The Furious Flashbacks – IWA-MS Ted Petty Invitational 2006

The Furious Flashbacks – IWA-MS Ted Petty Invitational 2006

Low Ki is undefeatable, Arik Cannon is getting slightly better and Roderick Strong lives up to his name

After the problems of the 2005 TPI (no shows being an issue) IWA-Mid South got its shit together for 2006 bringing back old favourites (M-Dogg 20, Colt Cabana), new talent (Davey Richards, Ricochet, Gran Akuma) and a host of PWG regulars (Scorpio Sky, Chris Bosh, Scott Lost) along with the best of the Indy talent available (Low-Ki, Quack, Roderick Strong). Sure, there are notable absences thanks to TNA’s talent being unavailable due to commitments there including AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Chris Daniels, Homicide and Austin Aries. They basically made the best of the situation. Perhaps not the most star studded line-up but there’s enough interesting guys in there.

We’re in Midloathian, Illinois. Hosts are Ben Jordan, Darin Corben and Mike Quackenbush.

M-Dogg 20 v Ricochet

I predict flipping. Ricochet has been known to do a double moonsault. M-Dogg is all about the flips anyway. They do some near misses on stuff like standing moonsaults and standing SSP’s. Yeah, we’re flipping. They do more countering and we get lots of flipping for the sake of it, which everyone hates. M-Dogg flips into an Enzuigiri while Ricochet stands there looking like an idiot. I’m sure there’s a market for this stuff but I grew out of it a long time ago. M-Dogg draws me back in by using his superior striking. Those chops are fun. They fake a couple of dives, which is decent psychology. Everyone expects the dives. M-Dogg opts for stomping him off the apron instead. Ring post elbow drop! That’s a fun move. They hit the double lariat spot but they both backflip the sell, which looks weird. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. They head up top and we know carnage will ensue. Ricochet hits a reverse super rana for 2. M-Dogg with a jumping Yakuza Kick (because he can’t reach otherwise) and adds the Shooting Star Press for the win. **. Fliptastic. Moonsault count for the match – Nine.

Colt Cabana v Mike Quackenbush

Whoa, HUGE first round match! Arguably two of the favourites here. Colt wrestles his way out of the pre-match handshake. Oh yes, this is going to be gold. Colt shows off some of his newly learned European style against Quack’s more established lucha-libre. Quack seems a little unbalanced that a) Colt is taking this so seriously and b) he’s throwing stuff out there that Quack doesn’t recognise. Colt starts lightening the mood while retaining the style but Quack has counters for counters and busts out some wacky looking lucha submission attempts. Colt starts tickling Quack but then goes for a neck vice and he almost twists Quack’s head off. Hello! Quack counters out and this is great viewing for fans of chaining. Colt ends up with a bad wheel but he blocks a bulldog by boosting Quack up into a backbreaker. Nice! Colt is throwing out conventional holds to mix it up and keep Quack even more unbalanced. Sharpshooter & camel clutch both pop up although Colt’s main focus is taking charge of Quack’s neck. Both guys are getting progressively more and more worn down thanks to their respective focus. Quack gets his bulldog at the second attempt and that gets a near fall. Pretty much the first one. It’s been all chaining before that. Colt somehow pulls out an Asai moonsault, just, but Quack comes firing back with a STRETCH MUFFLER! That’s on that injured knee too but Colt gets the ropes. Colt tries to get on the neck again but Quack counters into an insane REVERSE RANA! QUACKENDRIVER III!!! That’s all she wrote. ***1/4. Shame they didn’t work the knee into the finish but the intensity of the final two moves compensated.

Chris Hero v Ricky Reyes

Crowd still hates Hero from last year. He’s been a jerk for 12 months now. He sells like a heel, over the top, while Reyes starts with heaving striking. Reyes is at his best when he’s just kicking the crap out of someone. The stiff kicks are so much fun and especially because of Hero’s heel status. The crowd love it. Hero’s sheer size gets him back into the game though and his technical skill allows him to control the pace and keep Reyes grounded where he can’t kick him. There’s no doubting Hero’s superiority as an all rounder. Hero seems surprisingly agile in this match too. As if he’s attempting to become a better performer. He’s certainly looking slimmer here than in previous years. Fitter, happier. Reyes, out of nowhere, catches him with the EXPLOIDAAAAAAA! For 2. Hero has had enough though and batters Reyes with a series of high impact moves culminating in a Drop Suplex for 2. Hero jabs at Reyes as if to tell him he can match him at striking too and that leads to them trading. They go to near falls and Reyes gets the DRAGON SLEEPER! That was out of nowhere again and Hero hadn’t done his homework. Left himself wide open. Hero eventually gets one of his long legs over the bottom rope. If he was shorter he’d have lost. Reyes kicks at him some more sensing an opening but he runs into a YAKUZA KIIICK. STANDING MOONSAULT FROM HERO!!! FUCKIN’ A! ***. Great fun. From Reyes’ strikes to Hero’s inventiveness to win.

Scorpio Sky v Hallowicked

Sky is from PWG, Hallowicked from Chikara. This is kinda nondescript to start with. Sky is fast and Hallowicked has that lucha style that Chikara specialises in. Hallowicked steps it up by just kicking Sky RIGHT IN THE FACE. Just a straight big boot. The match is suffering from some timing issues though. Sky wants to have his smooth PWG match and Hallowicked wants his more improvised Chikara style bout. The result is rather disjointed. Its not one or the other. Sky has a version of the Angleslam that’s quite nice but this match isn’t terribly inspiring for a major tournament. Hallowicked busts out an enormous Sky High, which I guess is appropriate. Hallowicked then throws Sky into the air and KICKS HIM IN THE RIBS on the way down. Like a Go to Sleep to the midsection. It looked very…ouch. Sky is pretty looking in terms of offence but Hallowicked has been far more effective. To demonstrate Sky goes up top looking for a pretty finish and Hallowicked cuts him off with a super Fisherman buster for the win. **. Hallowicked advances. Nice story but not much depth to it. I think it suffered also from a lack of starpower after Hero’s outing and the Quack-Cabana clash.

