From Rob Brodhecker: Matt Hankins presents the Shane Marx Invitational Battle Rumble featuring Brian Blaze and Card Subject to Change d...
From Rob Brodhecker:
Matt Hankins presents the Shane Marx Invitational Battle Rumble featuring Brian Blaze and Card Subject to Change drew 323 paid with 12 comps from the radio promotion.
This is my first time at The Recreation Center in Bremen, but it's not PWA's first time here. This is one of the first venues PWA ever run in, from June 2008 until November 2009, so it's a bit of a homecoming for them.
Even though the main attraction is the Battle Rumble, there are other matches on the card, Crystal Rose will defend the PWA Women's title against Dixie, and Dem West Ga Boyz defends the PWA Tag Titles against Murder One and Chip Day of the Hierarchy. Other matches may happen, but they have not been announced.
As for the SMIBR, they had wanted 50 participants but had to settle for 40. In the video I had made earlier in the week, I listed 32 names that were attached, and since then, a few more have been announced. Someone floated the idea that my name is included, and I told them to go pound some sand, that ain't happening.
PWA brought in The Sunshine Crooners from Alabama, and they did a bang-up job. "Fast" Eddie Layne is on video commentary, Jason Boyd is your ring announcer, Darryl Hall, and Nathaniel Spivey are your referees.
James Hardy, Caeden Ooten, and Hoax vs. Shane Noles, Romeo, Ace Haven, and Amy Haven
The teams alternate standing in the corner, garnering either boos or cheers. Hardy claims that Noles pulled his hair. Ace takes the heat for his team. Romeo makes the hot tag. A triple team on Hardy for the win at 8:34. A good opening match to set the stage, B-.
Hardy's on the mic and cuts a promo on his teammates, says that the crowd doesn't deserve to see him and that he'll be in the SMIBR later on. He then says he wants another match right now against anyone. Outcomes Orion Bishop, and Wicked Nemesis. Hardy tries to walk back his words and offers his hand to Bishop.
James Hardy vs. Orion Bishop
Bishop shakes Hardy's hand and then just destroys him. Time:27. The crowd is chanting one more time, referring to the spear that ended the match. Bishop obliges the crowd. Hardy's lifeless corpse has to be carried to the back.
Lamar Phillips vs. Frankie Mayhood (with Tweety)
Hardy's on the mic and cuts a promo on his teammates, says that the crowd doesn't deserve to see him and that he'll be in the SMIBR later on. He then says he wants another match right now against anyone. Outcomes Orion Bishop, and Wicked Nemesis. Hardy tries to walk back his words and offers his hand to Bishop.
James Hardy vs. Orion Bishop
Bishop shakes Hardy's hand and then just destroys him. Time:27. The crowd is chanting one more time, referring to the spear that ended the match. Bishop obliges the crowd. Hardy's lifeless corpse has to be carried to the back.
Lamar Phillips vs. Frankie Mayhood (with Tweety)
A very competitive match that sees Phillps pin Mayhood at the 10-minute mark. The crowd wasn't happy with that, C+.
Dixie vs. Crystal Rose (c) for the PWA Women's Championship
Dixie, who hails from Texas, is trying to take the title from the long-reigning champion, Rose. The ladies are exchanging chops and slaps on the floor, and man, do they sound heavy. Rose plays to the crowd and turns around into a stunner for a near fall. Rose fights back and pins Dixie at 3:27. the crowd was mostly flat for the match, C-
Danny Vegas and Ethan Alexander Sharpe vs. The Pineapple Express (Buddy Flowers and Lil Doobie)
The crowd loves the Express as much as they hate Sharpe and Vegas. Vegas knows how to get the crowd to hate him, delaying the start of the match to take off his jacket, fanny pack, and beanie. Humpty Dumpty chants abound. Vegas gets dropkicked out of the ring. Flowers tags in Doobie, and they double team Vegas. Doobie gets pounded on by Sharpe. Doobie gets a hope spot and makes the hot tag. Flowers is cleaning up, a double team leads to a near fall on Sharpe. Vegas pulls Flowers from the ring apron, and Sharpe takes care of Doobie at 10:28. The crowd is hating on Vegas and Sharpe, B-.
