Written by: Bob Colling
IWA-MS presents Christmas Carnage
Date: 12/15/2006
From: Rock Island, IL
Opening Contest: Hydra vs. Worker Ant: They do a test of strength until Ant takes Hydra to the mat and Hydra can’t get up. Hydra is helped up and kicks Ant in the midsection. Hydra tries for a shoulder block, but Ant doesn’t budge. Ant shoulder blocks Hydra followed by a couple of arm drags. Hydra chops Ant in the corner a few times. Ant returns a few chops and nearly wins with a rollup out of the corner. Ant elbows Hydra but misses a missile dropkick. Hydra chokes Ant on the mat. Hydra continues to choke Ant in the corner with his boot. Hydra delivers a few leg drops and an elbow drop for a two count. Hydra puts the Kona Vice on Ant, but Ant is able to break free. Ant avoids a chokeslam, but Hydra tries for a jackhammer, but Ant counters with a vertical suplex. Ant dropkicks Hydra followed by strikes in the corner. Ant hits a middle rope moonsault and pins Hydra. (*1/2. I’m not completely sure if the fans understood the gimmicks or what these CHIKARA guys were going for. It was okay, but nothing great. It was mostly a comedy match.)
Second Contest: NWA Midwest & IWA-MS Women’s Champion Mickie Knuckles vs. PWU Women’s Champion Mercedes Martinez: Martinez takes Knuckles down to the mat early on, but Knuckles counters quickly on the mat with a front face lock. They counter each other on the mat a few times. Martinez has a sleeper on Knuckles and switches to a rollup for a near fall. Knuckles takes Martinez down to the mat, but Martinez counters with another rollup for a two count. Knuckles monkey flips Martinez to the mat. Knuckles takes Martinez down to the mat to keep arm control. Knuckles arm drags Martinez to the mat. Knuckles goes back to control the arm of Martinez. Knuckles wrenches on Martinez arm, but Martinez takes Knuckles down to the mat to have leg control for a moment. Martinez knee drops Knuckles knee several times and locks in a leg lock on the mat. Martinez gets out of an arm bar and chops Knuckles a few times followed by stomps in the corner. Martinez chops Knuckles against the ropes, but runs into Knuckles and neither woman budges. Martinez knocks Knuckles down to the mat with a shoulder block and a clothesline for a two count. Knuckles stops Martinez with a knee strike in the corner followed by uppercuts.
Knuckles headbutts Martinez against the ropes and locks in an arm lock. Martinez manages to reach the ropes. Martinez fights back with a vertical suplex for a two count. Martinez gets an STF on Knuckles, but doesn’t get a submission. Knuckles breaks free with a few strikes. Knuckles forearms Martinez and connects with a clothesline. Knuckles tries for another arm bar, but Martinez reaches the ropes. Knuckles locks in an arm bar in the middle of the ring and switches to a hammerlock. Martinez rolls through and they trade strikes from their knees. Knuckles avoids a kick, but Martinez counters with a rollup. They trade a few pin attempts. Martinez comes off the ropes with a kick to the face and tries for a fisherman buster, but Knuckles counters with an inside cradle to win the match. (*1/2. That was a rather boring match with Knuckles working over the arm seemingly forever and they never got past the first gear of the match. They kept it quite basic and I’m sure they could have accomplished much more.)
Third Contest: Jaysin Strife vs. Billy Roc vs. Jack Thriller: Strife arm drags both men and sends them both to the floor to start the match. Strife leaps off the top to take both men out with a crossbody to the floor. Strife chops Roc on the floor before going back to Thriller in the ring to deliver more strikes against the ropes. Triller trips Strife and delivers a knee strike followed by several knee lifts. Roc enters and is met with a backdrop by Thriller. Thriller drives Strife down with a modified jackhammer. Thriller works over Roc with strikes in the corner. Roc takes Thriller down to the mat and drives Thriller chest first down to the mat. Roc hits a slingshot dropkick and a big splash for a two count on Thriller. Strife nails Roc with a running knee strike for a two count. Strife sends Roc into Thriller and Roc gets dropped over the top turnbuckle. Thriller clotheslines Strife, but Roc hits a hurricanrana on Thriller for a two count. Strife kicks Roc a few times and nearly wins with a rollup. Roc nails Thriller with a kick and plants Strife with a DDT. Roc hits a Slice Bread on Thriller for the win. (**1/2. There were a few sloppy moments, but the pace they went with was the right decision and the crowd was into the action. The fast pace and constant high spots made this match fly by. Had they gone with a slower pace, I probably wouldn’t have cared since I’m not familiar with these three guys.)
