Views from the Hawke’s Nest: PWG It’s It (What Is It?) 2008

Reseda, California

Commentators: Excalibur, Dino Winwood, & Human Tornado

The show started with Joey Ryan and Scott Lost in the ring. Apparently a bunch of people are not going to be here. They did the open challenge gimmick.

Scott Lost (w/ Joey Ryan) vs. Mikey Nicholls
This is not the Reseda environment that you would know from modern PWG. This show is half-empty and could best be described as “politely invested.” Lost cut him off early and worked him over. Nicholls eventually caught him with a kick to the head, and he then made a comeback. Lost blocked a super hurricanrana and hit a senton atomico. Nicholls came back with a Liger Bomb for a nearfall. Lost avoided a shooting star press, and he then suplexed them to the floor. Lost then spiked him with an Ace Crusher on the apron. Lost hit a superplex: 1…2…3

This was a perfectly acceptable professional wrestling match. It was not especially exciting, but it was proficient.
Match Rating: **1/2

Scorpio Sky vs. Hook Bomberry
“The Homophobe vs. the greatest professional wrestler that ever lived.”

Sky was running through him early, but Bomberry quickly cut him off and then worked him over. Hook Bomberry is so damn amusing. Sky was able to slow him down with a gamengiri. Sky made a comeback. Sky hit a tope con hello. Bomberry avoided a frog splash and then made a comeback of his own. Hook got an armbar. Sky survived, but Hook then got a nearfall with a Michinoku Driver. Sky made a comeback and hit a TKO: 1…2…3

Much like the opener, this was a perfectly acceptable professional wrestling contest. Thankfully, Hook Bomberry was amusing and ensured that this match didn’t feel all that similar to the opener.
Match Rating: **1/2

Joey Ryan vs. Candice LeRae
EVEN IN 2008, I CANNOT GET AWAY FROM THIS FUCKING MATCH. FUCK.

Ryan said that if LeRae can hit a body slam, she’ll automatically win. Ryan got control of the match and repeatedly hit body slams. LeRae constantly went for the body slam. Candice avoided the Mustache Ride and made a comeback. She avoided the Boobplex and hit the ballplex. This is the exact same match that they’ve been having in hell, presumably. Ref bump. LeRae hit the body slam, but the ref didn’t see it. Ryan hit a boobplex, a spear, and a powerbomb: 1…2…3

Death, taxes, and Joey Ryan vs. Candice LeRae.
Match Rating: Death

Scott Lost and Chris Bosh had an in-ring segment. It lasted forever. Scorpio Sky joined in on the awfulness. Somehow, it finally ended with Bosh vs. Sky set for the upcoming PWG anniversary show.

Davey Richards vs. Brandon Bonham
Davey was six months from putting it together. Bonham was in indie CM Punk tribute gear.

They did a lot of technical stuff to start the match. Davey also occasionally used some strikes. It was not that interesting. After Bonham missed a dive, Davey worked him over. I literally started scanning Twitter instead of watching this match. When I turned back to the television, Davey threw a chair at Brandon and then gave him a body slam on the floor. Ouch. Bonham managed to finally come back with a tope con hello. Back in the ring, Bonham got a weak nearfall with a Sliding D. Davey came back with a sliding lariat. Davey rolled through a super hurricanrana and locked in a Cloverlearf. Bonham made the ropes. Bonham missed a springboard move, and Davey locked in the Cloverleaf. Bonham didn’t tap out, and the time limit expired. Awful finish to a boring match.

Davey gives him the Davey Richards Speech after the match.

This was a boring Davey formula match that ended with a time limit draw and a Davey speech. Need I say more?
Match Rating: **

El Generico vs. Austin Aries
Save this show.

Aries managed to get control of the match, and he worked Generico over for a while. Generico was eventually able to come back with a Tijuana Moonsault. Back in the ring, Generico got a nearfall with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Aries avoided a brainbuster and locked in the Last Chancery. Generico survived, but Aries then punted him in the face. Half-nelson suplex from Generico. Aries hit a backdrop driver. Generico then hit a Yakuza and a brainbuster: 1…2…3.

This was easily the best match on the show so far. It wasn’t anything special, but it was fun. My rating is probably generous, but this was a MOTYC compared to the rest of the show.
Match Rating: ***

Chris Hero vs. Jack Evans vs. The Necro Butcher
For some reason, there are TAGS being utilized in this match. That probably does not bode well for the effort that these three men will put forward. I hope I am wrong. Jack did some flips. Hero did some rolls. Necro awkwardly walked around the ring like an old man. They ended up on the floor to do some awkward brawling. This is a weird match. The brawling picked up, as they were throwing lots of chairs. Necro dominated the majority of the brawling portion. Jack hit a 450 to the floor on Necro. Hero just managed to avoid it. HERO DID AN ASAI MOONSAULT! He then started some shit with Human Tornado, who was on commentary for the match. Necro got a nearfall with a Gibson Driver. Evans got a nearfall with a springboard Meteora. Evans then hit a 650, but Necro saved the match. Necro’s mobility level in 2008 is pretty much what it’s been in 2013 (not high, in other words). Hero had Evans in a submission. Tornado interfered. There was a schmoz. Hero eventually knocked out Necro with an elbow: 1…2…3

Hero and Tornado had a super serial brawl after the match. Hero then called for a Guerrilla Warfare match in a cage for the title. They brawled some more. Someone got nailed in the back of the head with a thrown chair. That was really reckless of Tornado.

I was actually enjoying this far more than I expected before the finish happened. That finish ensured that this was the worst PWG show that I have ever seen.
Match Rating: **3/4

The 411: This is without question, the worst PWG show that I have ever seen. It almost feels like someone tried to recreate PWG by using a similar roster, the same arena, the same commentators, etc, but they just did not understand what made PWG click. The matchups were lame (except for Aries/Generico, which is actually very neat on paper), and the booking of the main event finish was super annoying. However, the worst thing about this show is clearly that the crowd gave very few fucks about this show. The crowds were polite about everything, but there was no passion. Huge thumbs down for this DVD. I spent $1.99 on it, and I don't think I got my money's worth.

Final Score:  4.0   [ Poor ]