Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Free Inter Species Wrestling Matches Part 1

El Generico vs. Zombified from Slamtasia 2007

This was Generico’s debut in ISDub.  Generico may be the best wrestler in the world, but how will he do against the undead?  Zombified did some flippy stuff early. He sent Generico to the floor with a sloppy slingshot hurricanrana. Zombified followed it up with a tope suicida. That was an awesome dive.  They went back to the ring, and Zombified was in control.  Zombified went for a corner splash, but Generico caught him and hit a back suplex. Cool counter.  Generico made a comeback. Generico called for the Turnbuckle Brainbuster, but Zombified blocked the attempt. Zombified came back with a diving tornado DDT and a sloppy reverse hurricanrana: 1…2…NO!  To be fair, Zombified’s sloppiness is probably attributed to him being a rotting corpse.   Generico came back with a Falcon Arrow/Fisherman Buster type move: 1…2…NO! Generico called for a Yakuza, but another zombie on the floor slowed him up. Generico went for the Yakuza again, but Zombified caught him and hit an exploder. Zombified went for a twisting splash, but Generico got his knees up. Generico came back with a Yakuza and the BRAINBUSTAHHHH: 1…2…3!!!

El Generico’s character is flexible enough that he can easily fit into many different environments. This was my first time seeing him in ISDub, and it’s safe to say that this environment was very well suited for Generico. While the match had a few sloppy moments, I found this match to be quite fun.  You should absolutely check it out. Ole.
Match Rating: **3/4

Kevin Steen vs. Player Uno from Hot Summer Rub-Down 2008

Some dude was handing out free DVDs from the ring. Steen dragged Uno out to the ring and hit Uno with the box of DVDs. Steen said he wanted the title match now. Steen hit a powerbomb for a nearfall. Steen then hit a pumphandle neckbreaker for a nearfall. Steen went for a swanton bomb, but Uno got his knees up. Uno then hit a pair of STOs.  Steen got a nearfall with a backslide. Uno then hit an enzuigiri and a Michinoku Driver: 1…2…NO! Steen came back with a frog splash for a nearfall. We are four minutes into the match by the way. Uno came back with a swanton bomb, which got a nearfall. Ref bump. Steen hit the package piledriver. Another referee came out, but Steen shoved him down. The referee called for the DQ. Steen was pissed and went package piledrive the second ref. Uno saved the ref, but then ate a kick to the nuts from Steen.  Uno officially won by DQ.

Steen attacked Uno some more after the match. Steen spat on his  head. Steen hit Uno in the dick with a beer bottle. This would lead to a rematch about a year later, where Uno was able to successfully defend the belt against Steen.

This was apparently very early in the show, which explains why match had a disappointing ending. It was designed to lead to a rematch, and I’m fine with that since ISW didn’t end the show this way.  This isn’t a must see match.
Match Rating: **1/2

El Generico vs. Player Uno from 4 Years Of This? 2009

This was the main event of the ISW four year anniversary show. The match was four Player Uno’s ISW Championship.

They kept things civil and respectful early on. Uno managed to send Generico to the floor, and he then hit a tope suicida. Uno was in control for a bit after that. Generico came back with a tornado DDT, and he was then control for a bit. Uno came back with some big strikes and a bridging German for a nearfall. Generico came back with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall. Generico got another nearfall with a Michinoku Driver. Uno came back with his twisting reverse STO, a yakuza, a Mushroom Stomp, and the Code Red: 1…2…NO! Generico came back with an exploder in the corner, a yakuza, and a half-nelson suplex: 1…2…NO! Uno hit another Mushroom stomp, but Generico came right back with another yakuza. Generico called for a brainbuster, but Uno reversed it into a Bubble Bobble Buster: 1…2…3!

