NEW Autumn Ambush 2011 10/1/2011

Written by: Bob Colling

Northeast Wrestling presents Autumn Ambush
Date: 10/1/2011
From: Poughkeepsie, NY

Tommy Dreamer comes out and says he has a little bit of bad news to tell the fans. Dreamer reveals that Kevin Nash couldn’t make the show because the WWE said he couldn’t make the show. Dreamer suggests that nobody cares. Luke Robinson comes out and insults Dreamer as being a fat shell of himself. Dreamer tells Robinson he’s in his 20s and already has male pattern baldness. Dreamer pokes fun at Robinson for being a runner-up in Tough Enough and a Randy Orton wannabe.

Opening Contest: Tommy Dreamer vs. Luke Robinson in an extreme rules match: Dreamer delivers a few strikes and a fallaway slam to start the contest. Dreamer tosses Robinson over the top to the floor and Robinson falls flat on his belly. Dreamer gets a wet floor sign and whacks Robinson over the back. Dreamer spits a drink into Robinson’s face and delivers a shot to the forehead. Dreamer rings the bell on Robinson’s groin on the apron. Robinson drops Dreamer throat first over the top rope followed by a standing dropkick. Robinson continues to work over Dreamer by delivering an uppercut followed by chops. Dreamer fights back with chops but misses a spear and hits the post shoulder first. Robinson controls Dreamer with a chin lock on the mat but isn’t going to get a submission. Dreamer clotheslines Robinson followed by a few right hands. Dreamer pummels Robinson and bites Robinson’s forehead. Robinson elbows Dreamer in the corner, but Dreamer hits a sit out powerbomb for a two count. Dreamer gets a steel chair and sets it up in the ring. Robinson drop toe holds Dreamer face first onto the chair and nearly wins the match. Robinson comes off the middle rope with the chair but Dreamer boots the chair into Robinson’s face. Dreamer puts Robinson in the tree of woe. Dreamer proceeds to dropkick the chair into Robinson’s face. Robinson wedges the chair in the corner and gets the crowd behind him. Dreamer grabs Robinson looking for the Death Valley Driver, but Robinson gets out. Dreamer spikes Robinson with the DDT after Robinson avoided being sent into the chair. Dreamer wins the match. (*1/2. That was pretty much everything you’d expect it to be for an extreme rules match involving Dreamer and an inexperience wrestler. The crowd dug it and was a fine way to start the show to get the crowd into the rest of the event.)

Second Contest: Bull Dredd & Ryan McBride vs. Adam Page & Diablo Santiago: Page and McBride start the match with Page trying to get the crowd behind him and they respond a little bit. McBride gets wrist control on Page, but Page takes McBride down to the mat quickly. McBride stops Page with a shoulder block and runs the ropes. They trade arm drags and we get a standoff. Dredd tags in and he wants a piece of Santiago. Santiago works over Dredd with strikes a standing dropkick for a two count. Dredd knee lifts Santiago and delivers an eye rake in the corner. Dredd strikes Santiago a few times and runs into an elbow strike. Santiago comes off the middle rope with a bulldog for a two count. Page tags in and keeps control on Dredd. McBride cheap shots Page allowing Dredd to clothesline Page to the mat. McBride clotheslines Page and forearms Santiago before delivering more strikes in the corner. Dredd forearms Page to the mat for a near fall. McBride slams Page to the mat and comes off the middle rope to simply go for a cover and get a two count.

Page hammers away on McBride and McBride drops Page with a leaping kick for a two count. Page forearms Dredd but Dredd catches Page on a leapfrog and sits down to deliver a low blow driver of sorts for a two count. Dredd tries for a sit down splash, but Page moves out of the way. Santiago and McBride are tagged in with Santiago cleaning house. McBride misses a clothesline and Santiago hit a t-bone suplex for a near fall. Dredd splashes McBride on accident and sent to the floor. Page hits a shooting star press off the apron onto Dredd! McBride almost steals the match with a rollup from behind. Santiago counters a Cloverleaf with a rollup for a two count. Santiago hits a cradle suplex and manages to pin McBride for the win. (**. Not too bad of a match as the final few moments were a highlight. It’s kind of funny to me that Santiago was presented as a hometown hero when I’ve only ever known him as a jerk heel in the Outkast Killaz tag team. Regardless, it was kinda cool to see a young Adam Page get some exposure at this point in his career.)

