Written by: Bob Colling
Premiere Wrestling Xperience presents What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger II
Date: 11/30/2012
From: Charlotte, NC
Opening Contest: Kyle O’Reilly vs. Chip Day: O’Reilly controls Day by working over his left arm. O’Reilly backdrops Day to the mat and they have a standoff after Day briefly had a head scissors on O’Reilly. O’Reilly stops Day with a knee lift and a kick to the back. O’Reilly keeps Day on the mat with an abdominal stretch and gets a rollup for a two count. They trade a few forearm shots with O’Reilly delivering several strikes and a leg sweep to get a two count. Day drops O’Reilly over the middle rope and kicks the rope. Day works over O’Reilly with chops in the corner. Day kicks a seated O’Reilly over the back for a two count. Day keeps O’Reilly on the mat with a seated abdominal stretch. They trade a few forearms with neither man dropping to the canvas. Day forearms O’Reilly, but O’Reilly nails Day with a running kick to the chest. O’Reilly drops Day with a side suplex for a near fall. O’Reilly forearms Day in the corner, but Day runs the ropes to dropkick O’Reilly on the knee and to the face.
Day kicks O’Reilly over the middle rope and tangles O’Reilly in the ropes before delivering a double knee strike. Day knee drops O’Reilly over the middle rope for a two count. Day hits a missile dropkick, but O’Reilly no sells it and nails Day with a clothesline. O’Reilly and Day kick each other until O’Reilly hits a bridging back suplex for the victory. (**1/2. A fine way to start the show. O’Reilly no selling a few moments kind of bothered me, but they worked a good pace and the action was solid overall.)
Prior to the next match, Corino does some great microphone work insulting a few people in the crowd. It’s also revealed that Freight Train will be the special enforcer for the next match, as well.
Second Contest: Steve Corino vs. Alex Avgerinos: Avgerinos attacks before the bell as Corino was hugging Simpson, Corino’s manager, on the apron. Avgerinos continues to pummel Corino with right hands in the corner. Avgerinos backdrops Corino and plays to the crowd. Avgerinos atomic drops Corino and tosses Corino to the floor. Avgerinos continues to beat on Corino on the floor with right hands. Corino is sent face first into a wall, too. Corino delivers a strike to stop Avgerinos momentum. Corino keeps control by delivering strikes and kicks. Corino knee drops Avgerinos before controlling Avgerinos with a nerve hold. Avgerinos hits a back suplex on Corino for a two count. Avgerinos nearly pins Corino with a clothesline. Avgerinos kicks Corino coming out of the corner and a clothesline to the back of Corino’s head. Avgerino nearly wins with a Sling Blade. Corino sends Avgerinos into the ring post face first. Freight Train gets in the ring but Corino and Simpson spray something into Train’s eyes. Avgerinos nails Corino with a kendo stick a few times and thus loses the match by disqualification. Corino tosses a fireball into Avgerinos face and bails to the floor. (*1/2. This was mostly just a brawl and rather basic. The aftermath makes me think these two will be wrestling again.)
Third Contest: Davey Richards vs. Cedric Alexander: Richards misses a running attack in the corner and Alexander misses a kick leading to a standoff. Richards fakes a handshake and begins to trade strikes and spin kicks. Alexander dropkicks Richards, but Richards catapults Alexander into the corner. Alexander hits a missile dropkick to send Richards to the floor. Alexander kicks Richards on the apron and plays to the crowd. Alexander works over Richards with chops on the floor. Richards gets control on the mat with a surfboard, but instead steps on Alexander’s quads. Alexander stops Richards with a kick to the midsection for a two count. Alexander takes Richards over with a snap suplex for a two count. Alexander heads to the top rope, but Richards knocks Alexander off with a spinning heel kick. Richards nails Alexander with a kick on the apron. Richards continues with a kick to Alexander’s chest against the apron. Richards delivers a back elbow in the ring before putting a head scissors on Alexander. Richards stomps on Alexander before locking in Cloverleaf, but Alexander refuses to give in. Richards delivers a handspring jumping spin kick for a two count. Alexander counters a handspring back elbow by hitting a backbreaker!
