International Wrestling Cartel presents Super Indy II
Date: 5/10/2003
From: White Oak, PA
Opening Contest: BJ Whitmer vs. Sterling James Keenan in a first round match: Keenan works over Whitmer before the bell with strikes. Whitmer forearms Keenan after avoiding a clothesline and forearms Keenan to the mat for a near fall. Whitmer heel kicks Keenan for a two count. Whitmer keeps Keenan on the mat with a side headlock. Keenan elbows Whitmer, but settles for a back suplex to break free from the headlock. Keenan rams Whitmer into the corner face first, but Whitmer comes back with a powerslam for a two count. Whitmer chops Keenan against the ropes to keep control. Keenan tries for a full nelson, but rolls through and takes Whitmer over with a German suplex. Keenan comes off the ropes with a fist drop for a two count. Keenan nails Whitmer with a leaping back elbow for a near fall. Keenan delivers a leg drop for a two count. Keenan is sat on the top turnbuckle, but gets a head scissors submission over the top rope. Keenan heads to the top rope trying for a hurricanrana, but Whitmer plants Keenan with a sit down powerbomb in midair. They trade strikes from their knees with Whitmer getting the better of the exchange. Whitmer forearms Keenan coming off the ropes. Whitmer kicks and chops Keenan a few times leading to a near fall. Whitmer takes Keenan over with a snap suplex and a northern lights suplex for a near fall. Keenan avoids a powerbomb, but slips. Keenan dropkicks Whitmer on the knee and hits a shining wizard for a two count. Whitmer forearms Keenan a few times followed by a knee lift. Whitmer hits a powerbomb for a near fall. Whitmer heads to the top rope, but Keenan shoves the referee into the ropes to crotch Whitmer. Keenan grabs Whitmer out of the tree of woe and rolls Whitmer up for the win. (**. Keenan was a little sloppy throughout the match, but it was still a decent match. Whitmer looked really good in there and probably should have moved on. The finish was a little weird since Keenan usually hits a piledriver, but instead just did a rollup out of the tree of woe. So, the finish was a little flat.)
Second Contest: Colt Cabana vs. Super Hentai in a first round match: Cabana backs Hentai into the corner, but cleanly backs away by giving Hentai a high-five. Hentai controls Cabana with a wrist lock and wrenches on Hentai before lifting Hentai into the air and back to the mat. Hentai head scissors Cabana and takes Cabana down to the mat. Hentai tries to keep leg control, but Cabana easily breaks free. Cabana gets a rollup on Hentai, but Hentai quickly breaks free. Cabana arm drags Hentai and tries for a powerbomb, but Hentai counters with a rollup for a two count. Cabana gains control with strikes to the back. Cabana has a double under hook on Hentai, but switches for a powerbomb. Hentai blocks it and gets his head clapped by Cabana. Cabana chops Hentai in the corner and misses a double knee strike. Hentai fires back with chops to Cabana. Hentai head scissors Cabana out of the corner and kicks Cabana a few times. Hentai heads to the top rope missing a splash as Cabana got his knees up. Cabana backdrops Hentai to the apron and Hentai goes to the top rope missing a missile dropkick. Cabana hits the Colt 45 for the win. (*1/2. A fine sprint of a match, but again it was a little sloppy. They hyped this up as a major upset since Hentai won last year and Cabana lost in the first round. I guess in IWC it’s an upset, but Cabana had to be seen as the likely winner to fans at the time considering his overall exposure in bigger promotions.)
