Cheap Wrestling for Cheap People 01.26.06: NWA Cyberspace
Posted by Ryan Byers on 01.26.2006
If Chase Stevens nearly crippling himself is your idea of a good time, I have the show for you.
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Cheap Wrestling for Cheap People. This week the column runs pretty long, so grab yourself a cool beverage, pop your feet up, and relax. It's going to be a fun ride . . .
Cheap Wrestling Tip #28: NWA Cyberspace
NWA Cyberspace is an independent promotion based out of New Jersey that has been operating since 2001. They didn't really start making waves in the wrestling community until 2004, when the company forged a strong relationship with TNA Wrestling, which they are obviously affiliated with through the NWA organization. Several TNA stars make regular appearances on Cyberspace's shows, and NWA Title defenses are not out of the ordinary at Cyberspace events. This sort of exposure has also allowed in the company to bring in other big stars from time to time, including guys like Lex Luger, Diamond Dallas Page, and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.
In addition to bringing in big name wrestlers, Cyberspace has also engaged in a somewhat unique business model. The company broadcasts a free wrestling program (Shockwave TV) on the internet, with new episodes being uploaded as the weeks progress toward their next major show. Then, after the initial run of the episodes, the company releases them on DVD. Though said DVD retails for $15, it is $15 for four and a half hours of wrestling, which isn't too bad of a price if pro rate things in terms of dollars spent per hour. Besides, you get to preview the whole damn thing for free on the internet, so it's not like you won't be well aware of what you're purchasing.
However, if you're REALLY lazy, I did the preview for you. Just keep reading.
Title: Shockwave TV Released By: NWA Cyberspace Release Year: 2005 Run Time: 4.5 Hours Found At: http://www.shockwavetv.com Price: FREE (Or on DVD for $15)
Episode 5
Match Numero Uno: Thrillogy (Kid Mikaze & Chris Camaro) w/ Mistress Asia & Jade vs. Grim Reefer & Amazing Red w/ Strangler Nick
Most of you should be familiar with Red, but let's take a second to introduce the other people in the ring. Mikaze and Camaro are both relative newcomers to the indy wrestling scene, having started their careers around 2000 or so. Mikaze recently got some recognition for his years of hard work by being brought in to work Ring of Honor shows during the latter part of 2005. Reefer, meanwhile, has been around for a little bit longer but has seemingly had difficulty finding a spot in the larger independent promotions. The mid-card of Jersey All Pro has been about as high as he's been able to rise.
Red starts off with Kid Mikaze, getting in the basic headlock/shoulderblock combo before hitting a Yakuza kick on a showboating Mikaze. Reefer and Camaro come in after that, doing the same headlock/shoulderblock sequence, though this one culminates with Camaro getting hiptossed right out of the ring. Kid Mikaze tries to run in after that, but Reefer quickly tosses him out of the ring, setting up a twisting plancha from Red and a flipping seated senton from Reefer. Both of those moves were much more dangerous than usual, as the guardrail was roughly three feet away from the ring apron. Red and Reefer ring Mikaze back in after that, dropkicking him in the corner. The Amazing One stays in the ring, hitting a series of kicks on the Kid, only to have an Irish whip reversed. The former X Division Champion spills to the outside on that one, and Camaro capitalizes with some illegal shots on the floor. He tags in shortly thereafter, using a modified jawbreaker and a flapjack to his advantage. Mikaze tags back in after that, teaming up for his partner with a SWEET double team move which involved Mikaze giving Red an enzuguri while Camaro held him in a powerbomb position. Quick tags from Thrillogy follow, with Mikaze hitting a running knee in the corner and Camaro hitting a reverse vertical suplex before Red makes a comeback with a tornado DDT. That sets up the hot tag, and Reefer comes off the top rope with a dropkick/clothesline combo on his opponents. He focuses on Mikaze after that, getting in a vicious leg lariat and a frog splash for two. Camaro saves on that one, and he takes Grimmy down with a Japanese armdrag. Red's there to prevent the pinfall, though, and he gets Code Red on Camaro. Mikaze nails Red after that, giving him a big kick. When Red tries to take the advantage with a waistlock, Jade hits him from behind with a kendo stick. That allows Kid Mikaze to go up to the top rope, but Reefer cuts him off in a most unique manner, running up behind the guy and buldogging him off the top. That sets up the Red Star Press, which finishes the match.
