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Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Pro Wrestling Guerrilla: Steen Wolf 2011 Review

December 20, 2011 | Posted by TJ Hawke
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Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Pro Wrestling Guerrilla: Steen Wolf 2011 Review  

October 22, 2011
Reseda, CA

Your commentators are Excalibur, Kevin Steen, Rick Knox, Davey Richards (sadly not Good Ol’ DR) and Chuck Taylor

Peter Avalon, Freddy Bravo, & Ray Rosas vs. Famous B, Chris Kadillak, & Candice LeRae
Bravo, Rosas, B, and Kadillak are making their PWG debuts. LeRae and Avalon both got big receptions from the PWG crowd, and some in the crowd already seemed to know who the new guys were.

Excalibur: “Kevin Steen, can you tell any of these people apart?” Kevin Steen, “Candice is the one with the vagina.” Famous B was all over Rosas early, and Rosas quickly tagged out to Bravo. Eventually, Avalon and LeRae tagged in and the crowd exploded. LeRae won a test of strength and then beat the shit out of him in the corner. Rosas tagged in and threw LeRae down by the hair, and the rudos worked over LeRae. Famous B tagged in and hit some awesome leg lariats. LeRae then hit a suicide dive tornado DDT on Avalon. Kadillak then hit a suicide back elbow. Rosas followed that with a double jump plancha. Famous B finished the dives sequence with a Fosbury Flop on everyone. Everyone got back in the ring and they started trading big (and really cool) moves. LeRae hit a ball plex on all the rudos. Finally, Famous B hit a beautiful swanton dive on Avalon, and Kadillak followed that up with a frog splash: 1…2…3!

This match was fucking awesome. All 6 wrestlers got over with the crowd, looked good doing all the fancy moves, and clearly earned more bookings with PWG (although Freddy Bravo wasn’t on the next show, but we shall see what his future holds). Don’t sleep on this match, it was so much fun.
Match Rating: ***1/2

TJ Perkins vs. Rocky Romero
Excalibur explains that these two started training together in 1999 and first wrestled each other in 2000.

Rocky asked for a handshake, but he instead just spat in TJ’s hand. Rocky tried to send Rick Knox into TJ, but TJ avoided it and did a top rope crossbody onto Rocky and Knox. Rocky tried to avoid a sunset flip by grabbing Knox, but Knox chopped him down. I love PWG. Rocky rolled to the outside, but TJ hit him with an elbow suicida. Rocky cut him off with a drop kick, and he started working over TJ. Rocky locked in a Gory special, but TJ escaped and hit a springboard dropkick. They went back and forth for a while after that. TJ hit a superkick and a Lyger bomb. TJ followed that with his Go 2 Sleep variation: 1…2…YES-NO? Knox didn’t count the 3 for some reason. TJ missed a 450 splash, and Rocky hit a running knee. They traded some submissions and TJ won with a Single leg crab variation.

Not sure what happened here, but these two were just off. To be fair, they had to follow a hot opener and Rocky got a concussion during the match though. It wasn’t bad or anything, but I think these two could do much better if given another chance.
Match Rating: **1/2

Fightin’ Taylor Boys (Brian Cage-Taylor & Ryan Taylor with Chuck Taylor) vs. RockNES Monsters (Johnny Goodtime & Johnny Yuma)
Chuck Taylor is only making his second journey to PWG this year. Both teams seem to need a couple of wins to earn a tag title shot.

The Monsters were in control at the start, but the Taylors played the numbers game, which allowed Ryan to toss Goodtime from the top rope to the ring apron. The Taylors started getting the heat on Goodtime. Yuma eventually made a hot tag and sent the Taylors to the outside. Yuma went to the top rope and hit a stage dive on all 3 Taylors. Brian recovered and powerbombed Yuma onto some chairs. Goodtime came back though and hit a suicide dive on each of the Taylors. Yuma hit a tornado DDT on Ryan in the ring, and Brian gave Goodtime a German suplex onto the chairs. The teams went back and forth after that. The Taylors hit a Launch Pad-Canadian Destroyer on Goodtime, but Yuma made the save. Ryan gave Yuma some big kicks, but Goodtime came out of nowhere and rolled up Ryan out of nowhere for the win!

