The Best Of The Rest 12.19.07: Volume 25 - Armageddon Thoughts, Indy News, and More
Posted by Alex Mattis on 12.19.2007
Thoughts on Armageddon, random indy news, results from The Lone Star Classic, and comments from Darin Childs, Joey Ryan, Chris Hero, Jimmy Jacobs, and Arik Cannon.
Welcome back one and all to "The Best Of The Rest!" We're all coming off the heels of a somewhat solid Armageddon, I'm coming off the heels of the outstanding "Lone Star Classic" tournament in San Antonio, and we're heading toward the end of the year. One more event of 2007 remains… UFC 79, but we'll wait until next week for that one. For now, let's take a look at the festivities from this past weekend.
Alex's thoughts on Armageddon
Well on paper this card looked like it had some serious potential. And while it was a damn fine PPV, it wasn't what it could have been. Not to completely rip off Csnoka, but the Orton-Jeri match was quite ridiculous. Not a very impressive way to bring Y2J back to PPV OR further establish Orton as champ, just a case of booking not making sense but hey it's the E. The ending to the SmackDown triple threat was about as redeeming as watching 5 episodes of Mind Of Mencia… maybe worse. It could just be the fact that I can't stand the mere sight of Edge, three is even worse, or it could just be that it is a ridiculous concept. These guys were hiding under the ring the whole night? Taker and Batista didn't notice a size difference? I just don't get why people are praising this angle, and to make matters even worse the most overrated performing in wrestling today is a World Champion again. Yay. Elsewhere two other people I loathe, Trip's and Jeff Hardy, had a hell of a scrap. Unlike the two previous matches I have mentioned, this match's ending was booked very well. The big roll-up upset, a classic style of ending that hasn't been done in a while. It'll be interesting to see what kind of game Jeff Hardy brings at the Royal Rumble when he gets his title shot.
Other thoughts on the card:
-Kennedy-HBK should have two more matches with Kennedy winning the next, then the rubber match.
-Black Vader pinning Punk? Awesome. Now we get a feud!!!
-Mickie James Vs. Beth Phoenix wasn't what it could/should have been.
All in all, not terrible not perfect. A good show, I wouldn't mind if the E continued to put out PPV's like this one. The quality of the PPV's has been going up for the past few months, and if things keep going this way, in '08 we will get more shows like Armageddon and some even better.
Random things that make me happy…
Mickie Knuckles Vs. LuFisto… yep, that makes me happy. Two fantastic women wrestlers, who can also beat the shit out of someone, will collide at CZW's New Year's Resolutions show next month. I just read about this today and it actually made we want to see a CZW show. Should be an exciting match that I as a fan, of both women, can't wait to see.
Hero Vs. Nigel – Steel Cage Match on 1/25… These two have some serious chemistry together and have been developing quite the feud so this cage match should be very interesting. ROH teased us, and gave me a heart attack, with a faux Chris Hero title win over Nigel, so naturally that is still fresh in the minds of the fans and more importantly Hero & McGuinness. Has all the makings to be an epic ROH title classic. I also want to see Sweeny try to climb the cage and fail numerous times and knowing his comedy expertise I'm sure I will.
Results from the Lone Star Classic
Round 1:
Awesome Andy Vs. Tony Morales Vs. Human Tornado:
Hot opener that really got the crowd ready for the night.
Mike Dell Vs. Joey Ryan Vs. Greg Symonds:
Solid match, but I was disappointed that my boy Symonds didn't advance
JT Lamotta Vs. Massive Vs. Jacob Ladder (replacing Darin Childs):
100% better than I expected, and surprising to see Lamotta get the W over two huge men.
Chris Hero Vs. Jimmy Jacobs Vs. Arik Cannon:
Amazing three way. Match of the night without a doubt, everything just clicked.
Round 2: Human Tornado Vs. Joey Ryan:
Good match, not the best they have had but good. Scary moment when Tornado gave Ryan the DND off the top rope and Ryan landed right on his head. He was ok, but still scary.
JT Lamotta Vs. Arik Cannon:
Great match with a furious pace, another upset when Lamotta got a quick win over "The Anarchist."
Special Attraction Match:
Skylar Skelly Vs. Jakus Pliskin Vs. "Showtime" Scott Summers Vs. "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson:
Fun, fun four way match. Danielson put on a clinic on the three other men in the match. The interaction between Dragon and Showtime was great, with eventually Summers reversing Cattle Mutilation into a roll-up for a shocking 1-2-3. Dragon put over Summers after the match and got one of the biggest pops I have ever heard, and this was from a tiny crowd. And by the way, Dragon STILL has ‘til 5!
