FBW One Year Anniversary Show: A Night To Remember 6/5/2015

Written by: Bob Colling

Five Borough Wrestling presents One Year Anniversary: A Night To Remember
Date: 6/5/2015
From: Queens, NY

Opening Contest: Brian Myers vs. Tony Nese: Myers takes Nese down to the mat and keeps control of the left arm for a few moments. Myers hits a swinging scoop slam causing Nese to roll to the floor to regroup. Nese shoulder blocks Myers and comes off the ropes only to be met with a dropkick by Myers for a two count. Myers rams Nese face first into the corner. Nese trips Myers off the middle rope causing Myers to fall to the mat. Nese keeps control by choking Myers over the bottom rope. Nese nails Myers with a strike and knocks Myers to the floor. Nese comes off the apron to deliver an axe handle and slams Myers face first onto the apron before returning to the ring. Nese connects with a couple of leg drops for a two count. Myers fights back with right hands, but Nese trips Myers while running the ropes. Nese chops Myers on the floor and does a cartwheel on the apron. Myers kicks Nese on the floor and tries for a slingshot crossbody, but is met with an uppercut in midair.

Nese rolls Myers into the ring and hits a slingshot splash for a two count. Nese controls Myers with a body scissors on the mat. Myers runs out of the corner with a clothesline. Myers hammers away on Nese with right hands. Myers hits a leaping forearm and a dropkick. Myers strikes Nese in the corner followed by a sit out scoop slam for a two count. Nese tries for a tornado DDT, but settles for a running dropkick and running knee in the corner for a two count. Myers hits a jumping flapjack for a near fall. Myers waits in the corner for Nese to get up and misses a spear. Nese nearly wins with a rollup. Nese kicks Myers but runs into a right hand. Nese double stomps Myers for a two count. Nese heads to the top rope, but leaps off and ducks a clothesline. Myers hits a weak looking spear and wins the match. (**1/2. I’d say it was an effective opening match but it lacked explosive offense and the kind of pacing that would ideally get the crowd pumped for the remainder of the show. I wasn’t expecting Myers to go over at all as I feel like he’s best used to get others over.)

Second Contest: Casanova Valentine vs. Stockade vs. Joe Ettell: Stockade attacks Valentine during his entrance, but Valentine knocks Stockade off the apron to the floor. Valentine hits an overhead belly to belly on Ettell. Valentine works over Ettell with strikes until Stockade whakcs both men with a weapon. Stockade beats on Valentine around ringside with strikes and has crutches. Stockade slams Valentine onto the floor. Stockade leaps off the apron to elbow drop Valentine on the floor. Stockade does the elbow drop a second time off the apron. Ettell hits a somersault dive off the top to the floor to take both men out. Ettell works over Valentine with strikes for a two count. Ettell plants Valentine with a DDT onto a steel chair for a two count. Ettell chokes Valentine with a baking sheet before hitting Valentine with it and does the same to Stockade. Ettell uses a crutch on Stockade and Valentine for a few moments. Stockade stops Ettell with a cooking sheet shot and whacks the sheet on Ettell’s groin.

Stockade chokes Valentine with a crutch to send Valentine into the corner. Stockade puts Valentine’s head in a chair and whacks Valentine with a crutch. Stockade powerbombs Ettell but Valentine hits a clothesline on Stockade. Valentine and Stockade trade strikes while on their knees. Stockade delivers several headbutts. Ettell superkicks Stockade and nails Valentine with a kick for a one count. Ettell is met with a double spinebuster. Stockade decks Valentine and misses a chair shot in the corner. Valentine sends Stockade back first into the corner. Valentine sits Stockade on a chair and hits a spinning heel kick for a two count. Ettell uses a pipe to break the cover. Ettell comes off the top to hit Valentine over the head for another two count. Stockade hits a Death Valley Driver on Ettell onto the steel chair. Valentine hits Stockade with a cooking sheet. Valentine gets decked by Stockade with a lariat and that leads to a three count for the win. (*1/2. I didn’t know this was an apparent hardcore match until they started using crutches and chairs without any stoppage by the referee. This dragged on for way too long and didn’t need to get this amount of time. Trim this in half and it’s probably more enjoyable.)

