Written by: Bob Colling
International Wrestling Cartel presents Super Indy
Date: 3/22/2002
From: Monroeville, PA
Opening Contest: Chris Hero vs. CM Punk in a first round match: They show respect for each other by shaking hands. They counter each other early on until Punk takes Hero down to the mat. Hero kicks Punk away and Punk gets a headlock on Hero for a moment. Hero controls Punk in a test of strength, but Punk bridges up. Hero maintains control and tries for a sunset flip, but Punk blocks and puts a headlock on Hero. Punk drops Hero with a flying knee strike and keeps Hero on the mat with an abdominal stretch. Punk forearms Hero in the corner, but Hero comes back with a forearm of his own. Punk comes back with a jawbreaker and tries for a crossbody, but Hero catches Punk to hit a swinging backbreaker for a near fall. Hero drives Punk down to the mat with a fisherman buster for a near fall. Hero leaps off the top missing a moonsault. Punk connects with a double under hook backbreaker and another backbreaker for a near fall. Punk has a go-behind on Hero, but Hero counters. Punk lands on his feet on an attempted German suplex. Hero hits a release German suplex for a near fall. Hero chops Punk in the corner several times. Hero boots Punk in the corner and lifts Punk onto the middle rope where Punk connects with a blockbuster for a near fall. Punk slips on the top rope before Hero did a somersault kick and the crowd laughed. Hero tries for a top rope powerbomb, but Punk counters. Punk hits the Pepsi Plunge for the win! (**. The botch towards the end was unfortunate, but the action here was nowhere near the quality they have had in IWAMS. It’s funny that the announcer mentioned their 55 minute classic and this proceeded to go less than seven minutes. It was a decent short match.)
Second Contest: Super Hentai vs. Orion in a first round match: They shake hands as well since they are both good guys in IWC. They start off with some mat wrestling in the opening moments of the contest. Orion keeps control on Hentai with a leg lock, but that doesn’t last long. Hentai head scissors Orion, but Orion comes back with a leg sweep. They begin to trade chops in the middle of the ring. Hentai forearms Orion, but Orion responds quickly. Hentai gets a rollup on Orion for a near fall. Orion tries for a rollup, but Hentai powers out at two. Hentai lands on his feet to counter a suplex. Hentai locks in a full nelson on Orion, but Orion counters. Orion plants Hentai with a DDT for a near fall. Orion works over Hentai in the corner with chops. Hentai connects with a powerslam, but can’t followup. They begin to trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Hentai nearly wins following a dropkick. Hentai slams Orion and heads to the top rope. Hentai misses a splash. Orion elbows Hentai to the mat and misses a springboard moonsault. Hentai takes Orion over with a northern lights suplex. Orion connects with a reverse DDT. Orion goes to the top rope, but Hentai crotches Orion on the turnbuckle. Hentai hits a middle rope northern lights suplex and holds on to connect with another northern lights suplex for the win. (**. I’m not familiar with Orion, but he was solid in there. Hentai has some fun high flying moves and they incorporated their strengths rather. I’d say this was another solid first round match to the tournament.)
Third Contest: Christopher Daniels vs. Colt Cabana in a first round match: Daniels shoulder blocks Cabana and keeps a headlock locked in. Daniels hip tosses Cabana and goes back to a headlock. Daniels drop toe holds Cabana to keep control on the mat. Cabana tosses Daniels out of the corner with a release German suplex for a near fall. Colt hammers away on Daniels with right hands. Cabana nails Daniels with an elbow for a near fall. Cabana works over Daniels against the ropes with strikes. Daniels kicks Cabana to counter a backdrop. Cabana counters a rollup and locks in the Billy Goat’s Curse. Daniels doesn’t give up and Cabana stomps on Daniels before coming off the middle rope with a leg drop for a two count. Cabana forearms Daniels, but Cabana counters with a backbreaker. Cabana goes for a cover, but Daniels kicks out at two. Cabana heads to the top rope, but Daniels stops Colt with a right hand. Daniels is shoved off the middle rope and Cabana misses a corkscrew moonsault. Daniels clotheslines Cabana a few times followed by a DDT. Daniels leg sweeps Cabana and signals for the BME and hits it! Daniels has the cover, but Cabana kicks out. Daniels chops Cabana in the corner. Colt hits a tornado snap suplex out of the corner for a two count. Cabana side slams Daniels for a two count. Cabana sends Daniels into the corner and runs into a boot. Daniels plants Cabana with a reverse hurricanrana. Daniels goes for a cover, but Cabana kicks out at two. Cabana forearms Daniels to counter a hip toss. Cabana tries for a powerbomb, but Daniels breaks free and hits the Angels Wings for the clean win. (**1/2. I’ve been enjoying the first round as that makes three in a row solid matches to kickoff the tournament. They are keeping a good pace and not having a lot of down time at all.)
