Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Beyond Wrestling Americanrana 2013

July 21, 2013
Providence, RI

Commentators: Biff Busick, Steve “The Turtle” Weiner, Bryce Remsburg, Drew Gulak, Dan Barry, Bill Carr, Dave Cole, Kevin Steen, Chris Dickinson, Johnny Gargano

Shane Strickland vs. David Starr vs. Sozio vs. Latin Dragon
This is an elimination match. All four of these guys are CZW roster members.

Dragon hit Sozio with a standing moonsault off the apron. Swerve went for a springboard move, but Starr caught him with a German. Dragon attacked Swerve and Starr. Dragon then caught Sozio with a schoolboy: 1…2…3
Sozio was eliminated.

Swerve went for a tope con hello, but Starr avoided it. Starr went for a rope suicida, but Swerve caught him with an enzuigiri. Starr then gave Swerve ROLLING Alabama Slams: 1..2…NO! Boston Crab from Starr. Swerve escaped and killed Starr with a ghetto stomp: 1…2…3!
David Starr was eliminated.

Dragon and Swerve went at it. Dragon killed him with a Michinoku Driver for a nearfall. Swerve killed him with an axe kick, and he then hit his twisting piledriver: 1…2…NO! Dragon avoided the ghetto stomp and hit a reverse DVD: 1…2…3!

Wow, the crowd was absolutely into this as if it was the main event. The wrestlers kept everything light and fun; I enjoyed this a lot. Starr is definitely a talent to keep an eye on. He didn’t get to show off everything in his arsenal here, but he’s a talent that can really go places. With all that said, I think this match would have been better if it was a single fall match. Short elimination matches always kind of bug me.
Match Rating: ***

Drew Gulak vs. Chris Dickinson: “There Must Be A Winner”
These are two of my favorites on the Beyond roster. I believe this is the first time they have ever had a proper match. They recently had a match in CZW that only went a minute and ended in a No Contest. Hence the “There Must Be A Winner” tagline.

Gulak got an early nearfall with a lariat. Gulak actually had the early advantage. Dickinson killed him with an overhead chop to the chest. That sounded like it hurt. Gulak slammed Dickinson into the ropes. Dickinson came back with a NASTY kick to the calf. Dickinson got the figure four. Gulak reversed it. He then hit a saito suplex. Dickinson came back with a deadlift powerbomb: 1…2…NO! They traded strikes until Dickinson hit a Border Toss!!! That was a great nearfall. Gulak tried to lock in an armbar from the turnbuckle, but he fell to the floor. Back in the ring, Gulak fired back with three nasty elbows. Gu-Lock! Dickinson escaped and killed him with a German: 1…NO! Dickinson went for another Border Toss, but Gulak got the Gu-Lock again! Dickinson escaped, and the traded strikes. Gulak eventually caught him with a rolling elbow: 1…2…3!!!

Dickinson thanked the fans for coming to the show.

These two guys are so talented. This was a fantastic way for the “official” show to start. They worked a crowd pleasing style, and it was very…pleasing. It’s a shame that Dickinson has burned so many bridges in the industry; he has the talent to be a player in the most prominent independent companies of America. Gulak continues the roll he has been on for a few years. He should absolutely be in Ring of Honor and PWG right now.
Match Rating: ***1/2

Tremendous Investigations (Dan Barry & Bill Carr) vs. EYFBO (Angel Ortiz & Mike Draztik) vs. M1nute Men (Devin Blaze & Tommy Trainwreck) vs. Da Hoodz (Davey Cash & Kris Pyro)
This is a one-fall match.

Tremendous Investigations patted down Da Hoodz and EYFBO before the match. They then interrogated Angel Ortiz. They played good cop-bad cop with him. Ortiz was finally able to tag out to Draztik. Da Hoodz and the M!nute Men finally got into the match. They went back and forth. Ortiz wiped out Da Hoodz with a tope suicida. Draztik hit a double jump somersault plancha. BILL CARR THEN HIT A TOPE CON HELLO AND LANDED ON HIS FEET. Holy Fuck. Then someone hit a 619 hurricanrana using a column on the floor. Barry went to Razor’s Edge Blaze to the floor, but Blaze reversed it into a super hurricanrana to the floor! What. The Fuck. Best match ever. Back in the ring, all the moves were hit. Literally, all the moves. Finally, Tremendous Investigations hit Angel Ortiz with a double stomp/wheelbarrow slam combo: 1…2…3.

This seems like a throwaway match on this card, but everyone worked their asses and delivered one of the most fun matches in Beyond Wrestling history. Kudos to everyone involved. Don’t sleep on this match. It may end up being some people’s favorite match of the show.
Match Rating: ***3/4

Tabarnak de Team (Thomas Dubois & Mathieu St-Jacques) vs. #KOA (Aaron Epic & Sugar Dunkerton)
The ring announcer lets us know that Sugar Dunkerton is not here. A handicapped match breaks out. The Team suplexed Epic into a turnbuckle. Dave Cole made the save!

