Views from the Hawke’s Nest: 2CW #50 2010

7.10.10
Syracuse, NY

The ring announcer brought out three large white guys to start the show. They did a lap around the ring and then left. I have no idea what’s going on.

Isys Ephex vs. Brodie Lee
Ephex hit a slingshot corkscrew plancha early in the match. Back in the ring, Ephex went for a crossbody, but Brodie caught him and hit a snap powerslam. Brodie worked Ephex over after that. Ephex eventually came back with some strikes and a German suplex. Ephex then hit a DVD: 1…2…NO! Ephex followed that up with a running Meteora. Brodie avoided a Ghetto Stomp. Ephex avoided a powerbomb. Ephex then locked in a leg lock, but Brodie was eventually able to make the ropes. Brodie then killed him with a Big Boot: 1…2…3. Brodie is now the number one contender for the 2CW Heavyweight Championship.

This was a good, energetic opener. Brodie Lee is such a great talent, and it’s cool to go back and watch a promotion that treated him like a star.
Match Rating: **3/4

Colin Delaney vs. Loca Vida
Neither man could get a firm advantage in the early goings. Eventually, Vida sent Delaney and himself to the floor with a running crossbody. They got back in the ring, still going back and forth. They were trading lots of chops. Delaney was finally able to cut off Vida, and he started to get the heat. Vida came back with a giant monkey flip, which actually got Vida a nearfall. Delaney cut him right back off though. Delaney went for a slingshot move, but Vida caught him with a dropkick. Vida made a big comeback. Vida hit a tornado DDT. Vida went for a Code Red, but Delaney just dropped down and hit a Jig ‘n’ Tonic: 1…2…NO! This match is going a long ass time for no discernible reason. Vida got Delaney on the ropes. Vida went for the 619, but Delaney caught him and hit a draping DDT: 1…2…3!

This match was far from perfect, but the effort was certainly there and the crowd was into the match. Vida seemed more polished here than his match at Live and Let Die. Both of these guys are better off being in a tag team, as they don’t really hold my attention for lengthy singles matches.
Match Rating: **1/2

Slyck Wagner Brown vs. Zachary Springate III [Submission Match]
I’m not entirely sure why this match is a Submission match. Brown went after Springate’s left arm early. Springate reversed that into a submission of his own, but despite there not being any disqualifications, Springate let go of the hold after Brown got to the ropes. It’s the small things folks. Springate locked in another submission, but again, he broke the hold when Brown got to the ropes. There was some video quality issues during the match. Brown locked in a Last Chancery, but Springate was able to escape. Brown then locked in a sloppy Sharpshooter. Kevin Graham and another Springate student showed up to throw in the towel for Springate. Brown wins.

Springate was mad at his students for throwing in the towel.

Weird match. I guess the actual strategies that Brown and Springate used in the match were fine, but the overall presentation has so many flaws that it was hard to get lost in the match.
Match Rating: *1/2

Cheech & Cloudy showed up to run down the fans. They are apparently there to complain about not being booked. They then complain that Necro Butcher got booked. Cloudy said they are demanding a tag title shot, and they won’t leave the ring until they get one. Cue The Necro Butcher chasing them away. Up in Smoke tried to double team Necro, and they were successful for bit. Brodie Lee made the save, which means I get to hear Johnny Cash’s music again. Brodie gave Necro a staple gun. Brodie challenges them to a “Hillbilly Rules Match.”

The Hillbilly Wrecking Crew (The Necro Butcher & Brodie Lee) vs. Up in Smoke (Cheech & Cloudy) [Hillbilly Rules]
Up in Smoke declined the match, but Brodie and Necro didn’t accept that decision. And we have a brawl. Necro quickly started using the staple gun. The match was all crowd brawling. The camera work didn’t allow us to see great angles of it, but the crowd seemed hot for it. Brodie set up a guardrail in a corner, and he then hiptossed Cloudy into said guardrail. Brodie and Necro attacked Cheech, which allowed Cloudy to wipe them out with a plancha. More crowd brawling. Necro used a staple gun on Cloudy. Cheech cut off Necro and Brodie by using a chair. Up in Smoke was in control for a bit, and the crowd lost some interest. Brodie eventually made a big comeback. Brodie and Necro hit stereo bulldogs. Necro hit Cheech with a super hurricanrana, and Brodie followed that up with a Superfly Splash. Cloudy made the save. Necro then hit Cloudy with a pair of chokeslams and a lariat: 1…2…Cheech makes the save! Brodie then caught Cloudy with a Black Hole Slam: 1…2…3!

This was way more fun than I expected, as I recall not really enjoying Necro’s work around this time (but I guess I was really only seeing his work in Ring of Honor). Necro didn’t seem to be moving around well, but he put in a good effort. I love watching Brodie in 2CW.
Match Rating: ***

Mike Van Slyke vs. Kevin Graham vs. Steve McKenzie
This match also happened at the next show. It wasn’t good, but hopefully this match is better. All three of these guys are students from the 2CW school with head trainer, Zachary Springate.

