Views from the Hawke’s Nest: PWG Threemendous 2012

July 21, 2012
Reseda, CA

Commentators: Excalibur, Rick Knox, Joey Ryan, Chuck Taylor, & Kevin Steen

Excalibur and Joey Ryan are in the ring to start the show. Apparently, Ryan interrupted Excalibur’s attempt to warm up the crowd. Legion Larry came out and told Excalibur to inform the audience of the fire exits. “Safety First!” chants. Ryan proceeded to talk about his accolades, including the fact that he’s been a part of more PWG matches than anyone ever. Rick Knox then came out and informed Ryan that he’s actually been involved in more matches than Ryan. Ryan tried to hit Knox, but Knox came back with a HUGE lariat!

Joey Ryan vs. Famous B
Famous B was in control early. He got Ryan to the floor. Famous B went for a tope suicida, but Joey moved out of the way and Famous B crashed on the floor. Ryan then hit a tope suicida. Ryan brought him back into the ring and worked him over. Famous B managed to come back with an O’Connor Roll for a nearfall and then a gamengiri. LEG LARIATS! ALL THE LEG LARIATS! Ryan came back with an exploder suplex. Ryan hit a spinebuster for a nearfall. Ryan called for the Mustache Ride. Famous B avoided it and hit a backbreaker. Ryan ended up on the floor. Famous B hit a somersault plancha. It looked like Ryan barely caught him, but I couldn’t tell for sure. Back in the ring, Ryan hit a spear and a powerbomb: 1…2…NO! Ryan then hit a backbreaker and a kneeling superkick: 1…2…NO! Famous B came back with a backbreaker for a nearfall. Ryan caught Famous B with the Tazzmission, and Famous B tapped out.

This match wasn’t very interesting. I wouldn’t say it was bad or anything, but I just didn’t care about it. The fact that Joey Ryan’s storyline in TNA played into the finish seems a little silly, but it didn’t bother me too much. Famous B losing certainly bothered me more.
Match Rating: **1/2

Roderick Strong vs. TJ Perkins
They did a bunch of awesome sequences in the early goings. TJP baited Roddy to the floor, and he then wiped him out with a tope suicida. Back in the ring, Roddy cut him off with a series of backbreakers. Roddy worked him over after that. TJP came back with a series of strikes. TJP got an Octopus hold. TJP used it to pin Roddy, but Roddy kicked out. They traded more strikes. This match has been awesome. These two have amazing chemistry. Roddy hit an urinagi backbreaker: 1…2…NO! TJP hit the Nifty Powerbomb: 1…2…NO! Roddy came back with another backbreaker and a gutbuster: 1…2…NO! TJP hit a springboard dropkick and a brainbuster: 1…2…NO! Roddy hit a leaping knee, a rolling elbow, and the Orange Crush Backbreaker: 1…2…3!!!

This was as close to a perfect undercard match as you can get. I don’t recall these two ever working each other before, but they have unbelievable chemistry. I would honestly love to see a rematch in PWG (which is not something I say too often, if ever). This was fantastic.
Match Rating: ***3/4

The Fightin’ Taylor Boys (Chuck Taylor & Ryan Taylor) vs. The RockNES Monsters (Johnny Goodtime & Johnny Yuma)
Chucky T doesn’t get booked in PWG much these days, but I guess he was flown in because it was the anniversary show. It’s a real shame because Chuck is fantastic in PWG. The Monsters were not beloved by the Reseda crowd here.