This was a good main event. It started out a little cold, but things picked up quickly enough. Thumbs up. I wish got to see Generico live in ISW.
Match Rating: ***1/2

Eddie Kingston vs. Twiggy from Burger King of the Ring 2011

Eddie Kingston comes out during Twiggy’s entrance music and calls all the fans “pieces of shit.”  The crowd cheers him anyway.  Kingston runs down the crowd more, and yells for Mike Rotch to hit Twiggy’s music.  Twiggy comes out and Kingston immediately jumps him outside the ring.  Kingston says he has made the match a “no DQ” match.  Twiggy fought back with a CUPCAKE!  Twiggy then pulled out a chair and threw it in Kingston’s face but the weapon did little damage.  Kingston yelled at Rotch some more, which gave Twiggy time to recover and hit a plancha.  They ended up in the ring and Kingston takes Twiggy down with a big boot.  Kingston hits a delayed vertical suplex and then yells at Rotch some more.  Kingston then hits a FU and moons Rotch.  The crowd asks Eddie to whip out his dick.  Eddie takes off his belt and whips and chokes Twiggy with it (good thing he didn’t use his dick for that spot).  Kingston was going for a superplex, but Twiggy hit a sunset flip powerbomb out of nowhere. Crowd was completely behind Twiggy after that.  Kingston catches him with Backfist to the Future, but he pulls up on pinning him, opting to do more damage.  That backfires as Twiggy hits three superkicks and a big top rope splash: 1…2…NO!  Kingston recovers and kills Twiggy with a lariat: 1…2…NO!  Twiggy gets a backslide out of nowhere and picks up the win!  Twiggy says he is coming for the ISW title now.  Eddie threw a hissy fit after the match and made fun of the fans more.

I really enjoyed this match.  I don’t watch CZW or IWA-MS, so it’s rare that I get to see Kingston outside of the PG Chikara atmosphere.  Kingston is one of the most enjoyable performers to watch today and his performance here was no exception.  Twiggy made for a great spunky, athletic babyface that can sell a beating and then make a cool comeback. I’m surprised he hasn’t been booked in more high profile places over the years, and I now I want to watch more of him in ISW.
Match Rating: **3/4

Addy Starr vs. Michael Von Payton from Grand Theft Ottawa 2012

Starr tried using strikes early, but they didn’t hurt MVP much. Starr was able to take down Starr with a headscissors and a missile dropkick. MVP cut her off with an urinagi. MVP got the heat after that.  Starr eventually came back with a diving tornado DDT and a wheelbarrow bulldog: 1…2…NO!  MVP came back with a fallaway slam.  MVP then got a nearfall with a Michinoku Driver. Starr came back with a northern lights suplex, and Starr then hit three consecutive Sliding D’s: 1…2…NO!  Addy went for a Code Red, but MVP reversed it into a crucifix powerbomb. Fuck. Addy Starr died. MVP then hit a Sliding D.  Addy somehome fought back with forearms and a shoulderblock. Addy went for a middle rope moonsault, but MVP caught her (sort of). MVP then hit three consectutive sit-out tombstone piledrivers: 1…2…3

I’m definitely becoming a big fan of Addy Starr.  Inter-gender matches can be booked to be exploitative, but I think Starr does a great job in them. The match is not only fun, but it reveals a lot about each of their characters. Thus, I consider this match to be a great success. Check it out!
Match Rating: ***

AR Fox vs. Leon St. Giovanni vs. Eric Corvis from Armageddocalypse 2012

Eric Corvis was previously known as Corvis Fear.  LSG had on a fake mustache, and his manager, Jon Harder, was wearing a cowboy hat and a poncho. LSG got sent to the floor early. Corvis hit a flipping senton on Fox for an early nearfall.  LSG got back in the ring, and nailed Fox with a spike DDT and Fear with a STO simulatneously.  Corvis hit LSG with a middle rope frog splash. He then hit Fox with a super snapmare driver.  Corvis then ripped off LSG’s mustache before hitting him with a spinebuster: 1…2…NO!  LSG and Fear ended up on the floor.  Fox finally recovered and he hit the kick-flip moonsault.  Back in the ring, Fox hit LSG with the My Dick Explodes, but he then rolled into a German suplex from Corvis: 1…2…NO!  Fox (essentially) hit a top rope Rolling Thunder on LSG, and he then caught Corvis with Thugbait: 1…2…NO! LSG hit Fear with a Buckle Butterfly Suplex.  LSG hit a series of a stunners from Corvis and Fox.  Corvis then killed Fox with a package backbreaker. Jeezus.  Harder jumped up on the apron, but Corvis punched him to the floor.  Fox hit Corvis with the Lo Mein Pain! Fox went to finish LSG with the cannonball senton, but LSG moved and Fox came up empty. LSG then pinned Corvis: 1…2…3!

