Connor McGrath
Well, friends, if it feels like I haven’t seen you much lately, it’s because I haven’t! In the past four weeks, this show has only aired two new episodes, with Memorial Day Weekend’s show being pre-empted by an infomercial and last week’s show being a rerun of the previous week’s show. All that matters is we’re here today and I’m ready for some ECPW On Fire action!
The show opens with a LAST WEEK ON… scroll of a tag match that we did NOT see last week. This match pits Kai Katana and Junior Flow against the team of Bandido Jr and Frankie Flow. We see the last two minutes or so of the match. I do a serious eye roll when Charlie Savoldi yammers about the capacity crowd as the wrestlers brawl around empty seats. Look, I know wrestling announcers are supposed to over exaggerate but don’t outright lie and say you’re seeing something that’s obviously not there. Frankie and Bandido get the win when Frankie blocks a handspring elbow from Katana and hits a Full Nelson Slam. After the match, Junior Flow tries to attack his dad and Bandido with a belt but it backfires and Junior has to get out of a dodge. Frankie cuts an indecipherable promo. I got to say, this is probably the worst I’ve heard the audio quality for this show… which is really saying something. There’s a super annoying beeping noise throughout this episode too. Just gathering from the pantomime and the ECPW On Fire website, I’m guessing it’s Frankie challenging Junior to a Strap Match. And with that out of the way, it’s time to #FeedTheBeast!
Vinny Vega and Ricky Palmer (with The Creeper) Vs The Dark Carnival (with Vincent Valentine)
Two ECPW On Fire promising rookies are taking on the most dangerous heel stable in the company. The Creeper has joined Vega and Palmer at ringside. I chuckle at Ken Reedy razzing on The Creeper for being a scuzzball. CAN YOU BELIEVE JOEY G SHOOK HANDS WITH THIS GUY? This match is more or less an extended squash for the heels. And it’s a fairly decent squash with the rookies ably bumping around for the hosses. It’s kind of hindered by the end though. We get a really halfassed finish to sort of protect the babyfaces when Vincent Valentine runs in and whacks Palmer with the cane while has Luca in a camel clutch to draw the DQ. Palmer and Vega get destroyed after the match and The Punisher Martinez runs in to make the save. It’s a minor quibble, I know, but a quibble nonetheless. If the end result is Palmer and Vega getting destroyed and Punisher running in to make the save, why give them a DQ win? It does absolutely nothing for anybody. Should have just had The Dark Carnival destroy them. Anyway, so-so squash overall. C
ECPW Light Heavyweight Title Match: Matt MacIntosh (c) Vs Kai Katana
Charlie Savoldi is calling this match even though we see Ken Reedy and Joey G calling this match at ringside. I’d rather have Reedy and Joey G, who I’ve slowly gained an appreciation for. Charlie Savoldi seems to have the same problem as Matt Striker of overselling the action a bit too much to the point where he sounds kind of silly. I’m sure he’d be fine in a two or three man booth but they insist on having him announce solo like he’s Gordon Solie or something. MacIntosh and Katana are two of my favorite ECPW On Fire wrestlers and I think they’re deserving of a bigger stage but at the same time, I have seen these two together a lot. Although I’m not sure if I’ve seen them in a one on one match, it seems like they’ve been in a half dozen or so triple threats or four corner matches in the past six months. They definitely seem to be stuck in second gear here. I mean, their second gear is better than a lot of the roster’s first gear but I got to say this was the first time a match between these two has let me down slightly. And of course, it finishes with a time limit draw. I guess these guys will live to fight another day. C+
Annoying audio glitches aside, this might have been the most perfectly average/forgettable show of the year. Both matches were perfectly fine with slightly dumb finishes. Not much here that I’m going to remember by the time I start watching next week’s show! Both matches (and the opening segment to set up the Frankie Flow/Junior Flow strap match) served their purposes of hyping an upcoming card. Definitely, a thumbs in the middle kinda show.
Anyway, I hope everybody had a wonderful Father’s Day Weekend. Or at least, a better Father’s Day Weekend than Frankie and Junior Flow probably had. I’m sure you’ll be getting together with your families and friends over the next few weeks and enjoying many great treats. But remember to never, ever, feed your dog or your dog’s dad chocolate. Have a great week everybody! I’ll see everyone next Monday (unless this show gets preempted again)!