Fourth Contest: Low Ki vs. Kid Sensation in a first round match: Ki takes Sensation down to the mat and keeps control with a front face lock. Sensation counters with a hammerlock and switches with a headlock. Ki gets out with a head scissors and controls Sensation with a pin attempt for a two count. Ki nails Sensation with a kick to the leg. Sensation is hobbling around selling the knee. Ki takes Sensation down to the mat again with a drop toe hold. Ki kicks Sensation on the back a few times and breaks free from an arm bar. Ki kicks Sensation in the midsection and continues with strikes. Sensation fights back with a heel kick. Sensation atomic drops Ki followed by a seated dropkick for a two count. Sensation heads to the top rope and hits a crossbody for a two count. Ki dropkicks Sensation coming off the top rope. Ki kicks Sensation following a snapmare. Ki nails Sensation with a kick to the head. Ki slams Sensation and delivers an elbow drop for a near fall. Ki locks in a dragon sleeper, but Sensation doesn’t give in. Sensation elbows free and is dumped to the apron. Sensation gets a sunset flip on Ki for a two count. Ki connects with a back suplex. Ki goes back to a dragon sleeper and kicks Sensation on the back. Sensation refuses to give in and tries to get the crowd behind him. Sensation gets up and elbows free. Sensation dumps Ki to the apron. Ki nails Sensation with a stiff kick on the apron. Ki misses a handspring in the corner and Sensation misses a Slice Bread. Sensation forearms and dropkicks Ki. Sensation hits a spinning heel kick off the middle rope for a two count. Ki nails Sensation with a somersault kick for a two count. Ki heads to the top rope, but Sensation stops Ki with strikes. Sensation hits a superplex for a two count. Ki delivers a handspring kick in the corner to drop Sensation for a two count. Ki signals for the Ki Krusher, but Sensation breaks free. Ki counters a Slice Bread and plants Sensation with the Ki Krusher to win the match. (**1/4. I felt bad for Sensation as he was often times bracing himself for the stiff kicks and looked a little worried sometimes. Who can blame him, right? Sensation is a green worker and Ki looked like a monster in there. The crowd ate up what Ki did in there.)
Fifth Contest: IWC Tag Team Champions J-Ru & Scottie Gash vs. Dennis Gregory & Devil Bhudakahn: I think I only know of Gregory going into this one. Gash dropkicks and arm drags Gregory in the opening moments leading to Gregory bailing to the floor. Gash backdrops Devil over the top onto Gregory. Ru tags in, but Gregory eye rakes Ru to gain the advantage. Gregory keeps control with a few knees to the midsection. Ru heel kicks Gregory and delivers a splash in the corner. Ru splashes Gregory and Gash gets a two count. Gregory low blows Gash to gain the advantage. Gregory hits a vertical suplex for a near fall. Gregory connects with a side Russian leg sweep on Gash for a near fall. Devil tags in and double teams Gash for a moment. Devil slams Gash and hits a slingshot elbow drop for two count. Gash nearly wins with a rollup, but Devil decks Gash with a clothesline. Gash runs into a boot by Devil and Devil hits a corkscrew dive off the top rope. Devil bails to the floor to allow Gregory to hit Gash with a superkick for a near fall. Gash is double teamed in the corner for a few moments. Gregory stops Gash with a backbreaker for a two count. Devil takes Gash down with a snap suplex. Devil hits a top rope moonsault for a near fall.
Gregory returns to the match and nails Gash with a knee strike. Gash boots Gregory in the corner and leaps off the middle rope to hit a neckbreaker. Ru cleans house with clotheslines and nails Devil with a somersault stunner out of the corner. The champs hit a 3D on Devil, but the referee is distracted. Gregory leg drops Ru and Gash accidentally leg drops Ru after a bulldog. Ru kicks out on a cover attempt by Devil. Sexual Harassment get on the apron to help Devil. Ru kicks Devil and they hit a botched powerbomb/neckbreaker combo on Devil for the win. (*1/4. I just didn’t have any interest in the local guys.) After the match, Sexual Harassment attack the champs.