This match was a lot of fun. The teams seemed to bring out all their tricks to impress the crowd and it worked. The Monsters seemed to be on their way to getting another tag title shot.
Match Rating: ***1/4

Willie Mack vs. Davey Richards
Excalibur was trying to explain all the accomplishments of Davey Richards but he couldn’t remember if Davey won a BOLA, or who his opponent was in the finals. That made me laugh. I should also point out that I vote Excalibur for best commentator in every awards that I vote in.

Mack hit a running kick early, but he missed a slingshot dive. Davey went for the soccer kick, but Willie caught him and slammed hit leg into the ring apron. They started brawling in the crowd for a little, and I swear I saw some attractive women. Do you believe me now when I say PWG is the best wrestling company in the world? They started trading shots in the ring, and Davey took him down with a standing drop kick. Davey started working him over after that. Willie came back and hit Russian leg sweep. They started trading more strikes until Willie took him down with a lariat and a Michinoku Driver. They ended up on the top rope and started trading headbutts, until Davey hit a SUPER PLEX! BUT WILLIE MACK IS ON HIS FEET! Another big strike exchange from these two. They started trading exploder suplexes! Davey hit a big lariat, but Willie kicked out. Davey got an ankle lock, but Willie escaped. STANDING MOONSAULT FROM MACK: 1…2…NO! ANKLE LOCK FROM DAVEY! Rollup by Willie: 1…2…NO! Davey hit a German suplex and went to the top rope: DOUBLE STOMP! Davey gave him a KO kick, but Willie kicked out. DRAGON SUPLEX! RUNNING KO KICK! Davey gets the win!

This match was pretty damn good. If this match happened in February, I would say it was an awesome way of getting Mack over. But Mack has defeated Kevin Steen and Chris Hero (twice) this year, and he should probably be beating Davey at this point so that he can have additional momentum when he gets a title shot in 2012. Davey doesn’t need the win, and he is probably not challenging for the title soon again anyway. Still though, this was a lot of fun.
Match Rating: ***1/2

Davey put over Willie on the microphone after the match.

The Dynasty (Joey Ryan & Scorpio Sky) vs. Los Luchas (Phoenix Star & Zokre) [Luchas Tag Rules]
Los Luchas are returning to PWG for the first time since 2009 I believe. The Dynasty had an awesome tag title match at the last show, and presumably need to get build back up for another shot in 2012.

The Dynasty weren’t as over as I expected after their excellent match at the last PWG show. Sky and Zokre did a cool sequence to start the match. Ryan and Star tagged in a Ryan was hated by the crowd. Los Luchas got the advantage, but The Dynasty cut them off and started working over Zokre. It should be pointed out that there were a number of times where either team should have logically taken advantage of the Luchas tag rules, but they didn’t. It’s not that big of a deal, but if they went through the trouble to make it Luchas tag rules, they should have made sure that weren’t those logic gaps. The match broke down, and Sky hit his big Somersault Plancha on Star. Ryan then gave Zokre a pedigree on the apron, and Star recovered to hit a springboard Somersault Plancha on Ryan. The teams ended up back in the ring, and they started trading some big moves. Eventually, Ryan hit a superkick and Sky hit a TKO on one of Los Luchas for the win.

This match did not work as smoothly as I hoped but it was a lot of fun and the crowd clearly enjoyed it a lot. As strange as it is to say, I think The Dynasty may actually work better as faces.
Match Rating: ***

Ricochet vs. Chuck Taylor
These two are old rivals who have wrestled each other all over the country for years. This match was supposed to happen back in May in PWG, but Chucky T was injured the night before.