Fourth Contest: The North Star Express (Darin Corbin & Ryan Cruz) vs. CJ Otis & Drake Younger: Younger and Cruz start off the tag match. Cruz gets arm control on Younger, but Younger rolls through and counters Cruz. Younger hip tosses Cruz and delivers a scoop slam. Younger hits a rolling senton splash on Cruz for a two count. Cruz comes off the ropes and runs into an overhead belly to belly suplex. Cruz is worked over by Younger and Otis. Corbin tags into the match as Cruz bailed to the floor. Otis runs over Corbin with shoulder blocks a leaping shoulder block. Otis and Younger hit double backdrops and send Cruz to the floor. Younger has a suplex on Corbin as Otis hits a crossbody for a two count on Corbin. Otis drops Corbin over his knee from a vertical suplex position for a two count. Younger dropkicks a seated Corbin for a two count. Younger slams Corbin for a near fall. Otis enters and stomps on Corbin to maintain control. Corbin eye rakes Otis in the corner. Otis nails Corbin with several forearm strikes in the corner for a near fall. Corbin is met with a double hip toss and Younger delivers an elbow drop.
Cruz kicks Younger from the apron allowing Corbin to deliver a backbreaker and Cruz hits a slingshot leg drop from the apron for a near fall. Cruz nails Younger with a leaping uppercut. Corbin stomps Younger on the mat and decks Otis off the apron. Younger suffers a gut buster and a double dropkick for a two count. Corbin works over Younger in the corner followed by a running boot strike. Corbin scoop slams Younger on the wooden floor. Cruz chokes Younger on the mat with his knee. Cruz clotheslines Younger to stop his comeback attempt. Younger is sent stumbling into the ropes. Younger tags in Otis, but the referee was distracted. Cruz takes Younger over with a snap suplex for a two count. Cruz and Younger trade strikes until Younger hits an overhead suplex.
Otis finally gets the tag and cleans house with forearm strikes and a back suplex on Cruz. Otis forearms Corbin to the mat. Younger tries for a Cop Killa, but they settle for a powerbomb by Otis and Younger drives Corbin onto Otis knees. Cruz is driven down with a double brainbuster. Younger hits the Cop Killa on Corbin and Otis wants the tag. Otis pops Corbin’s shoulders up and proceeds to hit the Burning Hammer. Otis goes for a cocky cover and Corbin gets the rollup to pin Otis. After the match, Otis is mad at Younger for not being there for him. Otis decides to not shake Younger’s hand. (**1/4. There was some solid action, but the angle they are going with between Younger and Otis seems to be really forced and rushed on this show. It was a rather basic and simple tag match for the most part.)
Fifth Contest: Ricochet vs. B-Boy: Boy quickly takes Ricochet down to the mat for the early advantage. Boy controls Ricochet on the mat with a headlock for a moment. Boy backs Ricochet into the corner but cleanly backs away. Boy forearms Ricochet followed by a shoulder block. Ricochet hits a standing moonsault but Boy quickly goes to the corner. Ricochet clotheslines Boy and fakes a dive to the floor. Ricochet takes Boy down with a head scissors off the apron to the floor. Ricochet dropkicks Boy for a two count. Boy forearms Ricochet several times, but Ricochet dropkicks Boy to the floor. Boy counters a head scissors by powerbombing Ricochet onto the apron. Boy gets a submission on Ricochet after trying up his legs, but doesn’t get a submission. Boy chops Ricochet in the corner and then traps Ricochet in the corner to hit a running dropkick. Ricochet rolls to the floor trying to regroup. Boy plants Ricochet with a spinebuster coming off the ropes for a near fall. Boy keeps a head scissors on Ricochet, but doesn’t get a submission. Boy nails Ricochet with clubbing forearm strikes.