Val Venis has a drastically different look for the next match. Venis is wearing basketball shorts and a short sleeve shirt. He has nowhere near the muscle mass that he had previously.

Alex Reynolds and John Silver come out and talk about how they have been left off another show for FBW. Reynolds wants to be part of this match right now. They try to attack, but get sent to the floor quickly by the other six men involved in the match.

Third Contest: Val Venis & Milk Chocolate (Brandon Watts & Randy Summers) vs. Robbie E & Team Tremendous (Bill Carr & Dan Barry) vs The Beaver Boys (Alex Reynolds & John Silver): Venis and Barry start the six man tag match. Barry taunts Venis by doing his hip thrust taunt. Venis shoulder blocks Barry and hits a vertical suplex for a one count. Barry backs Venis into a corner and delivers a few strikes to gain the advantage. Venis stops Barry with another shoulder block. Venis beats on Barry in the corner with right hands. Summers comes off the top to axe handle Barry and keeps wrist control. Venis tags back in and kicks Barry’s left arm. Barry backs Venis into his corner and Carr tags in to deliver strikes. Barry asks Venis how high he is and Venis denies having any pot on him. Barry kicks Venis on the knee and Carr returns to beat on Venis with strikes. Barry hits a splash from the apron for a two count. Barry tries for a dropkick, but Venis holds onto the ropes. Summers enters and almost gets a pin on Barry. Barry kicks Summers and Reynolds enters the match to deliver a clothesline. Summers clotheslines Reynolds, but Silver tags in to powerbomb Summers onto Reynolds knees.

Silver works over Summers with uppercuts in the corner before tagging in Reynolds. Reynolds clotheslines Summers and tries for a suplex, but Summers counters with an inside cradle for a two count. Robbie E enters and beats on Summers with strikes in the corner. Barry puts Summers in a tree of woe to hit a slingshot dropkick in the corner. E chokes Summers in the corner and is screaming about it. Barry sends Summers into the corner but runs into a boot. Summers plants Barry with a tornado DDT. Reynolds gets tagged in, but Venis gets the tag and cleans house. Venis hits a neckbreaker on Reynolds and Watts gets tagged in. Watts slams Reynolds and Venis heads to the top, but is kicked by Barry to the floor. Watts dropkicks Barry in the corner and Summers hits a running boot. Watts connects with a running knee in the corner, as well. E gets decked to the floor and Carr is double teamed with strikes. Carr kicks Summers and plants Watts with a swinging side slam. Barry hits a backflip Doomsday Device on Watts, but Reynolds tosses Barry to the floor and pins Watts for the win. (**1/2. I feel like Val Venis and Robbie E were completely not needed to be involved in this match. I would have just made it a three way tag match since the focus was on those teams anyway. The action was decent and the cheap finish for the Beaver Boys gives them some added heat with the crowd.)

Fourth Contest: DJ Hyde vs. Jared Evans, Joe Bronson & Joey Vega: It was advertised as being Maxwell Jacob Friedman as one of the three opponents, but he’s for sure not one of the guys DJ Hyde is going to destroy. Hyde spears his opponents a few times and naturally drops them on their heads, too. Hyde pins all three men at once because he’s so good at professional wrestling. After the match, Joe Gacy comes out and confronts Hyde. Gacy is looking for a fight with Hyde. Hyde tells Gacy they’ll wrestle on August 20th.

Fifth Contest: Talon vs. Amazing Red: Early on, Red controls Talon with a hammerlock, but Talon takes Red down to the mat. Red counters with a head scissors on the mat. They have a standoff when Talon breaks free from the head scissors. Talon knee lifts Red to gain the advantage. Talon taunts the crowd after a shoulder block, but Red drop toe holds Talon followed by a dropkick. Red hits a dropkick to send Talon to the floor. Red takes Talon out with a suicide dive. Red goes to the top rope and hits a missile dropkick for a two count. Talon sends Red chest first into the middle turnbuckle and hits a back suplex. Talon pummels Red with right hands on the mat. Talon connects with a clothesline and a leg drop for a two count. Talon sends Red hard back first into the corner and chokes Red for a few moments. Talon slams Red and goes to the apron to hit a slingshot elbow drop for a two count.

