My first PWG (DVD) review! This was a show I picked up in Portsmouth, at their European Vacation 2 show here in good ol’ England. This show is named ‘Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Tournament Night 1′ (DDT4N1 for short), for it’s based around a tag title tournament for the PWG world tag team titles. Back in February, at PWG’s ‘Guitarmadeddon II – Armoryageddon’ show, in a tag title match, Quiksilver suffered a severe concussion and was put on the shelf for an indefinite amount of time. Since he was the tag champ at the time (with his partner El Generico) the belts had to be vacated, and that led us to here in May, a tag title tournament for the vacant tag titles.
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For a spoiler-free review of the show, check the summary section at the bottom.
1. Don Fuji vs. Stalker Ichikawa Z : Stalker cuts a pre match promo rambling on about everything. This is comedy heavy with Stalker’s gimmick being he’s just a crap pro wrestler, doing everything more basically than normal and selling everything like death.
They do a few ‘epic’ nearfalls with Stalker getting a really close 2 off a diving headbutt to the ass. He goes to hit Fuji with a chair, but Fuji moves, Stalker hits the ropes with the chair and it bounces back in his face! Fuji covers him for the 3.
Winner: Don Fuji
Not much on the wrestling front, but very entertaining. Got the fans warmed up pretty well.
*1/2.
2. The Briscoe Brothers vs. The Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli) (Rd. 1) : They start with the usual feeling out process. The Briscoes start to work over Claudio. They hit all their nice looking double teams, as usual. Claudio uses his power to regain control, then uses his speed to hit a leaping 2 man facebuster. Hero tags and the Kings hit simultaneous bodyslam/leg drop/senton combos. They do a spot where the Briscoes try for simultaneous pescados, but the Kings move and they eat canvas.
The Kings now work over Jay Briscoe, but it’s not much longer till the Briscoes regain control again. They work over Claudio for a long while. he gets some hope spots in, before making his comeback with a springboard European off the second rope. Finishing sequence is here with tons of awesome stuff. KOW do this boot to the gut kick to the head European uppercut German suplex combo which is TEH WOWNESS. Lots more stuff is hit. KOW go for the KRS 1, but Jay reverses and hits CC with a Stunner. He hits Hero with a Gordbuster, and Mark is right in place on the apron for the Doomsday device. DOOMSDAY DEVICE INDEED. 1 2 3, the Briscoe have this one.
Winners: The Briscoe Brothers.
Good match, although both teams were holding back. The Briscoes knew each other (as a tag team) better than the Kings knew each other; the Briscoes were more efficient with all their double team stuff (ie setting it up) than the Kings; the Kings couldn’t hit most of their usual stuff because the lack of efficiency/cooperation between them. So in the end, the Briscoes being a better organized team led them to the victory. A ton of awesome sequences and crisp moves, if you like either team you’ll like this match. What this match suffered from was a lack of heel/face dynamic; in the earlier stages, at times it felt like a big exhibition of moves and not much else. Also it felt like with 5 more minutes these 4 could have done much more. A good opening to the tourney overall.
***1/4.
3. TJ Perkins vs. Bino Gambino: They wrestle about a bit. They do a feeling out process which is really boring and goes on way too long. Gambino starts working over TJ. Nothing much to see here. TJ gets some hopes spots in before coming back with an enziguri. They do a ton of crazy indy-riffic nearfalls. Bino gets a weapon and tries to hit TJ with it, but TJ ducks and rolls him up for the 3.
Winner: TJ Perkins.
Mediocre match. It wasn’t bad or anything, just really boring and uneventful. The nearfalls at the end were unnecessary and pretty overkill, making the match seem to run on even longer than it did.
**.
4. The Havana Pitbulls (Ricky Reyes & Rocky Romero) vs. The Trailer Park Boyz (Nate Webb & Josh Abercrombie) (Rd. 1) : It starts with both teams feeling each other out. They start the workover periods and this is following the same formula as the previous match in the tourney. Finishing sequence and we get some decent looking double teams and such. The Pitbulls win it when Romero makes Abercrombie tap to the Dragon sleeper.