Match Thoughts: This was a quick match, but it was fairly good for what it was. There were a lot of flashy moves, and, though the bout wasn't heavy on psychology, it didn't completely fail to tell a story like many similar indy matches. Instead, the classic face-in-peril/hot tag structure was maintained with perfect integration of the four men's cutting edge offense. My only real problem with the bout was the fact that the wrestler and the referee started ignoring the tag rules towards the end of the match, but the contest's relatively short length kept that from being as annoying as it is in other matches. *1/2
After the match, Bill Apter hosts an interview segment entitled "Apter's Alley." Ooo, our old pal Adolfo from AWA New Jersey should sue for gimmick infringement. He brings out the NWA Cyberspace promoter Billy Firehawk, who looks like the hip-hop version of Haystacks Calhoun. After wasting entirely too much time, he names Jasmine St. Clair the new commissioner of the company. She takes a shot at her former boyfriend and business partner the Blue Meanie but doesn't say anything else of note.
Here's a tip for anybody who is broadcasting a wrestling show on the internet: Chances are good that you're not drawing a crowd who are major WWE fans, so doing lame angles like this which come right out of their playbook probably won't make anybody happy.
Match Numero Dos: "Wildcat" Chris Harris vs. Devon "Crowbar" Storm
Ooo, this could be fun. Harris controls early with a headlock, and Crowbar is knocked clean out of the ring by the subsequent shoulderblock. When Storm comes back to the ring, the Wildcat catches him with a series of kneelifts and follows with a big rebound lariat. A front facelock is next from the younger wrestler, but Crowbar pops out of it and goes to the arm. Harris escapes, but he's quickly caught by a drop toe hold and put in to a headlock. A Chris Harris knee ends that one, but Storm manages to stay on top with an Ocean Cyclone Suplex and some biting. Harris heads to the outside after that, only to be hit the face with a baseball slide. Devon teases an Asai moonsault, but Harris pulls him off, leading in to a brawl on the outside. Storm wins that easily, sending his opponent in to the steel steps and the guardrail. It's back to the ring after that, and Crowbar heads to the top. Harris cuts him off with the electric chair and follows up with a back elbow. He follows up with some relatively vanilla offense, and then a big stalling vertical suplex crushes Crowbar's spine. We head in to the chinlock after that. As you would expect, Storm elbows out and reverses the Catatonic in to a Rude Awakening to continue the comeback. A reverse atomic drop is next from the former WCW Tag Team Champion, and then he kicks the Wildcat right in his hairballs. A Northern lights suplex is next from Storm, but it can't get a three count. He attempts a quebrada afer that, and now Catatonic connects for real. It finishes the match for Storm a mere three seconds later.
Match Thoughts: After watching the last match, the slower pace of this one made it a little bit hard to get in to, but I'll do my best to rate it objectively. This was a pretty basic match between two guys who knew that they weren't building up any big angles. I'm not trying to say that they half-assed it. In fact, both Harris and Storm looked like they were putting forth an average level of effort. However, that's all the match was – average. It didn't do anything to stand out with from five million other wrestling matches that I've seen, and I can't give it more than * as a result. It's a shame, too, because I really like both wrestlers and wanted to enjoy the hell out of the match. *
Episode 6
Match Numero Uno: Xavier vs. Dirty Money w/ Devon Sturgis
Can't say that I know much about Money . . . but he's a bigger guy with a pretty impressive physique for an indy worker. He looks like a slightly more ripped up version of Bad News Allen, and anybody who reminds me of Bad News starts off with some bonus points.
The two men head to the mat to start, and they trade basic reversals until Xavier opens things up with a big flying shoulder tackle and a dropkick. Dirty gets chopped in the corner after that, but he immediately fires back with some clubbing forearms . . . only to be knocked out of the ring by a quick Xavier knee. Money stalls for a bit, pretending that he's going to walk out on the match before the All Around Best follows him to the outside. A kick to the chest is enough to get Money back in to the ring, where he's taken out with another dropkick. Dirty finally gets the advantage with a lariat out of nowhere, and he applies the blatant choke. He goes to the eyes after that, and then the former ROH Champion is tossed to the outside, where he's hit with a double sledge off of the ring apron. Money sends him in to the steps after that, and a backdrop suplex (with a huge level of elevation) gets a two count back on the inside. Xavier starts to make a comeback with some kicks as Dirty tries to pick him up off of the apron, and a vertical suplex from the AC Slater clone comes not long thereafter. That doesn't go anywhere, though, as Xavier is thrown over the top rope for a second time, hitting his back on the apron on the way down. When Xavier reenters the squared circle, Money works over his back with some axe handles and a backbreaker. Xavier quickly stages yet another comeback with some impressive strikes and the jumping knees in the corner. The X-Man goes for a cover after that, but Money's manager pulls him out of the ring. The resulting distraction allows Dirty Money to sneak in a spinebuster, which gets him a three count.