Third Contest: Ikuto Hidaka vs. Matt Stryker in a first round match: Stryker backs Hidaka into a corner to start the match and cleanly backs off. They trade wrist control for a few moments. Stryker takes Hidaka down with a hammerlock. Both men counter each other on the mat with Stryker getting arm control. Stryker arm drags Hidaka and keeps wrist control for a two count. Stryker keeps Hidaka on the mat by digging his elbow into his arm. Hidaka leg sweeps Stryker, but Stryker gets a two count with a quick cover and leads to a standoff. Hidaka keeps wrist control on Stryker, but Stryker takes Hidaka down to the mat with a drop toe hold. Hidaka gets leg control focusing on Stryker’s knee. Hidaka dropkicks a seated Stryker for a two count. Hidaka chops Stryker a few times and connects with an elbow strike for a near fall. Stryker keeps Hidaka on the mat working over the chin. Stryker delivers a knee strike to the back and maintains control on the mat with a sleeper. Hidaka tries for a dragon suplex, but Stryker counters with a rollup for a two count. Stryker follows up with a clothesline for a two count. Hidaka hits a side suplex and both men are down. Hidaka hammers away on Stryker and gets a choke on Stryker in the ropes. Hidaka leaps off the top hitting a missile dropkick for a near fall. Hidaka gets an arm bar submission, but Stryker reaches the ropes. Hidaka forearms Stryker a few times, but runs into a snap powerslam and gets a two count. Stryker plants Hidaka with a vertical suplex. Hidaka stops Stryker on the top rope and hits a swinging neckbreaker off the middle rope for a two count. Hidaka tries for a suplex, but Stryker counters with a big boot and tries for a springboard moonsault, but Hidaka got his knees up. Stryker manages to counter a wheelbarrow with an ankle lock to force a submission to win the match. (**3/4. A solid match with a surprise win for Stryker that I was not expecting. Hidaka was more entertaining than Stryker and I’d rather see Hidaka advance. Stryker isn’t a bad worker, but I tend to find myself bored by him normally.)
Fourth Contest: Christopher Daniels vs. Raven in a first round match: Raven controls Daniels with a side headlock in the early moments followed by a shoulder block. Daniels backs Raven into a corner to deliver a knee lift and right hands. Raven boots Daniels and gets control with a headlock on the mat. Raven shoulder blocks Daniels and connects with a hip toss and clothesline over the top to the floor. Raven stomps on Daniels a few times and goes back to a headlock on the mat. Daniels rams Raven into a corner a few times to break free. Raven kicks Daniels and goes back to a headlock for control on the mat. Raven jabs Daniels a few times and they completely botch an STO by Daniels. Daniels clotheslines Raven for a two count. Daniels works over Raven with stomps and strikes in the corner. Daniels continues to beat on Raven in the corner and gets choke in for a moment causing Raven to fall to the floor. They brawl into the crowd where Daniels clotheslines Raven out of a chair. Daniels slams Raven face first onto a chair. Daniels plants Raven with a back suplex for a two count. Daniels keeps a chin lock on Raven, but doesn’t get a submission. Raven fights out and is met with a heel kick for a two count. Raven ducks a clothesline and superkicks Daniels causing both men to be down.
Daniels tries for an STO and eventually settles for a flatliner for a two count. Raven elbows free but Daniels scoop slams Raven and heads to the top rope. Daniels leaps off the top missing an elbow drop. Raven hammers away on Daniels followed by a discus clothesline and a knee lift. Raven puts his quilt over Daniels head and punches Daniels a few times. Raven accidentally clotheslines the referee, but plants Daniels with the DDT. However, there’s no referee to make the count. Daniels nails Raven with a kick to the head to win the match. (*1/4. They did not click well together at all. I wanted to enjoy this, but Raven didn’t seem to know how to take a few of Daniels moves.)
Fifth Contest: Colt Cabana vs. Sterling James Keenan in a semifinal match: Cabana gets wrist control on Keenan to start the match. Cabana stomps on Keenan’s arm on the mat. Cabana keeps Keenan on the mat with a modified abdominal stretch. Cabana chops Keenan a few times while keeping the hold on, but doesn’t get a submission. Keenan counters with a leg hold and knee drops Cabana before hitting a leg drop, but Cabana breaks free with a leg lock of his own. Cabana ties Keenan up on the mat and headbutts Keenan to keep control. Cabana gets a rollup for a two count. Keenan runs into a boot in the corner and Cabana connects with a knee strike. Keenan dropkicks Cabana on the knee to send Cabana to the apron. Keenan presses Cabana’s knee over the bottom rope. Keenan pulls Cabana out of the corner and delivers an elbow drop before locking in another leg lock. Cabana is screaming in agony, but reaches the ropes to break the hold. Keenan kicks Cabana on the leg. Keenan leg drops Cabana leg on the mat and keeps a leg lock, but doesn’t get a submission. Cabana nearly wins with a cradle, but Keenan responds with a clothesline for a two count. Cabana appears to not be able to put pressure on his injured knee, which Keenan continues to focus on. Cabana hits a twisting snap suplex out of the corner. They trade strikes with Cabana getting the advantage and drops Keenan to the mat. Cabana drops nearly wins with a Kryptonite Krunch over his knee. Cabana sunset flips Keenan for a two count. Cabana misses a clothesline and tries for a backslide, but counters Keenan’s rollup to hit the Colt 45 for the win. (*1/2. Keenan was a little boring with the leg work on Cabana. There’s no doubt that the IWC crowd loves Colt’s finisher as they have popped big two times now. It was a slower pace than the other matches, but not a bad match, really.) After the match, Keenan slaps Cabana to decline a handshake.
