wrestling / Video Reviews
Views from the Hawke’s Nest: PWG Sells Out Volume 3 – Disc 3
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As the Worm Turns
February 27, 2010
Kenny Omega(c) vs. Davey Richards [PWG World Championship]
This basically checked all the boxes of things that I do not want in my professional wrestling. There was cosplay (although cosplaying as Hiroyoshi Tenzan is at least random), there was no in-ring story holding it together, and it went on for an incredibly long time. Working hard and doing lots of stuff can work with a crowd (and it did here). There was definitely a time when I appreciated that kind of match. Now, it just feels like a complete waste of time. (*1/2)
Titanica
April 10, 2010
The Young Bucks(c) (Nick & Matt Jackson) vs. The Briscoes (Jay & Mark Briscoe) [PWG World Tag Team Championship]
Despite *arguably* being the two very best indie tag teams from this century, these two teams have just never been able to have a great match together. I was hoping this would be the exception. It was not. There was some solid brawling, and the match was fine enough when it settled down into a regular match. It was not particularly exciting though, and the finish (MBFYB after a belt shot) was less than inspired. (***)
We got the legendary Peligro Abejas promo from 2010 after their DDT4 2010 victory. “I’m going to eat a fruit salad.”
Seven
July 30, 2010
Peligro Abejas(c) (Paul London & El Generico) vs. The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) vs. The Cutler Bros. (Brandon & Dustin Cutler) [Guerrilla Warfare match for the PWG World Tag Team Championship]
This is everything that I want from a professional wrestling stunt show. When it’s as well-executed as this, it’s just as entertaining and satisfying as any other kind of pro wrestling match. If you have never seen this match, you owe it to yourself to watch it. It’s one of my favorite matches ever. It was non-stop insanity with one of the best crowd reactions throughout a match in indie history. Generico and London successfully retained the titles after Generico gave Nick a turnbuckle brainbuster. (*****)
Battle of Los Angeles
September 5, 2010
Chris Hero vs. Akira Tozawa
This was a second round match in the 2010 BOLA. This is the kind of match that Hero needs to do much more of as far as I am concerned. It’s hard hitting and still predominantly focused on knocking the opponent out, but the high-energy/short-ish nature of the match makes it so much more entertaining to watch. Hero could not knock Tozawa out with elbows and kicks and eventually had to resort to the moonsault to finally finish him. The crowd was molten by the end of this one. This was a classic PWG match. (****1/4)
Cynaide: A Loving Tribute to Poison
December 11, 2010
Akira Tozawa vs. Kevin Steen
This was worked in a similar manner to the Hero/Tozawa match; they just did not have the same environment to work in front of as Hero and Tozawa did. Steen mostly dominated until Tozawa made a spirited comeback. Steen managed to put him away though for the clean win. These two would go on to team together for the rest of Tozawa’s time in PWG as a regular. (***3/4)
DDT4
March 11, 2011
The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) vs. The American Wolves (Davey Richards & Eddie “Eddie Edwards” Edwards)
This match really benefited from peaking at all the right times. You know exactly the kind of match that the Bucks and the Wolves are going to have together, and there were only a few moments of surprise in this one. The action down the stretch was electric though, and everything that needed to get over, got over huge. Great effort from all four men. The Bucks won after Matt reversed EEEE’s single-leg crab into a small package. (***3/4)
All Star Weekend
May 27, 2011
El Generico & Ricochet vs. The Nightmare Violence Connection (Kevin Steen & Akira Tozawa)
The return of All Star Weekend in 2011 was a bit of a disappointment overall, but this match probably stood out as the best of the bunch at the time. It was wild and heated during the weekend with many matches that fell short of everyone’s high expectations. I’m sad to report though that this match was not nearly as heated or wild as I (and many others) remembered. Random tag matches on these kind of indies can often suffer from a lack of stakes, and this was no different despite the Steenerico interactions. After Tozawa took out Generico with a German on the apron, Steen finished off Ricochet with a Steenalyzer to win the match. This was good for sure. It was disappointing on re-watch though for not being great. (***1/2)
Kurt Russellreunion
January 29, 2011
We saw the final portion of the legends battle royal: Terry Funk vs. Roddy Piper. In a brilliant bit, Funk tried to get everyone to take a moment to remember their fallen brothers and sisters. Then he suckered Roddy with a microphone shot. It was all amazing. Piper eventually fought back and sent Funk over the top rope for the win. One of the best moments in PWG history.
We then a backstage promo from Peligro Abejas that I had never seen before. Not quite as good as the first two Paul London promos, but it was great for sure.