Sixth Contest: CM Punk vs. Super Hentai in a semifinals match: Punk backs Hentai into a corner and cleanly backs off. Hentai keeps control of Punk with a wrist lock. Punk counters with a wrist lock of his own. Hentai head scissors Punk and misses an elbow. Hentai drops Punk throat first over the top rope. Hentai hits a somersault dive to the floor onto Punk. Hental takes Punk over with a snap suplex and they trade a few chops. Hentai chops Punk coming off the ropes. Punk kicks Hentai a few times and tries for a hip toss. Hentai counters with a rollup for a two count. They go back to chopping each other. Punk beats on Hentai with a boot and elbows in the corner. Punk dropkicks Hentai off the apron to the floor. Punk baseball slides Hentai and hits a slingshot senton onto Hentai on the floor. Punk drives Hentai down with a vertical suplex. Punk connects with a tilt a whirl backbreaker for a two count. Hentai locks in an octopus submission, but Punk doesn’t give in. Punk hits a wheelbarrow suplex on Hentai for a near fall. Punk drives Hentai down with a backbreaker for a near fall. Hentai counters a suplex with a rollup, but Punk gets out and clotheslines Hentai. Punk slams Hentai and heads to the top rope. Hentai dropkicks Punk in midair. Hentai takes Punk down with a side Russian leg sweep and a slam. Hentai goes to the top rope hitting a splash for a near fall. Punk hits a rolling fireman’s carry followed by a split legged moonsault for a near fall. Punk plants Hentai with a DDT. Hentai takes Punk off the middle rope with a springboard sunset flip powerbomb for a two count. Hentai misses a spear and hits the ring post shoulder first. Punk tries for a middle rope Razors Edge, but Hentai counters with a hurricanrana to win the match. (*1/2. Prior to the finish, which was good, I was mostly bored by this one. Hentai felt limited compared to the first match where he was able to shine a little bit. I’m fine with a local guy getting a push in the tournament.)
Seventh Contest: Low Ki vs. Christopher Daniels in a semifinals match: Ki takes Daniels down with a full nelson and they counter each other on the mat a few times. Daniels takes Ki down to the mat and controls Ki with a chin lock. Ki keeps Daniels on the mat and slaps the back of Daniels head. Ki tries for an arm bar, but Daniels blocks it. Daniels is kicked by Ki, who breaks free of a wrist lock. Ki kicks Daniels a few times and chops Daniels followed by a shoulder block. Daniels leg sweeps Ki to the mat to gain the upper hand. Daniels drives Ki down to the mat with a front suplex for a near fall. Daniels atomic drops Ki followed by a bulldog for a two count. Daniels drops Ki over the top rope gut first and hits a leg drop for a near fall. Ki nails Daniels with three kicks and a fourth kick to the head for a near fall. Ki drives Daniels down with a backbreaker and an elbow drop. Ki kicks Daniels on the back a few times. Daniels works over Ki with strikes in the corner. Daniels elbows Ki in the corner and gets crotched on the top rope. Ki puts Daniels in a tree of woe dragon sleeper, but has to let go. Ki kicks Daniels a few times on the chest. Ki handspring kicks Daniels in the corner for a two count. Daniels knee lifts Ki a few times, but Ki chops Daniels. Daniels avoids a springboard kick and connects with an STO. Daniels misses the BME, but lands on his feet. Daniels strikes Ki on the top turnbuckle. Daniels slams Ki off the top rope for a near fall. Daniels counters a rollup for a two count. They begin to trade a series of rollups. Ki locks in a dragon sleeper for a moment. Daniels kicks Ki and tries for Angels Wings, but Ki gets free. Daniels counters with the Ki Krusher to win the match with an inside cradle. (***. A good match, but the constant rollup spot was predictable and I knew it was going to led to a rollup finish. I wonder if the indie stars prefer to lose on flukes like that rather than taking a strong finish.)
