Andrew Crow
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla is not for everyone.
What began as a company run by its talent in 2003 during the decline of the wrestling industry (which saw many southern California-based promotions crumble) has transformed into a unique beast. It has no television show to force traditional storytelling methods upon it, no merchandising contracts to restrict what can and cannot be done with the product, and these “weaknesses” work to its advantage as it attracts a who’s-who and a who-will-be variety of independent and international talent.
A major strength to its presentation, one that is often a make-or-break among potential fans, is that its tongue is firmly planted in its cheek. The commentary will sometimes openly mock a bad match while also treating the show as if it matters, offering the perfect balance of “nudge nudge, wink wink” and a traditional wrestling product. What it lacks in emotional attachment and the promise of catharsis it makes up for in pure, unadulterated entertainment.
It’s video game wrestling. Not every match has sound psychology and the bulk of it can be described as “flippy floppy” (making it the preferred style of Community star Gillian Jacobs, who is a PWG fan), but the majority of its talents understand that spotfests and spot-oriented matches need to build to a crescendo so that a story is still told well enough for people to care about the outcome.
With that all said and done, it’s time to boot up the randomizer and delve into a show that, while not the strongest offering by the company, has just enough to leave you wanting more.
PRO WRESTLING GUERRILLA – FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE
October 27, 2012. Van Nuys Armory. Reseda, California.
Before we begin, there is something important that needs to be noted: the commentary team is never set in stone. While Excalibur, a retired wrestler who helped found PWG, remains constant in the play-by-play position, he is seconded by an ever-revolving addition of various members of the roster in the color position. Sometimes this proves excellent (such as when Kevin Steen or Chuck Taylor are present) and sometimes a detriment to the match presented (namely when Roderick Strong or anybody else not known for having good talking skills sit down). I’ll be sure to mention who is in the booth (well, at the table) during each recap.
JOEY RYAN -v- RYAN TAYLOR
Excalibur is joined by Kevin Steen to start us off, caught in mid-conversation discussing various streaming options for their favorite television series while Joey (who, at this point, is a contracted TNA talent) and Taylor are introduced.
Talk goes to the Office as the bell rings, and Taylor hits a calf kick on a distracted Joey as the latter calls for a microphone (and this will be explained later). They trade a few shots and run the ropes, leading to a truly great hip-toss reversal into an inside cradle by Taylor for 2. Joey begs off and Taylor punks him out, causing Joey to crawl backwards and crotch himself on the ring post. Joey charges in to Taylor and gets rolled up for 2 before Taylor locks on a nice Half Crab. Joey makes the ropes and Taylor breaks.
Steen, oblivious to the action, hypes a BBC documentary about wild animals being kept as house pets, and Joey manages to hit Taylor with a surprise Pumphandle suplex (wrongly called a T-Bone) before nailing some knees into Taylor’s spine. The reason for Taylor attacking Joey before he could cut a promo is revealed as Excalibur points out that his TNA contract prohibits him not from wrestling for independent companies but speaking on their broadcasts.
Joey chokes Taylor with his boot as Steen wraps his mind around TNA’s awful business practices and then forces Taylor into a hard-cam focused chinlock, forcing Taylor back toward the hard-cam.
Joey Ryan: “DROPKICK!”
Taylor is hit with a called dropkick (called during the move itself) and fights back with a few shots. Joey ducks a horribly performed roundhouse kick but gets caught with a Rolling Elbow, a running Yakuza Kick in the corner, a Neck Chancery suplex, and then a Missile Dropkick for 2. Joey bails to the apron and sloppily gets kicked off, but he rushes back in as Taylor hits the ropes and connects with a Spear (that Steen expertly refers to as a “running hug, a la Edge.”).
A powerbomb gets 2 and Taylor sends Joey into the corner, catching him with a surprise knee lift before swinging him down into a Cross-Armbreaker. Taylor releases one hand to drum up fan support and Joey uses that opportunity to push Taylor into a pin attempt for 2. Both men up, a Booker T-style Scissors Kick gets 2 for Taylor, and a whip is reversed by Joey. Joey eats a boot and surprises Taylor with a spinebuster for 2. Steen calls some play-by-play, prompting Excalibur to remind him of their roles (due to Steen missing the spinebuster call).
Excalibur: “Imagine if you were trying to watch this in your car while you were driving. You wouldn’t know what move just happened.”
Steen closes his eyes, accidentally spilling his water all over the table, and asks Excalibur to call the match for him. Excalibur calls the action as Steen occasionally parrots the last move called (audibly causing Excalibur to laugh) and Taylor takes over with a Razor’s Edge.
Kevin Steen: “I missed the Razor’s Edge?! Fuck, I gotta open my eyes.”
Taylor floats Joey through and hits a BAD RegalPlex (Joey lands HARD on his shoulder and the side of his head) for 2, and a weak Buzzsaw Kick gets the same. A fan heckles Ryan, asking him how it feels to be the third best Taylor (behind Chuck and Brian Cage, the only other members of the Fightin’ Taylor Boys), distracting him enough to let Joey fight out of an Ace Crusher attempt and nail a Superkick. Taylor no-sells…
Ryan Taylor: “Fuck you!”
…and eats a second one. Joey backs into the corner to go for the kneeling Superkick but gets wrapped up in a schoolboy for 2. Joey locks on a Tazmission out of nowhere, but Taylor is able to reverse it into a flipping neckbreaker for the 3.
WINNER: Ryan Taylor
ANALYSIS: The fan that heckles Taylor toward the end of the match is right in nearly every regard when he ranks Ryan among the other Fightin’ Taylor Boys. Chuck is infinitely more charismatic and crisp with his movements and what Brian Cage (with the added “-Taylor” when teaming with them, their supposed “step-brother”) lacks in finesse and polish he makes up for in strength and intensity. He has a horrible tendency to try to copy the rest of the major US indy names by having an arsenal of kicks to use but also doesn’t quite perform any of them better than your typical kid in a backyard. He’s fine when involved with either of the superior Taylor Boys but bland at best, abysmal at worst when he’s working alone.
Joey Ryan, meanwhile, makes up for whatever technical ability or athletic finesse he may lack with pure charisma, playing several times to the crowd during this match and harkening back to his run(s) with the PWG World title and his history within the company (as one of its original owners, Joey Ryan was on the first PWG card and has made an effort to appear on every show). His teasing of the hard-cam and of threatening a promo were nice touches to an otherwise mediocre match.
RATING: **
EDDIE EDWARDS -v- MICHAEL ELGIN
Kevin Steen remains next to Excalibur, insinuating that a fan he’s jawing with is under the influence of narcotics before half-heartedly cheering for Eddie as he’s introduced. Steen points out that Elgin has yet to pull up the straps of his singlet, allowing Excalibur to launch into a hype point about how Elgin is more focused on his World title shot later on against Steen (the reigning champion) and Ricochet (the winner of the 2012 Battle of Los Angeles tournament, which is the event before this one) before he peters off due to Elgin pulling the straps up.
They lock up and Elgin quickly forces Eddie into the corner, breaking clean as Eddie gives him a look of fear. They go for another lock up and Eddie catches him with a standing armbar. Elgin reverses into a rear waistlock but gets caught with a hammerlock out of it, tripping Eddie down but Edwards floats over into a front facelock. They rise and Elgin gets to the ropes to which Eddie breaks clean, drawing a “sportsmanship” chant.
Excalibur: “Do you cheer at a movie?”