Talon forearms Red a few times to the apron. Red shoulder rams Talon, but gets stopped with a knee strike on the apron. Talon hits a Falcon Arrow for a two count. Talon tries to get a submission, but Red refuses to give up in a modified surfboard. Red chops Talon against the ropes but runs into a tilt a whirl backbreaker. Talon misses a top rope Swanton bomb. Red hammers away on Talon and hits a standing hurricanrana. Red dropkicks Talon in the corner and hits a head scissors for a two count. Talon avoids a kick and locks in a Crossface in the middle of the ring. Red is in the middle of the ring, but is able to reach the ropes to break the hold. Talon strikes the referee on a punch in the corner. The referee is out of position as Red nearly wins with a rollup. That was oddly timed. Red runs into a kick but staggers Talon with a kick and hits the Code Red for the win. (**. The closing sequence was really bizarre. The referee bump was awkward as Talon was kneeling and waiting for several moments before Red started the action again. It seemed odd and maybe a miscommunication. The action was okay and it seemed to serve a purpose on the undercard.) After the match, Talon wants to shake hands to show respect. Talon actually shakes Red’s hand without an attack. Talon seems to turn face after breaking a sign that says “God Hates Fans”.

Sixth Contest: The Mega Muscles (Big O & Mike Verna), Rude Boy Riley & Matt Striker vs. Blake Morris, Trevor Lee, Anthony Gangone & Logan Black in an elimination match: All eight men are in the ring and begin to brawl after Striker is slapped by the other teams manager. O tosses Morris over the top to the floor and everyone is brawling outside the ring. Riley takes everyone out with a somersault dive. Verna barely hits a springboard moonsault to take out a group of guys on the floor. Riley arm drags Black a few times in the ring until a forearm stops Riley. Riley connects with a yakuza kick kn Black. Lee decks Riley but Verna hammers away on Lee a few times and clotheslines himself and Lee to the floor. Striker controls Gangone with an ankle lock, but Gangone rolls through to nearly win with a rollup. Striker has an arm lock on Gangone until Morris breaks that up with a kick. O enters and gets beaten down by all four men. O breaks free and cleans house with clotheslines and a shoulder block. O slams Gangone to the mat and plays to the crowd. O has Morris on his shoulder, but gets shoved away. Morris pretends that O hit him with a chair and tosses it to O and the referee calls for the bell.

Striker gets on the microphone and asks the referee thinks he saw the chair used and the fans chant insults at the referee. Apparently, Big O has been eliminated? Striker and Lee square off with both men trading pin attempts. They do a comedy spot with the referee nearly pinning Lee. Morris enters the match as does Verna. Morris attacks Verna from behind and quickly tags in Black. Verna forearms Black several times followed by an overhead belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Striker drop toe holds Black allowing Verna to deliver an elbow drop. Striker plants Black with a cutter, but Black gets pulled to the corner and Morris tags in. Lee and Gangone knee strike Striker and Morris pins Striker with a superkick to eliminate Striker.

Verna and Riley are attacked by all four heels with Verna being taken out on the floor and Riley left in the ring. Morris beats on Riley with strikes followed by a clothesline. Lee enters the match and taunts the crowd while working over Riley. Lee sends Riley chest first into the corner and the rope pops off. Lee chokes Riley with the bottom rope. Gangone pulls Riley ribs first into the ring post. Gangone kicks Riley off the apron to the floor before getting a two count in the ring. Gangone pump kicks Riley and nearly wins with a rollup. Gangone slams Riley and Lee goes to the top rope but is met with a boot by Riley. Riley hammers away on Lee, but Lee connects with a kick to the head. Riley counters a German suplex with a rollup to eliminate Lee! Lee kicks Riley and Verna after being pinned.

Gangone works over Riley and Verna, but Riley kicks Gangone to the mat. Verna gets the tag and cleans house with clotheslines on Gangone. Verna splashes Gangone and hits a snap powerslam for a two count. Riley kicks Black and sends Black to the floor. Verna lifts Gangone into a kick by Riley to pin Gangone for another elimination. Morris low blows Verna and is able to eliminate Verna from the match.