They both were transfixed by the PWG Title hanging above, and tried repeatedly to jump up and grab it. A wrestling match broke out shortly thereafter. The two rivals went back and forth for a while. According to Excalibur, each man broke out some Super Dragon submissions during the match, which was probably Excalibur’s sly way of foreshadowing his return later in the show. Ricochet hit a cartwheel reverse hurricanranna on Taylor and both men went down. Ricochet hit an ace crusher and a standing moonsault for a nearfall. Ricochet went for a springboard move, but Taylor caught him and gave him a lawn dart. Rock bottom from Taylor got a nearfall. They ended up on the apron, and Taylor gave him a reverse DDT. Taylor rolled Ricochet back into the ring, who promptly got to his feet and hit a running corkscrew plancha. Taylor rolled into the ring and hit his somersault plancha onto Ricochet and some chairs. They rolled into the ring, only for Ricochet sent Chuck to the outside. Ricochet then hit his handspring, cartwheel Fosbury Flop. Chuck had to dive forward to catch Ricochet on that. Back in the ring, Chuck locked in a Calgary Crab twice, but Ricochet escaped both times. Chuck then called for a triple moonsault. Ricochet avoided it and then hit a tornado DDT and standing shooting star press: 1…2…NO! Ricochet to the top rope: SHOOTING STAR PRESS: 1…2…NO! Ricochet went to the top rope, but Taylor kicked him in the taint and gave him an AWFUL WAFFLE: 1…2…NO! Taylor got desperate and put an invisible grenade in Ricochet’s pants. They ended up on the top rope, but Ricochet kicked him down and hit a 650 SPLASH: 1…2…3!

This match started slow, but it gradually got more and more action packed until it was awesome at the end. Watching this match makes me long for more Chuck Taylor in PWG. Taylor is really strong in Chikara and DGUSA but his personality is just perfect for PWG. Another strong chapter in the Taylor/Ricochet rivalry.
Match Rating: ***3/4

The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)© vs. Future Shock (Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly) [PWG Tag Titles]
This is Future Shock’s PWG debut. I really like how PWG immediately puts Future Shock over as a big deal by giving them a title shot on their first show.

Future Shock hit dives on the Bucks early, but the Bucks quickly cut them off on the ring apron. Bucks started to work over Cole after that. O’Reilly tagged in and hit some kicks and a double dragon screw legwhip. The Bucks quickly recovered though and cut off O’Reilly. The Young Bucks were getting cocky, and Kyle gave Matt a belly-to-belly suplex and got hit knees up on Nick’s springboard move. Cole tagged in and ran wild on the bucks. Cole gave Nick a German suplex on the edge of the ring apron, and he gave Matt a top rope cross-body. The teams started trading some big moves after that. At one point, they traded about 500 superkicks in a row and all 4 men went down, which caused the fans to explode. The Bucks got to their feet and hit a tandem tombstone piledriver on Cole: 1…2…O’REILLY MADE THE SAVE! Cole avoided More Bang For Your Buck, and O’Reilly locked in a guillotine choke on Matt! Nick started punching and kicking Kyle in the face, but Kyle wouldn’t let go. Nick went to charge him, but Cole caught him with a guillotine! Nick escaped by giving Cole a low blow and then gave O’Reilly a superkick. MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK ON O’REILLY: 1…2…3!

This match was awesome, and the crowd is now completely behind Future Shock. O’Reilly and Cole made as good of a debut that you could ask for, and they will have to be considered likely to be PWG regulars from here on out.
Match Rating: ****

Kevin Steen© vs. El Generico [PWG Title/Ladder Match]
What is there to say before this match? These guys have been feuding in ROH and PWG for about 2 years, and they have had great matches all over the country together. Generico won the 2011 BOLA to earn this title shot.