Erick Stevens v Trik Davis

Erick is pre-ROH at this point and is making a name for himself in FIP. Trik Davis still looks about 13. The sell here is power vs speed. Trik gets a quick advance by countering a press slam into a rana. Erick retorts by POWERBOMBING HIM ON THE APRON. Stevens continues to dominate using his size presumably because his own selling leaves a little to be desired. The crowd cheerily chant “die, Trik, die” as the plucky babyface gets mangled on the mat. TKO should finish but Trik keeps the plucky babyface act going. Trik comes back with the Codebreaker into the Hangman’s Clutch! A shot at Hero there. Stevens is too big and makes the ropes though. Powerbomb…then an enormous LARIATOOOOOO! And Trik kicks out again. That was a finish, really. Trik can’t stand and Stevens makes the mistake of not beating him up some more and gets caught in the babyface roll up for the loss. Trik advances. **1/4. Another nice story. This time of power v speed and Stevens lack of ruthlessness in not finishing this. If anything Erick was the star here despite only making his debut.

POST MATCH Chris Hero, the sublime king of jerks, jumps Trik and throws him into the wall. Another lovely chant of “die Trik die” as Hero runs him into the ring post.

Chris Bosh v El Generico

Bosh offers Generico the chance to forfeit so he can “go home and jack off to internet porn”. Bosh seems a little smoother since the last time I saw him back in the early PWG shows. Generico flips around him for laughs and then bumps like a madman taking a huge bump off a backbreaker. Bosh with a fisherman suplex for 2. Generico goes for the Yakuza kick so Bosh PUNCHES HIM IN THE GROIN. Boshomania is runnin’ wild! Crowd bites on the “Bosh” every punch. He also begs off in order to take a shortcut. Bosh is great here because he’s something different, which is always good. A change is as good as a rest. Generico breaks out the dive through the ropes into the tornado DDT. That’s a cool looking move. Before Bosh has recovered Generico levels him with a springboard moonsault. Superfly Splash! That gets 2. Generico has really been switching his moveset around here to stay fresh. Generico tries to go lucha but Bosh blocks into a backbreaker. He’s got some neat looking reversals. Generally I find Generico is great with everyone though. Bosh catches him with a DDT onto the apron. Back inside Generico head drops Bosh off a tiger suplex…for 2. Generico goes for the pumphandle but gets countered into a Stunner in a fluid motion. Bosh adds in another backbreaker…for 2. This is the Chris Bosh show! Upstairs and Generico wants his finish. Can’t get it. YAKUZZAAAAA KIIIIICK. Up top again. BRAINBUSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! That is the best finish in wrestling. ***1/2. Kinda disjointed and spotty but was fast, furious and made good sense. Another fine example of what a solid worker El Generico is too. He seems to have great matches with a variety of opponents.

As per usual they select a barnburner to finish off disc one. Who knew Chris Bosh would have one of the best matches on night one?

Davey Richards v Jigsaw

Davey Richards is a tournament superstar and an overnight sensation. He didn’t even debut until 2004. In 2006 he won both the ECWA Super 8 and the Battle of Los Angeles. If he takes the TPI that makes him the first wrestler ever to sweep the major Indy tournaments. If you’ve never seen Davey he’s one of my favourite new wrestlers. Probably because of his puro-stylings. Jigsaw is a fun wrestler but he’s not in Davey’s explosive league. He has to use his lucha libre style instead, which in itself a nice contrast. Japan v Mexico…in the USA. That goes well for Jigsaw until Davey just levels him with an STO. And that’s the difference in styles! The lucha stuff is pretty and confusing but Davey’s puro is far more impactful and damaging. Davey throws a lot of strikes including a bastard hard running kick to the seated Jigsaw. Jigsaw blows a low bridge, thus making Davey look bad and follows with a senton. Jigsaw tries to trade but Davey is CAPTAIN INTENSITY in strike battles. Jigsaw brings EVERYTHING though including the flying knees before using lucha to keep Davey off balance again with a satellite DDT. Davey shows he can fly too with a missile dropkick before unloading with strikes into a German suplex for 2. Davey is so intense that when he starts firing off strikes Jigsaw is just having to hold on and desperately kick out. Jigsaw flies into a super rana and hits a quality Gamengiri before a leg jam gets 2. That looked rough and the crowd reacted badly to it. He wants the Jig N Tonic but Davey counters looking for the DR Driver. He can’t get it but gets a capture suplex intstead. Jigsaw comes back with kicks but gets caught with a discus lariat…for 2. Didn’t get all of that AJ Styles style. More kicks from Davey but Jigsaw decides to trade again. That gets him thrown into the air, booted on the way down and planted with a DDT into the keylock. Jigsaw has nowhere to go and is forced to tap out. **3/4. Really fun match with lots of little mistakes. Davey had sufficient intensity to own this match despite Jigsaw’s varied performance. Davey Richards, ladies and gents, another potential superstar in the making. Unlike Tyler Black he’s lacking in height though.

Brandon Thomaselli v Roderick Strong

Strong is pretty intense to start with opting to shove Thomaselli before the bell has even rung. Brandon tells everyone he’s “Mr Impact” because he appeared on TNA Impact yesterday. “Didn’t you used to be in TNA?” – at Strong. Oh, he’ll pay for that. CHOPS~! Thomselli goes the comedy heel route and bails for “time out” only for Strong to follow out and forearm him a bit. Brandon is running the gimmick and goes low. Strong gets a lot of roll up’s to keep Brandon down and struggling for kickouts. Thomselli does a standing SSP and that move is starting to get way overused. It seems like half the Indy wrestling crowd can do that move now. It used to be rare and entertaining. To show the difference Strong counters Brandon into a backbreaker and gets a bigger pop. It’s all about context. Thomselli has a decent moveset but he’s just not sure how or where to put the moves. Strong catches him in another backbreaker into the DVD for 2. Strong is hitting moves in the right place and getting the right reactions. He’s working the smarter and more entertaining match. Thomaselli just throws stuff out there like the Golden Gate Swing or the Air Raid Crash. You don’t just throw massive moves like that in there. It ruins the pacing of the match. Brandon misses with the 450 Splash. Geez, get some fucking transitions! Stong only needs a mid-level finisher to put this joker away and floors him with a Tiger Driver for the win. Keeping in mind he’s worked the back all match to set that up. *1/2. Strong worked a great match but Thomaselli is all over the place and seriously needs to question his approach to working a match.