Graham hit a nice swinging neckbreaker on Slyke for a nearfall. Graham went for superplex on McKenzie, but McKenzie blocked it. Slyke powerbombed Graham, and McKenzie then hit Slyke with a diving cross-body. Graham hit McKenzie with an enzuigiri. Slyke hit Graham with a northern lights suplex, but McKenzie made the save. McKenzie killed Graham with a big boot to the back of the head. Slyke hit Mckenzie with a STO for a nearfall. Slyke then hit McKenzie with a Buckle Bomb. McKenzie fell to the floor. Slyke went to throw Graham to the floor, but Graham avoided it and caught Slyke with a schoolboy: 1…2…3!

This was much better than the rematch they had at the next 2CW show. There was a lot more energy, and basically, the match was just much more fun.
Match Rating: **1/2

Jason Axe© vs. Jimmy Olsen [2CW Heavyweight Championship]
Olsen cut a promo before the match to get the crowd behind him. Olsen hit a tope suicida early on. Back in the ring, Axe cut off Olsen with a backbreaker. Axe worked over Olsen for a while after that. They ended up on the floor, and Axe placed Olsen on a chair. Axe went for a senton off the apron, but Olsen moved and Axe crashed through the chair. They got back in the ring, and Olsen made a big comeback. Olsen got a nearfall with a missile dropkick, and then another nearfall with a standing shooting star press. Axe blocked a superkick, and he then got a nearfall with a gutbuster. Olsen came back with a superkick and a piledriver: 1…2…NO! They made their way to the top rope, where Axe was able to hit a super DVD: 1…2…NO! This match has been hot. Axe hit a big spinebuster, but Olsen kicked out at one! Axe then killed him with a spike DDT: 1…2…NO! Axe followed that with a 2K1 Bomb: 1…2…3!

This match surprised me. I’m not a huge fan of either guy, but they put together a really fun match, and the crowd was with them every step of the way. Good stuff.
Match Rating: ***1/2

Sabu vs. Spike Dudley [Hardcore Match]
I have very little interest in this match. Sabu is almost always terrible. I’ve somehow seen a shit ton of his matches from the last three or four years though.

This match actually started on the mat. Color me surprised. Well, that didn’t last long. They ended up on the floor, and Sabu threw a chair at LSD. Crowd brawling. Back in the ring, Spike went for the Acid Drop, but Sabu just dumped him through a table on the floor. A ladder got bridged between the apron and the guardrail. Sabu promptly dropped LSD through the ladder. Back in the ring, LSD’s arm was bleeding, but he was able to throw a chair at Sabu’s face. Sabu came back with some standard hardcore spots. LSD came back with some spots. Sabu finally came back and sort of hit the Atomic Arabian Facebuster. Unfortunately, LSD was on a part of a table that didn’t break. I’m not sure if that caused him more pain or not. Regardless, Sabu pinned him: 1…2…3

The crowd was really into this matchup, and the wrestlers gave them exactly what they wanted. It’s just not for me.
Match Rating: **1/2

Davey Richards vs. Jay Freddie
The American Wolves were the 2CW tag champions at the time. Davey got the first advantage after using some kicks. Freddie came back with a tope suicida. On the floor, Davey came back with a Yakuza Kick that sent Freddie into the crowd. Back in the ring, Freddie came back with a missile dropkick for a nearfall. Davey cut him off after and got the heat. Freddie eventually came back with a super belly-to-belly and a high angle DDT: 1…2…NO! Freddie then hit the Diamond Dust for another nearfall. Davey came back with a discus lariat for another nearfall: 1…2…NO! Davey hit a pair of Germans followed by a buzzsaw kick: 1…2…NO! Davey hit a superplex, but Freddie no sold it. Strike exchange. Freddie got a nearfall with a saito suplex. Davey accidentally kicked a ringpost, and Freddie then went after that leg. Freddie eventually locked in a sharpshooter, and Davey tapped out!

This was a really strong main event to close out a consistent show. Freddie is not the best wrestler in the world, but he’s clearly a talented guy for 2CW to build around. Davey put in his usual effort here, and he did the job clean as a sheet.
Match Rating: ***1/2

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The 411: Other than Slyck Wagner Brown/Zachary Springate match, I got some enjoyment out of every match on this show, which is a significant improvement from the Live and Let Die show (which I accidently reviewed first despite the fact that this show happened first). Brodie Lee continues to impress me in 2CW, and I’m starting to realize that 2CW probably booked Brodie the best of all the American independent groups. Jimmy Olsen and Jason Axe had a really fun title match. Freddie and Davey had a damn fine main event. Sabu and Spike didn’t work a match that appealed to me, but the crowd no doubt enjoyed it. If you’re noticing a trend where I describe my favorite 2CW matches as “fun,” give yourself a gold star. 2CW is at its best when it just lets the wrestlers go out there and have fun, and the crowd usually responds as such. 2CW essentially is like PWG, but without the incredibly deep roster. This is a promotion that you should be watching. You can support 2CW by purchasing this DVD for $17.

Final Score:  6.8   [ Average ]