Eighth Contest: Balls Mahoney & Sandman vs. IWC Heavyweight Champion Jimmy Vegas & Shirley Doe: Mahoney and Doe kickoff the tag match. Doe backs Mahoney into a corner, but cleanly backs away. Doe gets to the ropes to get out of an arm bar. Mahoney drop toe holds Doe to the mat and keeps control with mat wrestling holds. Mahoney takes Doe down to the mat, but Vegas enters to kick Mahoney. Sandman tags into the match and works over Doe with strikes. Sandman knee lifts Doe several times to maintain control. Sandman clotheslines Doe coming off the ropes. Doe is punched by both Mahoney and Sandman. Sandman continues to work over Doe with strikes in the corner. Doe boots Sandman and tags in Vegas. Vegas stomps on Sandman to gain control of the contest. Vegas leg drops Sandman on the groin. Doe returns to the match with an arm bar on Sandman. Vegas tags back in and drops Sandman with a right hand. Vegas takes Sandman over with a belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Vegas works over Sandman in the corner by choking him. Doe tags in and they miss a double clothesline. Sandman clotheslines both men and tags in Mahoney. Mahoney cleans house with strikes. Mahoney drops Vegas with a neckbreaker for a near fall. Mahoney plants Doe with a sit out spine buster followed by a leg drop for a two count.
All four men are in the ring with Sandman hammering away on Vegas as they go to the floor. Doe low blows Mahoney. Doe has a chair and whacks Mahoney over the head. Mahoney no sells it and asks for another shot. Mahoney doesn’t drop. Mahoney superkicks Doe and grabs the chair. Vegas misses a chair shot and Mahoney plants Vegas with the Nutcracker Suite. Mahoney smashes Doe with a chair and Sandman nearly pins Vegas. Sandman hits the referee with the kendo stick. Two women get in the ring and they have a cat fight. Sandman hits a side Russian leg sweep with a kendo stick on Vegas, but there’s no referee. Sandman nails Vegas with the kendo stick again. Doe sends Mahoney head first into a wooden chair against the railing. Vegas accidentally hits Doe off the apron. Vegas hits the Cha Ching Slam on Sandman to win the match. (*. If this was a hardcore match it would have been a lot better. I don’t know many people that would want to see Mahoney or Sandman compete in a regular match. Vegas has a good look for a local guy and has some personality.)
Main Event: Christopher Daniels vs. Super Hentai in the finals of the Super Indy Tournament: Daniels clotheslines Hentai for a two count at the start of the match. Daniels gets another two count after a sit out vertical suplex. Daniels works over Hentai with stomps and strikes. Daniels hits an under hook suplex for a near fall. Daniels clotheslines Hentai in the corner followed by a neckbreaker for a two count. Hentai nearly wins with a rollup out of the corner. Daniels decks Hentai with a clothesline. Daniels knee lifts Hentai and tosses Hentai with an exploder suplex for a near fall. Daniels headbutts Hentai a few times followed by a German suplex. Hentai bulldogs Daniels and delivers a dropkick. Daniels heel kicks Hentai for a two count. Daniels keeps a Boston Crab on Hentai, but doesn’t get a submission. Daniels switches to an STF. Daniels rolls over onto a surfboard, but Hentai doesn’t give in. Daniels clotheslines Hentai for a two count. Hentai almost wins with an inside cradle. Daniels headbutts Hentai a few times. Daniels hammers away on Hentai some more in the corner. Hentai plants Daniels with a DDT and both men are down. Hentai chops Daniels in the corner followed by right hands. Hentai avoids an atomic drop and clotheslines Daniels for a near fall. Hentai knee strikes Daniels, but runs into a boot. Hentai hits a snap powerslam for a near fall followed by a northern lights suplex. Daniels almost wins with a rollup. Daniels slams Hentai to the mat and hits the BME for a near fall. Daniels hits the Angels Wings for a near fall. Hentai hits a rolling northern lights suplex with a bridge to pin Daniels clean! (**. Hentai winning is probably the best outcome. IWC should be putting over their local guys over established names that way they get some credit in the fans eyes. The finish was a little abrupt and flat, but I’m sure they had to rush the match a little bit. I’m interested to see Hentai compete on future IWC shows.)
Final Thoughts:
While there’s nothing on the show that is must-see or overly great, I thought the show had enough solid action to make the viewing experience a positive one. Thus, I’ll give this show a mild thumbs up. For a tournament based show, it’s an easy watch for the most part.
Thanks for reading.