wrestling / Video Reviews

Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Beyond Wrestling Coin-Op Co-Op 2012

January 29, 2013 | Posted by TJ Hawke
6.8
The 411 Rating
Community Grade
12345678910
Your Grade
Loading...
Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Beyond Wrestling Coin-Op Co-Op 2012  

September 1, 2012
Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania

Commentators: Denver Colorado

Aaron Epic vs. Brian Fury

Epic got an early nearfall with a rolling backslide.  Epic then delivered two kicks.  Epic went for a third kick, but Fury caught him with an Alabama Slam: 1…2…NO!  Fury worked Epic over after that.  Epic eventually came back with an enzuigiri, a lariat, and a leg lariat: 1…2…NO!  Epic got another nearfall with a running STO.  Fury went for a powerbomb, but Epic reversed it into an Ace Crusher.   Epic went for the Fastball Punch, but Fury reversed it into a Boston Crab. Epic escaped, but Fury then hit a superkick.  Epic came back with a wizard.  Epic charged Fury, but Fury caught him with the pop-up powerbomb: 1…2…3!

Solid match here for sure.  They didn’t go crazy with anything, but they worked a fast past with the crispness both men are known for.  Check this match out.
Match Rating: **3/4

Usurper vs. Scotty Slade

Usurper is the former Josh Thor. He’s now competing in the Wrestling Is promotions.  Usurper dominated the early action.  Slade avoided a legdrop, and he then made a brief comeback.  Slade actually got a nearfall with a running knee strike.  Wow, Slade is actually being the rudo in the match.  Usurper made a comeback. His one revealed man boob was flying all over the place.  Usurper then hit a chokeslam, but Slade got his leg on the rope.  Usurper didn’t understand that was not a pinfall.  Slade then hit a Scorpion Deathdrop: 1…2…NO!  Usurper hit a backbreaker.  Usurper then hit the Off With His Head: 1…2…3

This was kind of a meh match.  I’m not really invested in Usurper at all, and I was disappointed that Slade didn’t play a spunky babyface in the match.
Match Rating: **

Biff Busick vs. Anthony Stone

These are two of my favorite guys in Beyond. Some people are Paul Heyman guys. I’m a Biff Busick guy.  Stone was in control to start the match until Busick avoided a top rope move and KILLED Stone with a lariat.  Busick worked Stone over after that.  Stone tried to duck away from an attack, but Busick connected on a forearm to the top of Stone’s skull.  Busick got a nearfall with a big boot.  Stone came back with a bridging German suplex.  Busick went for a German of his own, but Stone avoided it. Busick got a nearfall with a flipping blockbuster.  Stone avoided a running elbow, and he then hit a leaping kick to the head!.  Busick tried to pop up Stone, but Stone came down with a Meteora: 1…2…3!

These guys showed why they should and need to be booked in more places in this match. The action was crisp and engaging. Busick already has the charisma needed to booked in places like ROH and Evolve. Stone can probably stand to add a little more personality to his matches, but in the ring, he’s damn solid. Watch this match.
Match Rating: ***1/4

Mark Angel vs. Julian Starr

Angel was the Beyond Points Leader at the time of this match. These guys are both awesome athletes, and this match should be really cool.  Neither man could get an advantage early on.  Starr got some pinning combinations, but Angel was not in real danger. Starr showed off his freak athleticism.  Angel managed to cut him off, and he then got the heat.  They ended up on the apron, and Angel gave him a backdrop onto said apron. Starr nearly got counted out, but he made it back into the ring.  Angel then hit an elevated DDT, which got him a nearfall.  Starr made a comeback and hit a nice backstabber: 1…2…NO!  Starr went for a moonsault, but Angel avoided it. Angel hit a monster German suplex and then an exploder: 1…2…NO! Starr came back with a sunset powerbomb: 1…2…NO!  Starr then hit an awesome Blue Thunder Bomb: 1…2…3!!!

These two guys are future stars if they catch the right breaks. They showed off their incredible athletic ability here and put on a super entertaining contest. I need to watch more Julian Starr. The kid is a stud. Angel has already broken out in Chikara, but I would like to see him without the Mr. Touchdown gimmick in more promotions.
Match Rating: ***1/2

Nick Talent vs. Chris Powers

Talent doesn’t interest me much. He does have great abdominal muscles though.  Talent was annoyed that his fellow wrestlers were saying that Powers looked like Talent. This is Powers’s debut in Beyond.  Powers went for a standing moonsault, but Talent fell to the floor. Powers managed to land on his feet.  Powers went for a dive off the apron, but Talent caught him and drove him into a column. Powers eventually came back with some strikes and the standing moonsault: 1…2…NO!  Talent cut Powers off…again. Talent worked Powers over some more. Talent got a nearfall with an assisted neckbreaker.  Powers came back with a missile dropkick: 1…2…NO!  They fought over a suplex, and eventually Powers just hit a nasty-looking DDT: 1…2…NO! Powers went to the top rope, but Talent pulled him off and locked in his new submission…Powers taps out!

While this match didn’t offer much immediate satisfaction in terms of action or match story, I think it did a good job of getting over Talent’s new aggressive character. Powers seemed really, really green, but I’m not sure how much experience he had at the time.
Match Rating: **

Drew Gulak & Eric Corvis vs. Dave Cole & JT Dunn

When Gulak was in the ring, he was fairly dominant. Corvis was much less successful. That was pretty much the story for the first half of the match.  Dunn and Cole actually managed to cut off Gulak after Dunn hit Gulak with a slingshot backstabbber.  They got the heat on Gulak for a little bit. Eventually, Gulak managed to hit Dunn with a brutal lariat to the back of the head. Corvis tagged in and made a comeback for his team.  Cole and Dunn managed to cut off Corvis, and they worked him over.  Corvis came back with a middle rope splash on Cole and an elevated snapmare driver on Dunn.  Gulak tagged in and a made a comeback.  Cole and Dunn came back with stereo Gibson Drivers.  Corvis came back with a delayed German on Cole. Corvis then hit a nifty springboard Ace Crusher on Dunn. Gulak followed that up with an urinagi backbreaker on Dunn: 1…2…3

I was pretty underwhelmed by this match. I was definitely surprised by that because Gulak is the ace of Beyond at the moment, and he pretty much only has good matches. Cole and Dunn have had great 2012’s, and my issues with Eric Corvis are usually masked in tag matches. However, this match just never properly came together. I think Gulak’s character in Beyond is just better suited for singles matches. In fact, I would love to see Gulak vs. JT Dunn or Dave Cole.
Match Rating: **3/4

Thanks everybody for reading! You can send feedback to my Twitter or to my email address: [email protected]. Also, feel free to check out my own wrestling website, FreeProWrestling.com. Also, check out my Best of Chikara blog and an archive of all my 411 video reviews.

For more info on Beyond, check out their:
Facebook
Twitter
DVD Store
Youtube Page (with Free weekly matches)

The 411: Beyond's shows in the Chikara Wrestle Factory feel very "exhibitiony," which is not a complaint but more of an observation. Basically, you can judge the show by the sum of its parts. This show was quite entertaining half the time, and the other half of the show left me cold. Luckily for you, it's a free show and you can pick which matches you watch. I strongly recommend that you watch Angel/Starr and Busick/Stone. Epic/Fury was a solid opener, and the main event has some talent in it.
 
Final Score:  6.8   [ Average ]  legend

article topics

TJ Hawke

Comments are closed.