As Excalibur and Steen discuss why an audience chanting is relegated only to sports, both men run the ropes and trade leap frogs. Eddie telegraphs and Elgin looks for the Elgin Bomb early (mistakenly called a Liger Bomb by Excalibur) but Eddie sweeps his legs to go for the Achilles Lock. Elgin kicks him off and rushes to his feet, blocking an arm drag by just standing still, and a powerslam attempt is reversed into a shove into the corner. Eddie takes Elgin down with a Camel Clutch pin attempt for 2, drawing chants for both men.
Eddie nails a few running Yakuza Kicks to Elgin’s face as Steen wonders what a win for Eddie here means (and whether it would make the main event a four-way due to Eddie proving himself worthy) and it devolves into a chop battle that Eddie gets the best of. Elgin cuts him off with an elbow to the face and then runs through a chop (which Steen puts over as being the hardest he’s ever taken) before hitting a shoulderblock. Elgin throws Edwards into the corner and unleashes a series of clotheslines, but Eddie reverses it in and goes Kobashi-style with machine gun chops. They trade back and forth before Elgin really lays the hammer down, and Eddie stuns Elgin wtih an enzuigiri.
Edwards goes for the leaping Lungblower but Elgin just catches him with ease, slinging him over into an Air Raid Crash for 2. Elgin stomps away on Eddie and lifts Eddie up for a vertical, holding him up as the fans count (and Steen wonders why fans think he’s obsessed with Tamina Snuka). Eddie tries to start kicking his legs to break free around the count of 21, and Elgin finally suplexes him down at 63 for a 2-count. Eddie backs to the ropes to buy some time, but Elgin goes outside and slams some clubbing forearms into Eddie’s chest before nailing an Undertaker-style leg drop on the apron. He rolls him back in for 2, drills some knees into Eddie’s back, and locks on a chinlock.
Kevin Steen claims he’s not afraid of Elgin and that he knows he can take Ricochet as Eddie manages to fight out of another Elgin Bomb attempt. He charges into a boot but catches Elgin with a rope-assisted gamengiri after he pushes himself to the top turnbuckle, allowing Eddie to look for the Chin Checker (a Piggyback Stunner), but Elgin breaks free and looks for the Chaos Theory and Eddie flips out onto his feet. Elgin charges in and Eddie pulls the rope down to send him to the apron.
Eddie charges and nails a punt kick to Elgin’s back, knocking him off the apron, and then calls his shot before hitting the ropes. Elgin climbs back onto the apron and Eddie adjusts his plans mid-sprint, hitting a single-legged dropkick to Elgin’s face and knocking him to the floor. He hits the ropes again and connects with a topé suicida as the fans chant “P-Dubya-G” (which, believe it or not, is actually rare). One fan yells that he can’t find his seat, and Eddie sends Elgin back in, nailing a running gamengiri for 2.
Steen says that Edwards is definitely earning himself a title match as Eddie looks for the Die Hard Driver, but Elgin shoves him into the corner (stunning Excalibur and Steen as they practically shift the ring from the impact). Eddie counters a charge with a boot to the face and looks for a suplex but gets caught with a Hellevator for 2.
Kevin Steen: “I haven’t seen many people manhandle Eddie Edwards the way Elgin is.”
Elgin locks Eddie in a cravate and nails knee lift after knee lift to Edwards’ face, but Eddie fights out with some chops. Elgin shrugs them off and nails more cravate knees and Eddie tries to chop out again but eats an enzuigiri that drops him to a knee. Elgin looks for a Lariat but Eddie ducks it and drops him down with the WreckPlex (back suplex lift and turned into a sit-out facebuster) for 2.
Eddie climbs up top and goes for a Double Stomp that Elgin avoids, but Eddie rolls through and then trips Elgin up into the Achilles Lock. Elgin forces out with boots to Eddie’s face and another Chaos Theory attempt is blocked. Eddie goes for a running Lariat but Elgin ducks it and manages to connect with the third Chaos Theory attempt of the match (stalling while lifting Eddie over) for 2.
Elgin, visibly exhausted, goes up to the top. Eddie rushes to his feet and nails a leaping single-legged dropkick to Elgin’s face, stunning him on the top, and then struggles to get Elgin over for a top rope Superplex. Elgin lands and starts SCREAMING before Eddie connects with a pair of Lariats that barely phase him.
Eddie goes for another and Elgin counters with one of his own, cancelling Eddie’s out, and a fourth by Eddie is blocked as Elgin connects with a Lariat to Eddie’s arm. Elgin hits the ropes to look for another Lariat of his own, but Eddie kicks Elgin in the arm. Edwards hits the ropes after sliding off his elbow pad, nailing a Lariat to Elgin that is met with a Spinning Backfist and Eddie responds with a Spinning Lariat. Elgin quickly scrambles to his feet and Eddie catches him with a Superkick and a botched Tiger suplex for 2.
Eddie connects with a Flying Double Stomp to Elgin’s back, immediately looking for the Die Hard Driver, but Elgin powers out and looks for an Air Raid Crash. Eddie floats over for a Sunset Flip but Elgin reverses and looks for the Elgin Bomb. Eddie reverses it into a hurricanrana that sends Elgin into the corner and charges in but eats an elbow to the face before Elgin dumps him with a German suplex onto the top turnbuckle. Eddie limps out and eats a Rolling Elbow to the back of his head, a Spinning Back Fist, and then a Buckle Bomb inevitably leads into the Elgin Bomb for the 3.
Kevin Steen: “I got really tired just watching that match.”
WINNER: Michael Elgin
ANALYSIS: This match is certainly going to be a “love it or hate it” deal, as is the body of singles work for both Eddie Edwards and Michael Elgin anyway. Very little traditional psychology was on display as it was much more of a “let’s keep hitting each other” style of match, but the little bit of that was used enhances the insanity of the work more than enough.
One thing this match does almost flawlessly is build up the finisher of either man. Elgin goes for the Elgin Bomb multiple times before the final flurry of offense finds him connecting with it as he wants to end the match early and rest up for his shot at the World title later in the evening and Eddie, with the possibility of proving his salt and earning a shot at that same title just by being able to hang with or even beat a top contender, isn’t letting it happen without a fight. That much of this match was Eddie on offense and Elgin taking the beating, which was the majority of it until Elgin had finally had enough come the Superplex, also works into Elgin’s mindset. Though he may be hurt? He still has plenty left in the tank.
The primary weakness of Eddie, in truth, is his lack of charisma. He’s perfectly fine in the ring and capable of putting on a barn-burner with anybody even remotely near his level, sometimes achieving bonafide greatness, but his facial expressions rarely change and his body language and selling are usually suspect. His timing is great and the diversity of his arsenal allows his matches to stay fresh, but he’s yet to develop any sort of actual character since first breaking onto the national independent scene as part of the American Wolves.
RATING: ***3/4
B-BOY/FAMOUS B -v- THE ROCKNES MONSTERS
Immediately I find myself glad that Kevin Steen is still in the booth. That’s not necessarily a knock on any of the four men in this match, per se, but it’s a truthful statement. His blend of comedy and insight into everybody’s work and histories help breathe life into every match he helps Excalibur call and, as is the case fairly often, can help raise a sub-par match into something readily worth watching.
Tonight, the RockNES Monsters are diving more into their heel side, playing off of events that transpired during the Battle of Los Angeles (as well as Johnny Yuma, the more diminutive of the two and a legitimate shoot fighter, appearing on TNA broadcasts as Lars Only). To his credit, Johnny Goodtime welcomes the change, injecting actual character into his presence beyond being a tad awkward, and beckons “Johnny Badtime” chants.