Boy chops Ricochet against the ropes. Boy decks Ricochet in the corner and stomps on Ricochet. Ricochet takes Boy down with a modified backbreaker. Ricochet forearms Boy but Ricochet takes Boy down for a two count followed by a dropkick. Ricochet hits a backslide driver and a tornado DDT for a near fall. Ricochet nearly wins with a victory roll. Ricochet counters a Death Valley Driver with a rollup for a near fall. Boy regains his footing to hit the Death Valley Driver on a second attempt. Boy spikes Ricochet with a brainbuster for a two count. Ricochet spin kicks Boy to the floor and hits a suicide dive tornado DDT! Ricochet gets stopped on the top rope but elbows Boy down to the mat. Ricochet misses a shooting star press and Boy hits a shining wizard. Boy spikes Ricochet with a piledriver to win the match. (***. I enjoyed this and it’s clear that Ricochet has potential to be really good in the future. Ricochet’s risk taking was fun to watch but in the end B-Boy was just too smart.)
Sixth Contest: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Vortekz: Castagnoli backs Vortekz into the corner, but doesn’t followup with anything. Vortekz gets out of a wrist lock, but gets backed into the ropes and is chopped for doing so. Castagnoli knee lifts Vortekz to the mat and continues with overhand strikes. Vortekz arm drags Castagnoli a few times and ducks a clothesline. Vortekz runs into a powerslam leading to a near fall. Castagnoli uppercuts Vortekz to maintain control of the contest. Castagnoli forearms Vortekz into the ropes and chest first over the apron. Castagnoli sends Vortekz into the ring post face first. Castagnoli gets a two count upon returning to the ring. Castagnoli decks Vortekz with a clothesline for a two count. Castagnoli backdrops Vortekz for a two count. Castagnoli gets out of a rollup attempt and kicks Vortekz to keep the advantage. Castagnoli sends Vortekz into the corner chest first and back first. Castagnoli chokes Vortekz with his tie as the referee is distracted about the turnbuckle pad. Vortekz spinning kick to drop Castagnoli to the mat. Vortekz dropkicks Castagnoli a few times followed by a running kick. Vortekz hits a moonsault for a two count. Vortekz continues with a tornado DDT for a near fall. Castagnoli stops Vortekz with a swinging facebuster for a near fall. Castagnoli gets sent to the apron and Vortekz yanks Castagnoli down face first onto the apron. Vortekz gets stopped on the middle rope and Castagnoli forearms Vortekz on the apron. Vortekz backdrops Castagnoli over the turnbuckle to the other side of the ring. Vortekz hits a moonsault to the floor. Vortekz goes to the top rope hitting a leaping DDT for a near fall! Vortekz kicks Castagnoli but is met with an uppercut in midair and Castagnoli wins the match. (**1/2. I never really thought that Vortekz had a shot in winning this match, but they played his desperation and underdog style rather well here. The action was decent throughout and Vortekz didn’t look too bad in the ring.) After the match, Ian Rotten comes out to cut a promo on Castagnoli since he’s going to WWE. As per usual, Rotten puts over Castagnoli for what he’s done and wants Claudio to make a lot of money.
Ian Rotten originally had a mystery partner and it was going to be Axl Rotten, but Axl hurt his back at his real job lifting a Christmas tree. So, Ian will be wrestling in a handicap match.