Match Thoughts: This match wasn't mindblowing, but it was a couple of steps above comparable indy matches. Both men seemed to be well-aware of how to time and transition between their respective turns on offense, which created a smooth flow throughout the bout. On top of that, Money took plenty of time to work over Xavier's back after his second spill to the floor, which actually played in to the finish of the match, as a spinebuster (normally a transition move) was able to get the three count thanks to the injury. Plus, on top of it all, the two men were working very snug with their fists, forearms, and knee strikes. Even when a match is bad, this sort of safe stiffness will make it watchable. When the match is already good (as this one was), it's the perfect icing to put on the cake. **
Now it's back to Apter's Alley, and this time around our guest is Bobby Roode of TNA's Team Canada. Between the poor sound system in the "arena" and obnoxious fans trying to chant over the interview, I couldn't really tell what was going on. Roode wants to get the company's Internet Championship, though.
Match Numero Dos: Kip James w/ Tammy Sytch vs. Julio Dinero w/ Miss Michelle
The former Billy Gunn is using his old "Ass Man" music, and he sure has a lot of it available with modern day Sunny as his valet. The two men spend forever on the mic before the match, and it ends in a flurry of punching. James gets a press slam and a dropkick early, which sends Dinero out to discuss things with his manager. Kip slingshots him back in to the ring and gets a tilt-a-whirl slam for the match's first nearfall. A Stinger Splash is next on the former Outlaw's agenda, but he misses and staggers in to a superkick from Dinero. An elbowdrop from the former Gathering member follows, and then he works in a fisherman's buster (perhaps the last move I thought I'd see Billy Gunn taking tonight) for two. The cobra clutch follows, and Gunn eventually elbows out, only to be caught by a reverse avalanche seconds later. An elbow knocks James down for the second time, but Julio's follow-up moonsault fails to connect. That allows Mr. Sopp to finally hit his Stinger Splash, which looks like it will set up the Fame-ass-er. Dinero's valet prevents that by tripping up Gunn, but Sytch uses a few right hands to make sure that she won't be interfering anymore. Dinero goes after Sunny after that, which creates an opportunity for James to hit the Fame-ass-er for real. He does, and that finishes the match.
Match Thoughts: This was essentially a squash for Kip James, with Dinero being allowed to get in slightly more flashy offense than a jobber would normally be allowed. I wasn't entertained by this sort of thing when I was watching it on WWE Velocity, and I'm not entertained by it just because it's taking place in an indy promotion. 1/4*
Episode 7
Match Numero Uno: ODB w/ Devin Sturgis vs. Lacey
Both of these ladies have had their fifteen minutes of fame elsewhere, with Lacey working as a manager in ROH and ODB being individuals highlighted on the casting special for the first season of Tough Enough. I believe she also appeared on a few episodes of TNA Xplosion back when the company was running in Nashville and bringing in indy workers from across the country.
ODB starts with a slap, but Lacey catches her coming off of the ropes with a monkey flip and follows up with a slap of her own. A Russian leg sweep is next for the blonde, but ODB blocks an Irish whip and lands some forearms. Corner shoulders are next from the Tough Enough alum, and then Lacey trips and falls while attempting to run the ropes. She manages to duck a lariat, though, and that allows her to hit a cross body block and a clothesline of her own. A big kneelift to the back is next, but the ODB slips out of a front chancre and looks for a chop. Lacey ducks under that, though, and she rolls her opponent up from behind to steal quick three count.
ODB goes a little crazy after the match, sending Lacey in to the ring steps. April Hunter runs in to save.