The bell rings with all four men still in (which is called by both Steen and Excalibur), and Yuma jumps B-Boy from behind. Goodtime throws Yuma through the ropes at B-Boy on the outside and then hits a springboard double stomp that clearly misses. Yuma sends B-Boy back in and starts heeling it up as B-Boy goes into no-sell mode, talking trash back and forth until a Yuma slap brings him to his feet. Off the ropes and Yuma avoids a pair of clotheslines and a back elbow, but then B-Boy halts him by holding up his hands.
B-Boy: “Hold the fuck up!”
A STIFF forearm sends Yuma down and into the crowd as Goodtime threatens B-Boy with one of the cocktail swords stuck in his beard. Goodtime helps Yuma back into the ring, but B-Boy dropkicks both men back into the crowd. Goodtime helps Yuma back in again and dramatically tags in, revving himself up to go against B-Boy before pointing to Famous B.
Johnny Goodtime: “I want the black one!”
A “racist” chant breaks out and Steen questions its merit. Goodtime charges in and dodges punches and kicks by Famous B before a solebutt and a trio of armdrags lead into a headscissors roll-up for 2. A pair of back elbows get 1 and B-Boy is tagged back in for a neckbreaker/calf kick combo. Steen rightfully points out that B-Boy always looks at the crowd with an angry face whenever he does a move that keeps somebody down, and B-Boy then stands on Goodtime’s hair, pulling on his beard.
B-Boy fish hooks Goodtime’s face and then spits at Yuma, tagging Famous B in before shushing the crowd, trading off with Famous nailing low kicks to Goodtime’s thigh and B-Boy nailing chops and a headbutt before going to the apron. Goodtime reverses a whip to his corner and charges in, eating an elbow, but then catches Famous off-guard with a boot to the face, allowing Yuma to hit a VERY delayed DDT onto the apron (all while Goodtime shadow boxes).
Yuma tags in and covers Famous B for 2, arguing with the ref, and then locks on an arm wringer. Tag back to Goodtime for a double arm wringer, and Goodtime forces Famous B down for a 2-count before nailing a knee drop. Steen goes over a possible homosexual encounter as Yuma puts Famous B’s durag on and tags in. Hard whip for Famous B and Goodtime crotches him on the post. Yuma covers with one foot for 1 and B-Boy grabs a chair, drawing the ire of the ref so the Monsters can double-team his partner (which Steen points out is counter-intuitive).
Goodtime tags in and tries to prevent Famous B from making the tag, knocking B-Boy off the apron. Famous B reverses a whip to the corner and then eats a boot, allowing Goodtime to take him down with a headscissors of sort (think Edge’s Edge-O-Matic, but with Goodtime’s legs instead). B-Boy tries to interfere and Yuma comes in behind the ref’s back, whipping Goodtime via beard into a cannonball senton to Famous B. Goodtime picks Yuma up in a fireman’s carry and goes to knock B-Boy off the apron but he ducks, so Goodtime rushes over to Famous B and he ducks, catching Goodtime with a dropkick that forces Goodtime to Samoan Drop Yuma.
Famous B makes the lukewarm (if that) tag to B-Boy, who unloads on both Monsters with chops and a lariat. Yuma goes for a right but B-Boy catches it and throws it to Goodtime before sweeping Yuma’s leg, forcing Yuma to give Goodtime a Stunner, and then B-Boy rocks Yuma with a Buzzsaw kick before nailing Goodtime with an Exploder suplex onto his partner. B-Boy then telegraphs the next spot by holding Yuma up and patiently waiting for Goodtime to come to, sending him into an accidental/incidental front facelock before taking Goodtime down with a neckbreaker and forcing him to DDT Yuma.
B-Boy gives the crowd another angry stare (I can’t stop noticing it) before pointing to Goodtime and calling for the Facewash. B-Boy charges in but Yuma goes for a crossbody. B-Boy catches him, hoists him up in a fireman’s carry, and then hits a running Amityville Horror onto Yuma (and onto Goodtime in the corner) for a 2-count on Goodtime.
Tag to Famous B and Goodtime reverses a whip into the corner but eats a Superkick for 2. B-Boy hooks Yuma for a Tiger Driver, even giving him a wedgie, but it’s reversed into a hurricanrana for 2 before Famous B breaks it up with a Superkick, only to turn and eat a Bicycle Kick by Goodtime. Goodtime goes for one on B-Boy but he ducks it before Goodtime stuns him with an enzugiri. The Bicycle Kick connects on B-Boy but he no-sells and catches Goodtime with an Ace Crusher (Steen: “RKO!”) before suddenly dying.
The ref starts the 10-count as Famous B goes up top and a Swanton misses, allowing Goodtime to hit a Superkick to the midsection and follow it up with a HUGE powerbomb. He rolls Famous B back to his feet so Yuma can nail the Sex Factor, setting up for a Goodtime Splash for 2. Yuma sends B-Boy to the floor, just in case, and then goes back to the corner so he can be tagged in legally. Yuma up top and B-Boy runs in to crotch him. Goodtime grabs B-Boy from the apron but then eats a running knee to send him to the floor (literally shoving Famous B out of the way so he can hit the ropes), and Famous B catches Yuma with a gamengiri before stretching him out with an underhook. B-Boy connects with a flying double stomp to Yuma’s back and Famous B swings him around into a backbreaker, going up for another Swanton attempt.
The Swanton connects and Famous B immediately pops up and hits Goodtime with a topé con HELLO (as it is called by Excalibur whenever it happens), leaving B-Boy and Yuma alone. B-Boy goes for a Belly-to-Back Piledriver, but Yuma school boys him with a handful of trunks for the pinfall.
WINNER: The RockNES Monsters
ANALYSIS: If Edwards/Elgin is a great example of “video game” wrestling done right, then this match exposes almost all of its faults. Whereas Edwards/Elgin only slowed down the pace for actual selling, this match finds the pace starting and stopping at whim and with little reason. Why is Goodtime able to get up before B-Boy even though B-Boy hit the (by wrestling logic) higher impact move? Why does Famous B go to take Goodtime out on the floor when B-Boy should, by all logic, be doing that as Famous B has Yuma down for the count?
There is no history between these two teams (especially since B-Boy and Famous B are pairing off for the first time at this show) and there are too many sequences and spots thrown together to force an “epic” feel that never arrives, which is a major criticism of virtually any match featuring these four men.
I’ve seen them perform much better, too, which makes this match collapsing in its second half all the more damning.
RATING: **
SAMI CALLIHAN -v- DAVEY RICHARDS
Sami talks trash to Davey as he’s being introduced and Davey looks to be all business. As usual, the crowd is split, and they immediately go at each other with shots. Davey goes for an Ankle Lock buts gets sent to the floor and Sami rushes out, taking him into the crowd with a topé suicida. Callihan sends referee Rick Knox fleeing by throwing chairs at him, similar to Stan Hansen, and then hits a senton onto Davey as he’s laid out across some of the fans’ chairs. Callihan chops him and then follows him around ringside, choking and clawing at him, but Davey buys some time with a high kick to the face.
Richards goes for the running punt on the apron but Sami catches it and trips him before bringing him back to the floor. A chop sends Davey trying to make distance between them, rather uncharacteristically, but Sami is never more than few steps behind him, nailing a loud running chop before sending him in for a 2-count.
Sami body slams Davey leg-first into the bottom rope and Callihan wastes little time, locking on a Trailer Hitch. Davey, though, rolls out and locks on an Ankle Lock to force Sami to break it, but it’s all for naught as Sami nails a step-over stomp to send Davey’s knee into the mat. Davey fires off a desperation elbow and Sami brushes it off by nailing a headbutt, forcing Richards into the corner. A whip across the reversed (and Davey hobbles on his bad wheel), Sami floats over, and then Richards surprises Sami with a high dropkick, immediately grabbing his knee as Sami bails. Richards goes for the running apron punt again but Sami ducks under it, only to turn and eat it dead-on to the chest.