Black and Morris double team Riley but they can’t put Riley away. Riley takes Morris down and nearly wins with a rollup. Black tags in and Riley hits a middle rope knee strike. Riley misses a knee strike and Black connects with a running forearm. Black is met with a knee strike on the jaw and Riley pins Black leaving Morris as the only other challenger.

Morris tosses Riley with a German suplex. Morris avoids a knee strike and locks in a Boston Crab on Riley in the middle of the ring. Riley nearly wins with the match with a rollup and nails Morris with a knee strike, but the referee gets pulled out of the ring. Verna decks the manager on the floor as Riley comes off the top and Morris hits a superkick in midair to win the match. (**1/4. Well, there was certainly heat for the match which made it easier to watch. I’m glad they went in the different direction of the heels still winning the match after having the advantage. Had they done the played out “faces prevail” I probably would have been disappointed. The order of eliminations for the faces was kind of bizarre to me, as well.) After the match, Big O comes out and signs a contract for a match but I can’t possibly tell what they are talking about. O puts over Verna as a growing performer over the years.

Seventh Contest: TJ Marconi vs. Smiley: Marconi shoves Smiley to the mat and pie faces him. Smiley takes off his mask to reveal another mask and works over Marconi with several strikes. Marconi misses a big boot and Smiley nearly wins after a standing moonsault. Smiley hits a few kneeling DDTs for a one count. Smiley misses a springboard 450 splash. Marconi tosses Smiley to the mat and taunts the crowd. Marconi chokes Smiley in the corner before sending Smiley hard back first into the corner. Marconi hits a slingshot suplex for a near fall. Marconi drives Smiley down with a shoulder breaker. Smiley kicks Marconi and tries a head scissors, but Marconi cartwheels and nails Smiley with a boot. Marconi tosses Smiley across the ring. Marconi connects with a big boot for a two count. Marconi connects with a side slam for a two count, but Marconi lifts Smiley’s shoulders up. Marconi tosses Smiley to the mat and taunts the referee to count a three. Smiley head scissors Marconi and delivers a kick leading to a split legged moonsault for a two count. Marconi avoids an arm drag and a head scissors. Marconi plants Smiley with a powerbomb for a two count. Smiley hits a hurricanrana and a few chops in the corner. Smiley comes off the middle rope and Marconi hit a side slam for a near fall. Smiley plants Marconi with a springboard bulldog. Smiley hits a springboard crossbody for a two count. Smiley leaps off the top but is met with a chokeslam and Marconi wins the match. (**1/2. There were a few times that I felt the pacing for the match felt a little off and it may have dragged a little longer than it needed to go. However, the action was solid enough and I enjoyed what they did here.) After the match, Marconi shakes hands with Smiley but proceeds to drop Smiley with a big boot.

Eighth Contest: Andrew Everett vs. Caleb Konley: Everett hammers away on Konley followed by a dropkick to send Konley to the floor. Everett fakes a dive to the floor and plays to the crowd. Everett connects with a dropkick and rams Konley into the corner. Konley forearms Everett off the apron but misses a slingshot crossbody. Everett slaps Konley and is met with a forearm. Everett stops Konley with a kick to the head. Konley dropkicks Everett dangerously in midair on a moonsault attempt. Konley catapults Everett throat first into the bottom rope. Konley works over Everett with a nerve hold in the corner for a moment. Konley tries for a suplex back into the ring, but Everett hangs on and tries for a suplex. Konley leg sweeps Everett off the apron to the floor. Konley works over Everett with a chop on the floor and crotches Everett over the railing. Konley chops Everett back over the railing into the ringside area. Konley hits a snap suplex on the floor. They begin to trade strikes on the floor until Konley sends Everett into the post. Konley works over the left knee of Everett to maintain control for a few moments. Konley locks in a figure four leg lock, but doesn’t get a submission.

