Jersey Judgement: Full Results & Review for JAPW’s 10th Anniversary Show

Houseshows, Reviews, Shows

At 7:08pm, the Hall Of Fame ceremony officially begins as Lethal comes out to induct his trainer, Magic. Lethal calls Magic a special person and says it’s an honor to be the one that hands him his plaque. Magic comes out to a less-than-thrilling reaction and thanks Lethal along with the rest of the people he trained. Next comes Steve ‘Monsta’ Mack who inducts “Dirty” Don Montoya, praising Montoya for elevating people like Low Ki and Dixie with his work. Don thanks the fans heavily. Finally Johnny D inducts the Haas Brothers, and starts by saying that his time spent managing the team was wonderful and possibly the best time of his career before giving both plaques to Charlie Haas (for those that don’t know, Russ Haas passed away six years ago). Fat Frank makes a quick comment that Russ Haas must be laughing in heaven right now because of an inside joke between the two, but mentions that it involves the fact that they broke 1,000 people in attendance. Charlie gets a chance to speak and reminisces on him and his brother paying their dues until JAPW gave them their big break. He then tells a story of how him and his brother watched WrestleMania 17 and made a vow to make it to WrestleMania one day, which Charlie did at WrestleMania 19 along with partner Shelton Benjamin. Charlie concludes by saying even though they all went down seperate roads, JAPW is his family, and always will be. By the way, a short video was played on the gym wall for each inductee, highlighting some matches and promos from their time in JAPW.

After a short break, the real show starts at 7:42pm, and the crowd seems ready to cheer and boo all of their favorite and most hated stars.

Seth Delay vs. Sal Rinauro vs. Matt Cross vs. Joker vs. Bandido Jr. vs. B-Boy
Sabian and Ruckus taunt B-Boy, who starts to fight them but falls quickly to the numbers game until security breaks up the small brawl and BLKOUT is sent to the back, much to the dismay of Joker.

Things start off with some basic wrestling, but soon breaks down into a whacky free-for-all spotfest. Everyone hits dives to the outside except Bandido, who instead got powerbombed onto the concrete by B-Boy. Joker and B-Boy had some stiff exchanges when everyone else was busy, really tearing into each other, which led to the two men trading lots of head-drop suplexes, only to no-sell them and get right back up for some more. Seth Delay was eliminated first after a springboard enziguri by Sal Rinauro. Rinauro was then taken out by a Shooting Star Press from Matt Cross. Cross got planted with a big powerbomb from Joker to get eliminated next. After another exchanged of strikes, B-Boy caught Joker with the Shining Wizard, and Bandido snuck in to pin and eliminate the BLKOUT member. B-Boy finally won the match after pinning Bandido following his sit-down driver. Perfect choice for an opener, really fired the crowd up. Not much long term selling, but the fast paced and crisp action made up for it, along with the constant exchanges between Joker and B-Boy. To get an idea; this match was very similar to the Ultiamte X between LAX and XXX at Bound For Glory. ***1/4

Kevin Matthews comes out with his manager Johnny D, and both men are upset that Matthews doesn’t have a match, so they lay out an open challenge. This challenge is quickly met by the Christopher Street Connection, Buff E and Mase! Buff distracts Matthews with some words on the mic, allowing Mase to sneak in and low blow him, followed by Buff kissing him on the lips! The crowd laughs, Matthews cries, and the CSC try to leave…only to get jumped by the rest of the D-Factor, Monsta Mack and Havok! Impromptu tag match!

Christopher Street Connection vs. D-Factor
Not even a match, Mack and Havok were simply taking turns destroying the CSC and teaching them a lesson. Mack nails a big lariat on Mase while Havok brawls with Buff for a bit. Mack & Havok win the match easily following a Frog Splash on Mase. Just a brutal squash, and I loved it. *

Danny Demanto vs. Devon ‘Crowbar’ Storm
I’m fine with the two men with open challenges getting paired together, but I wish they would have just announced it in advance instead. These guys started off working a technical wrestling match, but for seemingly no reason at all Crowbar started to get really hardcore, smashing Demanto with chairs and suplexing him onto a guardrail, bending it in the proccess. Demanto gets equally tough and back body drops Crowbar over the top rope and onto another set-up guardrail on the floor. Crowbar wins the match with a Death Valley Driver. This was a bunch of random spots for no reason, and fans weren’t digging Crowbar for the most part. As I saw Crowbar do last month at PWS, he quickly resorted to brawling and spots because after a few minutes he realizes the crowd isn’t caring about his actual wrestling. What a shame. *1/2