Richards hits a high kick to Sami’s chest, sending him into the chairs, and then another to a seated Callihan that knocks him to the floor (almost knocking down a fan). Davey brings Sami back and locks on an Indian Deathlock, playing to the crowd with a Hiroshi Hase-style hip swivel. It’s odd how different Davey in PWG is than Davey in ROH, showing much more personality in front of the Reseda audience than he has on a larger stage in years. It’s not too surprising, though, as PWG is the company that Davey first broke out in back in 2005 and, as such, has always made it a point to come back whenever he’s available.
Sami almost reaches the ropes but decides to hit a right hand into Davey’s ribs instead, paying for it in the form a Davey Richards Muta Lock (aided by Davey pulling on Sami’s beard). Callihan reaches the ropes and forces the break, surprising Davey with a kick to his left leg (the one he’s been working on, mind you) that stuns the former ROH World champion. Another low kick is met with a rolling solebutt to the sternum that sends Sami down. Davey shakes his leg out and then snapmares Sami into the middle of the ring, turning him over for a Tequila Sunrise but choosing to bridge back with a Nigel McGuinness-inspired double armbar before Cloverleafing his legs.
It’s obvious that Davey, at this point, is looking to torture Sami for gaining the advantage early on. This is his crowd. This is his home. Sami has been nothing but a disrespectful punk since coming into PWG earlier in the year and, though he has the fire inside of him, needs to be taught a lesson. Richards turns the arm-trap Cloverleaf into a pin attempt for 1, breaking it and then continuing the assault with a spinning toehold transitioned seamlessly into an STF. Sami bites Davey’s hand and gets an immediate receipt in the form of headbutts to the back of his head.
Excalibur: “Illegal move by both men…I guess they cancel each other out.”
Sami isn’t done, though, and fires off a kick to Davey’s head while he’s still down, prompting Richards to go full-on Bryan Danielson with a series of arm-trap stomps to his face. Davey jaws with some fans that point out the homage by saying he’s better than Danielson, drawing a mostly negative reaction (probably 90-10) and a “No!” chant that gets countered with a “Yes!” chant. Davey goes up top but Sami surprises him with a rope-assisted gamengiri and climbs up after him, but a series of headbutts sends Sami off. Callihan jumps back up and surprises Davey with a Superkick to Davey’s hurt knee before collapsing, forcing Davey down off the top.
Richards begs Callihan to get up and nails a kick to his chest, but Sami calls him a pussy. Another one sends Sami down, but he gets back up and dares him one more. Callihan goes to block it and Davey quickly surprises him with a solebutt, sending him into the corner. Davey runs in and Sami moves, hitting an enzugiri that has Davey fall down. Sami asks “who’s the man?!” and nails a running facewash, calling for one more. He lines up another shot…
Sami Callihan: “Somebody’s got a dirty face!”
…and hits it, immediately calling for a third. Callihan tells Davey to suck it and hits the ropes for the third running facewash, but Richards surprises him with an Alarm Clock but Sami catches his leg. A Dragon Screw takes Davey over and Sami locks on a Figure Four variation, keeping the hold on until 4 after Davey makes the ropes. Sami tries to drum up support as Richards limps to his feet and calls his shot again, nailing a running lariat in the corner.
Callihan goes for another running lariat but Davey ducks under and looks for a German suplex. Sami stomps the foot to break it up but eats a high roundhouse kick to the back of the head before Davey takes him down with a release German suplex. Sami pops back up and screams but Davey takes him down with a(n ugly and botched but covered up well enough) arm-scissors takedown into a cross-armbreaker. Sami tries to force Davey off enough to get to the ropes but Davey powers him down, and Callihan then forces Richards over into a seated Stretch Muffler. Davey locks on an Ankle Lock and forces Sami back over, transitioning it into a Sharpshooter but Callihan manages to muscle through and take Davey down with an inside cradle for 2.
Both men up and they both nail lariats, cancelling them out (don’t ask, it’s wrestling), and start throwing whatever strikes they can manage at each other (Davey with kicks and elbows and Sami with chops and right hands). Richards catches Sami with a rolling solebutt to the face and goes for another but eats a nice lariat from Sami for 2.
Neither man is able to get up too quickly (nor should they be able to), but Sami is able to start moving before Davey can. Callihan goes up top and looks for a splash but Davey rolls in to avoid it. Sami goes to the corner to get to his feet and eats a running elbow by Richards, but a Davey running lariat is blocked with a Callihan Bicycle Kick. Sami hits the ropes and Davey catches him with the Alarm Clock before hitting another running elbow into the corner, bringing Sami up top for a Superplex that connects before Davey floats back up into a Brainbuster for 2. (As a spot, this is fine with me as long as it’s reserved for big-time matches. This is not a big-time match. This is a midcard exhibition and, as such, this instantly harms the flow of the match for me.)
Davey positions Sami in the middle of the ring and goes up top, having to take a second to shake his leg out, and Sami rolls away from a flying double stomp. Richards charges in and Sami hooks him up for a Tombstone, but Davey reverses it for 2. Richards goes up top (with far too much ease) and hits the flying double stomp for 2, quickly locking Sami into the Ankle Lock. Sami won’t tap, though, so Davey hits the ropes and nails a punt kick to Sami’s face.
Richards looks on, amazed, as Callihan forces himself up to his feet, and Sami spits in Davey’s face before they trade slaps in the center of the ring. A pair of solebutts by Davey send Sami to his knees, but Callihan ducks a Buzzsaw Kick and school boys Davey for 2 but then quickly locks in the Stretch Muffler. Davey reverses it into an inside cradle for 2, and Sami rocks him with a Bicycle Kick to the face before a stalling Saito suplex leads to more Davey fighting spirit, summed up with a lariat by Sami that only gets 1 before Davey jumps back to his feet, daring Sami to fight him.
They trade shots and Sami gets the upper hand, taking Davey down with another lariat for 2 before locking on the Stretch Muffler and sitting down with it, forcing Davey to finally tap out.
WINNER: Sami Callihan
ANALYSIS: Sometimes matches like to start slow and build up. Sometimes they blow their load too early and can never recover. Then there are matches like this one, where the pace continues steadily and climbs just enough so that the finish feels earned but then continue on without much rhyme or reason.
In truth, that’s the issue most people have with Davey Richards matches. Nearly every singles match Davey has after Death Before Dishonor VIII follows the same format of “opponent proves he’s evenly matched with Davey, Richards takes control, opponent takes control, and then 10-20 minutes of finisher reversals and near falls.” With Tyler Black, Davey Richards helps craft an epic that makes fans see a talent in a new light. With Sami Callihan, though, he tires out the audience by adding moves that neither man is known for and ignoring the solid story being told of Sami, the brash but tough punk, proving his worth on a technical level with a master.
Sami deserves just as much praise and blame as Davey does in this regard. His best matches usually involve plunder or a consistently ascending series of move exchanges and highspots, but what makes Sami easier to forgive is his relative lack of experience compared to Richards. Not only just in PWG, but in wrestling as a whole.
This match would easily be better with the fat between Sami’s reversal of the Sharpshooter and the final strike exchange leading to the seated Stretch Muffler trimmed. The same story would be accomplished (Sami, the young upstart in PWG without a win to his name yet, taking everything that the PWG homegrown hero has and still finding a way to win) and it would resonate more with a shorter running time. It’s nothing to sneeze at and definitely better than the tag match preceding it, but a great example of how to properly do the sprint-style big move exchange is done earlier by Davey’s own American Wolves partner, Eddie Edwards, and Michael Elgin.