Seventh Contest: Ian Rotten vs. Sal & Vito Thomaselli in a handicap match: Rotten and Sal start off the handicap match with Rotten having arm control. Rotten slaps Sal to break free from a hammerlock. Rotten bites Sal’s hand to keep control of the contest. Sal leg trips Rotten to the mat, but Ian delivers a few strikes. Sal punches Ian’s knee on the mat to maintain control of the contest. Ian breaks free from the hold with strikes and Sal bails to the floor to get away. Sal returns to the ring, which is likely a smart idea. Vito tags into the match to try his luck against Rotten. Ian eye rakes Vito and drops Vito with headbutts. Rotten locks in Cattle Mutilation, but Sal enters to beat on Rotten. Rotten headbutts Sal several times, but Vito decks Rotten from behind and Rotten is double teamed. Rotten puts the testicular claw on Sal, but Vito breaks that submission quickly. Vito keeps control of the left arm of Rotten, but doesn’t get a submission. Sal returns to the match to kick Rotten on the mat. Vito misses a leg drop off the middle rope and hits Sal instead. Rotten decks Vito with a clothesline and forearms Vito. Rotten plants Vito with a DDT. Rotten jabs Sal several times followed by an elbow strike. Rotten sends them into each other and spin kicks Sal into the corner. Rotten back splashes both men in the corner. Rotten hits a running back splash in the corner. Rotten is stopped by a low blow.
Rotten shoves them off the middle rope and hits a clothesline of his own. Rotten gets double teamed against the ropes and is met with several kicks by both men from the apron. Sal locks in an arm bar in the middle of the ring. Rotten counters with a headlock, but Vito breaks the hold with a stomp. Ian headbutts Sal several times on the mat and is busted open. Rotten headbutts Vito several times. Ian uppercuts Sal and elbow strikes Vito. Ian ducks a clothesline and clotheslines both men. Jimmy Jacobs runs down to the ring and wants a tag from Rotten. Jacobs gets the tag and cleans house with clotheslines. Jacobs spears Vito for a two count. Jacobs forearms Sal, but misses a clothesline. Sal clotheslines Vito and gets sent to the floor. Jacobs goes to the top rope and hits the senton splash on Vito for the win. (*1/2. I mean it’s an Ian Rotten match and it has nothing to do with hardcore action. Rotten isn’t very good in basic matches. It’s not truly horrible as the Iron Saints did a decent job, but the only redeeming part of this was Jimmy Jacobs getting involved.) After the match, Jimmy Jacobs cuts a promo saying he’s sorry for associating himself with Jim Fannin. Fannin is still with the company and Jacobs asks Rotten for his job back. Jacobs wants to shake hands so that the boys in the back will shake his hands. Jacobs promises to work for free. Fannin gets in the ring to confront Jacobs. Jimmy is livid with Fannin and Rotten tells Jacobs he’s fired. Fannin says that he’s never asked Ian for anything for nine years. Fannin wants Jacobs to get his job back and it would be his honor to put Jacobs six feet under the ground. Fannin considers Jacobs to be a miserable son of a bitch. Rotten tells them to both leave the ring. Rotten tells Fannin to pay Jacobs if he wants him back I the company. The crowd is silent watching this as they seemingly don’t know if it’s real or not.