Winners: The Havana Pitbulls (Reyes and Romero)
Decent match. The story was like the one of the previous tag tourney match; The Pitbulls knew each other better thus were a better team in the end. The wrestling throughout was decent, if a little sloppy. This was basically the KOW/Briscoes match, the difference being sloppier execution.
**3/4.
5. International Dream Match: CIMA vs. Bryan Danielson : This should be good. The fans are into both men. They start with a long feeling out process, because both men barely know each other. After a while on the mat, Danielson gains control. As soon as CIMA has a chance to escape a predicament from Dragon, he does as quickly as possible and gets more aggressive. The pace picks up a bit, with some fast sequences.
It goes back and forth for a while, until Danielson gains full control on the mat. CIMA doesn’t do much (unlike before) when he has the opportunity to escape a predicament from Dragon. CIMA tries to come back later on, but Dragon sees his comebacks coming and promptly cuts him off. Dragon takes it off the mat and whips CIMA off the ropes, and CIMA comes back with a Lungblower! He hits a slam and standing double stomp to the chest. Dragon bails, as CIMA follows him out with a springboard Pescado.
Back in they have some smooth sequences with both men hitting an equal amount of moves. They exchange pinning attempts, and this back and forth stuff is really nice. CIMA strings together some moves; a Backdrop driver, dropkick in the cornet then an Iconoclasm! Cross Armed Michinoku Driver gets 2! CIMA up top goes for Mad splash Dragon gets the knees up! CIMA bails, so Dragon follows him to the outside with a tope. Back in, Dragon puts on the Crossface Chicken Wing! CIMA struggles, but reaches the ropes.
Dragon goes for Dragon Suplex ROLLUP from CIMA! 1 2 NO! CIMA tries same thing again Dragon sees it coming CATTLE MUTILATION! CIMA teases tapping, but just gets his foot on the ropes! Dragon tires for it again CIMA rolls over! 1 2 no. Mad rollup from CIMA! 1 2 NO! SUPERKICK from CIMA! SCHWEIN! 1 2 NO! The fans go nuts. CIMA goes up top Van Terminator! He goes for another Schwein CRUCIFIX from Dragon! 1 .2 NO! ELBOWS from Dragon! 1 2 NO! They have a strike exchange, Dragon wins, sets CIMA up top and hits the Backdrop Superplex. It gets 2! CATTLE MUTILATION again! He holds on for ages but CIMA won’t tap. He rolls the shoulders down! 1 2 NO! Just as CIMA kicks out, we hear the announcer saying “TWO, ONE †and we have a 30 minute time limit draw on our hands!
Winner: N/A (Time Limit Draw)
Excellent match. The story fit the match circumstances (both not knowing each other well, both being the aces in their respective home companies) so goddamn well. Dragon would outwrestle CIMA on the mat (for he’s better than CIMA in that department), so CIMA would step it up (it being intensity and energy). When CIMA stepped it up, Dragon stepped it up so things got faster and more aggressive. Dragon saw CIMA was getting too dangerous, so he tried hard to get control of CIMA, and when he did weakened him on the mat. CIMA deliberately didn’t make a comeback though, for he wanted to save his energy and surprise Dragon. Dragon saw this too, so as soon as CIMA made his comeback Dragon had an answer for it. But CIMA still had the energy, so both men’s strategies at that point were nullified, thus both men were back to being even. The final stages were both of them stepping it up and desperately trying for the win, but in the end they were both too even, thus the draw. Really interesting stuff to see unfold.
The execution and such was of course, top notch. The build to the finishing sequence and great nearfalls to go with it was awesome. The selling was perfect throughout. The only flaw here was that both men held back, if they really tried they could have had a better match than this. You could tell they weren’t trying to go all out, while still filling 30 minutes and having an awesome match because both men are so damn good. Still an excellent match, though.
****1/4.
6. Muscle Outlawz (Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino) vs. Arrogance (Chris Bosh & Scott Lost) (Rd. 1) : Pre match Bosh gets on the mic and says when he went to Dragon gate with Doi and Yoshino he has sex with both of their mothers. Greatness. They start with the usual feeling out process. The MOz get control and work over Lost. They hit some cool double teams and such. Lost makes a comeback and makes the tag to Bosh.