RATING: ***
RODERICK STRONG -v- RICH SWANN
Roderick Strong in PWG and Roderick Strong in ROH are practically two different beasts. He’s much more exciting in a PWG ring as there’s less pressure to begin with chain wrestling that goes nowhere and he is then able to unleash with what he’s among the absolute best at (backbreaker variations, chops, and not having to talk). Rich Swann is somebody I’ve come around on more recently as he’s gotten more experience but at the time of this match is not somebody I care about one way or another.
Eddie Edwards pops his broadcasting cherry by joining Excalibur in the booth and they put over a fan in the front row that mimics Strong’s pre-match taunt. Swann chicken walks before both men shake hands, and a lock-up finds Roderick with the obvious advantage as he takes Swann down with an arm wringer. Swann is able to take Roderick down with a headscissors and prevent Strong from breaking free momentarily, immediately backing away as Roderick finds a way out.
Roderick calls for a test of strength, the fans chant for it, and Swann flexes before obliging. Strong breaks it before both hands can be locked, shaking out his hand, and they lock it on, finding both men running through the same lucha-inspired near fall sequence.
Excalibur: “Monkey Flip…not racist, that’s what it’s called.”
Swann manages to break free and send Strong to the floor with a springboard armdrag, taking him into the corner with a 10-punch after Roderick gets back in. A hip swivel is met with a shove by Strong and a running chop takes Swann down. Dueling chants as Strong unloads with chops in three corners, firing off multiple chops after Swann drops to his knees. Rich thumbs Strong in the eye and takes over with a chop of his own, but Roderick is having none of it and chops Swann so hard he nearly falls over the top rope.
Swann sends Strong to the floor and goes for a dropkick through the ropes but Roderick catches his legs and slams him back-first into the apron. Roderick then picks him up in a fireman’s carry and tosses him back-first into the corner post, sliding back into the ring as Rick Knox counts. Swann dives back in at 9 and Strong grinds him down with stomps, an absolutely gorgeous suplex, and then an abdominal stretch.
Swann fights out of it and gets to his feet, whiffing slightly on a Scissors Kick before trying for Rolling Thunder and eating Strong’s knees. Roderick covers for 2 and then drills him with a Uranage backbreaker, covering again for 2. Strong goes to a chinlock and then a rear bearhug, telling referee Rick Knox that Swann’s giving up. Swann fights back to his feet and nails an elbow in the corner, going to the apron and trying for a slingshot senton of some sort but Strong casually drops to a knee, letting Swann give himself a backbreaker before covering for 2.
Strong chops Swann down and casually kicks and stomps at him while he’s on the mat, but Swann has enough and fires off chops from the ground. Roderick casually kicks Swann in the face in retaliation but has enough and starts dropping rights and lefts into Swann’s head, grounding and pounding away before covering for 2. Strong brings Rich into the corner and fires off a pair of chops before whipping him across (finding Swann turning too early but never breaking his stride). Strong rushes in for a back elbow but Swann avoids it, but he then runs into a Strong boot.
Roderick goes up to the second rope and tries to drag Swann up but Rich catches him with a right hand and a surprise hurricanrana, immediately collapsing into the second rope. Swann fires off a pair of back elbows and a corkscrew calf kick to send Strong to the floor, meeting him with a corkscrew topé con HELLO that brings Davey Richards out from the back to see what’s going on before he disappears again.
Swann sends Roderick back in and hits a Rolling Thunder senton for 2 before making his way up top. Strong grabs his leg to block it but gets elbowed away, and Swann rises up to the top. Strong charges in and Swann leaps over him, buckling his knee upon landing on his feet, and a gamengiri attempt is caught by Strong, who casually tosses Swann in to the corner before the rope-assisted knee to the face dazes Swann enough for a running elbow and a pendulum backbreaker.
He covers, gets 2, and then goes for an Olympic Slam, but Swann arm drags out of it. Strong nails him in the face with a pair of boots and hits the Olympic Slam before a huge fireman’s carry gutbuster gets 2. Roderick says he through with it and locks Swann in the Stronghold, but his walk to the center of the ring allows Swann to cradle him up for 2. Strong charges in for a Rolling Elbow but gets a roundhouse gamengiri instead.
Both men rise to their feet and trade shots in the center of the ring, Swann with slaps to Roderick’s face and Strong with chops to the chest. Swann unloads with Vader-esque clubbing forearms to the sides of Strong’s head and hits the ropes. Strong looks for a clothesline but Swann ducks under, hitting a handspring Ace Crusher for 2. Swann, exhausted, nails his Standing 450 Splash for 2, deciding to go up top as Excalibur and Edwards wonder what two 450’s back-to-back would be called, settling it on a 900.
Excalibur: “The only person that’s done a 900 is Tony Hawk, and he’s never wrestled here.”
Swann flies off the top with a Frog Splash that Roderick avoids, and Strong crawls over to make the cover. He gets 1 and Swann quickly crucifixes him down, getting a 2-count out of the reversal. Swann hits the ropes and Strong blocks him with a jumping knee to the face, setting up for the End of Heartache (a suplex released into a backbreaker that is absolutely marvelous) for the 3.
WINNER: Roderick Strong
ANALYSIS: This can almost be summarized as a Roderick Strong extended squash. He’s in control for the majority of the match and lets Swann get in a few hope spots, but it’s obvious from the get-go that Strong is winning. He’s a PWG constant compared to Swann (who has only been in PWG for a few shows at this point, if even) and his role as the PWG gatekeeper, the one sent to work with newcomers to see what they’re made of, is probably the best role he’s had in his entire career.
Swann, by being limited to only a handful of hope spots and some flurries of impressive offense, instantly becomes more watchable. His normal habits of throwing caution to the wind and “getting his shit in” at the expense of a story being told are kept in check by the elder Strong and he comes out looking that much better because of it.
While this may not be as thoroughly enjoyable a match as similar “Roderick Strong – Gatekeeper” fare (namely the tremendous match he has with TJ Perkins at Threemendous III a few months prior to this night), its execution is as good as it could be. I want to see these two work together again, especially now that Rich Swann is that much more experienced in 2015 than he is in 2012 and Strong is emphasizing his being a grumpy veteran of the independent scene even more.
RATING: ***
BRIAN CAGE -v- WILLIE MACK
Brian Cage is a fucking machine. Not only is he just as agile as men half his size, but he also has a fantastic look via his passion for bodybuilding, oozes charisma whenever he’s in the ring, and is freakishly strong. Willie Mack, meanwhile, is an enjoyable midcard guy whose agility completely goes against his size and look, and his tie to the PWG fans makes all of his matches among the hottest on the card (as he began wrestling due to wanting to work in PWG).
Excalibur is joined by Sami Callihan, who wonders where Zandig is. They ponder as to Zandig’s current whereabouts and how much he charges for his commentary services as Mack and Cage circle each other. Sami can’t decipher which is which (the joke being that Cage is a white bodybuilder and Mack is a black guy with a big gut) because of how strong both men are, and they trade shoulder blocks in the ring with neither man budging much. Willie slaps Cage in the face and gets a European uppercut in response, but a Mack leaping shoulder tackle sends Cage to the floor.
Mack follows Cage outside as Excalibur goes over the history of their feud (Cage cost Mack a shot at Kevin Steen’s PWG World title at Threemendous III so he could have one of his own) and they brawl a little. Cage gets the upper hand and drags Mack to the corner post, nailing him with a chop before looking for a suplex. Mack reverses it, though, and Sami obviously has a mouth full of chew as he’s talking.