Kevin Steen v Claudio Castagnoli

Claudio has at least three title belts. The IWA Swiss title is enormous. Trying to compensate for something? Small…territory. “Eeeeeeyyyyy”! Crowd gets a duelling chant going while they trade strikes and Claudio wins that with the FOREARM UPPERCUTS, BITCH! He goes for another but Steen counters into the Gory Driver. Steen with a couple of stiff shots earning him the new nickname here of “Mr Potato” rather than Mr Wrestling. Steen works over the rib area. Stalling suplex from Claudio, which is all the more impressive on Steen, for 11 seconds. Not quite the 80 second lift. Claudio gets himself planted with a tornado DDT and Claudio is busted in the mouth. Claudio muscles Steen up into the Waterslide for 2. They’re really rushing this match and its hurting it. Steen looks much weaker because of it. Steen with a weighty swanton for 2. Steen showing his lack of concern for Claudio’s ribs. Steen calls for the piledriver and Claudio counters out into the RICOLA BOMB…for 2. ROARING UPPERCUT! That gets it done for Claudio and he has to sell the arm because he just injured himself. **1/4.

POST MATCH Steen snot rockets a fan. URGH!

Low-Ki v Gran Akuma

Like anyone buys Akuma can win this. Ki is pretty much unbeatable in IWA, mainly because he has jobberitis. Ki baits Akuma into the corner and attempts to remove his arm. Ki slowly warms up with a few heavyweight chops and kicks. Ki pretty much no sells Akuma’s replies. Akuma’s chops do look awful by comparison. Ki’s all leave handprints. Akuma just about dodges a kick to the head and looks shaken. It’s a battle out there for Akuma to survive. Akuma opts to go for wrestling instead and converts a Royal Octopus hold into a roll up but Ki gets out because he can wrestle too and KICKS IN THE SPINE! He’s just toying with Akuma here. Like a rottweiler with an injured squirrel. BITE OF THE DRAGON! Ki has been using the ropes for his amusement but it still feels like a warm up. Akuma has some nice moves though and breaks out the seated version of the Cattle Mutilation. Ki starts no selling again so Akuma KICKS HIM IN THE CHIN! KOPPOU KIIIIIIIIIIICCKKK! Looks like Ki took offence. KICK TO THE SPINE! Yeah, he took offence. Ki has been so slow and methodical here. Just taking his sweet time and laying in kicks. Akuma’s offence by comparison is just too tame and it feels like a protracted squash, which is what it is. Just after I type that Akuma comes up with his biggest move of the match; a vicious missile dropkick. The momentum doesn’t last…BLACK MAGIC! KICK OF DEATH! For 2??? That was a finish. TIDAL WAVE! For 2. CHOP RUSH! Akuma tries hard to get an opening and is in the process of winning the crowd over. But he misses a frog splash, Ki misses with a Shotgun dropkick and we’re running out of time here. KI KRUSHAAAAAAAAAA! WARRIORS WAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY! FUCKING SHITBALLS! **1/2. Ki felt he needed two finishers to kill off Akuma there. The match *still* fell like an extended squash regardless. But a fun one because Ki just unloaded all over the place with kicks and chops.

Scott Lost v Delirious

Lost looks really confused by Delirious’ entrance. Delirious goes completely nuts at the bell. Lost still looks confused but opts for wrestling to open this with a headlock. Delirious gets in a double armlock and screams in his face. Lost is having a FREAKOUT! Delirious continues to jabber as he rolls him up repeatedly. Delirious stands over Lost screaming. You don’t know where I’ve been Lou!! Lost brings the D-Lo tribute with a leaping leg lariat. He does look like thin D-Lo. Delirious bites his way out of a camel clutch. SUPERMAN SPEAR~! That gets 2. Delirious channels the Ultimate WOYAH~! Then hits a missile dropkick and a running knee in the corner. SHADOWS OVER HELL, countered into knees up. Lost Cause! (corner superkick) but Lost suplexes him over the top rope and Delirious holds on to pull him over. Lost with the Savage Elbow for 2. He gets in the ref’s face for not counting three. Lost goes all Muay Thai with double elbows to the head. BIZARRO DRIVER…for 2. SHADOWS OVER HELL! Cobra Clutch finishes for Delirious! **1/2. The usual fun match from Delirious but he did seem like he was just warming up and getting all his spots in.

Arik Cannon v B-Boy

Cannon rocking a big beard this year. Gay ring attire. Or perhaps he’s just overweight around the midsection. Fix one or the other. They start off with some horrible lucha. Arik, know your limits! B-Boy no sells his strikes, because they suck, and lays in with his own. STRONGSTYLE MOTHERFUCKER! B-Boy caps that off by double stomping Cannon on the top of the head. Cannon tries to fuck with him so B-Boy just knocks his ass out with a forearm. These guys really aren’t gelling too well and this isn’t the blowaway main event they were probably hoping for. B-Boy gets caught in a DDT through the ropes. For me, that’s a finish but even Randy Orton uses it as a transition these days. Cannon with an ugly version of the Pedigree, which gets 2. B-Boy starts no selling so Cannon swinging neckbreakers him off the top rope. Pretty much no sold and B-Boy hits the Shining Wizard for 2. Fucking sloppy looking execution on that. Spinebuster and another Wizard. Corner dropkick! B-Boy is having fun out there. Really, really sloppy GTS follows for 2. This match is just getting uglier by the minute. B-Boy blocks a brainbuster twice but Cannon just pulls him up and hits it anyway. Hmm. Cannon hits the Glimmering Warlock and that’s enough for this. *. Lousy match, which I blame squarely on Cannon who seems to over reach and try shit he can’t do. This was sloppy as hell.