Demanto gets on the mic and thanks JAPW management for letting him put on a wrestling performance, and saving him from getting butchered up by the likes of New Jack or Axl Rotten. He also called Crowbar the hardest working veteran today. I guess I missed the memo that Ric Flair quit the business? Anyway, his touching speech is ruined by Hernandez, who runs out and beats up Danny a bit before nailing the Border Toss. Not a match, Hernandez was just having fun, and so were the fans.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels come out and lays down a challenge to Cryme Tyme, and it quickly gets acceted. Cryme Tyme go through their usual sayings on the mic, not saying much of anything, but receiving superstar reactions the entire time. They’re INCREDIBLY over.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels vs. Cryme Tyme
Basic and short, with most of the time being spent by DRS or CT playing to the crowd. Cryme Tyme win the match with their double-team finisher, not sure what the name is, but it’s a Samoan Drop/Yakuza Kick combo. This was very much a sports entertainment style match, so while it may not be great on DVD, the fans in attendance were having a blast and it was a solid match anyway. **

Cryme Tyme bring out a box of goodies to sell to the crowd, including the bras of Nikki Rox, Sara Del Ray, and Alicia. There was one more item that they said belonged to Charlie Haas, but I couldn’t make out what he said or what the item was. Again, crowd was loving Cryme Tyme and had lots of fun with this segment. Should come across great on DVD.

Eddie Kingston vs. Drake Younger
Younger takes control early using a lot of quick maneuvers, such as a second-rope moonsault, along with a lot of chops. Kingston and Slyk Wagner Brown try cheap tricks, but Younger fights through them and remains in the lead, eventually taking Kingston off the apron to the floor with a suplex! Nasty! SWB finally distracts Younger enough that it lets Kingston connect with his Backdrop Driver, dropping Younger right on his head, and gaining him the victory. This was more of an introduction to Younger and an angle-advancer for Kingston and SWB than it was a wrestling match, but they still managed to put on a good performance, with Younger taking his usual crazy/unnessecary bumps. Hope he’s booked again real soon. **3/4

AJ Styles vs. Frankie Kazarian
Starts off very evenly matched, both men hitting some basic moves and holds until Styles connects with his picture-perfect dropkick and remains in control almost the entire time because of it, using lots of eye pokes to keep the advantage in his favor. Kazarian’s comeback was well done and had lots of variety in the moves and strikes he did, such as a leg lariat and a bicycle kick. Kazarian nailed his springboard DDT on the apron, but it ended up more like a bulldog and Styles’ face hit the apron with a sickening THUD. Immediately after, Kazarian brought Styles in and hit his Wave Of The Future for the win. Very good wrestling match, and my only complaint is the finish being out-of-nowhere, but it’s likely that Styles was hurt from the move I mentioned, and the finish still fit the rest of the match. Definitely match of the night up to this point. ***1/2

BLKOUT (Sabian & Ruckus) vs. Jay Lethal & Azrieal
This was a great formula tag match, with both teams hitting a lot of cool-looking and effective double team moves throughout the match, almost too many to name. Lethal picked up the win with the elbow drop from the top rope. BLKOUT looked impressive, including the three at ringside acting as managers. Kingston, Joker, and SWB did their part well by keeping the fans involved during rest-holds or slow parts of the tag match. Lethal was definitely a star here, really getting the crowd involved and connecting with all of his moves beautifully. Even his elbow drop, which I criticize heavily, looked good. ***1/4

Nikki Rox vs. Sara Del Ray
As expected from both women, tremendous performance. Definition of a back-and-forth match, great blend of technical wrestling and power moves, with a HOT crowd the entire time. Fans were really loving this match. Eventually both women started getting angry and continued to nail big boots to the chest, leading to a double knockdown. Del Ray picked up the victory with her Royal Butterfly finisher. ***

Just like every celebration thus far, Del Ray’s is ruined, but this time it’s by the ‘War Machine’ Rhino! Rhino slams Del Ray through a wooden board in the corner as the fans go wild, but soon start to chant for the Necro Buthcer to come out…and he does!