Mack sends Cage back in and hits him with a backbreaker and a body slam as Sami wonders how many chairs he broke earlier in the night and how much will be taken from his pay. A seated neckbreaker for Willie gets 2, and a “fuck ’em up, Willie” chant goes as Mack nails him with a belly-to-back flapjack.
Mack sends Cage into the corner and nails a running spear, picking him up and then running him across the ring into the opposite corner, the impact shaking the ring. Mack goes for the Matt Sydal-inspired clothesline (where he sits on the ropes upon impact) but Cage ducks under it and takes Willie down with a lungblower.
Sami Callihan: “I’m exciteable…kinda like Curt Hawkins, who buys every PWG DVD. Hey, what’s going on, man, I bet you’re at home right now touching yourself watching PWG.”
Cage goes on offense with some European uppercuts and a back elbow, covering for 2. He talks trash as he chokes Mack with his boot and then hoists mack up for a delayed vertical suplex. He holds him up for an 18-count before dropping him, covering for 2.
Callihan says he wishes Dennis Rodman was in Reseda (because Willie bleached his hair), and Cage hoists Mack with ease before Samoan Dropping him in the center of the ring. Cage kips up, laughing, and then goes for a Lionsault but Mack moves out of the way. Mack gets to the corner and Cage rushes in but eats a Mack boot, and Willie hits a variation of the Sling Blade that keeps both guys down.
Mack sends Cage down with a corkscrew back elbow and a calf kick, sending Cage down with a spinning scoop slam, a running dropkick, and wrapping it up with an Exploder suplex for 2. Mack chops Cage against the ropes and a whip is reversed into a neckbreaker by Cage. Mack climbs to his feet in the corner and Cage rushes in for a lariat, but Willie ducks out of the way and nails a running forearm that sets Cage up for a (weak) Yakuza Kick before nailing a Saito suplex for 2.
Callihan apologizes for spitting all over the table but then assures Excalibur that the spit is good for him as Mack goes up top, but Cage follows him with shots to the back. Mack sends Cage down and goes for a Frog Splash but Cage rolls away and Mack rolls through, charging in but getting caught with a spinning reverse STO by Cage. Cage picks him up and drops him with a pumphandle facebuster (where Mack almost lands on his head) for 2.
Sami Callihan: “I don’t get the names of all the moves, I just call ’em like I sees ’em. Clothesline’s a clothesline. Piledriver’s a piledriver. He just got dropped on his fucking head.”
Dueling chants (yes, again) as Cage lifts Mack up in a Torture Rack, but Willie reverses and catches Cage with a Samoan Drop before kipping to his feet and nailing a standing moonsault for 2. Mack goes up top for another moonsault but Cage catches him, sending him onto the apron with a shot to the back. Cage goes up to the second top rope and looks for the Fucking Machine suplex, but Mack shoves out and hits a rope-assisted gamengiri to send Cage falling back in. Mack gets into the ring and charges in with a deep spear, immediately hooking Cage’s legs for 2.
Excalibur: “I’m going to out on a limb here and say that the man who wins this match will hook the leg.”
Mack goes back up top and looks for the moonsault again but Cage rolls out and Willie meets the canvas chest-first. Cage scoops Mack up and then hoists him into a fireman’s carry, dropping him with the Hawaiian Smasher. He nails a running big boot and then sends Mack down with an Austin Aries-like swinging neckbreaker, covering for 2. Mack rolls to the apron and Cage nails a gamengiri before going for the Fucking Machine suplex again, just barely getting Willie in before covering for 2.
Sami Callihan: “I thought that was it, he hooked the leg and everything.”
Cage measures Mack for the Discus Lariat, but Willie ducks it and takes Cage down with a powerslam as a fan asks for a “fucking moonsault.” A few fans bicker back and forth as Mack nails the Chocolate Thunder Bomb for 2 and then a “Willie Mack” chant goes. Both men trade right hands but Willie goes for a boot and Cage catches it, setting him up for Weapon X (a Gory Guerrero Special reverse STO), but Mack hits a Yoshi Tonic out of it for 2.
Cage gets up and goes for the Discus Lariat again, but Mack ducks under and the ref gets taken out. Willie nails Cage with the Chocolate Thunder Bomb again as the fans count for him, but he breaks away and checks on the ref, all the while Excalibur and Callihan tell him to keep on Cage instead of checking on the ref. Mack goes for the Chocolate Thunder Driver on Cage but Cage shoves out and ducks a high roundhouse kick, nailing Mack low with a boot to set up Weapon X just as the ref comes to for the win.
WINNER: Brian Cage
ANALYSIS: The theme of the night seems to be “matches that go on for too long” as this match is another example of fat-trimming doing wonders. The story flowing through it, that Mack wants some revenge on Brian Cage for costing him a World title match and the Battle of Los Angeles but Cage is too strong and willing to fight dirty for him to get it just yet, is sound and executed decently, but neither man is experienced enough to know when to send it all home. The finish with the ref bump serves well to continue the program, but Mack is visibly gassed and/or concussed halfway through and it works to the detriment of the entire thing.
RATING: **
EL GENERICO/KENNY OMEGA -v- THE YOUNG BUCKS
Depending on your age, you either love the Young Bucks, Nick and Matt Jackson, or hate them. Younger fans tend to adore their attitude and meta handling of what a heel tag team should be and older fans usually can’t get past the abundance of Superkicks, big moves, and stealing of past gimmicks. Making matters worse, then, is that both fans and detractors alike are justified in their positions, as the Bucks truly are one of the most athletically gifted tag teams in all of wrestling, independent or otherwise, and can easily wear out a crowd during their matches by abusing the idea of near falls and big spots.
During their introduction, Nick Jackson tries to walk the ropes and then trips, crotching himself and earning the one and only “you fucked up” chant I’ve heard from the Reseda crowd. Excalibur is joined by senior PWG official Rick Knox, who is no stranger to the Young Bucks and has a long history of resentment between themselves and he. Generico and Matt to start, and the Bucks toy with Generico by throwing their shirts at his face, and Generico nails a chop on Nick to knock him off the apron before he and Matt do some chain wrestling.
Matt backs Generico into the corner and plays some air guitar after breaking away, and the two men circle again. They lock up and chain wrestle some more, winding up with Matt kicking out of a lateral press, kipping up to his feet, and yelling “I’m faster than you” after pointing his hand like a gun to Generico’s head and blowing a kiss. Matt calls for a test of strength and tries to kick Generico low, but Generico catches the boot and chops him out of the ring.
Matt rolls back in and tags to Nick and they run through a more lucha inspired chain sequence that has Nick getting the upper hand with a springboard corkscrew armdrag and a dropkick. The crowd chants for Omega and Generico obliges, tagging the former PWG World champion in. He locks up with Nick and they trade arm wringers and headscissors before Nick goes for a deep armdrag and Omega blocks it, nailing a jawbreaker over his knee. Matt tags in as Nick bails to the floor and ducks under Omega’s legs, turning around to meet a chop.
Matt charges in for a clothesline and gets sent out of the ring with a solebutt to the back of the head, and then Nick runs onto the apron and looks for a springboard but gets sent all the way to the floor with a surprise Helluva Kick by Generico. With the Bucks on opposite sides of the ring on the floor, Omega and Generico discuss which one they’re going after and then connect with stereo topé con HELLO’s (Omega to Nick and Generico to Matt). Generico throws Matt back in and Omega snags a hat from a fan before getting back into the ring.