Tabarnak de Team (Thomas Dubois & Mathieu St-Jacques) vs. Aaron Epic & Dave Cole
Cole and Epic had a pair of really strong matches in 2012 in Beyond.

The Team got the heat on Cole for a while. The crowd sang the national anthem, which is more impressive than just chanting “USA!” Everyone in this match has a shaved head and black gear. I mention that because I just realized that Epic has been the one being worked over the whole time. Epic Hulked up and hit a stunner. Lol. Epic finally managed to tag out to Cole. Cole and Epic tried to finish TDT, but they couldn’t put them away. TDT came back and powerbombed Cole into Epic. They then gave Epic their powerbomb finisher: 1…2…3.

This was a very solid undercard match. The action was good, the story of the match was sound, and the right team went over. It was a cool-down match, but it didn’t feel like a waste of time.
Match Rating: **3/4

Colt Cabana vs. JAKA
Colt was grossed out by JAKA’s bare feet. JAKA licked his own feet. Gross. Colt forced Bryce to kiss JAKA’s foot. That was good. JAKA hit a neckbreaker and a rolling thunder headbutt. JAKA got a nearfall with a headbutt. JAKA hit a belly-to-belly for a nearfall. JAKA went for a Stinger Splash, but Colt avoided it and made a comeback. Colt killed JAKA with a lariat: 1…2…NO! JAKA came back with a thrust kick, but Colt avoided the superfly splash. Colt then hit the Kota Ibushi superfly splash. That genuinely took me by surprise. JAKA hit the Baldo Bomb: 1…2…NO! JAKA charged at Colt, but Colt caught him with a GTS: 1…2…3

This was another fun match. Colt and JAKA put together a lot of clever stuff, and everything they did got over with the crowd. Thumbs up.
Match Rating: ***

Kevin Steen vs. MASADA
They started trading holds. They then traded strikes. They brawled on the floor. Then then then. MASADA hit a Russian legsweep on the floor. MASADA followed that up with a tope suicida. Steen dropped the bad knee of MASADA on the apron. Steen mocked him for doing a kickstarter. I believe it was actually a Give Forward. Steen tried to win by countout; he did snow angels in the ring. MASADA got back in the ring, but Steen went right back to working over the knee. KneeDT! STEEN HIT A SLEEPER SUPLEX!!!!!! AHHHHH! That was a nearfall. Steen went for a swanton, but MASADA got his knees up! That obviously caused much pain for MASADA, too. Steen went for the sharpshooter, but MASADA STUCK SKEWERS INTO STEEN’S SKULL. PILEDRIVER ON THE SKEWERS: 1…2…NO! Steen came back with a cannonball splash into the injured knee and a sharpshooter! Steen stabbed his knee with a skewer!!! MASADA taps out!

I have to admit, when I heard Beyond decided on this matchup for Steen, I was a little disappointed. I’ve seen MASADA have some good matches over the years, but I feel like Fox, Gargano, Busick, and Dickinson were more interesting opponents for Steen. While I still feel like those opponents are more interesting, this match worked out perfectly well. The story of MASADA’s injured knee worked great, and I especially loved the finish. People view MASADA as a “deathmatch” guy (which is usually associated with stupidity), but he worked really smart here. If you’ve never seen him have a “regular” match, I think you’ll have a new appreciation for him after this match. I loved the desperation he showed after his knee got injured. As soon as Steen went for the knee, MASADA tried to end the match with a schoolboy. As Steen was about to squish him with a swanton, MASADA sacrificed his knees further to block the swanton. In his last bit of desperation, he actually stabbed Steen in the head to avoid the sharpshooter. So, when the sharpshooter is finally locked in, it makes so much sense that MASADA is forced to tap. I honestly think Beyond can come back with a rematch next year, which is saying something considering I didn’t want a first match.
Match Rating: ***1/2

Best of New England Series #1

Johnny Gargano vs. JT Dunn
The crowd was seemingly more behind Dunn than Gargano, which surprised me.

Steen let everyone know on commentary that he went to a Spice Girls concert a few years ago. Gargano went for the Code of Honor. “Gabe would be proud,” Kevin Steen. Gargano kicked Dunn instead. Dunn came back with a yakuza and a tope suicida. Dunn went for another suicida, but Gargano caught him with the Gotcha Spear. Dunn tried to come back with a springboard move, but Gargano did the Samoa Joe walkaway spot. Gargano was in control until they did the dueling crossbody spot. Dunn made a comeback and got a nearfall with an enzuigiri. Dunn then hit a Gotcha X-Factor: 1…2…NO! Gargano came back with a double stomp and the lawn dart: 1…2…NO! They traded strikes. They traded superkicks. I love superkicks. “This is awesome” chants. Gargano went for the Gargano Escape, but Dunn made the ropes. Dunn came back with a nice knee strike and a standing sliced bread: 1…2…NO! Dunn reversed a Hurt’s Donut into a rollup for a great nearfall. Superkick from Gargano, but Dunn showed FIGHTING SPIRIT and got a nearfall with a rolling elbow. Gargano came back with the Hurt’s Donut: 1…2…NO! Gargano Escape! Dunn taps out!