Third Contest: Vladimir Kozlov vs. Jake Manning: Kozlov starts off with a throw across the ring and Manning bails to the floor. Kozlov takes Manning down to the mat and focuses his offense on a mat wrestling attack. Manning stops Kozlov with a boot to the midsection and soon runs into a shoulder block. Kozlov has Manning over his shoulder and is sent chest first into the corner. Manning drives Kozlov into the corner a few more times. Manning forearms Kozlov but is shoved away. Manning takes Kozlov down with a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Manning keeps a sleeper hold on Kozlov, but gets tossed to the mat quickly. Kozlov headbutts Manning a few tomes and drops Manning over the top turnbuckle followed by a couple of kicks. Manning dropkicks Kozlov on the knee. Kozlov nails Manning with a battering ram strike as Manning came off the middle rope and wins the match. (1/2*. I wasn’t a big fan of this because nothing really happened for the most part. It’s kind of surprising that Kozlov wasn’t more successful in the WWE just due to his size.)

Fourth Contest: Mickie James vs. Alexis: They have a standoff after James gets out a headlock. Alexis dumps James to the floor and James returns to the match nearly pinning Alexis with a rollup from behind. James dropkicks Alexis leading to a near fall. Alexis dumps James to the floor and knocks James off the apron with a knee lift. James decides to go under the ring and comes out the other side. James dropkicks Alexis over the top to the floor from behind. A fan in the front row decided to spank Alexis, which was uncalled for. James runs backstage and finds Alexis and delivers a few right hands. James rams Alexis face first onto the apron a few times. James dropkicks Alexis and nearly wins the match. Alexis gets control with a chin lock, but Mickie doesn’t give in. James kicks Alexis and is met with a dropkick to the knee. Alexis head scissors James to the mat. Alexis tries for a cover, but James kicks out at two. Alexis rams James into the corner and they trade a few strikes. Alexis sends James face first into the turnbuckle. James nearly pins Alexis with a rollup and is met with a forearm strike.

They trade a few strikes in the middle of the ring. James clotheslines Alexis a few times and gets the crowd behind her. James plants Alexis with a neckbreaker for a near fall. Alexis counters a DDT attempt with a Codebreaker and almost wins the match! James hits a flapjack and goes to the top rope. James is met with a few forearm strikes by Alexis. James knocks Alexis down to the mat and James hits a top rope Thez Press for the win. (*1/2. Well, that was a bit of a lame match. I don’t think Alexis is anywhere near the competitor that Mickie is at. I guess it was fine for a showcase for James, which this was for the most part.)

Fifth Contest: Caleb Konley vs. Finlay: Finlay shoulder blocks Konley to the mat and has a standoff. Finlay takes Konley down to the mat by his hair and puts a sleeper hold on Konley. Finlay delivers a few elbow strikes and an uppercut to drop Konley to the mat. Finlay keeps Konley on the mat controlling the left knee. Finlay knee drops Konley on the leg a few times. Konley shoulder blocks Finlay and they both fall to the mat briefly. Finlay takes Konley down to the mat and keeps wrist control. Konley works over Finlay with a few strikes in the corner. Finlay leaps off the middle rope and is acting like he hurt his left knee. The referee is checking on Finlay, and the referee calls for medical assistance. Konley is waiting in the corner. Several officials are in the ring checking on Finlay. Finlay is helped to his feet and Konley holds the ropes, but Finlay reveals he’s fine by kicking Konley off the apron to the floor. Finlay drops Konley throat first over the guard railing. Finlay scoop slams Konley and plays to the crowd. Finlay continues with two short arm clotheslines to keep Konley on the mat. Finlay forearms Konley in the corner a few times. Fit misses a spear and hits the post leading to a two count for Konley. Konley drops Finlay with a few strikes and nearly wins the match on a cover attempt.