Sixth Contest: Christopher Daniels vs. Matt Stryker in a semifinal match: They shake hands to show respect, which is against Daniels ROH gimmick. Stryker gets wrist control on Daniels and takes Daniels down to the mat. Daniels counters for a moment, but Stryker gets a hammerlock on Daniels followed by knee drops. Daniels drop toe holds Stryker to the mat and gets a front face lock for a moment. Daniels gets wrist control for a moment, but Stryker counters with one of his own. Stryker keeps a wrist lock on Daniels, but doesn’t get a submission. Daniels counters with a top wrist lock only for Stryker for counter with a hammerlock. Stryker arm drags Daniels to the mat and has a key lock on Daniels. Daniels shoulder rams Stryker to break free. Daniels hip tosses Stryker coming off the ropes and has an arm bar locked in, but Stryker counters with an STF. Stryker puts a bow and arrow on Daniels, but fails to get a submission and Daniels almost gets a cover. Daniels goes back to a side headlock and shoulder blocks Stryker followed by a kick to the chest. Stryker hits a side Russian leg sweep and puts a modified abdominal stretch on the mat. Daniels reaches the ropes to break the hold. Stryker uppercuts Daniels a few times. Daniels decks Stryker to the mat and hits a vertical suplex for a two count. Daniels sends Stryker hard into the corner for a two count. Stryker comes off the ropes with a crossbody, but Daniels responds with a flurry of strikes on the mat. Daniels knee lifts Stryker and hits an exploder suplex for a near fall. Daniels forearms Stryker a few times to keep control of the contest. Daniels hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. Daniels sends Stryker into the corner face first. Daniels misses a splash and runs into a big boot by Stryker. Stryker chops Daniels followed by a back elbow strike. Stryker dropkicks Daniels and a powerslam for a two count. Stryker chops Daniels a few times and avoids a kick. Stryker locks in an ankle lock, but Daniels reaches the ropes. Stryker stumbles into an STO and Daniels puts and Koji Clutch on, but Stryker nearly wins with a rollover. They trade a series of rollups, but both men only get two counts. Stryker counters a leapfrog, but Daniels looks to nearly land on his head. Daniels tries for a sunset flip, but Stryker counters with the ankle lock. Stryker pulls Daniels away from the ropes and sits down. Daniels is forced to submit. (*1/2. The push for Stryker on this show is shocking to me. The focus on mat wrestling kind of got boring after a while, but it was fine action for the most part. Stryker winning cleanly by submission is a major upset for the tournament and probably indie wrestling in general. If this is an attempt to make a breakout moment for Stryker, I’m not sure if it’s really connecting with me.)
Seventh Contest: Dustin Ardine vs. Dean Radford: Ardine tries for a crucifix pin managing a two count. Ardine gets a two count with a rollup out of the corner. Radford bails to the floor to regroup. Ardine takes Radford out with a dive over the top to the floor. Radford nails Ardine with a big boot to regain control of the contest. Radford knee drops Ardine and hits a middle rope leg drop. Ardine superkicks Radford to the floor. Ardine delivers a baseball slide and leaps off the apron, but Radford hits a spinebuster on the floor. Ardine fires back with strikes in the ring and a leaping clothesline. Ardine goes to the top hitting a moonsault for a two count. Ardine scoop slams Radford, but his back goes out on him. Ardine tries a couple of clotheslines, but Radford comes back with a side walk slam. Ardine stops Radford on the top rope hitting a superplex. Ardine heads to the top rope, but is caught with a vertical suplex in midair to give Radford the win. (*1/4. I feel like this was just a filler match. Luckily it didn’t go too long.)