They begin to trade strikes again and spin kicks, similar to the start of the match. Alexander nails Richards with a kick and hits a springboard clothesline for a two count. Alexander arm drags Richards followed by a face buster for a two count. Alexander heads to the top rope, but Richards cuts Alexander off. Alexander knocks Richards off the middle rope and tries for a frog splash, but Richards got his knees up! Richards hits a running forearm in the corner, but Alexander delivers one of his own. Richards hits a German suplex and a clothesline to nearly pin Alexander! Richards slams Alexander and goes to the top, missing a double stomp. Richards kicks Alexander several times on the chest. Alexander begins to no sell the kicks asking for more. They trade forearms again with Alexander staggering Richards. After several kicks, they both are laid out in the middle of the ring.
Alexander boots Richards in the corner and hits a double under hook suplex for a two count. That looked like a three count. Richards spikes Alexander with a tombstone piledriver for a two count. Richards hits a double stomp for a near fall. Richards puts the ankle lock on Alexander, but Alexander kicks away. Alexander tries for a spin kick, but Richards counters and puts the ankle lock on Alexander. Alexander rolls through and stops Richards with a knee strike to the face. Alexander dropkicks Richards in the corner followed by a half nelson suplex. Alexander hits the top rope frog splash and wins the match. (***1/2. A hard hitting match between these two and the crowd loved it. It was a great decision to have Alexander win the match here. It’s important to have the local guy win big matches and that was accomplished here. I’m thinking it will be tough to top this match on this show.) After the match, Richards and Alexander shake hands.
Fourth Contest: Chiva Kid vs. Adam Page vs. Corey Hollis vs. Drew Myers vs. Ernie Osiris vs. William Roberts: This isn’t gauntlet match. Osiris and Page start the match, which is under lucha rules. Osiris arm drags Page, but Page comes back with a few rollups. They have a standoff after stereo dropkick attempts. Chiva and Roberts enter the match with Roberts shoving Kid to the mat. Kid gets a few rollups on Roberts, but can’t get a three count. Roberts drives Kid down to the mat gut first. Hollis and Myers got tagged in after they were both chopped by Roberts and Kid. Hollis and Myers try to tag out after some basic mat wrestling, but they can’t tag anyone. Kid tags in and dropkicks both men with a missile dropkick. Kid head scissors Hollis followed by a spin kick. Hollis nails Kid with a dropkick and now everyone is getting involved. Myers tosses Osiris into the corner with an overhead suplex. Hollis and Myers try for a cover on Kid, but they can’t agree on it. Roberts clotheslines both men. Roberts backdrops Myers, but Page comes off the top to hit a crossbody. Page backdrops Roberts to the floor and hits a moonsault onto Hollis. Osiris takes everyone out with a dive to the outside.
Chiva tries for a dive, but Hollis wiggles the ropes and hits a swinging face buster. Ernie hits a kick out of the corner, but Page hits a standing shooting star press. Roberts plants Page with a Dominator. Osiris superkicks Roberts to the floor, but Hollis drops Ernie over the top and hits the Clash for a two count. Chiva comes off the top to hit a shooting star press on Hollis for the win. (**3/4. I didn’t enjoy this as much as the six man from the previous show. The gauntlet rule fits better for this kind of match instead of a lucha rules stipulation. Chiva appears to be getting a big push and I’m onboard with that. Osiris is surprising the hell out of me as I don’t recall his work being nearly this good in ROH.)
Fifth Contest: John Skyler vs. Lodi in an I Quit match: Skyler attacks Lodi during his entrance and they trade right hands with Lodi getting the advantage. Lodi clotheslines Skyler into the ring. Lodi knocks Skyler through the ropes to the floor. Lodi beats on Skyler with stomps and strikes in the ring. Lodi sends Skyler to the floor and soon follows. Lodi sends Skyler into the wall face first. They are brawling into the crowd and into the lobby area. Hollis has been busted open as they brawl outside the arena. They return to the lobby and towards the ring. Skyler has a sleeper hold on Lodi, but Lodi rolls Skyler down towards the ring. Lodi is bleeding at this point, as well. Lodi goes under the ring and grabs a table. Lodi nails Skyler with a muffin pan. Lodi whacks Skyler with a few baking pans and puts a Crossface on Skyler for a moment. Skyler tries to leave the ring, but Lodi brings Skyler back. Skyler hits a slingshot spear from the ring onto the stage.