There was a lot of wackiness and shenanigans in the early goings. The Monsters were mostly in control, but it was not a firm advantage. The Monsters spilled Taylor’s pitcher of beer in the front row, which upset the Kentucky Gentleman greatly. The Monsters got progressively more dickish throughout the match. Dickish was the word Excalibur used. The Monsters got the heat on Ryan Taylor for a while. Ryan was eventually able to take the Monsters down with a lariat. Taylor tagged in and ran wild. The Monsters hit Chucky with an enzuigiri/Ace Crusher combo, and Ryan had to make the save. Chuck hit Goodtime with a Backstabber, and Ryan then gave him a Bicycle Kick: 1…2…NO! Goodtime wiped out Ryan with a tope suicida. Chuck then sent Yuma onto both of them with a Razor’s Edge. JEEEZUS! Chuck then did the Chuck Taylor clap and hit a TOPE CON HELLO~! Back in the ring, Goodtime avoided the Omega Driver. Ryan had Goodtime pinned with a corkscrew neckbreaker, but Yuma dragged Knox out of the ring. Chuck did the Chuck Taylor War Cry. Chuck went for an Omega Driver on Yuma, but Yuma reversed it into a backslide, and Goodtime helped the pin from the outside: 1…2…3!!!

This match was a lot of fun. The RockNES Monsters were starting to get a little stale, but their rudo turn here made my interest in them going forward sky rocket. This won’t be the match from this show that people talk will about a lot, but I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Match Rating: ***

Eddie “Eddie Edwards” Edwards vs. Brian Cage
Cage drops the ‘Taylor’ from his name when he works singles matches (apparently).

Eddie sent Cage to the floor early. Eddie went for a tope, but Cage killed him with an enzuigiri. Cage started to work him over after that. Eddie quickly came back with a couple of kicks. Cage cut him off with a powerbomb backbreaker. Jeezus. Cage hit a hip toss backbreaker, but he then came up empty on a Lionsault. Eddie came back with some chops. Cage ended up on the floor, and Eddie hit a standing moonsault. By “hit,” I mean Eddie missed Cage and hit a bunch of chairs. Fuck, that looked like it hurt. Back in the ring, Eddie hit a Bridging Northern Lights Suplex for a nearfall. Cage then hit a wrist clutch Drunk Slam for a nearfall. Eddie hit a diving codebreaker, and he then transitioned into a single leg crab. Cage reversed it into a trailer hitch. Eddie reversed it into a STF. That didn’t end the match. Eddie was on the apron, and Cage hit a discus lariat that turned Eddie inside out. Cage followed that with the Fucking Machine Suplex: 1…2…NO! Eddie hit a German and a superkick, but Cage came back with a discus lariat and an exploder: 1…2…NO! Cage then hit a Weapon X: 1…2…3!!!

Cage got on the microphone and said, “Kevin Steen, I’m coming for you nigger.” Cage then did a spineroonie.

Much like the last two matches, this match was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it a lot. The great part about this show so far is that all the matches have been very different. Cage’s push continues to go well, as the Reseda crowd absolutely loves him. Eddie is on the top of his game right now, and it’s a shame no major American promotion is giving him a substantial push.
Match Rating: ***1/4

Kevin Steen© vs. Willie Mack [PWG World Heavyweight Title]
Mack had certainly earned this match in a kayfabe perspective, as he has pretty much defeated everyone that PWG has thrown out him (including Kevin Steen a year before this show). However, Mack has really yet to have a great singles match in my eyes, so this was a big match for him. I think this will deliver.

Steen jumped Mack during the latter’s entrance. Steen hit the apron powerbomb. That was impressive. They ended up back in the ring, and Steen was still in full control. Steen squashed him with a back senton. Steen had this delightful smile on his face after that. Steen was in control for a while. Eventually, both men went down after a double clothesline spot. Steen hit a lung blower to keep Mack at bay. Steen went for the cannonball splash, but Mack avoided it and Steen crashed into the turnbuckle. Mack hit a backdrop driver and the My Dick Explodes. Steen came right back with the sharpshooter, but Mack made the ropes. Mack hit a Samoan Drop, but Steen avoided the standing moonsault. Steen hit a Rock Bottom: 1…2…NO! “That works for my best friend!” Steen went for a swanton bomb, but Mack got his knees up. That was nasty. Mack hit an exploder for a nearfall. Mack hit another Samoan Drop, and this time, he connected on the standing moonsault. Mack then hit a proper moonsault: 1…2…NO!!! The crowd has been going nuts for a few moments. Ref bump. Steen then hit F-Cing and Mack landed on Knox’s head. That was nasty. Brian Cage ran out and hit Steen with a torture rack neckbreaker. The crowd mostly approved of that. Cage then killed Mack with a discus lariat. Again, the crowd mostly approved of that. Steen hit a package piledriver: 1…2…NO!!! Mack went for the 10 punches in the corner, but Steen escaped and hit a Psycho Driver: 1…2…3!!!!