Eighth Contest: Shirley Doe vs. Bubba The Bulldog in a dog collar match: Bulldog punches Doe into the corner, but doesn’t follow up. Bulldog continues with right hands sending Doe back to the corner. They trade forearm shots until Bulldog hits Doe with the dog collar. Bulldog punches Doe on the knee with the dog collar. Bulldog continues to work over the knee with the chain. Doe nails Bulldog with a forearm strike and chokes Bulldog with the chain. Doe bites Bulldog’s hand for a moment, as well. Doe wraps the chain around his fist to strike Bulldog. Doe tries for a top wrist lock, but Bulldog refuses to give in. Bulldog eye rakes Doe and chokes Doe with the chain. Doe boots bulldog and hits a choke bomb off the middle rope. Doe chokes Bulldog some more with the chain. Bulldog nails Doe with a forearm strike a couple of times. Doe dropkicks Bulldog on the knee and connects with a shining wizard. Bulldog blocks a knee strike attempt by Doe. Bulldog whips Doe on the leg with the chain. Doe discus forearm strikes Bulldog and tries to touch all four corners. Bulldog stops the momentum and they mess up an STO. That literally drew laughter from the crowd. Bulldog wraps the chain around Doe’s head and delivers several vicious unprotected chair shots. Doe hits Bulldog with a Kryptonite Krunch after they both had touched three corners ands Doe hits the fourth corner to win the match. (DUD. A brutal match in the sense that it was truly an awful wrestling match to watch. Any time there is literal laughter from the crowd and it’s not a comedy match, you’re doomed.)
Ninth Contest: IWC Tag Team Champions Devil’s Advocates (Devil Bhudakahn & Glenn Spectre) vs. Sexual Harassment (JT Rodgers & Troy Lords) in a loser eats dog food match: Harassment start the match by brawling on the floor with the champs. Lords hits a somersault dive to the floor onto the champs. Spectre forearms Lords, but Lords comes back with an arm drag and a tilt a whirl backbreaker. Rodgers enters and kicks Spectre on the back followed by a scoop slam and a flipping elbow drop off the ropes for a two count. Spectre is dropkicked by Lords and Lords delivers a clothesline. Spectre heel kicks Lords to gain control and Devil hit an elbow drop for a two count. Spectre forearms Lords a few times and tags in Devil. Devil and Spectre hit a double backbreaker on Lords leading to a near fall. Devil hits a wheelbarrow German on Lords. Spectre enters and manages a two count. Spectre hits a northern lights suplex for a two count on Lords. Lords fights back with right hands and connects with an awkward piledriver. Rodgers gets yanked off the apron and Lords can’t tag out. Lords continues to be worked over in the corner. The champs hit a surfboard/dropkick combo on Lords. Spectre tries for a tornado DDT, but Lords drops Spectre over his knee neck first. Rodgers and Devil are tagged in with Rodgers cleaning house on the champs. Devil tosses Rodgers with a under hook German suplex. Spectre collides with Garrett on the apron. Harassment hit a double reverse DDT and pin Devil to win the tag titles. (*. The crowd liked the title change and I thought Lords did a fine job in his extended role in the match. I was just indifferent towards the match overall.) After the match, the losers have to eat dog food.
Tenth Contest: IWC World Champion Jimmy Vegas vs. Dennis Gregory: Gregory nails Vegas with a leaping forearm and dropkick in the early moments to send Vegas to the floor. Gregory drops Vegas over the top rope throat first and hits a slingshot leg drop. Vegas avoids a crossbody and Gregory falls to the floor. Vegas rolls Gregory into the ring to keep control of the contest. Vegas tosses Gregory overhead with a suplex for a near fall. Gregory hammers away on Vegas, but a knee lift stops his momentum. Vegas chokes Gregory in the corner. Vegas continues to kick Gregory in the corner followed by stomps. Gregory kicks Vegas in the gut and nails the champ with a kick to the head. Gregory leaps off the middle rope, but Vegas hits an overhead suplex. Vegas grabs the championship and settles for right hands in the corner. Gregory counters with strikes, but the referee is being distracted at this point. Gregory rams Vegas into the corner and Gregory comes off the top accidentally colliding with the referee. Vegas nails Gregory with the championship and nearly wins the match. Gregory locks in a reverse Boston Crab, but Vegas breaks free of the hold. Vegas hammers away on Gregory with right hands and tries for a back suplex into the ring, but Gregory lands on top for a two count. Vegas regains control with strikes in the corner, but Gregory tries for a reverse DDT. Vegas kicks Gregory away hitting him on the knee. Gregory tries for a reverse DDT, but Vegas counters with a slam for the win. (*. There’s nothing really going on here as they kept it rather basic and to the point. It was mostly brawling and uninspiring wrestling to hold interest. I do like Vegas and feel like he has that “star look” that bigger promotions would be looking for.)
