Views from the Hawke’s Nest: WrestleReunion Toronto 2012

Toronto, Ontario
April 14, 2012

 

Commentators: Bill Apter & friends

 

Howard Finkel was brought to the ring first. He put over the weekend.

 

Michael Elgin vs. El Generico

On commentary, Bill Apter put over Generico’s win in the wXw 16 Carat Tournament, which was something. He also pronounced Elgin’s name wrong the whole match.

Generico ran through him early, but Elgin eventually cut him off and then briefly worked him over. Generico came back after a tope con HELLO. They started going back and forth almost right away. Generico put Elgin away with a brainbuster.

This was a light and fun way to start the show. Think of it as WWE television effort of the stuff they would normally do. I have no problem with that, and it’s arguably the best match they ever had.

Match Rating: ***1/2

 

Shawn Spears (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. Tito Santana (w/ Rick Martel)

This will officially be the second match from 2012 that I’ve seen Santana work. He was in a surprise match at the 2012 King of Trios.

Not much was going on in the early goings. Spears cut him off with an eye poke and then worked him over. Spears missed a splash, but Jimmy tripped up Santana. Santana caught Spears with a small package anyway: 1…2…3

This was not good in any way at all.

Match Rating: DUD

 

Adam Page & Asylum vs. Caleb Konley & Rhett Titus (w/ Leah Von Dutch) vs. Grizzly Redwood & Jake Manning vs. The Super Smash Brothers (Player Dos & Player Uno)

Caleb and Rhett were basically doing The Scene act. Bill Apter told a joke on commentary about how Leah Von Dutch was banging on his hotel door all night, but he “refused to let her out.” Wrestling is truly nothing but a series of ironic “what a time to be alive” moments.

There was a ton of gaga. Grizzly got worked over. Uno eventually made the hot tag. The match completely broke down. The teams went back and forth. LVD kissed Caleb and Rhett for some reason. Page hit his SSP off an apron. Uno followed it up with a tope con HELLO. Dos followed it with a ridiculous corkscrew plancha. Caleb then ate Fatality: 1…2…3

This match threatened to be completely useless for a while, but the go-home stretch featured a ton of hot action that the crowd loved.

Match Rating: **3/4

 

Gene Okerlund came out. He introduced Roddy Piper. Piper was relatively incoherent. Piper brought out Caleb. The crowd gave him some transphobic and homophobic chants. Caleb buried Piper and the crowd. I have no idea what Piper was saying in response. He asked Caleb to introduce…Bruno Sammartino. I think Roddy wanted Caleb to handle the Piper’s Pit duties. Caleb conducted the interview. This was brutally long. Bruno’s bench press history was discussed. Roddy and Caleb started slapping each other. Roddy won. This was fucking weird. Nice to see Bruno and everything though.

 

Fit Finlay vs. Harry Smith

Let’s see if they can redeem themselves after their horrendous ECW match three years earlier. Apter and Dreamer mentioned that they had been working each other on the indies in recent months. Hopefully that means this will be good.

In a surprise move, Finlay did some shenanigans with a short woman early on. He acted like she was Hornswoggle. The match got going. They stayed on the mat early on. Finlay had to be a bit of a dick to get control. He worked Harry’s back over for a while. Harry blocked a diving fist drop and then made a comeback. Finlay avoided the sharpshooter but then walked into a running powerslam: 1…2…3

The effort was here, but they never grabbed me. Finlay matches seemed to be either awesome or boring during his indie run.

Match Rating: **1/2

 

Necro Butcher vs. Big Van Vader

This could be something.

Vader got the advantage early on and dominated Necro. Necro fought back with the Violence Party. They traded shots. Hard to say who moves around worse. Vader applied an armbar out of nowhere. Vader hit the Vader Bomb, but he pulled Necro up. He then finished Necro with a chokeslam.

2005 Necro would have made this match much better. Vader does not move around that well, and it can be a bit sad to watch. It’s better than reading his Twitter timeline at least.

Match Rating: *

 

Okerlund introduced the next match.

Dominic DeNucci & Shane Douglas (w/Bruno Sammartino) vs. Lord Zoltan & Shawn Blanchard (w/JJ Dillon)

In what was the lowest moment of the show, Shane decided to offer up some “shoot comments.” The crowd then chanted, “shoot.” Ffs.

This match obviously sucked many lemons. Douglas didn’t fuck up his belly-to-belly suplex (the finish) at least. The managers never got involved.

Match Rating: DUD

 

Kalamity (c) vs. LuFisto [NCW Femmes Fatales International Championship]

I think this is my first LuFisto match.

LuFisto was in control early on. She applied a very weak-looking ankle lock. For all I know, that’s how you really apply an ankle lock. Looked weak regardless. Kalamity cut her off and then worked her over. LuFisto made a comeback after a buckle Downward Spiral. Kalamity cut her off again in a surprise development. They went back and forth. They are working very hard to put on the best match possible. Of that, there can be no doubt. Jeezus, they started kicking each other in the face over and over. Eventually, LuFisto missed a dive, and Kalamity then finished her with a 2K1 Bomb.

This match is probably even better than I’m giving it credit for. I found it impossible to get invested in LuFisto in the slightest, as she had very go-away babyface mannerisms. There’s no doubt though that she and Kalamity worked hard.

Match Rating: **3/4

 

Jushin Liger vs. Roderick Strong

Neither guy could get a firm advantage for a while. Roddy finally cut him off after a rope-assisted backstabber. Roddy then worked him over. Liger made his comeback after a release German. Roddy fought back and got the advantage again. Liger came back and hit the Palm Strike twice in a row and then a superplex. Liger got a nearfall with a Liger Bomb. Roddy came back and actually defeated Liger with the Gibson Driver. Wow.

Much like the last match, they took me off guard with how hard they ended up working, but I never felt terribly invested.

Match Rating: **3/4

 

CW Anderson & Raven vs. Tommy Dreamer & Rhyno

Raven obviously did not want to work. I have really not seen much of CW, but I’ve heard good things. I think? Maybe not. Rhyno still works hard in most situations at least. Dreamer got cut off eventually and worked over. They’re working it like a normal tag match by the way despite it being billed as an “Extreme Rules” match. I’m sure the plunder will be here soon enough. “ECW was built by the four men you see right now.” Yes, Rhyno and CW Anderson built ECW. Raven walked out. Dreamer brought him back. The main commentator partner of Apter waited until the main event to correct Apter’s pronunciation of his own last name. Bill Apter is some great unintentional comedy. This match is dead by the way. They did in fact get…EXTREME~! Plunder is very extreme. Dreamer eventually put Anderson through a table with a DVD.

Raven was mad at CW for losing. CW gave him a superkick. In an incredibly meta moment after that, Raven hung around in the ring for way too long.

This was everything wrong with ECW nostalgia matches. This did not capture the spirit of ECW in the slightest.

Match Rating: DUD

 

Other websites that you may be interested in!

Free Pro Wrestling

Old New Japan

All the All Japan

Best of Chikara

Match of the Year

3.5

The final score: review Bad

The 411

Avoid this show. There isn't even a match that's worth tracking down on Highspots TV.