Konley sends Everett chest first into the corner and gets a two count. Everett elbows Konley and goes to the apron to hit a springboard missile dropkick. Everett forearms Konley to the mat a few times followed by a slam. Everett hits a standing shooting star press for a two count. Everett tries for a suplex, but Konley counters with a forearm. Everett fights off and hits a spinning kick followed by a German suplex for a two count. Everett heads to the top rope, but Konley bails to the floor to avoid the move. Konley drops Everett over the top rope. Konley runs the ropes to deliver a Pounce! Konley hits a modified Cradle Shock for a two count. Konley puts a submission hold on Everett, but that doesn’t last very long. Everett kicks his way free and dropkicks Konley while on his back. Konley hits a suplex for a two count. Konley misses a top rope moonsault and runs into a boot by Everett. Everett hits a tornado DDT and a reverse hurricanrana for a two count. Everett tries to climb to the top rope, but Konley stops Everett for a moment. Konley delivers a kick to stop Everett on the top turnbuckle. Everett shoves Konley off the middle rope, but Konley shoves the referee into the ropes. Konley takes advantage as Everett fell to the mat and earns the pin. (***. The finish was kind of lackluster just because it’s the kind of finish you’d see in the 80s and I don’t think it really applied well to the kind of match they presented. The action was rather good regardless of the finish, though. The match flew by and I thought both men looked good in there.)

Ninth Contest: David Starr vs. JT Dunn: They trade a few headlocks early on as it’s a slow start to the match. Dunn kicks Starr on the arm and hits a standing hurricanrana for a two count. Starr ducks a kick attempt and awkwardly delivers a strike with his leg. Starr forearms Dunn in the corner and that sends Dunn to the floor. Dunn blocks a dive with an uppercut and chops Starr to the mat. Starr connects with a gut buster to keep Dunn on the mat for a two count. Starr dropkicks Dunn for another near fall. Starr keeps working over Dunn with strikes to the midsection. Starr pokes Dunn in the eyes to maintain control of the contest. Starr digs his knee into Dunn’s shoulder blades. Dunn forearms Starr and kicks Starr away in the corner. Starr hits a tilt a whirl slam to drive Dunn down to the mat gut first for a near fall. Starr controls Dunn with an abdominal stretch on the mat. Dunn stops Starr with a jawbreaker and jump kick. Starr knee lifts Dunn in the midsection. Dunn clotheslines Starr a few times followed by a knee strike.

Starr elbows Dunn in the corner but runs into a forearm strike. Dunn plants Starr with a Rock Bottom for a near fall. Starr sends Dunn over the top to the apron and hits a springboard clothesline to drop Dunn on the apron. Starr grabs Dunn on the middle rope for a superplex but Dunn breaks free and shoves Starr over the top to the floor. Dunn delivers a running kick from the apron to knock Starr down on the floor. Dunn puts Starr over the railing gut first. Dunn misses a leg drop off the apron and hits the railing. Starr drops Dunn back first over the railing. Dunn is able to barely get into the ring to avoid a count-out. Starr beats on Dunn with several strikes on the mat. Starr delivers a penis strike, which was similar to the awkward move earlier. Dunn tries for a cutter, but Starr counters with a forearm strike. Dunn elbows Starr coming off the ropes. Starr kicks Dunn in the corner followed by a big boot. Dunn superkicks Starr, but Starr delivers a strike. Starr drops Dunn over his knee followed by a superkick for a two count.

Dunn shoves Starr away in the corner and delivers a superkick followed by a cutter for a near fall. Dunn heads to the top rope managing to hit a double stomp to Starr’s back for a two count. Dunn decks Starr with a roaring elbow to earn the clean victory. (***1/2. I really enjoyed this match as it was mostly constant action and they had a few good near falls. I’d consider this a big win for Dunn and the I really liked that he was given a clean pin over a guy like Starr. This may be one of Dunn’s better showings that I’ve seen thus far.)