POST MATCH Ian Rotten announces tomorrow night’s bracket. Low-Ki v Davey Richards is a major highlight.

30th September 2006. Night Two. Hosts are Ben Jordan & Brandon Thomaselli.

M-Dogg 20 v El Generico

M-Dogg is a midget. 6pm start and the sun is still up! Guess they’ve gotten used to running five hour shows. M-Dogg flips around for a while and really gives Generico very little to work with. Generico has improved over the yearsr and gone from a joke act to a very varied performer. In particular his high flying skills are much better than before. Generico takes way too long setting up his Yakuza kick in the corner so M-Dogg flips out of the way of it. M-Dogg fucks up a bit of tumbling (or perhaps it was a set up because it looked stupid) and screws up his leg. M-Dogg doesn’t really sell it though and pops back up for a springboard moonsault press. So if that spot was worked it was entirely pointless. SSP misses, again no sell, and they counter in sloppy fashion into a DDT for M-Dogg. That gets 2. Up top…BRAINBUSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! HOLY SHIT! M-Dogg landed shoulder first on the top of the ring post. That looked like it sucked for Matt Cross. *3/4. Match was a shambles but the finish was sick!

Mike Quackenbush v Claudio Castagnoli

Claudio comes out to “Bad Medicine” by Bon Jovi and wearing a lucha mask. Whaaaa? He then debuts new ring gear under his hospital whites. Claudio clubs away “like a baby seal” says someone out in the crowd. Quack breaks out the speedy counters and he looks awesome doing it. Quack’s satellite headscissors is beautiful. But whenever Quack gets an opening Claudio levels him with the heavy shots. Like he knows Quack is too good as a wrestler but he also knows he’s the bigger guy and better striker. Claudio falls outside after being discombobulated and Quack hits a suicide senton. He tries to come off the top again but gets caught in a backbreaker. Huge block and overpowering move from Claudio. He also knows Quack has a history of back injuries and is focusing on it. He goes for another and Quack counters on the way down into an armhold and rolls with it into a near fall. Quack baits Claudio in and throws him over the top. A slightly convoluted series follows where Quack eventually armdrags him into the front row. But then lucha-libre has always looked a little faker than normal wrestling. Too much co-operation required. Quack seems to be a little overly reliant on the ropes today and that nearly gets him in trouble. A snap rana nearly, oh so nearly, puts Quack over. They counter standing and Claudio gets the Waterslide for 2. Quack does this amazing thing where he lands on Claudio’s shoulders and flies around with an incredible multi-whirl into a roll up…for 2. Amazing stuff from Quack. Crowd is now on their feet! Quack tries for another snap rana but gets countered in mid air into the RICOLA BOMB and Claudio advances with the shock win. ***1/2. Awesome ten minute match. Quack was bringing stuff I’d never even seen before. Crowd want Mike to “please come back”. Oh, he will. Ian Rotten comes out wanting him to come back more frequently than just for the TPI. “Much more Quack” – fans. Ian compares Quack to Ted Petty and Chris Candido as a great guy to have in the business.

Low-Ki v Davey Richards

Ki is lightweight this evening; merely wearing shorts to the ring rather than his heavier ring gear. Ki starts out in a shoot-stance and we get a feeling out process from two guys who like to kick a lot. They work it shoot-style on the mat with Davey shooting for a single leg and Ki wrestling out of the resultant leglock. Ki makes judo-style look easy but Davey is also capable on the mat. It’s not easy doing MMA-style as New Japan tried it for years and it was never interesting. These guys are making it look legit…AND interesting. They both keep working and keep it logical and Davey counters into a Stretch Muffler then moves on to an STF because he doesn’t have a good grip. But Ki blocks that and when Davey switches grip again he kicks at the leg. All this is just a few seconds of action. The whole match is like this! Ki gets a little distance and kicks Davey in the head. HAHA! Kick it up a notch! Davey suplexes him and Ki gets a shoulder up at one because it makes more logical sense. It’s like they’re trying to re-invent the sport here. Davey starts with the kicks and Ki takes some stiff shots for 2. Ki takes it and then opens up with the kicks when his chance comes. Three heavy shots to the chest. Davey starts NO SELLING THAT SHIT! Ki kicks him some more. NOW, STAY DOWN MOTHERFUCKER! More kicking from Low-Ki. I love this match. Davey uses his superior upper body strength to bust out an overhead belly to belly. Backbreaker and Davey’s strategy is becoming clear. Davey with more kicks. Anything you can do…

Ki gets up a head of pace and switches to a crucifix at speed for 2. “Davey Boy” – Davey hits the running powerslam for 2. Unlike Gran Akuma, Davey Richards is believable and can hang with Ki at striking and wrestling. Ki comes back with the CHOP RUSH! Fakes him out…MONGOLIAN CHOPS! BITE OF THE DRAGON! Ki adds a choke for kicks. Diving forearm smash! Ki has noticeably upped his game in order to dominate. More kicks from Ki. Kick of Death is blocked with a LEGSWEEP! Davey tries his own but Ki chops him in the leg! KAWADA KICKS! This is awesome! Davey handsprings into the gamengiri but Ki rolls backwards into the KOPPOU KIIIIIIIIIICK! Davey gets a fireman’s carry and Ki counters into the standing armbar! But they’re so sweaty that Ki slips off. Davey gets a gutbuster and a sitout powerbomb…for2 . Davey wants a superplex but Ki chops and kicks at him. Warriors Way misses! Davey plants him with a DDT into the keylock finisher! Ki turns in it and just gets his boot on the rope. He even bridges up to avoid getting pinned. Shooting star….KI GETS KNEES UP! SHOTGUN DROPKICK TO THE RIBS! FUCK! Up he goes….WARRIORS WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! That’s the match! Ki advances. ****1/4. I think that’ll be match of the night right there. About as great a match as you can do in 16-17 minutes.