This was easily the best match in Willie Mack’s PWG career. If the first four PWG shows of the year made me question Mack’s future as a PWG main eventer, this match made me think he will be the guy in the promotion sooner rather than later (in terms of how the fans treat him). PWG desperately needs to book him with El Generico as a main event. I’m really surprised those two haven’t had a match since BOLA 2011. Steen continues to be a very good PWG champion. This was probably the best match in his third reign.
Match Rating: ***3/4

Drake Younger vs. B-Boy
I expect lots of selling and subtle limb work.

Younger hit a spinebuster for an early nearfall. Younger forearmed B-Boy to the floor. He went for a rolling senton off the apron, but he obviously came up empty. B-Boy worked Younger over in the ring after that. Younger eventually made a comeback, but B-Boy cut him off. They ended up on the apron, and Younger gave him a Michinoku Driver. B-Boy fell to the floor, and Younger hit a somersault plancha. Younger hit a half-nelson suplex, followed by a Gibson Driver: 1…2…NO! Younger then hit a brainbuster for another nearfall. B-Boy came back with a DDT from the middle rope: 1…2…NO! B-Boy then suplexed Younger from the apron to the floor. Younger’s forehead was busted open from a headbutt. They ended up on the top rope, and Younger hit a super DVD: 1…2…NO! B-Boy hit an Ace Crusher and a pair of saito suplexes. B-Boy then hit a Shining Wizard, but Younger no sold it. B-Boy then hit an arm trap Dragon Suplex, followed by a Shining Wizard: 1…2…NO! They traded a bunch of stiff strikes. Younger took him down with a lariat. B-Boy hit his diving dropkick in the corner, but Younger no-sold it and hit Drake’s Landing: 1…2…NO! Younger went for a second, but B-Boy reversed it into one of his own: 1…2…NO! B-Boy then hit the Air Raid Crash: 1…2…3

This match was not for me. I get that the crowd was amazing (especially down the stretch) for this match, but nothing that happened inside of the ring was what I want from professional wrestling in any conceivable way. Listen, I’ve liked plenty of matches over the years that didn’t have amazing selling and that had gratuitous nearfalls. I’m sure I will get a lot of flak for not liking this match and giving it a shit rating. I completely acknowledge the fact that the match has to be considered very successful, because of how the crowd responded to the whole thing. I don’t have a problem with other people loving this match. I’m happy they got enjoyment out of it. This was just a style of wrestling that I do not enjoy whatsoever.
Match Rating: **

Michael Elgin vs. Sami Callihan
This is the second PWG show for both men. Neither man had won a PWG match going into this match.

Sami immediately hit a Brogue Kick and a backdrop suplex: 1…2…NO! Sami tried for the Stretch Muffler, but Elgin reversed it into a small package for a nearfall. They traded some chops. They traded more strikes. Elgin caught him with an exploder for a nearfall. Sami hit a couple of facewashes and then a Silverking lariat. Sami went for a tope suicida, but Elgin caught him and hit an apron backbreaker. Another apron backbreaker. Elgin brought him back in the ring and worked him over. Elgin went for his corkscrew senton, but Sami avoided it. Sami then hit a DVD and a BOING Splash: 1…2…NO! Elgin was on the middle rope, and Sami hit his superkick. Sami hit a Brogue Kick and another kick to the face for a nearfall. Elgin came back with Chaos Theory for a nearfall. Elgin a lariat for a nearfall. Elgin then hit a backfist and the buckle bomb. Elgin went for another powerbomb, but Sami reversed it into a Stretch Muffler. Elgin kicked out of that. Sami jumped off the middle rope, but Elgin caight him with a lariat. Elgin then hit a buckle bomb and a spinning, sit-out powerbomb: 1…2…3!

