Hey ya’ll, it’s the usual gimmick, I steal results from someone (this time the IWA-MS official results) and give some of my own comments. Weeeeeeeee here we go.
Courtesy of the IWA website:
FULL RESULTS - 6/19 HIGHLAND, IN "A BUTCHER LOOSE IN HIGHLAND"
IWA Mid-South Wrestling, in association with NWA Midwest, presented "A Butcher Loose In Highland" on Saturday night, June 19th at the Lincoln Center in Highland, Indiana. Here's what went down...
Before the show we did a little gathering of fans BBQ type thing in the park next to the Lincoln Center. Small turnout but it was nice. Good times. It should be a continuing trend before the shows. I probably had one too many Strongbow English Dry Ciders before the show, so the first couple matches may be remembered a little more fondly than they should.
1. "The Wildcards" EDDIE KINGSTON & BLACK JACK MARCIANO def. "The All-Stars" CHANDLER McCLURE & BRYCE BENJAMIN in the opening match of the night.
The All Stars are local regulars, they’re a fun crew that might be a little too “sports entertainment” for IWA shows. They had worked the MSPW show earlier that afternoon. Both Wildcards spit while they were talking, which sucked for me because both of them got up in my face heeling it up. The fans are starting to notice how good they are at heeling and are starting to cheer them a bit. They might need to do something dastardly pretty soon to keep their heel image going. When Joey “One Man Orgy” Eastman tried to introduce The Wildcards, Kingston got the mic and talked about how they hadn’t won yet in Highland, but were “Mad over in Milwaukee” and then introduced the team in good old Cornette style. Decent little match that helped The Wildcards get their first win in Highland.
"Anarchist" ARIK CANNON came out to the ring and began to criticize CHRIS HERO for his "complaining" about Hero's losing streak in Highland (Hero hasn't won a match at the Lincoln Center since November 2003). Cannon made specific reference to Hero letting his emotions get the best of him after losing to Samoa Joe on 5/29. Concerning the comparisons many make between Hero and himself, Cannon "corrected" those comparisons by stating that he is the better wrestler of the two, because, unlike Hero, he does whatever it takes to score wins in IWA. Mid speech, Hero approached the ring and dropped Cannon on his head with a suplex, and told him to back up his claims in a match with him later in the night.
Highland fans have become notorious for being extremely anti-Chris Hero (I’m not one of them.) I think it’s that most of them don’t know the history of Chris Hero with IWA and the IWA hasn’t really let the Highland fans know that. I think they figured that most of us knew of his greatness, and his legend would follow. Well that didn’t so much happen. What the average Highalnd fan knows is the guy won a match in November, lost a loser leaves town match in December, goes away for a bit, comes back heralded by us that know the back story of Chris Hero, but unknown to the common Highland fan, and promply starts a long losing streak. The crowd hasn’t been shown that they should like this guy. Then cool big ass Samoa Joe comes to IWA and immediately starts making Hero his bitch, and the crowd is eating it up.
Back to talking about the Cannon/Hero promo segment. Cannon came out and did this promo as if he were a heel (which in story line he is,) but this crowd in Highland is cheering their heads off for him. Not because he’s Arik Cannon mind you, just because he’s Hero’s opponent. This seemed to set the promo off to a weird start. It set up a Hero vs. Cannon match that I’d be there for, so I was happy.
2. TRIK DAVIS def. CASH FLO (w/ Jim Fannin) via disqualification after Cash repeatedly pulled a beaten Davis up off the canvas after a two count, only to dish out more punishment. As a result of the win, Davis remains on the IWA roster (he had previously stated that if he lost the rematch with Cash, he would leave IWA).