Eighth Contest: Kid Krazy vs. Brandon Thomaselli: Thomaselli tries for a rollup quickly but only gets a two count. Thomaselli takes Krazy down to the mat with a takedown, but Krazy keeps a headlock on Thomaselli. Krazy gets out of a head scissors and keeps a headlock on Thomaselli. Krazy forearms Thomaselli into the corner and delivers a running dropkick in the corner followed by a kick to the back a few times. Thomaselli breaks free with a hair pull and controls Krazy with a headlock. Krazy nails Thomaselli with a leaping spin kick. Thomaselli complains of a hair pull on the floor. Krazy takes Thomaselli out with a somersault dive to the floor. Krazy forearms on Thomaselli, but is met with a slam. Thomaselli knee drops Krazy followed by a vertical suplex for a two count. Thomaselli kicks Krazy across the back a few times. Thomaselli kicks Krazy across the chest after a snapmare. Krazy hammers away on Thomaselli but is stopped by a chop and an uppercut. Thomaselli nearly wins the match. Thomaselli connects with a running boot in the corner to stagger Krazy. Krazy hammers away on Thomaselli, but is stopped by a leg lariat for a two count. Thomaselli punches the referee in the nuts and goes to a chin lock on Krazy to keep the advantage. Krazy kicks Thomaselli to get out of a sunset flip. Thomaselli low blows Krazy followed by a kick off the ropes. Thomaselli nails Krazy with several kicks on the mat. Thomaselli nearly wins the match after an elbow drop. Thomaselli hits a standing moonsault and then casually walks on Krazy. Thomaselli scoop slams Krazy and pulls the straps down. Thomaselli goes to the top rope, but Krazy drops Thomaselli with a kick to the head. Krazy low blows Thomaselli followed by a kick and a running dropkick in the corner for a two count. Thomaselli misses a splash in the corner and Krazy hits a flying forearm for a near fall. Thomaselli hits the Golden Gate Swing for a two count. Krazy delivers a backbreaker and a gut buster for a two count. Thomaselli stops Krazy with a spinebuster and puts Krazy in the tree of woe. Thomaselli delivers a running knee strike but misses a standing shooting star press. Krazy plants Thomaselli with a tornado DDT and heads to the top rope. Krazy leaps off to hit a swanton for a two count. Thomaselli hits a double leg slam followed by the SAT Bomb for the win. (**1/4. For the most part, these guys were just doing moves to do them and they didn’t have any real progression or purpose. Krazy seems like someone that could be a fun guy to watch. I found myself not really caring for Thomaselli here at all.) After the match, Thomaselli attacks Krazy with an Air Raid Crash until B-Boy rolls into the ring.
Ninth Contest: Steve Corino vs. Arik Cannon: Corino backs Cannon into the corner but cleanly breaks away. Cannon tries a shoulder block and staggers Corino. Corino sits down in the corner and plays to the crowd. Cannon controls Corino with a wrist lock on the mat followed by elbow strikes to the arm. Corino cleanly breaks away cleanly against the ropes. Cannon shoulder blocks Corino after ducking a clothesline Corino rolls to the floor. Corino returns to the ring and stomps on Cannon. Cannon sends Corino to the floor and they brawl backstage. They return to the ringside area with Cannon beating on Corino with strikes and chops. They trade blows outside the ring with Corino being sent into chairs. Cannon eye pokes Corino to maintain the advantage. Corino clubs Cannon over the back, but is met with a throat thrust. Corino kicks the middle rope into Cannon’s groin for a two count. Corino chops Cannon against the ropes followed by a knee strike. Cannon stops Corino with a jawbreaker. Corino puts an abdominal stretch on Cannon. Corino shoves his thumb into Cannon’s bum. Cannon hip tosses himself free from Corino and puts his thumb in his mouth. Cannon splashes Corino followed by a middle rope strike. Corino nearly wins with an STO. Cannon hits an elevated neckbreaker for a two count.
Cannon connects with a swinging neckbreaker but misses a shining wizard. Corino nearly wins after a clothesline and a vertical suplex. Corino plants Cannon with a powerbomb for a two count. Corino has a chain around his fist and pummels Cannon with it and that causes a disqualification. (*1/2. That was kind of a disappointing finish and overall match. The crowd popped for the comedy aspect of the match. The blatant usage of a chain to have a DQ finish was just kind of stupid. I understand they are in the NWA, but it was just a lame finish to avoid Corino from doing the job.)