Generico spat in Steen’s face who retaliated with a snot rocket. BIG SLUGFEST TO START THE MATCH. Generico quickly sent Steen to the outside and hit a somersault plancha. Excalibur: “We certainly hope that nobody dies, but it’s entirely possible.” Steen came back and threw him into a ring post. Steen pulled out a ladder and he licked it. Generico went for his run up the ropes – swinging DDT, but Steen reversed it at the last second into a backbreaker. Excalibur explained that since neither man is from America, the match is contested under “international waters rules,” which means that if they wanted to, they could “start gambling in the middle of the match.” Generico came back by shoving the ladder into Steen, but Steen cut him off when he gave him a MASSIVE back body drop onto an elevated ladder, which bent the ladder in half. Steen went after Generico’s back after that. Steen grabbed a ladder at one point, and Generico came out of nowhere with a Yakuza kick. Generico picked up a ladder, but Steen gave him a Codebreaker on the ladder. Steen went to climb the broken ladder, but it didn’t work. Steen then ran into a Michinoku Driver. Genercio then ran into a superkick. Generico then gave Steen another Michinoku Driver…on the side of a fucking ladder on the floor. Steen tried to come back with a lariat, but Generico came back with a half-nelson suplex onto a ladder. Steen bridged a ladder in a turnbuckle, and then he powerbombed Generico, headfirst onto that ladder. Steen went to climb, but Generico somehow recovered and gave Steen an exploder suplex into the corner (Steen’s head also probably got caught on a ladder on the way down). Steen recovered and gave Generico a powerbomb on the ring apron. Steen set up ladder on the ring apron, but Generico leapt over it and gave Steen a swinging DDT. Generico went to climb, but Steen dragged him down and kicked him in the balls. Steen went to give him a package piledriver on a ladder, but Generico back body dropped Steen out of the ring, and through a ladder. Holy Shit. Generico barely managed to climb the ladder and got a hand on the belt, but Steen miraculously recovered and threw a ladder at Generico. Steen stacked two ladders in the turnbuckles in a turnbuckle, but Generico avoided damage. Generico went to another turnbuckle, but Steen caught him and gave him a TURNBUCKLE BRAINUSTAHHHH! That looked sickening. Steen went to get the belt, but The Young Bucks interfered and slammed chairs repeatedly on Steen’s knees. Generico and Steen recovered and both men climbed the same ladder. GENERICO GAVE HIM A SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB THROUGH THE TWO LADDERS IN THE TURNBUCKLE! ONLY STEEN’S HEAD TOUCHED THOSE LADDERS! HOW IS HE ALIVE?! Generico climbs and gets the belt! And pulls the ventilator that it was connected to down as well.

This match was nearly on par with their Fight Without Honor at Final Battle last year, and if you wanted to argue that it was just as good, I wouldn’t blame you. It was every bit as violent, and the PWG crowd provided just as good, if not better environment. Since Fear won’t be released until sometime in January (at best), I feel confidant in saying that this was the best match that PWG will release in 2011.

Steen and Generico are two of the best wrestlers in the world, and Generico is probably the actual best, for my money. Every promotion in the world should be looking to book these two, and give them a proper spotlight to shine (whether they are booked against each other or not).

I would also like to say that I hope both men are physically okay after this match. Not too many stories get leaked out of PWG shows, but the beatings these two men took must have caused some damage in one form or another.
Match Rating: ****1/2

The Young Bucks return after the match, and attack both men. I could describe what happens next, but instead I’ll just let PWG show you what happens next:

After that, Steen grabs the microphone again and tells Generico, “I may not like the end result, but I knew we would tear the rook off.” Generico then celebrates the title win, as the fans chant the name of the best pro-wrestling company on Earth at the moment.

You can buy this DVD and all PWG DVDs here .

Thanks everybody for reading! You can send feedback to Twitter or at my email address: [email protected]. If you are a wrestling personality who would like to be interviewed by 411mania, you can also contact me in either of those ways.

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Be sure to check out some of my past 411 Interviews

Kevin Steen Part 1 & Part 2
Eddie Edwards
Johnny Gargano
Mike Quackenbush
Nigel McGuinness
Lance Hoyt/Vance Archer/Lance Archer
Adam Cole
Gran Akuma

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For all of my interviews (like TJ Perkins , Steve Corino , Davey Richards , Jimmy Rave , Joey Ryan , Kyle O’Reilly , AR Fox , etc.) before 411mania, check out my Road to Mania Blog (where I still do stuff like Wrestlemania Build coverage, Wrestling DVD reviews, movie/TV reviews and more).

Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can’t Lose.

The 411: This show is right up there with Chikara's High Noon, WWE's Money in the Bank, PWG's DDT4 and All-Star Weekend Night 2 for best wrestling show of 2011. The first half of the show was filled with really good matches, but obviously, the final three matches are the selling point of this DVD. Those matches were just PWG letting 8 of the most exciting and fun wrestlers in the world loose and doing everything in their power to excite and entertain the fans. What more can you ask for in a wrestling promotion?
411 Elite Award
Final Score:  9.3   [  Amazing ]  legend

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