We finally got our rematch for the Chest Purpling that Cash gave Trik a while back, November Highland show I believe. This match pretty much consisted of chops, chops, and more chops from Cash, purpling up Trik’s chest again. There was a really cool spot where Trik got up on Cash’s shoulders in the Electric Chair position on the floor. Cash picked him off his shoulders and crotched him around the ring post. This was right in front of me. I had my first of experience of being legit scared by a wrestler here, because earlier in the match Cash didn’t particularly like one of the disparaging remarks I made towards him and he gave me an evil glare and the “C’mon and get in here motion.” Since he was right there, I was a touch intimidated since I know Cash is a legit tough guy. Alas he did nothing and was just doing some heeling. I don’t get the finish. I think I remember one other time, like late 80s that someone was DQed for repeated pulling up of their opponent. But I still don’t know what the person is disqualified for. But this means Trik is still in IWA and hopefully gets a legit win over Cash sometime.
3. "Sexy" ACE STEEL def. "Barbaric Berzerker" JIMMY JACOBS with the Gory Special neckbreaker.
This match just didn’t seem to have much to it to me. Everyone seems to be getting pretty sick of the Huss gimmick, and unfortunately Jimmy hasn’t adapted his style much to get past it. There’s still many midmatch hussings. I think if he phased them out a bit it’d do wonders for his character. Less is more in this situation. Still do them, but just a few standards. The Camel Clutch huss for a big match. Lay off the swinging neckbreaker huss. I’d just keep the intro hussing and the step on the opponent’s hand and they huss spot. Ace is so awesome, but he was in there with comedy Jimmy so it didn’t seem right with Intense Ace. Although I don’t particularly enjoy him, Jerry Lynn appears to be one of the best guys when wrestling the comedy guys.
4. LACEY def. MsCHIF with the implant DDT to retain the IWA/NWA Midwest Women's Championship.
MsChif still has the crowd behind her, and she played the face here. I don’t think that’s necessarily the best for the MsChif character, but it was great for helping build up Lacey as a good heel champion for all the ladies to be chasing after. Lacey’s iridescent ring gear was pretty swank here. MsChif has the goods on the mat, but when not on the mat it appears she only has 4-5 moves, but they are all over like gangbusters. I’d really like to see some of her Gateway Championship Wrestling work. As rumors are her work there against the guys is pretty good. This might make my opinion of her change to that she isn’t trying to work above the rest of the ladies.
5. MAD MAN PONDO wrestled ABDULLAH THE BUTCHER to a no-contest in a wild, bloody brawl which went all over the Lincoln Center. Late in the match, referee OLLIE THARP was busted open by Abdullah with a fork, which brought referees BRYCE REMSBURG and NIKKAN LEE to the ring to officiate the rest of the match, only for both of them to be attacked as well. The match was ruled a no-contest when neither of the two wrestlers would allow an IWA referee to get anywhere near their battle. It took the entire locker room emptying to try to restore order and pull Pondo and Abdullah apart.
Unfortunately, Abby didn’t get a chance to have a big entrance and ovation since Pondo got him with the stop sign as soon as he entered the arena. The bladed and walked bladed and walked. With Abby doing the blatant in front of everyone vertical blading and Pondo doing blatant in front of everyone horizontal blading. Then Abby goes under the ring and brings out the MGD bottle that was put there before the ladies match. Breaks it on the corner of the ring and jabs it into Pondo’s forehead breaking the glass and making one of the sickest noises I’ve ever heard in my life. Then after the bell rang the first time we took off because the Ted Petty Tickets went on sale during this intermission, and we didn’t want to wait in the line. During the rest of intermission, I went outside to cool off, and met and chatted with Scott Christ and his buddy. He was really cool and I wish I would’ve been a touch more sober, because I was blabbering on about things. Also during the intermission they didn’t sweep up the broken glass that was right in front of us, and is on the same corner that all the wrestlers come out to the ring. You’d think they would, nope.
6. RYUJI ITO def. "Spyder" NATE WEBB to retain the Big Japan Death Match Title following a frog splash off the top rope through a table, with a chair laid across Webb's chest.
Nate came out with a video camera during his entrance, I believe it was the video camera that some people were taping for a Japanese group. Also oh so nicely selling the effects of a brutal deathmatch just twenty minutes earlier Pondo danced on the Merch Table to Teenage Dirtbag as well. Nate was very huggy, and was hugging everyone including making Chicagowrestling.com’s Todd Gerth come give him a hug. Nate told Todd he loves him even if Todd wants him to tone down his style so he doesn’t die. Good little match that didn’t even have many hardcore elements to it at all except for the finish. After the match Ito got on the mic, and nobody could understand him. I thought that he was saying that IWA was nothing compared to Big Japan, and was trash talking. But Nate got on the mic too, and acknowledged that he and everyone didn’t have a clue what he said, but loved him anyway. They hugged and left. I think I misunderstood Ito.