Omega looks for a German suplex but Matt grabs the referee to block it, raking Omega’s eyes and then body slamming Omega down onto the hat before he misses an elbow drop. With both men down, Omega puts the hat on, turns it backwards, and then challenges Matt to an arm wrestling contest.
Excalibur: “It’s time to go over the top right now!”
They trade the advantage a few times before Kenny does the hand move and comes to close to winning it, but it’s broken up as Nick flies in with a Frog Splash across Omega’s back. Matt sells the arm as he stomps a mudhole on Omega in the corner, and Omega tries to fight back but gets his throat snapped over the top by Nick from the apron. Tag to Nick and he steals Omega’s hat, booting him casually in the face. Omega fights back with forearms and knocks the hat off before Nick hits a solebutt. Off the ropes and Omega surprises him with a beautiful running knee to the face before tagging out to Generico, who comes in and tosses both Young Bucks around before sending Nick into the corner for a Diez Punch, but Nick reverses it into a Stun Gun to the top turnbuckle.
Nick drags Generico’s over the top rope before tagging Matt in, and Matt goes up with a 10-Punch but Generico shoves him off. Generico fires off a chop to Matt before Nick trips him down and Matt unloads with punches and stomps. Tag to Nick and both Bucks nail double axehandles to Generico’s back before Nick locks on an arm wringer and talks trash to Omega. Tag back to Matt who hits a double axehandle to Generico’s arm before sending Omega off the apron with an elbow, and a back elbow to Generico leads to a Chris Jericho “c’mon baby!” pin for 1.
Matt talks trash to Generico and paintbrushes his head but gets chopped for it and a jawbreaker takes Generico back down. Tag to Nick and Generico tries to tag Omega in but Nick pulls him back and rakes the eyes. He nails a quick boot to Omega and then tags Matt back in, and they take Generico down with a double hiptoss, cartwheel, and dropkick. Matt covers but Omega breaks it up immediately, and Nick gets tagged in for a slingshot senton.
Nick locks on a chinlock and dares Generico to try to reach for a tag, staring at Kenny Omega the entire time. Generico fires off some elbows to get away from Nick and goes for the tag but Nick pulls him down by the laces of his mask, covers for 2, and then sends him into enemy territory before tagging out to Matt. Matt rakes Generico’s back and then his chest and then his back again before sending Generico into the Bucks corner. He goes for back handspring back rake but Generico breaks away from Nick and catches Matt mid-flip with a delayed back suplex, and both men are down and looking for tags. Matt tags to Nick and Generico tags Omega in.
Kenny takes down both Bucks before they double team him and whip him into the ropes, but he ducks behind Nick, pivots, and then hits the ropes for a double basement dropkick. Off the ropes again and Omega leapfrogs over Nick and hits both men with bulldogs, covering Nick for 2. Omega looks for a Dragon suplex and cuts Nick’s reversal off by looking for Croyt’s Wrath, but Nick forces out and hits the ropes, getting taken down with a hurricanrana by Omega and then a 2K1 Bomb by Omega gets 2.
Tag to Generico and they send Nick into the corner, but Matt sweeps Omega’s leg out and drags him to the floor. Generico charges in and eats a back elbow and a rolling gamengiri before Nick tags to Matt. Matt swings high with a lariat and Generico goes for a Blue Thunder but Matt blocks it with a headlock and elbows. He goes to hit the ropes but Generico holds onto the waist of gear and pulls him back into a Blue Thunder Bomb for 2.
Matt backs into the corner and Generico goes for the Helluva Kick but Matt bails and Nick is able to hit Generico with a gamengiri, setting him up so Matt can nail a wheelbarrow facebuster for 2. Generico backs into the corner and Matt hits a running clothesline before getting some distance and Generico runs up behind but gets a Superkick to the gut before Matt goes up top, connecting with a corkscrew Ace Crusher for 2.
Tag to Nick and Nicks goes up top but Generico rushes in for the BRAINBUSTAHHHH and Matt blocks it. Nick sends Generico off with a big right hand and he tags out to Kenny, who rushes in and looks for a Superplex but gets sent off himself. Nick jumps for a double axehandle and gets surprised with a dropkick. Omega measures him out and looks for the Hadouken, but Matt surprises him with a Superkick. Generico charges in and eats a Superkick to send him to the floor, Nick hits a Superkick on Omega, and the Bucks set up for Early Onset Alzheimer’s.
Kenny Omega: “STOP!!!”
Omega goes for an enzuigiri and Nick ducks it but Matt eats it. Omega hits the ropes and Nick yells “STOP!” and tries to Superkick Kenny but Omega catches his foot and then throws it into Matt’s face, nailing a quick Dragon suplex to Nick before Matt gets one of his own for 2.
Omega misses a running back elbow in the corner and then looks for a hurricanrana on Matt buts get caught with the Buckle Bomb/enzuigiri combo. The Bucks go up top after calling for the Golden Shower (stereo 450 Splashes, the finish of choice for Omega and Kota Ibushi in Japan’s DDT promotion) but Omega avoids it and sends them back into the corner with a double ‘rana, allowing Generico to surprise them with a Helluva Kick to both men. Tiger Suplex ’85 to Nick sets him up for the Hadouken, and Omega covers but Matt breaks it up at 2.
Omega calls for the end and Generico hooks Matt for a Brainbuster and Omega hooks Nick for Croyt’s Wrath, but the Bucks fight out of their predicaments and send Generico to the floor before hitting a Spike Tombstone on Omega for 2. Nicks goes up top as they look for More Bang For Your Buck (the most successful move in PWG history outside of the Psycho Driver, according to Excalibur), but Generico hooks Nick’s leg from the top just as Omega fights out and goes for Croyt’s Wrath on Matt. Nick boots Generico to the floor and Matt is able to reverse Croyt’s Wrath by backing into the corner, knocking out the ref.
Matt uppercuts Omega low and they go for More Bang For Your Buck again, but Omega fights out and sends Matt into Nick as Generico checks on the ref. Matt looks for a running clothesline on Omega but Kenny ducks and Matt runs right into an Exploder suplex by Generico into the corner. Generico rushes in and nails Nick with the Helluva Kick as Omega puts Matt up top, and Generico nails Nick with the BRAINBUSTAHHH as Kenny drops Matt with an avalanche Croyt’s Wrath as Rick Knox leaves the booth to make the 3-count.
Post-match, Kenny gets the microphone as the fans chant “please come back” and apologizes for not being able to come to PWG more often, putting over the company and its roster before ultimately putting over the fans for being the best in all of wresling and thanking them for their support. He says that he’ll only come back again if the people want him back, which they clearly do, and he thanks them again.
WINNERS: Kenny Omega and El Generico
ANALYSIS: Just as I talk about how the Young Bucks are known for being excessively spotty and for throwing big move after big move they deliver a very fun and straightforward tag team match where the most memorable moment is the finish. This match is primarily set up to make Kenny Omega, a major fan favorite in PWG who doesn’t get to work there as often as he would like to due to working in Japan full-time, look like the star that he is to independent fans and, as such, the Bucks and Generico take a backseat role, laying the foundation for Omega to save the day.
There’s nothing wrong with this formula in any way, shape, or form. It works. It’s effective. It’s entertaining. Omega’s more over-the-top nonsense is toned down to a single example of Over the Top nonsense (which is so wonderfully meta), Generico proves why he’s been considered one of the best talents on this side of the pond for years, and the Bucks show that they can work just as well as a straightforward heel tag team.