Boyd brings out former PWA Champ, Tyson Dean. Dean runs down the champions that have held the PWA Championship since he lost he title to Rave, and he has beaten 3 out the 4 but never received a title shot. Tyson says that he's through playing games with PWA management, the fans, and the guys in the back. He says that the next time the fans see him, he'll have a partner to take tag championships.
Eddie Honcho vs. ?? with special guest referee P-Dogg Mike Posey
Posey attacks Honcho and posts him. He says that the only person qualified to referee any of his matches is Mike Posey. Honcho backs Posey into a corner, and Posey starts a 5 count. Honcho misses a corner butt splash, and Posey clips him. Posey targets the leg and gets Honcho in a submission, but Honcho refuses to give up. Posey works over the knee more and then starts his running leg drops sequence but misses the final one. Honcho fights back on one leg. He stinks faces Posey to the delight of the crowd. Posey gets the hand on the rope. Honcho misses a senton, and Posey misses the Alabama leg drop. Honcho gets Posey in a Boston Crab, and Posey taps out at 6:48. C-.
The Hierarchy (Murder One and Chip Day) Vs. Dem West Ga Boyz (Sean Nelson and Josh Storm)(c) for the PWA Tag Championships
The Hierarchy has some supporters in the crowd, but the crowd popped for DWGB. Day is having some words with some fans. Storm is dodging MO's rushes, so MO tags in Day. Double team on Day for a near fall. Day fights back and gets a near fall. The Hierarchy put the heat on Storm. MO's looking good tonight, lean and mean. A hope spot for Josh. A tag made for both teams, Nelson tees off on Day. Double team on Day for a near fall. MO gets Josh out the ring, Nelson taking the punishment. Day and Storm on the outside fighting. Day has a chair, and he tosses it to MO, Spivey grabs it, and MO punches him. Spivey calls for the bell, and the Hierarchy is disqualified at 8:45. MO has some words with a fan who then tries to climb the barricade. A match that was good, but felt like something was missing, B-.
-- Intermission --
The Matt Hankins presents the Shane Marx Invitational featuring Brian Blaze and Card Subject to Change
Boyd brings out Matt Hankins and Shane Marx. Hankins has a candy heart box, I hope he didn't pay full price for that. Boyd and Hankins exchange some words off-mic. Hankins puts down Boyd's announcing skills, and he handles the mic and the crowd. Hankins and Marx depart the ring and head to the commentary table. Hankins makes Boyd bring the chocolate hearts, and Boyd drops them at Hankins's feet. Hankins sends Boyd to the back.
Eddie Layne introduces entrant #1, Josh Storm. #2 is Sean Nelson. Well, that put a fox in the henhouse. A new entrant will come every 90 seconds. for the sake of my sanity, or what's left of it, I will note the entrants and who gets tossed over the rope with some notes thrown in as they happen. #3 is Brian Blaze. #4 is Johnny Danger. Blaze is in a 3 on 1 situation. #5 is Gil Quest, he goes after everyone. #6 is Lamar Phillips. #7 is Kaden Ooten. #8 is Caca Gigante. #9 is Hoax.
#10 is Bull Buchanan. He knocks everyone down. Quest is out; Hoax gets thrown thru the ropes. DWGB are out, Caca Gigante is out. Philips is out, Ooten is out, Danger is out. Blaze slips through the ropes and heads to the back with the mass exodus of bodies. Marco Wicker sneaks behind Bull and tosses him out. #11 is Triston Michaels, and he has the ring to himself. He's on the mic and insults the crowd. #12 is Crystal Rose. Tris insults Crystal and then punches her. #13 is Dixie. Tris watches as the ladies duke it out and then helps Dixie eliminates Rose, and then he removes Dixie. #14 is Romeo, a former ally of Tris, and Tris is happy to see him. Tris offers his hand, Romeo teases and then slaps the hand away. Tris kicks Romeo low. #15 is Shane Noles. Tris bails through the middle ropes, and Shane chases him around the ring. Tris is sandwiched between Shane and Romeo, and they eliminate him. Shane and Romeo then tussle. # 16 is James Hardy. Noles and Romeo use him as a punching bag. #17 is Action CEO, Matt Griffin. He and Noles Square off and exchange chops. #18 is Sexy Lexy. I need some eye bleach. He is eliminated quickly, thank God. #19 is Fry Daddy. Griffin is out of the ring but not eliminated.