Main Event: Colt Cabana vs. Matt Stryker in the finals of the Super Indy Tournament: Stryker takes Cabana down to the mat with a snapmare, but Cabana quickly gets to his feet. Cabana again reaches the ropes to avoid a takedown by Stryker. Stryker and Cabana trade pin attempts leading to a standoff. They counter each other on the mat with front face lock. Cabana arm drags Stryker and keeps arm control on the mat. Stryker gets a head scissor on the mat, but Cabana is able to break free from the hold. Stryker gets a modified STF on Cabana, but doesn’t get a submission. Cabana breaks free with a forearm strike and continues to forearm Stryker. Cabana takes Stryker down to the mat with a modified headlock submission, but Stryker knee strikes his way free of the hold. Cabana works over Stryker in the corner several times. Cabana sends Stryker into the corner back first. Cabana hits a side slam for a two count. Cabana forearms Stryker a few times, but Stryker eye rakes Cabana and delivers a chop block. Cabana pops back up and hammers away on Stryker. Stryker regains control with a knee breaker and locks in a figure four in the middle of the ring. Cabana refuses to give in.
Cabana rolls over to counter the hold, but Stryker breaks the hold and stomps on Cabana’s leg a few times. Stryker puts a leg lock on Cabana, but doesn’t get a submission. Cabana hammers away on Stryker, but Stryker delivers a dragon screw leg whip. Stryker keeps control on the leg delivering a knee drop leading to a two count. Stryker kicks Cabana on the leg followed by an elbow strike to drop Cabana to the mat. Stryker uppercuts Cabana followed by a chop. Cabana and Stryker trade chops with Stryker getting control and sends Cabana into the corner, but Cabana collapses to the mat. Stryker continues to focus his attack on the injured knee. Stryker wraps Cabana’s knee around the ring post a few times. Stryker low blows Cabana into the post groin first. Cabana hammers away on Stryker and delivers a kick to the head. Cabana tries for a slam, but Stryker lands on top for a two count. Stryker uppercuts Cabana into the corner and delvers a few chops in the corner. Stryker boots Cabana in the corner, but Cabana rams Stryker into the corner back first. Stryker elbows Cabana and comes off the middle rope, but is caught by Cabana with an elevated DDT. Stryker chops Cabana a few times, but Cabana responds with strikes of this own. They collide on forearm strikes and both men remain down on the mat. Cabana ducks a clothesline and elbow strikes Stryker followed by jabs. Cabana takes Stryker over with a hurricanrana for a two count.
Cabana chops Stryker and tries for a Kryptonite Krunch, but settles for a spinning flatliner for a near fall. Cabana heads to the top rope, but Stryker stops Cabana with a few strikes. Stryker hooks Cabana hitting a superplex! Stryker locks in the ankle lock and holds on despite Cabana trying to kick him off. Stryker sits down on the hold, but Cabana reaches the ropes to break the hold. Stryker goes back to the ankle lock, but Cabana remains on the ropes. Cabana forearms Stryker to the mat. Stryker avoids a kick with the ankle lock, but Cabana rolls through with a rollup and pins Stryker to win the match and title. (**1/2. An underwhelming finals match, but a decent match nonetheless. These two are probably the least likely guys to be in the finals, especially Stryker. I just didn’t find myself invested in the action and while it was a decent match, I was kind of bored by it.)
Final Thoughts:
Super Indy II doesn’t live up to the first Super Indy in 2002. I think it’s a little more disappointing because they had a few bigger names than the first one. Thus, this one gets a thumbs down from me.
Thanks for reading.