made his cameo. I know a lot of people will greatly prefer this to Tommaso Ciampa cornholing people in slow motion, but for me, there wasn’t enough cohesion or excitement to compensate.
BOLA Finals: Jeff Cobb vs. Keith Lee vs. Ricochet
Keith Lee has undoubtedly been the MVP of this weekend and perhaps might have had THE best BOLA run of all time, to the point where it kind of dwarfs the other two men in terms of quality. And when you can quite clearly outshine Ricochet and Jeff Cobb, you’re a special talent… and it’s not like Ricochet and Cobb aren’t special talents in their own rights either. Hell of a final tilt, if I do say so myself.
The big men want a three way test of strength, but Ricochet just smacks them instead… and it actually ends up paying off for him in the short term as he ends up getting both men in the corner. As soon as I type that though, he falls victim to a DOUBLE POUUNNCEEEE~! sending him to the outside. Keith and Cobb fight it out now, slugging it out with forearms until Keith hits a STEP UP FRANKENSTEINER like it’s nothing. Ricochet tries to worm his way back in, but Lee gives him a nasty backdrop that sends him right back to the floor. Ricochet crossbodies Cobb, but the Hawaiian catches him and gives him an Oklahoma Stampede for his troubles. Ricochet hits a double missile dropkick on the big men, who again try to work together to take him out. Cobb decides to just Biel poor Ricochet across the ring, and he urges Keith to “top this” before he does it. Indeed, Keith Lee obliges. Cobb tosses him into Lee this time, who powerbombs Ricochet back onto Cobb! Cobb tosses the King back, and this time Ricochet gives Keith a Reverse Rana! He suplexes Cobb into the corner and HEAVES KEITH LEE UP AND TOSSES HIM BACK TOO~! TOPE CON HILO OVER THE RINGPOST ON COBB~! SPRINGBOARD 450! Cobb kicks out! TOPE CON HILO OVER THE OTHER POST ON KEITH LEE~! Springboard 450 scores on Keith… who TOSSES HIM OUT OF THE RING at 2! He hits a Shooting Star on Keith, but Lee goozles him from the ground! Cobb headbutts him out of it, and Ricochet hits the NORTHERN LIGHTS/BRAINBUSTER on Cobb! Ricochet goes after Keith, who hits a pop-up Spinebuster. Keith runs into Cobb, who gives him a Pumphandle Suplex across the ring. Cobb hits another suplex on Lee, this time a German for a nearfall. Ricochet hits a rolling dropkicka and a standing Shooting Star, but Cobb rolls out of the pin! Cobb catches a Bendryller and tosses Ricochet back with a Leg Capture Suplex for 2. Keith intercepts Cobb and hits a YUUGE Spirit Bomb, but it only gets 2. Keith goes up top, but Ricochet nails him with an enzuigiri as he measures for a Moonsault, followed by a SUPER REVERSE RANA! 630 ON COBB! BENADRYLLER ON KEITH LEE~! 630 ON LEE! KEITH LEE PUSHES HIM OFF AT 2! Ricochet looks for a Benadryller on Cobb, but Cobb pushes out and hits Pumphandle, German, and pop-up Belly to Belly Suplexes for 2. Keith catches Cobb with Ground Zero out of nowhere, and Jeff Cobb has been eliminated.
Ricochet springboards into Ground Zero… BUT COUNTERS IT INTO A SMALL PACKAGE FOR 3! Ricochet is the first two-time Battle of Los Angeles winner in 19 minutes! ***3/4 Considering that two of the men in this match are abnormally large, one of them had the best match of the year two hours earlier, and only one of them is all that experienced in going this far in tournaments… this is probably the best final match you could have hoped for. There was a lot of rock solid psychology on display here, which is probably pretty obvious when you see the lineup on paper. Ricochet has always been an incredibly cocky wrestler in the ring, and putting that attitude against two huge bruisers in Cobb and Lee is going to make for some fascinating destruction. I especially thought the two playing catch with him early on was endlessly fun, a segment I could watch for as long as it takes to get through a shitty Shane McMahon match. But there were some surprises in the storytelling here too, as Ricochet ended up pulling off a few feats of strength on his own. He combined that with his obvious speed advantages to pull off the seemingly impossible, upending the two monsters and winning his second BOLA in three years. At first, I totally did not agree with Ricochet winning this tournament. I had heard what a fabulous run Keith Lee had of things and thought that he should absolutely have been the one to take the trophy. Strike while the iron’s hot and all that. Now? I think I agree with the booking here… mostly because of how well the finish came off. I know a lot of people have a distaste for the quick one-two eliminations often seen in multi-man matches, but I think it was a total winner here. PWG never does it in their BOLA final matches, and it made psychological sense that Ricochet caught Keith Lee offguard with a small package to win. What’s not to love? I’m happy to admit I was wrong in my distaste for Ricochet’s second tournament victory, and he happened to do it with a great match to boot.
Ricochet grabs the mic for the customary post-BOLA speech. He does all the standard grand-standing and hot-dogging before shouting out Uncle Dave at ringside. He calls out Chuckie T and says he’s coming for his title, to take it off his “skinny fat waist.” Chuckie comes out to meet him, and Ricochet straight up tells him he’s surpassed him. He wants to check the PWG Title off his bucket list before heading off to bigger and better things. Chuck takes the mic and accepts the challenge before making it a point to put over Jeff Cobb and Keith Lee, who are still in the ring. He hands the mic off to Keith Lee. He cuts a fantastic babyface promo, generally coming off as the most likeable person in the building… and that’s how we end off. How ROH let that guy go I will never understand.
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