Skyler puts a Boston Crab on Lodi, but Lodi refuses to give in. Lodi nails Skyler with the muffin pan. Lodi hits Skyler with the pan a few more times. Skyler crotches Lodi on the top turnbuckle. Skyler breaks a keyboard over Lodi’s head. Lodi is bleeding heavier after that. Skyler puts the Sharpshooter on Lodi. Skyler stomps away on Lodi. Skyler handcuffs Lodi to the ropes. Skyler works over Lodi with jabs and strikes. Skyler taunts Lodi, but Lodi refuses to give in. Lodi kicks Skyler away and Skyler delivers a shot with a pan. Lodi low blows Skyler and gets a bag of powder from a bag. Lodi tosses powder into Skyler’s face, who dropped the key. Lodi unlocks himself from the ropes and hits a swinging neckbreaker. Lodi is bleeding quite a bit at this point in the match. Lodi drops a bag full of thumbtacks. Lodi back suplexs Skyler onto the tacks. Skyler low blows Lodi and Skyler grabs the referees belt. Skyler misses a shot with the belt. Lodi puts the Crossface on Skyler and then puts the choke around Skyler’s neck to choke Skyler and wins the match by submission. (***. I enjoyed the match which was just a brawl and it was quite effective. It felt like the fans weren’t completely sold on Lodi in the role that he’s playing here. I tend to enjoy these kinds of matches as they didn’t go over top with weapons. The finish was a good call back to the previous show where Skyler choked Lodi with a belt.)
Sixth Contest: Craig Huffman vs. Zane Riley: Riley shoves Huffman off the middle rope during his entrance. Riley clotheslines Huffman over the top into the ring. Riley shoulder blocks Huffman for a two count. Riley kicks Huffman on the knee over the middle rope. Huffman dropkicks Riley off the apron to the floor. They trade a few strikes on the floor. Huffman elbows Riley and sends Riley face first into the ring post. Huffman chokes Riley with a t-shirt. Riley sends Huffman into a wall. They are now brawling through the crowd. Riley spits a drink into Huffman’s face. Huffman shoves Riley chest first into the corner and connects with a discus clothesline for a near fall. Huffman delivers a few knee lifts, but Riley drives Huffman back first into the corner. Huffman comes out of the corner to deliver a big boot for a two count. Huffman comes off the ropes and Riley hits a cutter. Riley hits a running cannonball splash in the corner for a near fall. Huffman misses a big boot in the corner and Riley hits a Death Valley Driver for the win. (*. I must say, this was a rather disappointing match. I didn’t have much expectations for it, but considering the personal angle they developed I would have though the match would be a little more heated and interesting than what we got here.)
Seventh Contest: PWX Tag Team Champions The Great Outdoors (Jake Manning & Grizzly Redwood) vs. Eddie Edwards & Roderick Strong: Redwood and Strong start off the title match with Redwood getting a head scissors on Strong before a standoff. Strong keeps Redwood down to the mat with wrist control. Redwood takes Strong down with a head scissors and an arm drag. Manning tags in but Strong takes Manning down to the mat quickly. Edwards tags in and works over Manning with strikes to the back. Manning runs into a boot in the corner but is able to backdrop Edwards followed by a few chops. Redwood comes off the ropes with a bulldog after Manning delivered a bulldog. Manning drops Redwood onto Edwards with a slam for a two count. Redwood legally enters and nearly pins Edwards with a rollup. Redwood gets kicked by Strong from the apron and Edwards hits a backpack stunner for a two count. Strong continues to beat on Redwood in the corner and tags in Edwards. Redwood is double teamed with chops until Edwards hits a snap suplex for a two count. Strong beats on Redwood in the corner and spits at Manning in the corner. Strong decks Manning off the apron and Redwood continues to be double teamed in the corner while the referee is distracted.
Strong drops Redwood gut first over the top rope leading to a two count. Redwood nearly pins Strong with a sunset flip, but Strong nails Redwood with a dropkick for a near fall. Edwards decks Manning off the apron again and Redwood is double teamed by the challengers. Redwood puts a sleeper hold on Edwards for a moment, but Edwards drives Redwood into the corner. Redwood stops Strong with a jawbreaker and a kick to the head. Redwood is stopped by Edwards, but Redwood ducks a clothesline and Manning is tagged in. Manning cleans house with clotheslines and elbows. Manning comes off the top to hit a flying clothesline for a two count. Manning plants Strong with a back suplex for a two count. Strong sends Manning into the corner with a German suplex and Edwards hits a running kick. Strong and Edwards hit running stereo kicks. Edwards plants Manning with a sit out slam but Strong can’t get a three count on the cover. Edwards superkicks Manning and Strong almost wins after a forearm strike. Strong is sent into Edwards and Redwood tags into the match.