These guys are capable of greatness, and while this match didn’t fulfill that potential, this match was still very good match still. They didn’t have as much crowd heat as the last two matches, as the crowd seemed a little burned out. They worked a much more interesting match (compared to Younger/B-Boy) though to compensate.
Match Rating: ***1/4

Super Smash Bros.© (Player Uno & Stupefied) vs. Future Shock (Kyle O’Reilly & Adam Cole) vs. The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) [Ladder Match for the PWG World Tag Team Championships]
Future Shock lost to SSB in the DDT4, and then the Young Bucks lost to the SSB at the next show. So…this matchup doesn’t make much sense. Oh well. I’m sure I won’t care soon enough.

Uno quickly sent Nick a few rows into the crowd. All six men brawled around ringside. This went on for a while. Chairs were used. Apparently Uno was giving fans fallaway slams according to Steen and Excalibur, but I never saw it. Matt gave O’Reilly a powerbomb into the crowd. Fuckkkk. The Bucks played air guitar. Cole brought out the first ladder and used it against the Bucks. Stupefied hit Nick with a tope con hello. O’Reilly tried climbing a ladder in the ring. Stupefied put a stop to that. Nick was climbing a ladder. Uno tilted the ladder over, but Nick then just landed on the top rope and in one motion, hit a springboard somersault plancha onto everyone in the entrance ramp. Matt hit Uno with ladder assisted Sliced Bread #2. Cole took out Matt with a gamengiri. Cole gave Nick a wheelbarrow German onto a ladder. Ouch. Future Shock climbed two separate ladders. SSB knocked them off with chairs. Uno held O’Reilly on the top of two seated chairs, and Stupefied nailed him with a ghetto stomp. That must have been miserable. Everyone in the building is standing. Nick killed everyone with a ladder, including Rick Knox and Matt. Nick was bleeding from the head. Knox was busted open. SSB hit Nick with the Alabama Slam/Backstabber combo. The Bucks hit Cole with the double team tombstone piledriver. Uno punched both of them out. Uno pulled out a table and set it up on the floor. Future Shock killed Uno with a buzzsaw kick/brainbuster combo through a chair. Stupefied hit Future Shock with a double Pele kick off the ladders. Stupefied brought a table in the ring. Matt Jackson climbed up a ladder. Future Shock then hit Matt with a superplex off the ladders and through the table. Jeezus. This match. SSB gave Future Shock the Get Over Here suplex with a ladder in between them. Matt hit O’Reilly with the Silverking DDT on the apron. Matt the put him on the table on the floor, and Nick hit a Frog Splash from the top turnbuckle onto O’Reilly. Cole was stuck in a ladder in the corner. The Bucks killed Uno and Cole with superkicks. The Bucks were all alone in the ring. Matt was on a ladder, and Stupefied went for a springboard move, but Matt just nailed him with a superkick from halfway up the ladder. Knox showed up, flipped the Bucks the birds, and sent them off the ladder and onto the ropes, crotch first. Knox then wiped them out with a TOPE CON HELLO~!!~!~!~!~!~!~ SSB then climbed the ladder and grabbed the belts together. This match. How are they all alive?

I’m at a loss for words. Nothing I can write can do this match justice. I don’t like to do this, but I’ll let the star rating speak for itself.
Match Rating: *****

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The 411: Buy this show. That’s all I really need to say. The main event alone is worth the cost of the DVD. There’s a lot of cool stuff underneath the main event as well and since most people seemed to think Younger/B-Boy was great, this DVD is probably even more appealing to everyone reading this. This DVD is not perfect, but it’s the true definition of a “Must Buy.” Check out a full/organized list of all the wrestling show reviews I've done at 411mania.

Final Score:  9.0   [  Amazing ]