This Week In Indies: WWE’s ROH Purge, IWA-MS, DGUSA’s PPV & More

Columns, Features, Top Story

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You know a lot of people wonder about us indie wrestling fans and especially those of us that write for Pulse or other online avenues. If you have ever been to an indie show (you’re reading this so I’m assuming you have) you know the type of people they attract – scary, scary people. I’ll put you at ease. As I write this I’m listening to the Broadway score to Avenue Q – so take that critics of wrestling and wrestling fans. I’m not a member of the WWE Universe – those are marks who think John Cena can do a suplex and that Al Snow was a jobber that sucked. I’m part of the Indie Continuum… much, MUCH larger than any other universe…

Now – on to the indies!

First on the list is the LVW (http://www.lvw.wrestling.com) and their show on the 21st. I’m usually a lot tougher on indies that work in my backyard because there is a sort of “kinship” as a wrestling fan that we have with a local fed as opposed to one 80 hours away. This show featured the title tournament which found long running fan favorite, Mongoose, win the strap. Mr. Saturday Night brought his classic style of cutting a promo to the evening and, as always, it was great! My only comment is that he gave the same promo twice so I dunno if there was an issue with timing in the back or what but still. JC Westler and the Flying Hawaiian went at it for the curtain jerk match and I enjoyed it but I’ve been a JC mark for years. In a year or two it wouldn’t surprise me to see either working TNA. One thing I would like to note is that the LVW gave a 10-bell for a fan that passed the week previously. When was the last time you saw that in TNA or WWE?

Before I get into any other indie news I have to address WWE and their purging of the Ring of Honor roster. The WWE has been under a lot of flak from the wrestling media as well as in-house staff about the rushing of development to TV. Fact of the matter is that ROH has TV and their guys have experience so their time spent learning the “WWE way” will be less. Unfortunately for us – the wrestling fan – we will have to live with the aftermath of WWE’s lousy creative staff. Danielson and McGuinness are two of ROH’s top performers. I don’t foresee another Punk reincarnation but I would HOPE to see them on WWE television SOON then get into a feud with Punk and just LET THEM DO WHAT THEY DO! Ever notice that Smackdown is much better than RAW? The guys in Smackdown have something we like to call “creative freedom” and for guys like Jericho and Mysterio that means gold! We can only hope…

Next on the agenda is New Focus Wrestling from Indiana (http://newfocuswrestling.tk/). The NFW is doing some great things in the Midwest and should be looked at more often. In some family friendly action Cindy Love defeated Sicko the Clown when the ref reversed the decision! Evan Acid took a beating from Baron von Kane. Elijah Burke along with Cash Flo and Corey Williams took a tough loss from Vic the Bruiser and CIA. The new NFW tag champs Madman Pondo and Guido took on and defeated Doug Gilbert and Flash Flannagan by DQ. Check out their site for MORE results and the next show!

Everyone don’t forget that Dragons Gate USA debuts on PPV tonight so check it out and you will NOT be disappointed!

Moving on to the big Tennessee for some EWP (Ericules Wrestling Promotions) action! Those in attendance got to see David Young and Ericules lose to Beau James and Donovan Daniels when Ericules got hammered with a bullwhip. Jason Owen lost to The RIP and Ricky Morton was in action with Sigmon which went to a no contest.

Since I am sitting outside working my girlfriend’s yard sale and sweating my balls off might as well head down to Georgia for WWA4 wrestling! I really dislike SHORT cards! Four matches do not make a wrestling card! In any case Navy Blue took the win over Jaebo, Jake Diamond took a beating from Bill the Butcher, AR Fox won a 2 out of 3 falls match against Jonathan Gresham and the zombie known as Hans Schmidt won over El Pagano by DQ.

Before I continue on with some results I need to say something that’s on my mind. I think many fans take indie wrestling and indie wrestlers for granted just because they aren’t on WWE television. I have heard many “fans” comment that the indies is “amateur wrestling”. Nothing cheeses me off then that comment. What these so-called fans fail to realize is that these indie promotions and the talent they have work for the LOVE of it. You won’t get rich from the indies – you’ll be lucky if you can afford to eat off of the McD dollar menu after your pay off. There is a certain type of passion an indie wrestler has that you won’t find in the ranks of the WWE. Next time you’re at an indie show – good or bad – thank the boys who were in the ring, the guy announcing, the person promoting, and the managers at ringside putting you in your place because they work harder for much less and deserve the thanks.

There is nothing sadder than hearing about one of your brothers falling. Be it a traffic accident or whatever. These guys are teachers, mechanics, fathers, and husbands, wives, and girlfriends… when they mess up you can chant “you F’ed up” or “you fell down” but, at the end of the night, remember to say thank you for allowing you to get THAT close to something you enjoy and what the WWE cult won’t let you get close to. With that said… more results!

A little west coast drive-by with the EWF (Empire Wrestling Federation) as they shoot it out in San Bernardino, CA with “Courtstreet Chaos 8”! Chris Evans thought he’d get a win but… no… Brandon Parker saw to his losing. The king of cars and Cruiser champ, Chris Kadillik, defeated Mike Mountain, Silver Striker was pinned by Tim Lovato and more but that’s the clift notes version.

Let’s head from the smog-infested wasteland of Cali to the… smog-infested wasteland of Pittsburgh as we pay a visit to the KSWA (Keystone State Wrestling Alliance) (for those not following the program Pennsylvania is the Keystone state…) and their “When Worlds Collide” show… yes… that WAS a WCW thing… Anyway… Anthony Alexander pulled double duty this night. He took on and beat “The Enforcer” Shawn Blanchard via DQ then teamed up with Mitch Napier to beat Shawn Blanchard and Del Douglas. Ok – I’m done… seriously. If I have said it once I have said it a million times – I HATE cheap heat and I hate cheap heat MORE when it’s done at the expense of a culture. I’m fed up with the Middle Eastern gimmicks and he drunk Mexican gimmicks and the drunk Irish gimmicks and the slack-jaw yokel gimmicks… well… maybe not THAT one… so on to something else…

That about sums up this week in Indies. Another slow week – back to school for the little terrorists and all that. I’m hoping this upcoming week will be going well. I’ll be in Kentucky at The Scarefest covering that event for the magazine I write for (you didn’t think I just got paid nothing from Pulse, did you? I get paid a whole lot of nothin from a whole lot of places but I get to go places for free so… bonus!) so if you’re in KY (the state; not the jelly) look me and my cohort up. Twitter works too… http://www.twitter.com/darkersidemag I like a lot of Guinness so if you’re buying I’m drinking!

Good night, good fight and thank YOU IWA Mid South! It’s important to KNOW where you’ve been so you can see just how awesome the ride has been and the IWA, good and bad, was simply… awesome! Many careers were made between the ropes of this organization which was forced to go from pure hardcore to a tremendous mix of styles. Where would Alex Shelley or CM Punk be without IWA? What about Chris Hero and Chris Sabin? Tyler Black and many more all got their cracks in Mid South and that got them to the WWE, ROH, or TNA. And this is what indie wrestling does…

Think about it and, as always, if you got a promotion – know of a promotion – work in a promotion then e-mail your shows results!

bobganome@gmail.com