Tenth Contest: IWA-MS Heavyweight Champion Chuck Taylor vs. IWA-MS Light Heavyweight Champion Josh Abercrombie: Both championships are on the line, apparently. Abercrombie takes Taylor down to the mat and plays to the crowd. Taylor arm drags Abercrombie to the mat and he bails to the floor. Taylor controls Abercrombie with a headlock until Abercrombie popped out of the hold. Taylor gets a rollup on Abercrombie for a two count followed by an arm drag. Taylor chops Abercrombie against the ropes and delivers a dropkick. Taylor hits an arm drag coming off the top and nearly wins the match. Taylor knee drops Abercrombie for a two count. Taylor takes Abercrombie over with a double under hook suplex for a one count. Abercrombie drops Taylor gut first over the top to avoid a tornado DDT. Abercrombie stomps on Taylor. Abercrombie delivers several knee strikes on the mat before going back to a submission hold. Abercrombie stomps away on Taylor several times. Abercrombie gets a two count. Abercrombie knee lifts Taylor against the ropes and locks in an abdominal stretch. Taylor fights out with a hip toss, but a knee strike stops Taylor. Abercrombie drives Taylor down with a gut buster. Abercrombie locks in a bearhug in the middle of the ring. Abercrombie can’t keep Taylor down long enough on the mat on pin attempts.
Abercrombie delivers a head ram to Taylor’s midsection followed by a kick to the midsection. Taylor nearly wins with a sunset flip and trades a few more rollups. Taylor chops Abercrombie, but misses a standing dropkick. Abercrombie nearly wins with a rollup and goes back to a body scissors sleeper hold. Abercrombie stomps Taylor on the mat to keep the advantage. Abercrombie drives Taylor down with a gut buster for a two count. Abercrombie forearms Taylor in the corner and sends Taylor chest first into the corner. Abercrombie shoulder rams Taylor, but Taylor hits a middle rope twisting splash. Taylor forearms Abercrombie a few times followed by an overhead suplex and Sole Food for a two count. Abercrombie is stopped on the middle rope and Taylor puts a head scissors on Abercrombie on the mat! Taylor misses a top rope moonsault and Abercrombie hits a running lung blower for a two count. Abercrombie spears Taylor off the apron to the floor. Jimmy Jacobs comes out as Abercrombie was going to enter the ring, but is yanked off. The match ends in a double count-out. After the match, Jacobs continues to beat on Abercrombie until Ian Rotten comes out and pulls Jacobs off. The locker room has emptied to keep Jacobs back and has a spike in his hand. Jim Fannin grabs a microphone and tells Jacobs to show up to the show tomorrow night. Abercrombie decks Jacobs with the championship and they brawl in the crowd. Jacobs demands that he goes to his locker room. Rotten tells Jacobs that he got his job back. (**1/4. A decent match but another lackluster finish. The angle with Jacobs appears to be a hot angle for the company. However, it just seems like it has been rushed on the show. They aren’t producing strong finishes for the matches on this show it seems like.)
Main Event: Chris Hero vs. Low Ki: Hero takes Ki down to the mat and gets control working over the left knee. Ki delivers a strike from his back to send Hero to the corner to regroup. Ki chops Hero against the ropes and Hero bails to the floor. Ki takes Hero down to the mat and tries for an arm bar, but Hero tries to avoid it and is successful. Hero gets control with a surfboard submission, but Ki doesn’t submit. Ki counters out of the hold with a side headlock. Hero takes Ki down to the mat and puts a leg submission on Ki, but is chopped for doing so. Ki drags Hero to the middle looking for an ankle lock, but Hero reaches the ropes quickly. Hero gets the advantage with a test of strength and keeps Ki on the mat. Ki keeps his shoulders off the mat even as Hero landed on his thighs. Hero gets a dragon sleeper on Ki, but Ki continues to bridge to avoid a lot of pressure on his neck. Ki snapamres Hero to the mat and Hero goes to the corner leading to a standoff. Hero backs Ki against the ropes and delivers a few shoulder rams. Hero controls Ki on the mat with a bearhug. Hero switches to a body scissors. Hero squeezes Ki on the mat, but doesn’t get a submission. Ki fights back with a few chops from the mat, but Hero keeps the body scissors on Ki. Ki bridges and almost keeps Hero down on the mat long enough. Hero stomps on Ki to keep control of the contest. Hero locks in a stomach claw and stomps on Ki. Hero chops Ki in the corner to maintain the advantage. Hero yanks Ki down to the mat using the top rope and goes back to a bearhug on the mat.