Redwood spears Strong from the apron and plants Edwards with a tornado DDT out of the corner. Strong returns and chops Redwood, but Redwood sends Strong into the corner with a head scissors. Manning nearly pins Strong after a backbreaker. Manning and Edwards brawl on the floor until Manning is sent into the ring post. Strong nails Redwood with a gut buster and Edwards dropkicks Redwood into the corner for a near fall. Edwards is shoved off the middle rope and the champs try to hit the Doomsday Device, but Edwards crotches Redwood and chop blocks Manning. Strong has Redwood over his shoulder and Edwards hits a double stomp turned Dominator to pin Redwood and win the titles! (***. A good tag title match. I’m not sure if anyone really thought that Manning and Redwood had much of a chance to retain here. I enjoyed the action and the new champions made the match quite enjoyable. The Great Outdoors took a good beating and sold well for the new champs.)
Main Event: PWX Heavyweight Champion Caleb Konley vs. Adam Cole: Early on, they trade wrist control with Konley getting the advantage for a brief moment. They counter each other a few times until Cole reaches the ropes to break the hold. Cole gets out of a leg lock and they trade reversals again. Konley tries to get submission but Cole reaches the ropes quickly. Cole slaps Konley after faking a handshake. Konley atomic drops Cole followed by a slap and a senton splash to send Cole rolling to the floor. Konley works over Cole with strikes on the floor. Konley heads to the top rope as they return to the ring. Cole crotches Konley on the top rope. Cole takes Konley over with a snap suplex for a two count. Cole drives his knee into Konley’s upper back a few times. Cole runs the ropes and puts a sleeper hold on Konley. Cole yanks Konley down to the mat by his hair. Cole sends Konley back first into the corner. Cole sends Konley back first into the corner, but Konley hits a clothesline and tries for a springboard moonsualt, but Cole gets his knees up.
Cole works over Konley with strikes and chokes the champ over the middle rope. Cole keeps Konley on the mat with a sleeper hold. Konley kicks Cole on the middle rope and attempts a superplex. Cole shoves Konley off but Konley counters a crossbody by getting his knees up. Konley drops Cole with a few strikes and a back suplex. Konley hits a springboard moonsault for a two count. Konley forearms Cole and hits a suicide dive to the floor! Konley hits a springboard dropkick, but Cole kicks out at two. Cole elbows Konley, but misses a superkick. Konley hits a bridging suplex for a near fall. Konley tries for a backslide, but Cole counters for a two count. Cole nails Konley with a running knee strike for a two count. Cole hits a Death Valley Driver over his knee for a two count. Konley forearms Cole off the apron, but is met with a superkick. Cole hits a top rope splash for a near fall. Cole locks in the figure four leg lock, but Konley isn’t going to give in. Konley rolls over to counter the pressure, but Cole rolls back over. Konley reaches the ropes to break the hold.
Konley elbows Cole on the apron and hits a German suplex on the apron! Konley hits a swinging neckbreaker with his knee on Cole’s neck for a two count. Konley has Cole on his back and drops Cole face first to the mat. Konley locks in the O-Face, but Roderick Strong comes out and throws a towel into Konley’s face. Konley hits a Death Valley Driver for a two count. Eddie Edwards comes out to distract Konley. Cole superkicks Konley and hits the Florida Key for the win. (**1/2. The action was decent enough, but failed to reach another level for me. The interference was disappointing, but it all tied together for the aftermath. Cole as champion is a big moment for PWX, I’d say.) After the match, Edwards and Strong beat on Konley. Cole cuts a promo asking if Konley expected anything else. Cole puts himself, Strong and Edwards over as the best wrestlers. Cole says nobody can stop them when they aligned together. Cole calls themselves the Dojo Bros and dares anyone to stop them. Jake Manning and Grizzly Redwood come out and make the save running the heels off. Redwood says they got cheated tonight. Manning issues a challenge for a six man tag match. The challenge has been accepted.
Final Thoughts:
I enjoyed this show by PWX. Anything that was lackluster was kept short and there was a lot of quality wrestling here. Recommended.
Thanks for reading.