#20 is Buddy Flowers. #21 is Jason Boyd. He and Hankins have words. In the ring, Boyd stuns Hardy, Griffin, Fry, Shane, Romeo, and then Flowers. #22 is Snooty Fox. With Hankins yelling instructions, Fox attacks Boyd and tosses Boyd over the top. Flowers soon follows. Fox has a similar build to Jagged Edge. #23 is Chip Day. # 24 is William Huckaby. Huck lights up Griffin, then Noles. Romeo is eliminated. #25 is Ethan Alexander Sharpe. Griffin and Sharpe are eliminated. #26 is Orion Bishop. Bishop and Huck face off. Bishop is decimating everyone and eliminates Fox. #27 is Murder One. He and Huck exchange blows. #28 is Jay Hunter. He goes right after everyone until Bishop suplexes him. #29 is Clyde Braddock. #30 is P-Dogg, Mike Posey. Bishop promptly sends him over the top rope. #31 is Mr. Diggs. Murder One and Jay Hunter are eliminated. #32 is Marco Wicker. The crowd is mad at for his earlier actions in the match, he has yet to enter the ring. #33 is Ace Haven. Braddock throws Marco in the ring. Fry Daddy is eliminated. #34 is Bill the Butcher. #35 is Tyson Dean. #36 is Eddie Honcho. He strolls around the crowd before making his way ringside. #37 is Fakie Mayhood. Bill is eliminated. Frank is gone. #38 is Trever Aeon. Hardy is gone. #39 is Steven Michaels. #40 should be Ben Buchanan, and it is. Everyone is paying attention to him. Diggs charges, and Ben throws him over. Ben takes down Bishop, Huck, and Ace. Tyson slows Ben down.
A surprise entrant at #41 is Geter. Hankins and Marx are NOT pleased. Chokeslam to Huck and Honcho. Honcho gets tossed. Michaels tries, and Geter chops him down and then tosses him over. Bishop and Geter face off. Everyone goes after Geter now, trying to get him over. For some strange reason, Day launches a missile dropkick, and it looks like that was enough to send Geter over. Huck soon follows. Huck drags Shane over. Huck is laying into Shane. Final 8: Braddock, Day, Aeon, Bishop, Marco, Ben, Ace, Tyson. Marco is gone by Ben, and Tyson sends Ben over. Huck and Shane are still fighting ringside, Braddock is gone due to a low-blow by Tyson. Bishop sends Tyson over. Aeon and Day team up to send Bishop over.
Final 3: Ace, Aeon, and Day. Aeon is taking it to Day and Ace. He rushes Ace in the corner, Ace ducks and Aeon flips over the top but hangs on until Day punches him off. Final two, Ace and Chip. Both men tease going over. Both men on the apron. Day wants suplex him off. Ace wants to piledrive, but Day backflips him into the ring. Day comes from the top rope and meets the sole of Ace's boot. Day drives Ace's face into the canvas, and Ace is knocked out. Ace surprises Day with a springboard cutter and then superkicks Day over the top rope. Brian Blaze comes in, he was never eliminated and tries to sneak attack Ace, but he holds on and then rebounds to send Brian over the top rope. Ace wins the match at 1:17:36, B+.
Shane and Ace face-off, and Shane offers his hand. Ace goes to shake, and Shane pulls the hand back and starts to walk off. They tease a fight, but Shane walks away.
Final Thoughts:
1. I hate to brag, but I will. I predicted 9 of the last 10, 4 out of the final 5, and both of the final 2. I didn't predict the winner by choice.
2. Will Nikita Neal be Tyson Dean's partner? That would get the patriotic PWA crowd in a fine tizzy.
3. James Hardy dun did good. That might shock some people, don't let it.
4. Danny Vegas is one of the best "comedy" heels going.
5. The Sunshine Crooners are legit good.
6. The show was 4 hours long. The Honcho/Posey match could have been cut, and some others tightened up. Otherwise, it was a darn good show.
7. An angle with Huckaby and Shane Noles looks interesting. Could it lead to an opening for some interference from Action CEO, Matt Griffin? Only the BHM might know....
8. Congrats to Ben Buchanan for winning his weight class in the state of Alabama in wrestling.