Ki stops Hero with a kick to the chest, but Hero stops Ki with a gut buster for a two count. Hero keeps control with stomps on Ki. Hero chops Ki in the corner, but Ki fights back with chops of his own. Hero drops Ki with a right hand in the corner. Hero continues to work over Ki’s head with submissions on the mat. Ki gets to his feet and backs Hero into the corner to deliver a few more chops and strikes. Hero stops Ki with an eye rake. Hero dropkicks Ki to the floor. Hero chops Ki on the floor to keep control as they brawl outside the ring. Hero drops Ki face first over the apron. Hero chokes Ki with wrist tape. Ki chops Hero on the floor several times, but Hero stops Ki with a strike and chops. Ki kicks Hero on the legs several times before returning to the ring. Hero hits a gut wrench sit out powerbomb for a two count. Ki counters Hero with an arm bar, but Hero reaches the ropes to break the hold. Ki kicks Hero several times in the chest and several stiff kicks to the head. Ki comes off the ropes to hit an elbow drop. Ki chops Hero in the corner followed by more chops Hero nearly wins with a snap powerslam. Hero puts a chin lock on Ki underneath the bottom rope. Hero drives Ki chest down across the apron.
Hero continues to work on Ki with strikes on the mat. Hero chops Ki, but Ki gets a second wind and delivers a few of his own. Ki delivers a flurry of chops against the ropes. Ki nails Hero with a rolling kick and another kick to the head. Ki drops Hero with a kick to the chest. Ki kicks Hero in the face but misses a splash in the corner. Ki puts a dragon sleeper in the ropes and tosses Hero away. Ki hits a top rope clothesline for a near fall. Ki counters a slam with a dragon sleeper! Ki slams Hero to the mat gut first managing to get a two count. Ki chops Hero in the corner but misses a splash. Hero atomic drops Ki to send Ki face first into the corner followed by a German suplex for a near fall. Ki kicks Hero but misses another kick and Hero hits a back suplex for a near fall. Hero trie for a powerbomb, but Ki counters with a double stomp. Hero stops Ki on the top turnbuckle with a few strikes. Hero hooks Ki, but loses his footing on the ropes. Ki kicks Hero several times off the middle rope. Ki leaps off missing a double stomp. Hero misses a kick and Ki dropkicks Hero into the corner for a two count.
Ki nails Hero with a kick to the face on the mat. Ki continues to work over Hero in the corner with kicks. Hero counters a cartwheel kick in the corner and hits a Liger Bomb! Hero nearly wins the match when Ki returns to the ring. Hero stomps on Ki to maintain control of the match. Ki avoids a piledriver attempt and appears to be weak. Ki knees his way free from a vertical suplex and locks in the dragon sleeper in the corner. Hero tries for the Hero’s Welcome, but Ki backs Hero into the corner and delivers a kick. Hero no sells it and tries for the move again. Ki counters with another dragon sleeper right in the middle of the ring! Hero reaches for the ropes and the referee takes that as a submission and Ki wins the match. Hero was for sure reaching for the ropes and not submitting, but whatever. (***. Did this match really need to go 40-minutes? Probably not. The action was fine and it was hard hitting, there’s no doubt about that. However, to sit though yet another bullshit finish, is just too much. Hero wasn’t tapping and it was just a matter of protecting Hero from another high profile loss.)
Chris Hero is tired of the bullshit and tired of being embarrassed. Hero is cutting a heel promo on everyone. Hero reminds the referee that he’s Chris Hero and he doesn’t tap out. Hero tells Ki that he knows it wasn’t a submission and says he’s “out of this shit hole.” Low Ki comments that he’s never heard a wrestler complain quite like Hero. Ki is honest and knows that he didn’t make Hero submit. Low Ki tells Hero that any time and any place he’d do it one more time in IWA, if Ian Rotten were to book it.
Final Thoughts:
For a four hour show, there wasn’t one match that stood out as overly great or memorable. I would say there is enough solid wrestling to give this a recommendation. However, it’s mostly an average wrestling show so don’t go into it thinking it’s going to be amazing.
Thanks for reading.