PWG DDTIV Night One 5/17/2008

Written by: TJ Hawke

May 17, 2008
Burbank, CA

Commentators: Excalibur, Dino Winwood, & Shane Matthews

Hook Bomberry vs. Nemesis
I’m a big supporter of Hook Bomberry.

Hook cut off Nemisis and briefly worked him over. Nemesis eventually made a comeback. They started going back and forth. Hook finished him with a low blow and then a Michinoku Driver: 1…2…3

This just felt like a waste of time, quite frankly. There wasn’t anything wrong with the mechanics of it. It just seemed pointless.
Match Rating: *

Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament 2008 First Round Match
2.0 (Jagged & Shane Matthews) vs. Los Luchas (Zokre & Phoenix Star)
This was the PWG debut for 2.0. I do not believe that they have ever returned.

There was some back and forth action. Los Luchas hit stereo dives. 2.0 eventually got the advantage. They worked over Phoenix Star. He eventually escaped, and Zokre made a hot tag. The teams went back and forth. Los Luchas eventually pinned Jagged after a double team move.

Both teams worked hard and put together some decent sequences. I didn’t get into the match too much, but it was fairly enjoyable.
Match Rating: **1/2

Candice LeRae vs. TJ Perkins (w/ Hook Bomberry)
TJP cut a whiny promo before the match about his lot in life.

Candice ran wild a bit, but TJP quickly cut her off and then worked her over. Candice threatened a comeback a few times, but TJP kept cutting her off again. TJP eventually got too cocky, and Candice made a comeback. She hit the tope tornado DDT. Back in the ring, TJP fought back. They fucked up a neckbreaker spot by the looks of it. Could have been on purpose. Candice was building some momentum, but TJP blocked a moonsault. He then hit a frog splash: 1…2…3

This was fine, and it had some nifty sequences. This could be a whole lot better now (in 2015). They could even do a story about TJP thinking misandry is an actual thing whereas Candice is a logical human being.
Match Rating: **1/2

Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament2008 First Round Match
Jack Evans & Roderick Strong vs. Ronin & Scorpio Sky
Evans was entually cut off and worked over. Evans eventually did a springboard flip to escape, and Roddy made a comeback. The teams started going back and forth. Roddy and Evans eventually finished their opponents after one of their double-team sequences with many moving parts. Wikipedia says it’s called Skipping a Generation.

This match did not make a huge impression on me, but it was a fun sprint. They got in, got out, and didn’t waste any time. That gets a thumbs up from me.
Match Rating: ***

Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament 2008 First Round Match
El Blazer & KAGETORA vs. The Dynasty (Joey Ryan & Scott Lost)
The match started with some fun back and forth action. El Blazer looked really good. He was eventually cut off though and then worked over. He eventually took down Joey with a satellite DDT, and KAGETORA then made a hot tag. The teams went back and forth again. It was pretty damn fun to watch. Blazer did this amazing spot where he ran along the top rope to dropkick Lost and then hit a spiked hurricanrana: 1…2…3!!!

Wow, this felt like a match from the Reseda years of PWG. Blazer and KAGETORA looked fantastic, and it’s a shame they did not come over again after this weekend. They were clearly a fantastic team.
Match Rating: ***3/4

Austin Aries vs. Jay Briscoe
An injury to Mark Briscoe forced Jay into singles action.

Aries got control early on. Jay came back after a reverse STO into the corner. Aries came back after his heat seeking missile. They started going back and forth. Jay may have lost a tooth. Aries hit a backdrop driver and a corner IED kick. Jay came back with a diving gourd buster. Aries reversed a Samoan Drop into a crucifix bomb. He hit the punt to the head and applied the Horns of Aries. Jay actually tapped out.

A surprisingly physical match that really over-delivered in my eyes. I sometimes forget how hard Aries was working in 2008 on the indies.
Match Rating: ***

PWG World Tag Team Title Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament 2008 First Round Match
El Generico & Kevin Steen (c) vs. Davey Richards & Super Dragon
The match immediately broke down, as they all started brawling on the floor. Lots of chairs were used. Actually, this all took place before the match. Davey brought Generico into the ring, as the match officially started. Davey wiped out Generico his wild tope con hello. Steenerico fought back and worked over Davey. Super Dragon and Davey came right back though and worked Generico over again. He of course escaped eventually, and Steen made a hot tag. Generico wiped out Dragon with a Fosbury Flop. Generico and Davey then went back and forth. The teams kept going and going. And going. The match seemed very awkward by this point. Davey went for the SSP on Generico, but Generico got the knees up. He then ate the package piledriver/brainbuster combo.

This match was actually humming along nicely for a while, but then it just completely fell apart in the final minutes and got very awkward. I don’t know what happened. Considering this was Super Dragon’s last match for over three years, I’m guessing things broke down after he got another massive concussion.
Match Rating: **3/4

Steen and Excalibur went back and forth on the mic after the match. Excalibur called his son ugly. Steen gave Excalibur three pack piledrivers in a row. Steen went and got his baby son. WE HAVE A MATCH!

Owen Steen vs. Excalibur
Owen pins Excalibur: 1…2…3!

Match Rating: *****

Final Thoughts:
A PWG from 2008 that is spotty overall??? Who would have guessed! I’m glad I went back and watched it though just because of KAGETORA/El Blazer. They were great.