Match Thoughts: The reversal sequences that the two women did were both executed fairly well, but there was nothing else here aside from some choking and a decent forearm or two. 1/4*
Match Numero Dos: Matt Bentley & Mike Kruel w/ Frankie Kazarian vs. Jay Lethal & NWA Cyberspace Internet Champion Josh Daniels
Daniels and Bentley start, trading arm and leg holds early on. The Greco-Roman knuckle lock follows, with Daniels powering out of Bentley's initial advantage and going to an armbar. Bentley makes the ropes and gets a kneelift in before the two head in to a hiptoss reversal sequence. The champ wins that and tags in Jay Lethal, who hits a legdrop after a Daniels suplex. Jay gets an armdrag and a dropkick for two, but Mike Kruel tags in to the match before he can do any more damage. Mike looks for a press slam, but Lethal pops out of it and hits a leg lariat and a backbreaker, both of which get nearfalls. Daniels tags back in, and apparently he's got an issue with Kruel at the moment. He plants a back elbow in to Mike's chest and gets the quick tag back to Lethal, who backflips during an Irish whip reversal sequence and dropkicks Kruel in to the corner. He tries to follow up with a Stinger Splash, but it misses, allowing Kruel to hit a belly-to-belly suplex and tag out to Bentley. A backdrop suplex is the order of the day for HBK's cousin, which he follows up with a snap suplex and a front facelock. Lethal fights back to his corner for the tag, but Kruel manages to tie up the referee to keep Lethal in the ring. Naturally, Kruel comes in to the match illegally after that, hitting a gut wrench suplex and a back body drop on Lethal.
Kruel goes to the abdominal stretch after that, though I have to mark him down for not cheating by grabbing Bentley's hand. He does manage to tag out to Matt as soon as Lethal reverses the hold, though, which allows Bentley to come off of the second rope with a double sledge on to Jay. Lethal makes a brief comeback with a second rope cross body, but Bentley cuts that one off with a dropkick and slaps on a chinlock. Jay elbows out to the surprise of noone, and he flips out of a subsequent suplex attempt, getting a rollup for two. A big spinebuster from Lethal finally sets up the tag, and Daniels runs in with a dropkick to Mike Kruel's knee. A clothesline follows, which leads in to a Northern lights suplex for two. Bentley makes the save and stays on top of Daniels, but he's caught with a modified belly-to-belly. The distraction allows Kruel to hit the best Michinoku Driver that I've seen since TAKA left the country. Lethal saves. The faces whip their opponents off the ropes at this point, but Kazarian pulls his pal Bentley out of the ring. That leaves Kruel all alone to eat a neckbreaker/powerbomb combo from Bentley and Lethal. He also eats the three count.
Match Thoughts: This was pretty good for a shorter tag team match, with Lethal playing a very believable face-in-peril and making all of his false tag attempts look good thanks to a combination of quality facial expressions and timing. Aside from that, everybody's offense looked quite good. It was well executed, crisp, and innovative without being so fast paced and unorthodox that somebody could criticize the match as being a gymnastics exhibition. Three more minutes with which to put heat on Lethal would have been great, but the match did wind up being fine for what it was. *3/4
Episode 8
Match Numero Uno: D-Lo Brown vs. Bobby Roode w/ Jade & Mistress Asia
D-Lo directs xenophobic mic work at the foreigner to start, which he follows up with fists. Those inflict slightly more damage than his gabbing and set up a bodyslam/back body drop sequence. Roode bails when Brown looks for his shakey-shakey legdrop, and the crowd lets Roode know that they believe he is D-Lo's pet. D-Lo's female dog, to be exact. Brown eventually pulls his opponent back in to the ring, headbutting Roode down but ultimately falling victim to the FOUL~! Bobby takes over after that, hitting a vertical suplex as I realize that there's way too much give in this ring mat . . . we're talking trampoline levels here. That shows again when Brown misses a moonsault and eats a lariat for two. The Team Canada member heads in to the chinlock after that, and I'll let you guess how D-Lo gets out. If you said elbows, you win a special prize and should e-mail me immediately to claim it. Roode cuts off the comeback, though, taking his man down with a backdrop suplex. He then heads up to the top rope, executing that ridiculously ineffective move in which a wrestler jumps face first in to his opponent's outstretched boot. D-Lo knows how to take advantage when it's handed to him, and he does that with a series of lariats, some executed with his arm and some executed with his leg. The shakey legdrop connects after that, and Roode runs in to Sky High. One of Bobby's managers pulls the referee out of the ring, though, allowing him to hit Brown with a flagpole to win the match.