RATING: ***1/2
PWG WORLD TITLE
KEVIN STEEN (C) -v- MICHAEL ELGIN -v- RICOCHET
Steen grabs the mic during the introductions to chew out a fan who keeps asking where the actual World title belt is, saying that it’s being cleaned after he finished jerking off onto it. Ricochet does a standing somersault as he’s introduced and Steen shrugs his shoulders, unimpressed, and then mocks Elgin as he’s introduced before doing a slow backroll to his feet and taking an exaggerated bow as his name is read off, picking up a piece of gum spit into the ring and chewing it.
The fans are split three ways and Steen and Elgin jaw off at each other, shoving Ricochet away before shoving each other. Ricochet takes exception and then takes out both men with a double Pele Kick, sending Elgin to the floor before a headscissors sends Steen to the floor. Ricochet nails Elgin with a corkscrew topé con HELLO and then heads back into the ring, wasting no time before jumping back into the ring and nailing another one to Steen.
Ricochet sends Steen in and hits a stalling slingshot senton, nailing some kicks to Steen’s chest once he’s up. Steen catches a third and flips Ricochet back before going for a boot to Ricochet, but Ricochet catches it and tries to do the same to no avail. Steen shvoes Ricochet into the corner, nails a chop, and whips him across. Ricochet dodges a clothesline and hits him with a dropkick before a running Ace Crusher gets 2.
Elgin gets up onto the apron and Ricochet charges in but gets knocked down with a slingshot back elbow by Elgin for 2. Elgin ducks an enzuigiri and deadlifts Ricochet up with a German suplex but Ricochet lands on his feet and goes for a tornado DDT but Elgin blocks it and reverses it into a deadlift Canadian backbreaker before he covers for 2, the pin being broken up by a Steen senton.
Elgin backs into the corner and eats a Cannonball by Steen, drawing a “KILL STEEN KILL” chant, and Kevin goes after Ricochet. Ricochet reverses a whip and then gets sent to the apron, looking for a shoulderblock but he eats a knee and then gets driven down with a vicious DDT through the ropes. Steen covers for 2 and then grinds his elbow into Ricochet’s face, covering for another 2 before he goes over to Elgin in to the corner, sending back elbows into his face.
Steen nails an overhead chop to Ricochet’s chest and catches a boot, kicking the back of Ricochet’s knee, and brings him up for a chop. Ricochet nails a right hand and Steen goes over to Elgin, eating a boot. Ricochet comes out and nails Steen with a big right hand, leading to he and Elgin pairing off on Steen. They send him into the ropes and Steen powers through a double clothesline attempt, nailing both men with one of his own that sends Ricochet down but does nothing to Elgin. Elgin then takes Steen down with a big clothesline of his own and looks for a stalling suplex, but Ricochet kicks out Elgin’s leg at 8 to knock both of them down and hits a standing Shooting Star Press on Elgin for 2.
Ricochet goes up for the Phoenix Splash but Elgin rolls away and Ricochet tumbles forward to his feet, but Steen trips him down and locks him into the Sharpshooter. Elgin breaks it with a boot to Steen’s face and then lifts him up in a fireman’s carry before he then scoops Ricochet up, walking around the ring before sending Ricochet over with a Fallaway Slam and dropping Steen with a Samoan Drop for 2.
Elgin goes up top for the Mariposa Senton but Steen gets his knees up into Elgin’s lower back, going up top himself but Ricochet nails a right hand to stun him. Ricochet goes up top with Steen for a ‘rana but Steen fights him off, taking him down with an avalanche fireman’s carry slam into Elgin before covering Elgin for 2.
Fans: “Flip, Steen, Flip!”
Steen goes back up top and looks for the Senton Atomico but Elgin gets his knees up. Steen pulls himself up in the corner and Elgin charges in with a corner clothesline, but Steen follows him across the ring with one of his own before hitting the ropes, but Elgin catches him with a Bossman Slam for 2.
Elgin looks for a powerbomb but Steen picks him up for the Deep Sea Diverticulitis (Steen’s PWG-ified name for the F5) but Elgin fights out, whiffs on an enzuigiri, and Steen locks him in a Sharpshooter. Ricochet goes up top and catches Steen with an absolutely perfect Meteora, drawing a “let’s go, Ricochet” chant. Ricochet tries to whip Elgin into the ropes but he’s not moving. Ricochet misses a roundhouse kick and Elgin looks for a wrist-clutch Half Nelson suplex but Ricochet reverses it into a casadora roll for 2. Ricochet tumbles under an Elgin lariat and then rolls backwards for a handspring headscissors but gets caught with a swinging Uranage spinebuster for 2 as Steen pulls Elgin out to the floor, nailing him with a powerbomb onto the ring apron.
Steen in and Ricochet ducks a clothesline, nailing him with an enzuigiri before going up top. Ricochet turns and sees Elgin getting up to his feet on the floor, turning around on the top before connecting with a perfect Shooting Star Plancha to Elgin in probably the most incredible spot of the night. Ricochet quickly rushes back to the ring and goes up top, nailing a Shooting Star Press onto Steen for 2.
The crowd is almost entirely behind Ricochet now as he goes back up top, but Elgin runs in and susprises him with some right hands. Elgin looks for a Superplex but Ricochet blocks it and sends Elgin to the mat. This allows Steen to surprise Ricochet and crotch him on the turnbuckle before hitting Elgin with a back elbow. Elgin nails a big boot and a Spinning Backfist before putting Steen into the corner with a Buckle Bomb, and Ricochet leaps off with a diving ‘rana attempt but gets caught by Elgin and sent into Steen with a Buckle Bomb.
Ricochet stumbles out and Elgin goes for the spinning Elgin Bomb but Ricochet turns it around into a reverse ‘rana attempt, Elgin overpowers him, but Ricochet nails a right hand and drops Elgin with a reverse ‘rana. Ricochet charges in to Steen but gets caught with a press-up powerbomb, and that’s enough to set up the finish as Steen grabs Ricochet for the Package Piledriver and nails it onto Michael Elgin’s back for the 3.
Post-match, Steen grabs a microphone calls out Adam Cole.
Kevin Steen: “The next show is in December. Christmas in December. And Adam Cole? All I want for Christmas is your head, dick, and balls on a fucking stick.”
WINNER: Kevin Steen
ANALYSIS: As far as triple threat matches go, this one does a solid enough job of keeping the pace steady. It knows it’s not going to be an epic and doesn’t try to be one, but it also never feels like an afterthought of a match. The attention to detail in regards to Elgin’s back being worked over by Eddie Edwards earlier in the night are almost always present (though it would make more sense to use it as a way of preventing Elgin from muscling either man around) and while the finish is never really in question it’s not so blatant as to harm the excitement of the match.
Ultimately, though, this falls short of being an immensely rewarding experience because of some minor faults. The majority of triple threat matches fall victim to trying to figure out how to keep it as more a series of singles encounters and, with the exception of a few occasions where Elgin is sent out, this one is no different. The match is definitely at its best when either Steen or Ricochet are in control, as the former brings the charisma and impact while the latter brings the acrobatics, and for the story that is set up earlier of Elgin having to overcome the odds because he had a hellacious match earlier in the evening he comes off as too much of an afterthought for the bulk of the action.
RATING: ***
OVERALL THOUGHTS: PWG Failure to Communicate is a slightly above-average show if you take the typical quality of WWE and TNA television into account. The action is rarely boring and the commentary for much of the night is extremely entertaining, but it seems more like a placeholder event until the next really big show comes along for the company. The matches that seem like they would deliver the most don’t live up to the expectations of the talent involved but are never outright bad and the ones featuring talent with lower expectations aren’t horrible but openly display why there are those lower expectations for them. Unfortunately, this would be among the first disappointing PWG shows in a fairly long stretch of them, but a disappointing PWG show is still better than most other companies on their best nights.
RATING: 7/10