POST MATCH Ki says thanks from one Super 8 champion to another. Hell of a show of respect. Meanwhile Davey doesn’t get to sweep all the Indy tournaments in ’06. Ki is still selling the keylock as he leaves too.

Chris Hero v Trik Davis

Trik jumps ahead of the bell to show the intense rivalry these two have. He has a bandaged arm after Hero attacked him last night. Despite taking a dropkick on a chair at ringside Hero soon takes over and dominates using his size. The crowd get duelling “fuck you” chants going. Hero keeps using his size and hits a Snake Eyes. Hero gives him a shoeing and mocks him. Poor kid. They counter a little on the mat and Trik gets a butterfly lock but Hero just stands up out of it. Hero goes after the injured arm, because he’s a jerk if you didn’t notice, and removes the tape. Joey Eastman lets us know that Davey Richards broke two ribs on that Warriors Way. Small price to pay for a fucking great match. Hero meanwhile is trying to remove Trik’s arm. Hammerlock backbreaker! “He’s a world class dick, isn’t he?” – Redje. “I like the guy”. Trik starts no selling, through sheer determination and an urge to get revenge, and he backs Hero up with strikes! Hero grabs him; SAITO SUPLEX! DROP SUPLEX…for 2. They run a nice series of counters with Hero powering Trik up and Trik countering into something else. Trik with the butterfly lock but Hero wrestles out and breaks out the HANGMAN’S CLUTCH! “First time this year, bitch”. Trik knows the hold quite well though and gets into the ropes. Trik slips out and gets his own HANGMAN’S CLUTCH! Crowd chants “tap” at him and Trik has it on good. Hero is too tall and gets the ropes. They start headbutting each other, which is horrifying stuff because they’re connecting. Hero eventually collapses on top of Trik…for 2. Trik breaks out a hanging cravat! He’s trying to out-cravat Hero! Hero goes after the injured arm to get back in charge and dumps Trik onto the ropes arm first. Eventually he just breaks Trik’s will to continue and holds him in the air by his arm injury until he gives it up to the Jim Breaks Special. ***. A great storyline of David Vs Goliath. Trik did his part perfectly and it even has the right result. David doesn’t get to win here or the crowd would just hate him. His revenge needs to come later.

Arik Cannon v Hallowicked

They start out with the slo-mo chain wrestling, which Cannon is particularly bad at. That pretty much makes the opening 3 or 4 minutes a write off. Hallowicked wakes me up by nearly getting a rana and then kicking Cannon right in the face for 2. Hallowicked with the old “chop ya in the back”. I love that song. Hallowicked is no small guy and Cannon has underestimated him. He certainly chops him in the neck though. Crowd boo that despite it being the only decent thing Cannon has done in this match. Hallowicked uses gravity to help achieve a spinebuster. That Cannon is a tubby fuck. He’s also a terrible babyface. Everything he shouts out the crowd boo. Swinging neckbreaker off the ropes! He really nails that. Hallowicked Yakuza kicks him in the back of the head! I love the Yakuza Kick, almost as much as Hallowicked. He busts out the flying rana too and follows up with a sitout spinebuster for 2. Cannon takes a mean back bump for a fatty. Cannon comes back with the usual; gamengiri, Saito suplex and the Glimmering Warlock to progress. Getting predictable Arik. Crowd boo the finish. *1/2. Turn him heel again, for fuck’s sake. And somebody coach him on his limitations.

Roderick Strong v Delirious

Delirious goes nuts at the opening bell and bails to celebrate it at ringside. Strong gets a wristlock to open but Delirious is good and is able to reverse it. He makes me chuckle by headbutting the hand. Isn’t he just punching himself? Delirious covers up when he sees a chop coming another nice comedy spot. He covers up on the floor and Strong tippy toes over to him but Delirious hears it and single legs him. Strong is having issues competing with Delirious’ sanity. Strong finally gets to unleash his chop! Fallaway slam! Strong with the longest stalling suplex of the weekend. The cocky cover gets Strong some heat. Quack makes a great point of saying that guys nowadays have huge ego’s and only want to pin someone with their finishing move. Which, when you think about it, is good psychology. Strong with a sideslam. He seems to be avoiding his own trademark today. No backbreakers. Maybe it’s a stipulation I didn’t hear announced. NEVERENDING STORY!!!! 21 clotheslines into the bulldog for 2. Delirious charges into a BLACK HOLE BACKBREAKER!! Cool! Delirious gets violent in response with a neckbreaker off the top buckle. Strong pretty much head spiked that. He’s too close to the ropes for a pin and tries for the Cobra Stretch but he’s too close to the ropes again. URINAGE BACKBREAKER! Strong is once again the Messiah. STRONGHOLD! Delirious is able to get the ropes though. Delirious escapes another backbreaker into the COBRA STRETCH but Strong pushes his way out and gets a pin for 2. Delirious with the RUNNING KNEE though! SHADOWS OVER HELL! That gets 2. COBRA STRETCH! And Delirious looks like a star here. He’s gotten himself a credible serious of dangerous moves. Strong comes back with several backbreakers and the Stronghold finishes. ***. Another fun match from Delirious and he looked like a credible threat to Strong here. Credit to both guys for that.