Tenth Contest: Kimber Lee vs. Tessa Blanchard: Lee has wrist control of Blanchard early on. They trade hammerlocks with Blanchard taking Lee down to the mat and they have a standoff. Blanchard gets the advantage on a test of strength, but Lee bridges herself up and gets control for a moment, as well. Lee forearms Blanchard against the ropes and delivers a chop. Blanchard head scissors Lee to the floor and hits a somersault dive off the apron! Blanchard gets a two count back in the ring. Blanchard takes Lee over with a double under hook suplex for a two count. Blanchard forearms Lee in the corner a few times, but Lee fights back with chops of her own. Blanchard takes Lee over with a suplex for a near fall. Blanchard misses a clothesline and Lee delivers a kick to the midsection. Blanchard tries for a suplex, but Lee blocks it. Lee manages to hit a vertical suplex for a near fall. Lee works over Blanchard in the corner with kicks. Lee keeps Blanchard on the mat with a submission, but Tessa isn’t going to give up.

Blanchard leans backwards and almost pins Lee from that position. Lee rams Tessa head first into the corner, but Blanchard comes out of the corner with a neckbreaker. Tessa forearms Lee, but Lee comes back with a few strikes of her own. Lee leg sweeps Blanchard for a two count. Blanchard counters a DDT with a rollup for a two count. Blanchard hits a springboard bulldog for a near fall. Lee takes Blanchard down to the mat and wins the match with a quick rollup. (***. The abrupt finish was a little bit of a bummer. Still, I thought this was another solid match on the card. I know in 2019 Tessa has a lot of steam and interest, but she’s clearly on another level in 2015. Kimber Lee was effective, as well. I didn’t know what to expect leading into this match and they did very well.)

Main Event: Papadon vs. Samoa Joe: Joe backs Papadon into the corner, but slowly backs away. Papadon tells Joe that he’s not afraid of him after shoving Joe. Papadon backs Joe into a corner and pats Joe on the chest. Joe responds by shoving Papadon into the corner. Papadon and Joe trade some mat wrestling holds until Papadon reaches the bottom rope to break the hold. Joe works over Papadon with jabs in the corner. Papadon delivers a chop and Joe drops Papadon with a chop of his own. Joe connects with a leaping kick and boot scrapes Papadon in the corner. Joe tries for a running boot, but Papadon bails to the floor. Joe chops Papadon on the floor, but Papdon fires back with strikes at ringside. Papadon misses a chop and hits the post, but it looked odd. Papadon uppercuts Joe to the mat followed by a clothesline. Papadon works over Joe with a kick to the midsection. Joe snapmares Papadon and delivers a kick to the back. Papdon shoulder rams Joe in the corner. Papadon takes Joe over with a snap suplex for a two count.

Papadon nails Joe with a seated clothesline for a two count and freaks out on the referee for not counting to three. Joe fights back with several strikes, but Papadon hits a clothesline for a two count. Papadon plants Joe with a back suplex to keep momentum. Papadon leaps off the top rope, but misses a diving headbutt. Joe avoids Papdon in the corner and delivers a few chops. Joe atomic drops Papadon followed by a big boot and a senton splash for a near fall. Papadon uppercuts Joe, but Joe hits an STO for a near fall. Joe gets driven face first into the middle turnbuckle and Papadon hits a middle rope uppercut. Papadon kicks a kneelig Joe on the mat. Joe nearly wins with a rollup and is met with another kick. They begin to trade strikes with Joe getting the better of the exchange and nearly wins with a snap powerslam. Joe hits a powerbomb for a near fall and locks in an STF!

Joe switches to a Crossface, but Papadon manages to reach the bottom rope to break the hold. Papadon hits a German suplex for a near fall. Papadon chops Joe but runs into a knee lift. Papadon decks Joe with a forearm strike for a near fall. Joe goes for the Muscle Buster, but Papadon lands on his feet and low blows Joe for the blatant disqualification. (*1/2. Well, that finish was incredibly lame. The action was rather boring and uninteresting for the most part, too. The action never felt like it got out of first gear. I’m not really sure I can buy into Papadon in this kind of role, either.) After the match, Papadon superkicks the referee. Brian Myers comes out to spear Papadon and Joe hits the Muscle Buster to send the fans home happy.

Final Thoughts:
This is the first FBW show that I decided to watch and I can honestly say that it didn’t feel like a bad show. Dunn/Starr and Lee/Tessa were the standout matches that I enjoyed quite a bit. I’m going to consider this an average wrestling show, but it had some positive entertainment on it.

Thanks for reading.