Konley heads to the apron and hits a springboard missile dropkick. Konley takes Fit over with a German suplex several times for a two count. Konley goes to the top, but Finlay yanks Konley off for a two count. Finlay drives Konley face first into the mat with his knee for another near fall. Finlay plants Konley with a tombstone and wins the match. (*1/2. Konley wasn’t given a lot to shine here and it felt like another example of an extended showcase for Finlay. Finlay is still in really good shape and clearly can still compete at a high level in 2011 which is quite impressive.)

Sixth Contest: NEW Heavyweight Champion Brian Anthony vs. Matt Taven: Taven slaps Anthony and delivers a cheap shot. Anthony tries for a monkey flip, but Taven lands on his feet. Anthony hits a spinning heel kick and a forearm shot. Taven dumps Anthony to the apron and is met with a shoulder ram. Anthony nearly wins with a rollup attempt. Anthony keeps control after a few arm drags. Taven works over Anthony in the corner with right hands and a knee strike. Taven tries to leapfrog out of the corner but Anthony delivered an uppercut instead. Anthony clotheslines Taven over the top to the floor. Anthony heads to the top rope and hits a flying crossbody! Anthony continues to work over Taven with chops around ringside. Anthony rolls Taven into the ring and works over Taven with more strikes. Taven crotches Anthony on the top rope and hits a springboard dropkick to send Anthony to the floor. Taven beats on Anthony with strikes and sends Anthony into the guard railing. Taven hits a vertical suplex in the ring for a two count. Taven continues to choke Anthony over the middle rope.

Anthony fights out and nearly wins with a rollup before trying to lock in a Boston Crab. Taven spins free and drops Anthony with a spinning heel kick. Taven isn’t able to get a three count on several pin attempts. Taven sends Anthony into the corner but runs into a boot. Anthony delivers a few kicks and a swinging neckbreaker attempt. Taven counters with a swinging neckbreaker of his own for a near fall. Anthony runs the ropes to deliver a running yakuza kick. They begin to trade right hands in the middle of the ring. Taven misses a running attack and flies through the ropes to the floor. Anthony plants Taven with a spinebuster for a two count. Anthony slams Taven to the mat before heading to the top rope. Anthony leaps off missing a corkscrew leg drop and Taven hits a springboard moonsault for a two count. Taven argues with the referee for not making the three count. Taven superkicks Anthony from behind and sends Anthony into the corner. Anthony kicks a charging Taven and comes off the middle rope. Anthony catches a dropkick in midair and catapults Taven into the corner. Anthony crotches Taven on the top turnbuckle. Taven fights back with right hands, but Anthony hits a middle rope powerslam to win the match! (***1/4. A rather solid title match between two homegrown talents. The crowd was invested in the action and they kept a good pace throughout. The finish was impactful enough, as well.)

Seventh Contest: Terry Funk vs. Jerry Lawler in a no holds barred match: Funk goes to the aisle way during Lawler’s entrance to shake his hand and walks back to the ring. That gesture confused Lawler quite a bit. Funk cheap shots Lawler with a microphone after cutting a promo. Funk slaps Lawler several times and continues with strikes. Funk dumps Lawler to the floor and grabs the guard railing. Funk sends Lawler back first into the railing followed by more strikes. Funk rams Lawler face first into the ring post. Funk chokes Lawler with wrist tape and threatens to strike the referee. Funk scoop slams Lawler followed by more punches in the corner. Funk sends Lawler back first into the railing followed by more strikes. Funk whacks Lawler over the back with a steel chair. Funk smashes Lawler with a chair. Funk tosses Lawler onto a table, but it doesn’t break outside the ring. Lawler tosses water into Funk’s eyes followed by a chair shot over the head. Lawler sends Funk head first into a chair. The chair is stuck around Funk’s head for a few moments. Lawler tosses the chair at Funk on the floor.