7. "Anarchist" ARIK CANNON def. CHRIS HERO with a handful of tights after roughly 20 minutes of back and forth action, which saw Hero focus on Cannon's arm for the majority of the bout. The Highland crowd was split about 50/50 in terms of their support. After the match, Cannon said that he backed up his words from earlier in the night, and advised Hero not to whine this time about suffering yet another loss.
This match was filled with the Let’s Go Hero/Let’s Go Cannon chants from the beginning. The anti-Hero sentiment is crazy here in Highland. It totally changes the dynamic of the match, and it ruins the match a bit. It’s hard for Cannon to play dick heel when over half the crowd is cheering, and it’s even harder for Hero to play the crowd and make comebacks with half the crowd booing it. I need to see this when not surrounded by fucktards. The bits I remember seem to be that they basically were building up a dynamic for a future match to work off of. Plus the side story of Cannon doing what he says and Hero being left behind in Highland again is a perfect side storyline to keep Hero in the despondent mode until the eventual Samoa Joe vs. Chris Hero rematch.
8. DELIRIOUS def. "The Future" CHRIS SABIN with the Chemical Imbalance II to advance to the second round of the NWA Indiana State Title Tournament.
Sabin came out with the TNA banner which is supposedly a heel move in IWA but was cheered wildly. Fans in Highland love them some Chris Sabin. I just can’t see it. I’ve never gotten the Sabin love. He’s a pretty crisp wrestler, but nothing stands out. Someone explain to me why I should love Chris Sabin. Maybe I just need my eyes opened.
Another intermission, talked to Scott and friend, and Orgy about the comedy show he’s promoting. Everyone check out Totally Tool Wrestling when it comes out. It’s all good and stuff.
9. BRAD BRADLEY & RYAN BOZ def. BJ WHITMER & DANNY DANIELS (w/ Jim Fannin) to retain the IWA World Tag Team Titles when Fannin attempted to toss a chain to Daniels, only for it to wind up in the possession of the opposing team, which led to the pinfall. Daniels expressed his frustration with Fannin on the mic after the match, and challenged Bradley and Boz to a rematch, but without Fannin at ringside. Bradley responded by saying that he and Boz have nothing more to prove since they already have the titles.
Fannin keeps losing his men. Danny’s gone now too. I think BJ and Cash Flo are all he’s got left. This was standard indy tag in the 2000s buy the books. Since Danny’s getting face pops and is soon to turn, he played face in peril. Lots of pin and move breaks when the down man makes a save, putting another man down for the time being. Boz threw a chair at Hat again, and all is right with the world of IWA-MS
10. PETEY WILLIAMS def. "The Next" ALEX SHELLEY (w/ Zach Gowen) to retain the IWA World Heavyweight Title via submission with a Sharpshooter. Williams attempted to hit the Canadian Destroyer (front flip piledriver) at several points during the match, only for Shelley to immediately maneuver his way out of the position before Williams could go for it. During the closing moments of the bout, Gowen attempted to assist Shelley, only to be inadvertently superkicked by Shelley for his trouble, which then left Petey the opening to apply the Sharpshooter for the tap out victory to hold onto the title. After the match, Petey extended his hand to Shelley in a sign of respect, only for Shelley to spit in Williams' face in response.
Zach was all over this match, maybe a little too much. This was a lot of people’s most looked forward to match. Unfortunately a lot of us built it up too much in our heads. The match was quite solid but you know us internet peeps, always expecting too much. It might have been cut short due to time, as immediately afterwards we were pushed out as the ring started to get taken down, like that had to get out of there quick.
On the way home, singing along to Ring Crew Express Theme songs and trying to show people my old apartment, on accident was an enjoyable ending to a good night. Fun times, Random Memories.