Iron Saints v Tarek the Great/American Kickboxer

IWA historians will know the history between Tarek & Kickboxer. They had a legendary series of matches during the IWA’s early years. Kickboxer has recently made a comeback but has made enemies of the Iron Saints. He’s resorted to bringing back his nemesis Tarek to win this war. Its more than just a fun brawl though as there’s a feeling Tarek can’t be trusted and could turn on Kickboxer at any time. The crowd has changed since Tarek was a star in IWA though and how his sloppy work is largely ignored and goes un-popped. He gets a pop by powerbombing Kickboxer on Sal for 2 though. Kickboxer accidentally superkicks Tarek, and that spot looked awful, and the Iron Saints also miscue in another ugly spot. Tarek gets pissed off and hits the Tarekbuster on Kickboxer. Shock! Ref throws the match out as the babyface duo brawl through the crowd. DUD. All angle and completely predictable.

POST MATCH the Iron Saints badmouth the lack of tag team competition…which brings out

BLKOUT v Iron Saints

There are three Thomaselli brothers though and just Eddie Kingston & Joker on the babyface side so out comes Ricochet to make it a 6-man tag. This is just a meaningless brawl apart from Eddie Kingston. He’s the heart and soul of the match. There’s a lot of headbutting and some blood. The double team moves don’t work, especially Ricochet attempting an SSP off Kingston’s shoulders. Would have been awesome if it came off. JOKERDRIVER on Brandon! Ricochet does a ridiculous corkscrew senton with a double flip in it for the pin. ¼*. A total mess.

6 Team Gauntlet

It’s also referred to as a “tag team Royal Rumble”. Two teams start. Another team enters every couple of minutes. Once all six times are out here it becomes a battle royal. When there are only two teams left it becomes a normal match. Even Ben Jordan calls it “convoluted”. I’m sure this sounded great in the bar last night at 2am but right now it sounds stupid. First two teams are Chris Bosh/Scott Lost & B-Boy/Ricky Reyes. Bosh is over after last night’s match. BOSHOMANIA IS RUNNIN’ WILD! We start out with no referee because there’s no way to win until all the teams are out here. Who fucking booked this? Why are B-Boy and Scott Lost just standing there on the apron? There’s no ref. There’s no DQ. It doesn’t matter how well wrestled the opening couple of minutes is because there are no rules so I’m just sitting here thinking it’s retarded. For example; Bosh gets a fisherman suplex and they just sit there in it because there are no pins. Finally we get bored of this and in comes team #3: Colt Cabana/Kevin Steen. They argue on the way out here to reinforce the face/heel alignment. Colt breaks him by making him skip hand in hand to the ring. ELBOWS FOR EVERYONE! Steen gets one too! OOPS! Steen refuses the high five and Colt Cabana has just owned this match. Colt goes to wrestle him again. “Sorry, I forgot”. “Ref, he pulled my hair”. Colt seems to be the only one who knows this is all going to be goofy shit because there are no rules. Team 4 is Gran Akuma/Jigsaw. Colt amuses me by choking Steen on the ropes. He’s really not getting the hang of this team business. Steen manages to owe two other guys with awesome spots until Akuma missile dropkicks him. Bosh pulls out the GROIN PUNCH! Steen realises it works after watching and punches B-Boy in the crotch too. Bosh is STILL doing the pose and COLT CABANA RUNS RIGHT INTO IT. HAHAHAHA. Akuma goes to kick him in the head and CROTCHES HIMSELF. Steen jumps off the top and lands on the fist! Reyes charges into it and Bosh just crotched EVERYONE ELSE IN THE MATCH WITH ONE PUNCH! Pile out! Cabana tries to frogsplash everyone but misses. “Geez, you screwed that one up” – Colt @ Steen. Team #5 is Scorpio Sky/Erick Stevens . Colt throws everyone over the top and claims victory BUT there’s still another team to come out here. “Awww, you’re shittin’ me”. Bosh and Steen start punching each other complete with shouting their own names. “BOSH”, “STEEN”, “BOSH”, “I SAID STEEN”. “Alright”. Colt joins in. “steen, colt, bosh, colt, sky, bosh, steen”. Steen gets caught and Colt rags on him. “You’re the worst partner I ever had”. Team #6 is the North Star Express of Darin Corbin/Ryan Cruz. Now people can be eliminated.

Colt dancing to Corbin’s entrance music is another highlight. So is Bosh standing there punching NOTHING and elbow dropping nothing before Colt trips him up. This is madness. Steen does the jack knife and it sucks, just like Kevin Nash’s version. ROCK BOTTOM! COLT STUNNERS HIM and throws his own partner over the top rope!!! Cabana & Steen are eliminated by Cabana’s stupidity/genius.

Bosh takes a People’s Elbow off Corbin. Meanwhile Colt realises what he did. “I threw you out, didn’t I?” Well, this match is stolen. Colt’s work is done. Akuma & Jigsaw break out their own reverse version of Total Elimination. Everyone gets in there and Corbin gets repeatedly kicked in the ass. Jigsaw chokeslams Lost. Hahaha. B-Boy doesn’t take the comedy well and drops him on his head with a half and half. Sky gets catapulted over the top by B-Boy so he & Stevens are out.

Ricky Reyes & B-Boy double team Jigsaw and throw him out thus also eliminating Gran Akuma.

Bosh starts laying in the punches again but Reyes throws him over the top. The PWG team are gone. Bosh pulls Reyes out for a brawl down the aisle though.

B-Boy is left alone against two guys and Lost hits him with a Diamond Cutter before the Cruz Control finishes this one for Corbin & Cruz. **. It was a total fucking mess but Colt Cabana & Chris Bosh were hilarious.