Match Thoughts: It was definitely interesting to see Roode and Brown working a more traditional, WWF-esque style after watching them in TNA, where everything was faster paced with much bigger highspots. They did a fairly good job with the slower match, even though they were giving limited time. Both guys played to the crowd well, and their charisma came through the screen and would also be effective in connecting with a national television audience. The wrestling they did around the posturing wasn't mind-blowing, but it was solid enough for what they were trying to accomplish, which was filling a few minutes without advancing any angles or going out of their way to put on an all-time classic. *1/4
Josh Daniels and Jay Lethal are now in Apter's Alley. They challenge Mike Kruel and Matt Bentley to singles matches at the next big Cyberspace event.
Match Numero Dos: Elix Skipper (c) vs. Petey Williams w/ Jade & Mistress Asia for the NWA Cyberspace Cruiser-X Championship
"Cruiser-X" may be the worst name for a title since the Western States Heritage Championship graced the NWA. Oh well, at least it's around the waist of Elix Skipper. I'm seriously growing sick of him being misused in TNA, and it's good to know somebody is utilizing him as a top cruiserweight.
Williams plays scardey cat to start, but Skipper finally catches him after a brief chase around the ring. He gets in a couple of belly-to-belly suplexes when they return to the squared circle, after which Petey gets tossed out to the ring apron. Skipper tries to take him down to the floor with a sunset powerbomb, but the Canadian blocks it and drops a leg over Skipper's throat as his back is stretched over the ring apron. A slingshot rana to the floor is next from the former TNA X Champion, and he rolls Elix back in for a two count. Dirty deeds done by Williams' managers take the advantage away from the champ, though, allowing Petey to work in the OH CANADA NUT STOMP! (Shades of Larry Csonka.) A brief resthold and a lariat follow for the challenger, but Skipper picks Williams up as he's in resthold number two and hits a backdrop suplex. The champ connects with clotheslines and a BIG spin kick, which sets up a standing spinebuster. Williams looks like he's going to hit a satellite rana off an Irish whip, but he fakes Skipper out by not completing the move and then hits a side Russian leg sweep on his confused opponent. Petey tries to hit the Canadian Destroyer after that, but Elix blocks it. Williams maintains the advantage, though, rolling Skipper up with a schoolboy and turning it in to the sharpshooter. The champion makes the ropes, and, after that, he blocks a Williams tornado DDT and hits the Play of the Day. Both of Williams' managers run in at this point, but Elix dispatches them. It looks like that distraction will allow Petey to hit the Destroyer, but Skipper blocks it in mid-move, hitting a version of the Kryptonite Crunch. GREAT reversal to cap off a pretty damn fun match.
Match Thoughts: Though not a classic, this is the best Shockwave TV match so far. Why? First of all, the build and flow of the match were near perfect. There was one big spot in the beginning to lure the crowd in (the slingshot rana), but, after that, the two men slowed things down and progressively increased the pace throughout the duration of the match. While they were working through that build, they managed to work in some great wrestling action. Offensive moves like Williams' headscissors in to a rana and Skipper's suplexes were well executed and kept the match looking groundbreaking without being unnecessarily risky. On top of that, both guys participated in some very good reversal sequences, which will definitely help them here since I'm one of the biggest counter-wrestling marks on the planet. Finally, the conclusion of the bout was good, as it contained a believable false finish with Williams' managers running in as well as featuring another unique counter and a move that was believably set up the pinfall despite the fact that it was not the winner's usual finisher. **1/2
Episode 9
Match Numero Uno: Q w/ The Smoke vs. Slyck Wagner Brown
Smoke, a rather portly black man, makes fun of Brown before the match for eating KFC, which he calls the "white people's chicken." So, instead of making fun of him for adhering to a stereotype, they're making fun of him for adhering to a stereotype in the wrong way? It's unique, but it's still senseless and unnecessary. Slyck ambushes Smoke after those comments, hitting a back body drop and pounding away. Q runs in at this point, pummeling Brown but getting caught with a hiptoss and a dropkick. A tope suicida is next from Slyck, and he follows that up with a springboard moonsault inside the ring. It gets the three count. Smoke and Q team up after the bell to beat Wagner down, handcuffing him to the ropes, putting a chicken bucket over his head, and driving a nightstick in to his gut.
Match Thoughts: One minute match? That's a DUD, friends.