Rhino vs. Necro Butcher
Crazy brawl that went over the arena, which isn’t surprising, but it means I couldn’t see most of it. They fought into the bleachers a little and made their way outside. Back in the ring, they exchanged hard strikes and Rhino goes for a Gore through another wooden board, but Necro steps out of the way. However, soon after Rhino is able to give Necro the Rhino Driver off the second rope to pick up the pinfall. Louie Ramos tried to talk to Necro afterwards, but Necro shoved him away twice, and then hit him, but Ramos fought back! The two swing big punches at each other and end up on the outside where security tries desperately to break them up, while Necro takes out a few workers with punches! Very well done angle to close out a good brawl. **3/4

NJ State Championship, Ladder Match
Archadia vs. Grim Reefer(c)

The action was pretty choppy throughout the match, and really only centered around a few spots, such as Reefer giving Archadia a Frog Splash off the ladder and through a wooden board. During the match, Archdia showed some signs of being a true heel, which surprised and impressed me at the same time. Reefer was able to yank the belt down (so hard that the belt actually broke), but Archadia blinded the ref with powder and then piledrived Reefer. Of course, the ref regains eyesight and Archadia has the belt, so he wins the match. Weak selling at times along with a lack of story and emotion makes this nothing more than mediocre. **

A costume contest was held in the ring, and some of the costumes included; Spiderman, Paul Bearer (last year’s contest winner), Brahead (a kid with a bra on his head), Pimp Elvis (best way I could describe the costume worn by Spooky), Eddie Kingston (dude actually looked like him, I want those pants!), and someone wearing a shirt. Yes, just a shirt. It came down to a vote between Brahead and Paul Bearer, and Ref Hanson declared that the winner was Brahead! Boooo! Paul Bearer rocked last year, and he rocked again this year! The crowd starts to chant ‘Bullshit’ and ‘Fuck You Brahead’. Poor kid, but it’s all in good fun.

JAPW Heavyweight Championship
Homicide vs. Low Ki(c)

Most of my favorite matches ever are slower, technical matches, that many would even call ‘boring’, so I don’t want to hear a lot of complaints when I say that Low Ki versus Homicide was just BORING! Aside from a tope con hilo, the entire match was boring and useless mat wrestling that led to nothing. The final two minutes were cool and exciting, and also the only time the fans really seemed to care (can’t blame them, however). Ki hit an Ace Crusher to mock ‘Cide and then the Ki Krusher, but a kickout from ‘Cide, who returned with a Cop Killa, but Ki kicked out. ‘Cide locked on the STF and, in a real shocker, Ki tapped out. The crowd went into a hushed silence, because no one seriously expected Ki to lose (except Kirshcner, apparently). Homicide starts his 8th reign as JAPW Heavyweight Champion. **3/4

BUT WAIT!

Every member of BLKOUT ran out and attacked both Homicide and Low Ki, until Hernandez came out and cleaned house with some assistance by B-Boy. Homicide asks Fat Frank for a match with Strong Style Thugs/LAX against BLKOUT ‘right here, right now’, and Frank agrees to it. However, he wants to make it more interesting, and says that if anyone pins Homicide, they’re the new champ, and if they pin Hernandez, they’re the new tag champs. Then, if BLKOUT lose, they leave JAPW forever and never come back. TNA much? Hell, I was surprised he didn’t make it an Elimination I Quit First Blood Chamber Of Horrors Losers Leave Town match while he had the chance!

Before a brawl can even really start, the lights go out, and Teddy Hart is standing in the ring! This is proof; there is no God! Hart gives Homicide the Hart Attack Elbow Drop and leaves the ring, allowing Low Ki to crawl over and pin him…to…win the championship? Huh?! And all of this happens in under a minute?! Being confused is NOT a fun way to leave a wrestling show!

The Inside Pulse
There’s a common saying between wrestlers that goes something like “You can have the worst match ever, but if the finish is strong, it’s okay, because the fans only remember the finish.” Well, how about the finish to a wrestling show? I think the same logic applies, although it’s a shame that one REALLY rotten apple can ruin a whole bunch of good ones. The end of the show was just so random and stupid that it boggles the mind. Why did Hart wait so long to come out? Why did Low Ki pin Homicide if they were on the same team in that ‘match’, and why did it count? Why the hell couldn’t Hart just screw Homicide out of the title during the FIRST main event and then have BLKOUT invade after?

Still, aside from the ending angle, everything on the show was really great, and the effort from everyone on the roster was obvious. Not everything delivered, but the things that did are worth going out of your way to see. High reccomendation for what I believe is the best all-around JAPW show ever.