The turning point comes and Arrogance hit some of their trademark double teams on Yoshino, including 2 gutbuster into dropkick to the head variations. They start to work him over. Things get a bit slow. The fans start to get behind Yoshino, he makes a comeback then makes the hot tag! Doi takes it to both Lost and Bosh. Lost and Bosh regain control, and start double teaming Doi. Clothesline into backbreaker from Bosh! Superman Spear from Lost! 1 2 NO! Another double team to Doi can’t get the 3. Yoshino comes in but Arrogance chose to go after him. Arrogance destroys him with a double team sequence, ending in the northern Light Backbreaker! 1 2 NO! Taking the attention of Doi was a mistake, as he soon comes in and regains control for his team.
It now becomes a race of whether Doi can pin Lost of Bosh before Yoshino is pinned. Arrogance take out Yoshino on the floor and work on Doi again. Doi takes it to them though, hitting Lost with a Super German suplex! Arrogance go for the kill on Doi, but a rested Yoshino comes in and hits bosh with the Lightning Spiral! Doi takes out Lost with a Pescado! SOL NACIENTE from Yoshino! Bosh taps!
Winners: Muscle Outlawz (Doi and Yoshino)
Very good match. Arrogance realized early that Doi and Yoshino together were stronger than them together, so they tried to make Yoshino a non-factor. A strategy error cost them in the end, as they had Yoshino worn down but chose to go after Doi, letting Yoshino recuperate while Arrogance were active and didn’t have any time to rest. That ultimately cost them the match, they couldn’t pin Doi and the reenergized Yoshino was able to get the win. A story like that at the pace these 4 were working was awesome. Maybe a bit too slow in places, but overall a very good match.
***1/2.
7. Joey Ryan vs. Ronin: This is a grudge match but no one cares. It’s Ronin’s spot in the 2007 BOLA vs Joey Ryan’s hair. It starts with Joey stalling a bit and Ronin beating him around ringside. Back in Ronin beats on Joey with strikes. Ryan makes a comeback with a thumb to the eye and a kick to the head. Now we get the long workover period. Joey works over Ronin, really slowly. Ronin makes a comeback with a big forearm and lariat, for 2. That actually looked good. An exploder followed by a neckbreaker gets 2. Joey reverses a German attempt, sending Ronin to the outside. He hits a tope.
They do some more nearfalls. Joey hits 2 straight superkicks, but only gets a 1 count. Ronin’s fighting spirit consists of screaming like a dead dog. He hits a DVD for a close 2. Joey hits a low blow, then pulls off Ronin’s mask! Rollup! 1 2 3!
Winner: Joey Ryan.
That was mediocrity at its best. There’s nothing else to add onto that here.
**.
8. Roderick Strong & PAC vs. Davey Richards & Super Dragon (Rd. 1) : Dragon and Davey are the cocky veterans, Strong and PAC are the complete n00b team, tagging together for the first time here. Davey and Strong do a slow feeling out process to start. SD and PAC tag in, and PAC runs wild with some ranas and arm drags. SD cuts off his momentum with a forearm, then tags to Davey. PAC runs wild on Davey with some armdrags and a rollup. Strong tags in and chops Davey. Strong and PAC work over Davey. He makes a comeback with a gutbuster on PAC.
SD and Davey work over pack. SD hits a title a whirl backbreaker. They work him over for a while, hitting all the usual stuff. The fans want PAC to make a comeback. He eventually does make a comeback, hitting a sunset bomb on Davey! HOT TAG to Strong! Strong comes in and kills everyone. He throws PAC up into a rana on SD! PAC hits a dive. Back in Strong flips PAC into a 450 MOONSAULT SENTON on SD! 1 2 NO! PAC and SD battle up top Davey comes SUPER GERMAN ON PAC! Davey and SD hit their straightjacket/double stomp combo on Strong! 1 2 NO!
Suplex from Strong to Davey…450 from PAC! 1 2 NO! SD KILLS PAC with a lariat! All 4 are down. SD goes for Psycho driver REVERSE rana from PAC! SUPER rana from PAC gets 2 on Davey! Shooting Star Kneedrop from PAC on Davey! 1 2 NO! They battle some more, and Davey goes for the DR driver. PAC counters Small Package! 1 2 3! Awesome!