Now Chris Harris is in Apter's Alley, as I sincerely begin to wonder why paying a "name" guy like Apter is necessary for this segment when a relative unknown could do it just as well. Harris has won a "golden key," presumably by eating a lot of chocolate bars and finding it stuck to one of the wrappers. The key allows him to wrestle NWA Cyberspace Champion Jeff Jarrett at the company's next big show. If I had the book, it would be a special "Oompa Loompa Lumberjack Match" . . . assuming that Tiger Jackson and Short Sleeve Sampsons were free so that I could book them. Anyway, Harris explains that he's going to wrestle Jarrett and beat him for the title despite the fact that they're allies in TNA. He took about five minutes too long to reach that point, but he made it there eventually. I guess that's all that counts.
Match Numero Dos: The Solution (Papadon & Havoc) w/ John Shane vs. The Naturals (Chase Stevens & Andy Douglas) (c) w/ Tammy Sytch for the NWA Tag Team Championship
This is being billed as the first time that a Cyberspace tag team has challenged for the NWA straps . . . though it's a bit misleading to label the Solution as a "Cyberspace team," when they in fact go all over the east coast.
We've got a four-way brawl to start, with the Naturals getting the advantage and forcing the Solution to bail. The teams take a while to get things going again, but, when they do, it's Papadon and Chase Stevens. They stall for so long that the crowd actually starts a "boring" chant, after which Stevens gets off his ass and hits a series of armdrags. A high dropkick is next from the champ, and he brings Douglas in to the ring. The Naturals then get in an interesting bulldog/gutbuster combo move, after which Stevens lands a snap suplex. Chase goes to the apron and looks for a slingshot move, but Havoc pulls him down out of the air and roughs him up on the outside. Stevens gets tossed back in to the ring, and Havoc tags in to the match for some forearms and headbutts. The corner shoulders are next from the big man, and Papadon comes in to hit a second rope elbowdrop, only to run in to a Stevens clothesline seconds later. Havoc runs in to knock Douglas off of the ring apron, though, preventing the tag. Havoc becomes the legal man after that, slamming his man and tagging out one more time. Of course, that sets up more double teaming, with the Solution landing a Yakuza kick/side Russian legsweep combo. I'd come up with some witty name involving the Soviet mafia, but it's getting late too late in the evening for me to be funny. Papadon stays in the ring after that move, applying our standard mid-match chinlock. Stevens powers out with the elbows and hits a Rude Awakening, and therrrrrre's our hot tag. Douglas takes Havock out with a kneelift and gets a full nelson backbreaker on Papadon. A neckbreaker on Havoc follows, and Chase Stevens is magically revived at this point. He charges at Papadon but gets powerslammed, after which Douglas gives 'Don the pedigree for two. I think somebody missed their cue for a save here, as all of the wrestlers just stand around for a few seconds until Havoc runs over for a spinebuster on Andy. Chase Stevens goes on the offensive after that, and things get even uglier, as he nearly lands flat on his head while doing a front flip and then almost misses a planned cross body block to the referee. The botching isn't over yet, friends! Stevens and Havoc try to do the old "manager pulls the babyface's leg while he's slamming the heel, leading to the heel victory" spot. Unfortunately, Havoc doesn't fall properly, giving Chase what looked like an inadvertent modified DDT. Even though the move failed in real life, it worked in the kayfabe universe, as Havoc covers his man for a three count. (With said count being made by a second referee called in to replace the guy Stevens took out.)
Of course, the previously KO'ed ref saw the interference and convinces his colleague to restart the match. The Naturals hit the Natural Disaster in a matter of seconds, allowing them to retain their titles.