Arik Cannon v Claudio Castagnoli

Claudio must be at least a foot taller than Cannon. I checked, it’s 6’ 5” to 5’ 7” so almost a foot. Normally Cannon doesn’t look that small. Claudio’s mat game is way above Cannon’s so he’s able to control quite easily with skill and size. Cannon looks clumsy and loose by comparison. He’s not without skill but he often looks exposed by better wrestlers. Still it is the only way he’ll improve as a wrestler. Claudio catches Cannon off balance by only holding him up for 2 seconds in the stalling suplex. He didn’t see that coming! Cannon tries to fire up but he’s gassed. Claudio is fine. They start borrowing each other’s moves, which doesn’t really work because Cannon’s moves suck and Cannon can’t really do Claudio’s. The neckbreaker off the middle of the ropes is nice. Warlock misses and Claudio powers him up into the Alpamare Waterslide for 2. RICOLA BOMB…for 2. Cannon kicks out at the end there, blocks another Waterslide and hits a brainbuster for 2. That was the first time Claudio appeared to be in trouble because he got caught quickly. Cannon makes the mistake of instigating a strike battle. That does not go well for him until he blocks the rolling Uppercut with a forearm smash and Claudio drops to one knee thus setting up the Glimmering Warlock. And Cannon advances to the finals once again. **1/2. It was an interesting match but it never really reached that ‘good’ level. Crowd boo’s the conclusion.

Chris Hero v Roderick Strong

Crowd is split and there are plenty of Chris Hero fans despite Ben Jordan’s insistence that he’s despicable. Hero pretends to start with chops but goes to a headlock instead. Strong shoots him off and lays in the chops! Rod just gets explosive and lays in with strikes from all angles before hitting a butterfly backbreaker for 2. Hero comes back by going after the arm to try and cut out those backbreakers. Hero’s moveset is so impressive because he not only knows the moves, and can execute the moves but he also does them so smoothly. Usually wrestlers with a large moveset tend to be slightly less smooth with it because of all the additional work needed to get so many moves down pat. Hero has hundreds of moves that look as natural as breathing. And that’s the definition of a good wrestler. Hero busts out a Diamond Dust on the arm. He uses the weakened arm to set up a pinfall attempt too. He’s using that injury to the max! Strong uses his, aheam, strong arm to get back into it although he does make the mistake of using the weakened one on an Irish whip. Sometimes you just forget. Although he can’t do a suplex so he uses the Falcon Arrow instead, for 2. Strong goes for a whip using the bad arm again but this time he sells it! YUS! Divorce Court into the Tequila Sunrise. Strong can turn though and gets a rope. Strong comes out of nowhere with the FLYING YAKUZA KIIICK! That gets 2. He is so explosive sometimes. I think he learned that from teaming with Austin Aries so much. Wind up hammerlock backbreaker from Hero! He looks to finish this but he’s indecisive and Strong gets a backslide to advance to the finals. ***1/4. Smart match between two great workers. I like the backslide finish too. It lent credibility to Strong’s arm injury and the psychology of the match that he needed something quick.

Low-Ki v El Generico

Generico is a fun loving babyface who works well with flippy wrestlers. Low-Ki just murders everything put before him so Generico is effectively dead. Generico tries for a sunset flip, which ends disastrously for him when Ki double stomps him. I like Ki’s new offensive noise making that’s either a tribute to tennis players worldwide or Bruce Lee. Ki goes to springboard but Generico dropkicks him in mid-air showing he’s scouted Ki’s moveset. The biggest problem this match faces is that no one expects Generico to win so they don’t pop his offense. Ki blocks the attempted brainbustah and hits the Koppou Kick followed by the Tidal Wave for 2. Generico catches him into the Orange Crush for 2. Back to the top with Generico looking for his big finish but Ki jumps on his back and dragon sleepers him. They counter some more with Generico wanting the brainbustah but Generico falls down and gets KILLED with the DOUBLE STOMP IN THE CORNER. You know Generico is finished and Ki strolls into the finals. **1/4. Fun little match but Generico had no chance and that was reflected in the lack of reaction.

Light Heavyweight title – Josh Abercrombie (c) v Tyler Black

Added heat on this as it’s loser leaves IWA for 6 months. This has been a hot feud anyway. When did Abercrombie start being a freakshow? He’s now sporting a porn star moustache and looks 86% sleazier. Both get mixed reactions. Josh looks like he just stepped out of the bedroom with his novelty Christmas pants. Both guys start out pretty sloppy. Picks up with some chopping before Josh lifts Ki’s habit of yelping before double stomping someone. The inexperience of the duo starts showing as they throw moves out there without any kind of focus. It doesn’t help that Tyler can’t throw a worked punch at all. He can break out the Pele Kick though. That gets 2. You should know your strengths and stick to them. He has a range of moves because he’s not really sure what he’s good at yet; like a young CM Punk. Josh catches him with the TALIBAN BACKPACK…for 2. Josh with knees to the back and he wants a submission instead. Tyler comes right back with the Small Package Driver…for 2. Josh moves out of the way ages before Tyler splashes nothing. I know Tyler was looking the other way but he has space between his legs to check that out. Phoenix…headbutt but Jim Fannen runs out here and ehects the referee. JIMMY JACOBS makes an upset return and nails Tyler. Josh hits a pumphandle fisherman buster and Tyler is gone for 6 months. Meanwhile Jacobs and Abercrombie celebrate. *1/2. Mostly botched stuff.

POST MATCH Fannen explains how he saved Josh’s title and his career. Fannen sees Jacobs and is all “let’s hug it out, bitch”. But it’s a set up and Mitch Page and Bull Pain come out and destroy Jacobs. Hey, two fat useless fucks. The perfect addition to a tournament showcasing technical excellence. Toby Klein comes out to save Jacobs. Pain gives him a “pedigree” on a chair busting him open.