Lone Star Classic Finals:
Human Tornado Vs. JT Lamotta:
A great finale to a great night, back and forth action with several convincing false finishes. Lamotta thanked the crowd after ward and put over everyone in the tourney during his victory speech. This bringing to an end the huge year for JT. With victories over Matt Sydal, El Generico and now Arik Cannon and Human Tornado in '07, I can't wait to see what '08 holds for this Texas standout.
My preview of this event last week didn't do justice to how big the event turned out to be. An excellent card, which featured an unlikely winner finishing out a huge year for his career. Everyone that was advertised to appeared showed up and brought their A game. I caught up with ACW promoter and wrestler Darin Childs for his thoughts on the event:
As a fan, how do you feel the show went?
As a fan I believe the 2007 Lone Star Classic was the best show I have ever seen live. ACW still has a long way to go, but I believe that when this show is on DVD and the rest of the country gets to see it they will be extremely impressed with the product of ACW and the talent featured on this show.
As a promoter, how do you feel the show went?
As a Promoter I couldn't be more elated with the 2007 Lone Star Classic. It is the most successful show in ACW history from basically every standpoint. It was artistically better than I could have expected, and a huge success financially which will only lead to more great things for ACW. I am very proud of everyone involved.
What was your personal favorite match on the card?
The LSC was my baby. I have been working towards this event for a year and the centerpiece of the entire tournament was Jimmy Jacobs vs. Arik Cannon vs. Chris Hero. Those three athletes definitely brought their A-game and stole the show. It is extremely hard to pick just one match as a favorite, The interaction between Bryan Danielson and Skylar Skelly was classic and the Arik Cannon vs. JT Lamotta semi-final match was excellent.
Who did you feel was the MVP of the event?
Hands down the MVP was JT Lamotta. The kid really broke out and showed that he can hang with absolutely anyone in the country. Hopefully 2008 will be the biggest year in JT Lamotta's career. I truly see him becoming a name on a national level.
Thank you for the opportunity, and further information, DVD's, show dates or pretty much anything and everything ACW please go to www.myspace.com or www.anarchychampionshipwrestling.com
Darin wasn't the only one I was able to get comments from. Here are some thoughts of what some of the participants from the Lone Star Classic thought of the event:
Joey Ryan:
When I asked "Magnum" about the Lone Star Classic he stated that it was a "tough field of 12 men," but he was able to rise up. He stated the disappointment from the 2nd round when his "Arch nemesis the Human Tornado got the better of him" He said rest assured that they will meet again. Joey also wanted me to plug his next Texas appearance on March 14th when he will be wrestling in El Paso for the NWA, so all Ryan fans in Texas be sure to head out to the show.
Chris Hero:
I was able to get a brief word with Hero and he said he really enjoyed the show. He also expressed his appreciation for the fans, making mention of how into the show they were and how much they knew about each performer.
Arik Cannon:
"The Anarchist" didn't have too much to say about the show but what he did say was that it was the best ACW show he had seen so far. Cannon has worked several shows in San Antonio in the past. When I asked him how he felt about working JT Lamotta he said that he liked working him and from what he has seen he liked the Texas guys.
Jimmy Jacobs:
The always entertaining Jacobs told me that he didn't see all of the show but what he saw was good, and judging from the crowd he said "the show must have been great." Jacobs also put over the crowd in San Antonio. He told me that the fans really know their stuff. Jacobs recounted his first ACW appearance, he said he was very nervous and feared that no one knew who he was, but was delighted at the reaction he got.
While I had these top notch indy wrestlers on the spot I asked each of them what they wanted to happen in '08.
In 2008 Joey Ryan will continue to bring sleazy back.
Chris Hero wants to keep traveling the world and bettering himself as a wrestler. He also said that he would love to come back to Texas.
Arik Cannon hopes to come back to Texas and go back to Japan in 2008.
Jimmy Jacobs said that he hopes to excel through the ranks in'08. He hopes to get pushed up into the upper echelon of talent in ROH, put in the main event roster. He told me he feels that his recent win over American Dragon may help him do so. But he also told me that he is very happy with his current role in the Age Of The Fall and loves working with Tyler Black and the Necro Butcher.
Thanks to all the men who took their time to talk to me and answer my questions.
I'll post a full review of this show once the DVD is released.
Well that's it for me this week. Where is The Stoppage you ask? Well next week it's gonna be huge (that's what she said). With UFC 79 and Chuck Liddell Vs. Wanderlei Silva just around the corner, and the rumors circulating about UFC 82, there is just going to be A LOT to write about so we'll save it for next week.
*This Week's YouTube Sendoff*
I know it has nothing to do with wrestling or MMA…but look at that shit! That is insane!
Feedback – slash_632@hotmail.com
See you next week, enjoy you hellacious last-minute Christmas shopping.