The crowd chanted “Great Fucking Match!” Gargano refused to shake Dunn’s hand after the match. He grudgingly slapped his hand after the fans chanted to “Shake his hand!”

Wow, this was a very fun match. This has to be the best match from JT Dunn I have ever seen. The crowd was into everything they did, and the wrestlers gave them a ton to react to. Gargano didn’t go overboard with his new heel shtick, but he made sure to get the crowd to rally behind Dunn. Dunn stepped up and had the match of his life. Dunn deserves more big opportunities on future Beyond shows, and Gargano should be brought back as often as possible. Great stuff.
Match Rating: ***3/4

Best of New England Series #2

AR Fox vs. Anthony Stone
On commentary, Dickinson had to explain who Stone was to Steen. Fox was on the turnbuckle. Steen told him to do a flip. Fox backflipped. Steen popped. Fox brought his Evolve title, CZW Wired title, and the WORLD CHILE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD belt. Fox was also wearing cargo shorts. Embrace the hate. Things started a little slowly. Fox got a nearfall with a codebreaker and another one with a split-legged moonsault. Fox pointed to his dick excitedly and then hit a bronco buster. If Beyond doesn’t put that clip online, I don’t understand pro wrestling. Fox hit a tope con hello. Fox then did the apron guillotine legdrop. Fox then locked in an ABDOMINAL STRETCH! Lol. They then did some “ninja spots.” It ended with Stone hitting an Arabian Press Moonsault. They traded pinning combinations. Stone hit a flying knee out of nowhere for a nearfall. Fox came back with a Thugbait and a 450 Splash: 1…2…NO! Fox went for the shooting star cannonball, but he came up empty. Stone managed to drop down on a pinfall attempt: 1…2…3

This was a little disappointing. This match was kind of a mess, as Stone seemed to botch a few things. Also, Fox was all over the place; he was doing heel stuff and high spots, seemingly at random. The story was inconsistent, and the finish wasn’t as satisfying as a result. With all that being said, the crowd was pretty into this, and they treated Stone’s win like a big deal.
Match Rating: **1/2

Best of New England Series #3
Eddie “Eddie Edwards” Edwards vs. Biff “The Carolina Panther” Busick
This is a rematch from the last Beyond Wrestling live show. Biff won that match.

They went back and forth with neither man being able to get an advantage. Eventually, Biff tumbled to the floor after missing a charge in the corner. Eddie attacked him on the floor for a bit until he missed a chop and hit a column. Biff took him down with a superkick after that. Eddie came back and dropped Biff on the apron. They ended up back in the ring, and they were trading chops. Eddie won. Busick fought back and hit a tope con hello! Eddie came back with a backpack stunner. They traded slaps until Biff killed him with a half and half. Superkick from Eddie! LARIAT from Biff! Biff went for a super half-nelson suplex, but Eddie avoided it. Eddie came back with a double stomp and a pair of powerbombs: 1…2…NO! Single leg crab! They traded kicks to the head. Eddie was winning and Bryce called for the bell! Eddie wins!

The fans chant “One More Match!” and “You Guys Killed It!” afterwards.

This was fantastic way to end the best show in Beyond Wrestling history. I would say this is the best match I have ever seen in Beyond. Eddie and Biff complement each other perfectly, and I only wish I saw their first match before this one.
Match Rating: ****

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

If you’re interested in checking out Beyond Wrestling, I recommend:
Biff Busick vs. Anthony Stone
Biff Busick vs. Drew Gulak
Biff Busick vs. Taka Suzuki
Dasher Hatfield & Mr. Touchdown vs. The Washington Bullets
Drew Gulak vs. Darius Carter
AR Fox vs. Mark Angel
AR Fox vs. ACH
Super Smash Bros. vs. Chris Dickinson & Jonny Mangue

The 411: Without a shadow of a doubt, this is the best show Beyond Wrestling has ever put together. For four years, they have been experimenting and tinkering, and they have had successes and failures. Since I've been following the promotion (late 2011), I've wondered if they could ever take that "next step." This is one those shows that confirms that they can be something special. Before this show, they ran about nine live events. While all those shows had something worth watching on them, they were all flawed shows that were justifiably ignored by large sections of the hardcore independent wrestling fanbase. This show is genuinely one of my favorite American wrestling shows of the year, and I only hope Beyond can come close matching this product from here on out. If they do, they could become a very popular promotion going into 2014. You can support Beyond Wrestling by buying this show on DVD and/or VOD.

Final Score:  8.3   [ Very Good ]