IWA-MS title – Toby Klein (c) v Chuck Taylor

Ian Rotten comes out to tell Chuck he’ll get his shot another night because Klein is hurt. Klein gets the mic; “Chuck, I’d love to fight you tonight”. WHAM! Right hand. Toby decides to even things up by slamming Chuck on the floor. Klein starts selling his shoulder though, which was injured during the attack from the BMF’s. Taylor has a few tidy looking moves. He hits a nice 2nd rope moonsault although the impact is soft. Nice height on a standing dropkick too. The problem with this being a title match is the lack of star power in it makes it feel like a nothing match compared to the tournament around it. Neither guy has really gotten good enough to main event a top Indy show. Taylor breaks out the Flip Gimmick, which is an original move where he sticks his boot in his opponent face then back bumps. Taylor also has a standing Shiranui, which is very impressive. Klein catches him with an airplane spin DVD for 2. “What’s with the dolphins?” – Redje of Taylor’s somewhat faggy ring gear. Klein goes up top but gets caught in reverse Greetings from Asbury Park and Chuck Taylor is the new heavyweight champion. **. Passable.

POST MATCH Mitch Page and Bull Pain come out here again with Fannen and beat up both guys. Yeah, that’ll get them over. Ricochet and Erick Stevens try to make the save but gets beaten up with a baseball bat. NECRO BUTCHER!!! He makes the shock save. Ian books a match that I’m thankful I’ll never have to see between the four guys. Ian somewhat steals the moment by calling Bull “the ugliest fucking pussy I’ve ever seen in my life”.

2006 TPI Finals – Roderick Strong v Arik Cannon v Low-Ki

Lots more heat for Cannon here. There’s a feeling he doesn’t deserve this spot. I don’t like three-ways because they’re all basically the same match. One guy gets knocked down and then comes back to break up the pinfalls. Cannon goes to chop Ki who IGNORES IT and chops him in the face. You know Strong wants a piece of that action! Stiff opening couple of minutes! Ki makes me laugh by kicking Cannon right in the side of the head. Strong is the guy who’s taking it to Ki here though. And, shock, a backbreaker gets the first pin attempt. The stiffness continues as Strong kicks at Cannon’s face. SNOODLOCK! Cannon is blown up. Ki and Strong just chop shit out of each other. Strong’s chops are SO hard. They beat the hell out of each other. Crowd chant “Teddy” to show their appreciation. THREE WAY CHOP OFF!! They’re fucking each other up out here. Ki’s looking hurt for the first time in the tournament and he looks vulnerable at long last. Double backdrop and they pile on Ki for 2. Strong chops Cannon IN THE FACE. So Cannon headbutts and PUNCHES HIM IN THE JAW. Strong with a gutwrench on Ki for 2. They all tie each other up on the mat but Cannon’s lazy leg over Strong doesn’t do anything. Strong starts crippling Ki around the ringpost sideways. They’re aiming to eliminate Ki and compete for the title between them. TIDAL WAVE FOR STRONG! CHOP RUSH FOR CANNON! KOPPOU KIIIICK for Strong. Wow. Ki defining explosive there. They pile up on the corner and we get set for a Tower of Doom but Cannon is too fat to do it. He superplexes Strong but gets stuck in the corner. Lucky for him he throws Ki off. He couldn’t balance on that fat fuck anyway. Strong gets caught but Ki is distracted and Strong powerbombs him over his knee! MESSIAH OF THE BACKBREAKER! Cannon counters Strong into a neckbreaker off the ropes but the rope itself saves. Warlock misses and Strong hits the flying kick. STRONGHOLD! Ki saves with a HUGE shotgun dropkick out of nowhere. Cannon is down selling the leg. KAWADA KICKS! VIOLENCE PARTY!!!! Cannon ducks a lariat and hits the Saito suplex to save himself. Cannon drapes across the ropes and Ki DOUBLE STOMPS HIM…for 2. Ki gets chopped and starts NO SELLING. He and Strong wail on each other some more. Ki goes mental. CHOPS, KNEE, CHOPS, SLAPS, KICK TO THE FAAAACE! Strong can’t move let alone kick out. He’s unconscious and bleeding from the nose. Ki pins him. Bye, Roderick. He’s fucked up and out on his feet.

Ki is a bastard! He just murdered that guy. Cannon v Ki for the TPI then. Cannon can hardly even stand. Cannon sandbags Ki in an attempt to get hurt less. Sure, that’ll work! Cannon uses a Pedigree with the ropes but he can’t pin because his leg is fucked. Brainbuster…gets 2. Cannon considers the Warlock but Ki levels him with a Koppou Kick in mid stride. GLIMMERING WARLOCK…for 2. 30 minutes in now and this has been brutal. Cannon wants a brainbuster off the top but Ki blocks it and chokes Cannon out on the top buckle. Cannon is groggy and Ki chops him off the top. PHOENIX SPLASH…for 2!!! Are you shitting me? DRAGON CLUTCH!!!! Cannon refuses to tap but he’s out and Low Ki wins the TPI! ****. Great match considering Arik Cannon’s involvement. Ki was insane in there and went mental at least twice. It was hard hitting brutality for over 30 minutes.

POST MATCH Ian Rotten comes out and puts over the competitors. “From one fat guy with a bad haircut to another, I’m proud of you” – Ian to Arik. Chris Hero pops out here to interupt the festivities. He tells Ki that until he beats Chris Hero…BOOOOO. Crowd don’t care for his presence. “Fuck you, Hero”. Ian calls him disrespectful and a “pompous ass” for going and working elsewhere. Ian takes the opportunity to book Hero against Low-Ki. Winner gets a shot at the IWA title. Ki gets the chance to put over the boys and call Hero an asshole.

The 411: A step down from the previous two years shows. It did at times feel like the “Low-Ki Show” because they didn’t bring anyone else in that was at his level of stardom. He earned his stripes though with an excellent bout against Davey Richards and another fine showing in the finals where he and Roderick Strong bludgeoned each other. There’s still a little too much in terms of filler and I don’t really appreciate the booking around the IWA title. Anything involving Bull Pain is bad usually. The tape needed a little more time in the edit suite but at least nowadays it feels a little sleeker than the earlier shows. Compare it to an ROH tape release though and there’s a feeling they could be a bit more selective about what stays in. Solid show though, especially recommended if you’re a Low-Ki fan.

Final Score:  7.0   [ Good ]