This match was a lot of fun. All three guys are prone to some wackiness, and I was concerned there would be too much of that. However, that fear was not realized, and the crowd took to everything they did. AR Fox should be on every Beyond show and every ISDub show.
Match Rating: ***

JAKA vs. Chris Dickinson from 3D 2013

This is the first time I have ever watched a match on tape that I was live at. Somewhat bizarre at first, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it. I’m tough like that. Not much of note happened in the openings. Eventually, Dickinson hit a big powerbomb out of nowhere to get things going. JAKA came back with a belly-to-belly suplex that sent Dickinson to the floor. JAKA followed that up with his awesome slingshot plancha. Dickinson came back with a suplex on the floor. Ouch. Uh oh, here comes the match’s defining moment (for better or worse). JAKA went to the apron and then went for a splash off the apron. He landed on Dickinson and those two crashed through a merch table.  It was the merch table of a local wrestling school. Some women (faces blurred out) were running the table. Some dudes (faces also blurred out) from the school tried to start something with Dickinson and JAKA. As someone who was at the show, I assure you this was a crazy scene as it was happening. The video really doesn’t do it justice. I didn’t know if a riot was going to break out (luckily, things outside the ring didn’t get too out of control). JAKA and Dickinson got back in the ring and proceeded to beat the shit out of each other. JAKA hit a massive spinebuster and then locked in a Texas Cloverleaf. AR Fox was marking out at ringside! Dickinson made the ropes. He then hit a powerslam and locked in the figure four. JAKA survived, but Dickinson then hit another powerbomb. Dickinson chewed out the wrestling school dudes before he missed a diving elbow. JAKA then hit a superkick, a German, and a Baldo Bomb: 1…2…NO! JAKA went for the Superfly splash, but Dickinson avoided it. Dickinson then hit a deadlift wheelbarrow release German! Awesome. Dickinson then hit the Braineater: 1…2…3! The crowd was appreciative and chanted “That was awesome!”

I have to talk about this match from two different perspectives. As someone just watching the match on tape, this was clearly a really good midcard match. It wasn’t super substantive, but it was most definitely fun and enjoyable throughout. JAKA and Dickinson are two really talented performers, and I want to see both of them in more places (and more ISW shows!). From the perspective of someone who was there live…

…this match was one of my favorite experiences of being a wrestling fan. Mike, Alex, and I were right up next to the ring going insane for most of the match (especially after the incident), and I will never forget the feeling of elation as the match unfolded inches from me. Great art genuinely gives me a high, and this match (and this whole show really) just gave me one of the biggest natural highs I’ve ever had. I was truly proud and happy to be a professional fan during this match, and there isn’t a whole lot in today’s pro wrestling world that makes me feel that way. Support ISW. Go to their shows. I know I plan on going to as many of their shows as possible for the foreseeable future.
Subjective Star Rating That Doesn’t Do the Match Justice (Sorry, I can’t explain the purpose of star ratings if I can’t just give a match whatever I want. Star ratings are sooooo weird.): ***1/4

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 information on ISDub, check out their:
Facebook
Twitter
DVD Store
Youtube Channel

The 411: ISW is responsible for one of the most fun and invigorating live event experiences of my life, and as a result, I will always have a soft spot for them. I strong suggest that you check out some of their matches and that you check out one of their live shows if you get a chance.
Final Score:  6.8   [ Average ]