Match Thoughts: Until the last ninety seconds or so, this would've been just another decent tag team match in a series of them . . . but then guys from both teams started screwing up spots left and right, which tainted any good feelings that I had about the rest of the match. I can understand one or two moves looking rough. In fact, I find that it actually helps increase the suspension of disbelief when not everything looks perfect, as it certainly wouldn't appear that way in a real fight. However, there's a certain number of botched moves that just take you right out of the match again, as it becomes clear that the wrestlers are trying to do choreographed spots and failing as opposed to the ugly patches being the natural result of two men attacking one another. 1/4*
Episode 10
Match Numero Uno: Abyss w/ Strangler Nick vs. Rhyno
This is being billed as the first ever match between the two men, which is plausible given that it took place a good deal before their current feud in TNA. As you might expect, it's a brawl right from the opening bell. Rhyno controls early, doubling Abyss over and taking him down with a Yakuza kick. He looks for the Gore after that, but Abyss heads to the outside. Rhyno follows, and they walk around the arena, doing the old "you have ahold of my hair so I must walk everywhere you walk" spot. Punch, punch, punch. Kick, kick, kick. Head to the rail, head to the rail, head to the rail. We make it back to the ringside area after a while, and Rhyno finds himself whipped in to the ringsteps, as our color commentator speculates that maybe they do more harm than good at wrestling shows. Ya think? Abyss sends his man back in to the ring after that, where he walks around aimlessly and periodically hits his opponent. Rhyno starts to Hulk up after a couple of minutes, but he's knocked right back down courtesy of a big boot. A chinlock by Abyss leads to more Hulking, which leads to another cut-off and more chin locking. This match is so dull that, if it were a knife, it couldn't cut through a sheet of loose leaf paper. Rhyno FINALLY makes a comeback for real, landing a flying clothesline and a back elbow. A corner shoulder sets up the belly-to-belly suplex, which gets two for the Manbeast. The Gore is teased again, this time with Abyss catching Rhyno with the goozle in mid-move. Rhyno powers out, but he runs in to the referee, thus KOing him. Abyss hits the Black Hole Slam for a visionary pinfall after that. Frustrated that he didn't win, the Monster goes for a chair. Rhyno foils that plot and grabs the furniture, hitting a couple of sick shots on his opponent and getting another visionary fall. The referee does recover towards the end of the lateral press, but he only manages to count two before Abyss kicks out. A second ref bump occurs when Abyss misses an avalanche on Rhyno, and that sets up a real Gore on the masked man. Going for the cover makes no sense with the ref out, so Rhyno grabs a table and props it up in the corner. Not surprisingly, Abyss gets Gored through it to a big ECW chant, at which point Cyberspace owner Billy Firehawk runs down and calls for Rhyno to be disqualified. Rhyno decides to shoot the messenger, giving the Gore to guest ring announcer Traci Brooks, who took the best bump of the whole show. Firehawk gets Gored as well, though Rhyno practically bounced back off of the guy's bloated stomach. Jasmin St. Clair comes out too, but Rhyno decides that a Gore on the former porn star might get him caught in her giant, stretched out vagina, so he walks away.
Then, in a classic kayfabe shattering moment, Rhyno is shown walking back in to the locker room . . . and Abyss is there to greet him behind the curtain, seemingly harboring no ill will for what just went down.
Match Thoughts: When the most entertaining part of a match involves the ring announcer and lasts about five seconds, you've got some problems. Both guys seemed to take it way too easy here, knowing that they could just count on the table spot at the end of the match to earn them their pop and probably a return booking. The result was a "brawl" that looked more like two guys walking around and discussing their favorite sports teams and occasionally deciding to punch each other. Thank god TNA gives them more toys to play with, otherwise they'd be unwatchable there, too. DUD
Final Thoughts
Number of Matches: 11 Highest Star Rating: **1/2 Lowest Star Rating: DUD Average Star Rating (ratable matches only): *
Well, I certainly can't recommend that anybody buy the DVD . . . at least not with its $15 price tag. The problem with Shockwave TV is that, though there's a lot of wrestling that would be considered good mid-card action, it doesn't get beyond that level. I was sitting back and waiting for some match, ANY match that would feel like a main event after watching over four hours of wrestling. Instead, they just kept throwing out the same relatively short, relatively formulaic matches.
I will say that watching a couple of the better episodes on the internet would not be a bad way to kill an hour or two. The wrestling certainly isn't bad, and it's a free way to check out some indy guys you would normally have to pay to see. Another positive quality of the promotion is that, even though the matches presented might not be high quality, they're definitely doing their best to provide fans with some unique pairings that they're not going to see anywhere else. Harris vs. Crowbar and Brown vs. Roode are good examples of that. Though unique doesn't always equal good, the novelty factor might be worth spending some of your time on . . . and, who knows, if Cyberspace keeps up its booking patterns, they might put together two unlikely partners who wind up having great chemistry.
So, most of you are probably going to want to pass on NWA Cyberspace. However, for the more hardcore fan, it's certainly not the worst wrestling on the internet.