Lawler punches Lawler’s eye, which is in reference to what Lawler did many years ago in Memphis. Lawler beats on Funk with more rights and lefts. Lawler dropkicks Funk to the mat. Funk stops Lawler with a low blow and bails to the floor. Funk whacks Lawler over the back with a steel chair several times. Funk decks the referee after after he tried to take the chair away. Funk strips the referee of his pants! The referee hides under the ring after being embarrassed. Funk misses a chair shot and the chair hits the ropes before hitting himself in the face. Funk gets dropped to the mat. Lawler leaps off the middle rope to hit a fist drop and pins Funk! (1/2*. It’s a bad wrestling match considering these guys are incredibly old and very limited as to what they can do. The appeal here is to be able to say you saw these guys wrestle in 2011. It was not good and it was not enjoyable to watch. I expected this to happen.)

The main event is taking place between former partners and two local guys. Bret Hart is the special guest enforcer for the match, too.

Main Event: Hale Collins vs. Vik Dalishus: They both jump into the air on a lockup to make it seem like a bigger deal right off the bat. Vik shoulder blocks Collins to showoff his power advantage. Vik kicks Collins with his own foot while in a headlock on the mat. Collins breaks free by taking Vik down to the mat with a headlock of his own. Collins clotheslines Vik over the top to the floor. Collins takes Vik out with a slingshot crossbody to the floor. Collins sends Vik ribs first into the guard railing. Collins continues his offense with stomps in the corner. Collins comes off the apron with an axe handle and rams Vik face first onto the table. Collins sends Vik over the railing into the crowd. Collins sends Vik back into the ring and Vik begs off. Vik wants to shake hands and Collins doesn’t appear interested. Collins nails Vik with a kick to the chest. Collins delivers a leg drop for a two count. Collins scoop slams Vik and comes off the ropes to deliver an elbow drop for a two count. Vik counters with a leg drop by hitting a powerbomb. Vik nearly wins following a quick running leg drop.

Vik hits a springboard moonsault to the floor and hits the guard railing as does Collins. Vik scoop slams Collins on the floor and taunts a few fans in the front row. Vik kicks Collins on the left knee and delivers several more stomps on the mat. Collins tries to fight back while on his back, but Vik stops Collins with a spinning toe hold. Vik drives Collins down to the mat with a leg bar DDT. Vik stomps and beats on Collins in the corner. Vik tosses Collins with a German suplex for a two count. Collins delivers a kick to the midsection a few times to get some momentum. Collins comes off the ropes to hit a modified Fame-Asser! Collins clotheslines Vik several times. Collins kicks Vik several times and drops Vik with a kick to the back of his head for a two count. Hale goes to the top, but Vik crotches Collins on the top turnbuckle. Bret Hart prevents Vik from using a steel chair on the floor. Vik shoves Bret, but Bret shoves back. Bret blocks a right hand and decks Vik on the floor! Collins comes off the top to hit an elbow drop after Bret rolled Vik into the ring and Collins wins the match. (**1/2. I’m not really a fan of the finish. Collins, the babyface, essentially needed help from Bret to pickup the win over Vik. NEW seems to book homegrown talent in a rather bizarre fashion. The action was okay, but this lacked energy that I was hoping to see.) After the match, Bret Hart puts the Sharpshooter on Vik and celebrates with Collins.

Final Thoughts:
There are plenty of well known names and a few names that would later become big names in professional wrestling. This was a mostly mediocre show with really only one match having much entertainment attached to it. It runs less than two hours and twenty minutes, so if you want a quick show to watch I guess this would be suffice. But, for the most part, it’s a show that can be skipped. I can’t recommend this show.

Thanks for reading.