Winners: Roderick Strong and PAC.
Very good match. Strong and PAC played their roles excellently, making loads of deliberate mistakes and such, and SD and Davey played their cocky role well too. That helped the awesome underdog story of the match; SD and Dragon, while dominating didn’t expect anything from Strong and PAC, while Strong and PAC got by on SD and Davey’s cockiness, getting the surprise (and fluke) win (this really worked with the crowd, as they popped BIGTIME when PAC got the 3 off the small package). Take off 5 minutes and some slow stuff, and this could have been excellent.
***3/4.
9. PWG Title: El Generico (c) vs. Kevin Steen : As soon as the match starts we see Steen powerbombing Generico onto the ring apron! Back in he gets a 2. He gives him his pumphandle neckbreaker for 2! Steen goes up top, but Generico kicks him in the head and dives onto him on the outside. Back in Generico runs wild. He hits a leg lariat and a standing moonsault. Generico goes for a tornado DDT, but Steen turns it into a backbreaker! Senton! Steen starts to work over Generico.
Steen works him over more, beating Generico around ringside. Generico tries to come back later, but Steen cuts him off with a Schwein. Steen works him over some more. He hits a clothesline in the corner, calls for one more, but Generico nails him with the Helluva kick! Generico hits his tornado DDT! 1 2 NO! Blue thunder bomb moments later gets 2. They exchange reversals and Steen hits a big powerbomb for 2. He hits a frog splash for 2. Generico catches Steen EXPLODER into the turnbuckles! 1 2 NO! Generico goes up top Steen meets him there TURNBUCKLE BRAINBUSTER! That’s Generico’s finisher! 1 2 NO! That, was close. Steen goes for a lariat HALF AND HALF from Generico! He grabs Steen struggles PACKAGE PILEDRIVER! that’s Steen’s finisher! 1 2 3!!
Winner, and still PWG Champion: El Generico.
Good match, but way too long. It started hot, then went to the workover period, everything going good, then the workover period goes on for MILES too long. The finishing sequence was pretty good, but the fans were burnt out by then, so there wasn’t much heat for it. The story of both men knowing each other was done pretty well and the stealing finisher stuff at the end was a nice touch. Good match, but too long to be anything great.
***.
Overall Thoughts: This was a good show. Considering it was based around the tag tournament, it delivered, as all of the first round tag matches were good to great. The rest of the card was hit and miss. Danielson/CIMA was damn excellent, but Ronin/Ryan was incredibly boring. Lots of the matches on the show went a bit too long, there are at least 3 which could have been much better with 5 or so minutes cut off. Still, a good show, and I look forward to watching the next night of the tourney.
Overall Score: 7.5/10.
The Inside Pulse
Summary
1. Don Fuji vs. Stalker Ichikawa Z – *1/2 (Fun comedy match)
2. The Briscoe Brothers vs. Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli (Rd. 1) – ***1/4 (Good storytelling and lots of nice stuff in there)
3. TJ Perkins vs. Bino Gambino – ** (too long and overkill)
4. Ricky Reyes & Rocky Romero vs. Nate Webb & Josh Abercrombie (Rd. 1) – **3/4 (The same as the Briscoes/KOW, just sloppier)
5. CIMA vs. Bryan Danielson – ****1/4 (Excellent match, great storytelling and perfect execution)
6. Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino vs. Chris Bosh & Scott Lost (Rd. 1) – ***1/2 (Good story told at a very fast pace)
7. Joey Ryan vs. Ronin – ** (Mediocrity at its best)
8. Roderick Strong & PAC vs. Davey Richards & Super Dragon (Rd. 1) – ***3/4 (A little too long but very very good)
9. PWG Title: El Generico (c) vs. Kevin Steen – *** (Good but far too long)
Overall Thoughts: This was a good show. Considering it was based around the tag tournament, it delivered, as all of the first round tag matches were good to great. The rest of the card was hit and miss. Danielson/CIMA was damn excellent, but Ronin/Ryan was incredibly boring. Lots of the matches on the show went a bit too long, there are at least 3 which could have been much better with 5 or so minutes cut off. Still, a good show, and I look forward to watching the next night of the tourney. 7.5/10.
