ISPW Wrestling
Date: 7/15/1999
From: Wildwood, NJ
Dawn Marie makes her way down to the ring to kickoff the show and she’s greeted with a warm reception. She does a countdown for the show to start, I think. She just leaves after that.
Backstage, Rick Ratchet is talking with Inferno Kid, but they want the camera man out of there. Inferno Kid says that he wants his respect tonight. Inferno promises a lot of beating on JR Ryder tonight.
Opening Contest: JR Ryder vs. Inferno Kid: Ryder smacks inferno on the butt while Inferno taunted the crowd on the middle rope. Inferno bails to the floor to avoid Ryder in the opening moments of the match. Ryder gets wrist control, but Inferno counters only to go to the ropes when Ryder gets control. Inferno bails to the floor again. Inferno runs the ropes and is catapulted by Ryder. Ryder runs the ropes and smacks Inferno on the face to avoid a catapult. Ryder backdrops Inferno and clotheslines Inferno over the top to the floor. Inferno sits in the front row and wants a fan to wrestle Ryder instead, but that’s not happening. Ryder slingshots Inferno back into the ring and and hits a spinning elbow strike. Ryder takes Inferno over with a snap suplex and a leg drop for a two count. Ryder tries for a hip toss, but Inferno plants Ryder with a DDT. Inferno clotheslines Ryder and taunts the crowd. Inferno comes off the ropes with a forearm to the mat for a near fall. Inferno dumps Ryder to the floor and distracts the referee. Inferno suplexs Ryder into the ring from the apron. Inferno goes for a cover, but Ryder kicks out at two. Inferno chokes Ryder over the middle rope and Bobcat delivers a cheap shot. Inferno splashes onto Ryder and taunts the fans. Inferno chops on Ryder in the corner, but misses a splash. Ryder crotches Inferno on the top turnbuckle and looks for a Razors Edge and hits a sit out version. Ryder has the cover, but the referee is distracted by Bobcat on the apron. Inferno delivers a jawbreaker and plants Ryder with a powerbomb. Inferno leaps off the middle rope missing an elbow drop. Ryder fires back with right hands and a big boot to drop Inferno. Ryder chops Inferno in the corner followed by a clothesline. Ryder plants Inferno with a back suplex, but Bobcat gets on the apron and rubs the referees face onto her breasts. Bobcat slaps Ryder and Inferno hits a front suplex. Inferno heads to the top rope hitting a diamond dust for the win. (*1/2. The action was rather slow and plodding, but there were a few good spots in there to make it at least a decent match. It’s not the opening match I’d ideally go for since it lacked excitement to get the crowd excited for the rest of the show. This seemed like a better match for the middle of the card.)
Somebody comes out to the ring and cuts a promo, but it’s really difficult to hear what he’s saying. The guy is talking about the ISPW Heavyweight Championship and wanting the title. Ace Darling and the Iron Sheik make their way down to the ring to confront Nova. Ace Darling is the ISPW Heavyweight Champion. Darling says that nobody is getting a title shot. Sheik has challenged Darling to a match, I think. Sheik takes off his jacket and backs Darling into a corner. The bell has sounded, but I don’t think this is an actual match on the card. Apparently Sheik is the commissioner of ISPW. They lockup and Sheik falls down allowing Darling to pin Sheik. That’s what we call a swerve, bro. Sheik and Darling embrace to show they are all good.
Second Contest: ISPW Light Heavyweight Champion Billy Reil vs. Judas Young: They shake hands to kickoff the title match with Reil taking Young down to the mat. Young elbows Reil a few times and Reil hip tosses Young over the top to the floor. Young staggers around ringside and Reil hits a slingshot somersault dive to the floor! Reil connects with a heel kick for a near fall. Young hits a wheelbarrow bulldog and plays to the crowd. Young dropkicks Reil to the floor. Young hits a somersault dive of his own to the outside. Young rolls Reil into the ring and keeps control with several stomps. Young dropkicks Reil in the corner and hits a springboard dropkick to knock Young to the mat for a near fall. Reil plants Young with powerbomb and a sit down powerbomb for a two count. Reil slams Young and goes to the top rope hitting an elbow drop for a near fall. Reil goes to the top rope and is crotched by Young. Young forearms Reil a few times and hits a hurricanrana off the top. Young plays to the crowd and only gets a two count. Young threatens to hit the referee, but doesn’t. They collide on stereo crossbody attempts and both men are down. Reil chops Young and hits a Death Valley Driver! Reil goes for a cocky cover and Young kicks out at two. Reil tries for a TKO, but Young counters hitting a sit out pedigree for the win and title. (**. This felt a little weird as the fans didn’t seem to be behind Young at all. I enjoyed Reil and his offense. Reil clearly has some charisma and knows how to work a crowd. The finish was rather flat and the crowd was clearly disappointed by the title change.)
Third Contest: Simon Diamond vs. Julio Dinero: Diamond has wrist control on Dinero, but Dinero counters with one of his own. Diamond counters, but Dinero gets a two count with a rollup. Diamond complains of a handful of tights. Diamond works over Dinero with strikes against the ropes. Dinero connects with a head scissors and an arm drag. Dinero keeps Diamond on the mat and delivers a knee drop to the arm. Diamond runs the ropes and is met with a heel kick. Dinero gets distracted by Diamond’s manager, Ratchet. Diamond gains control with a clothesline on the floor. They brawl briefly on the floor until Diamond rolls Dinero back into the ring and delivers a few strikes. Diamond runs into a kick in the corner and Dinero misses a crossbody off the top. Diamond delivers a swinging neckbreaker. Diamond goes for a cover, but Dinero kicks out at two. Ratchet chokes Dinero over the middle rope as the referee is distracted by Diamond. Diamond hits a snap suplex for a near fall. Dinero nearly wins with a rollup out of the corner. Diamond keeps control with strikes. Diamond clotheslines Dinero coming off the ropes and taunts the crowd. Diamond keeps Dinero on the mat with a chin lock.
Dinero ducks a clothesline and drives Diamond down to the mat with a Rock Bottom. Dinero tries for a cover, but only manages a two count. Dinero connects with a swinging neckbreaker and goes to the top rope. Dinero hits a crossbody, but Diamond rolls through with a handful of tights for a near fall. Dinero kicks Diamond and hits a modified Samoan Drop, but Ratchet gets on the apron. Dinero decks Ratchet to the floor. Diamond connects with the Simon Says for the win. (**. This has to be seen as a bit disappointing. Dinero had a few good spots, but this wasn’t the MOTN contender that the announcers suggested it could be.)
Fourth Contest: The Bushwhackers vs. Derek Domino & Ryan Wing vs. Afa Jr. & LA Smooth vs. Don Montoya & Flash Wheeler for the vacant ISPW Tag Team Championships: Wheeler and Afa kickoff the match. Wheeler avoids a slam, but Afa holds onto the ropes to avoid a rollup. Wheeler hip tosses Afa and they have a standoff. Smooth tags into the match and Domino tags in. Domino plants Smooth with a facebuster, but Smooth no sells and delivers a superkick. Smooth continues with several strikes to knock Domino to the mat. Afa tags in and Domino is chopped to the mat. Smooth slams Domino and Afa hits a springboard moonsault, but Butch breaks the cover. Montoya is tagged in and leg drops Domino. Wheeler tags into the match and goes to the top rope hitting a leg drop, but Wing breaks the cover. Wing hammers away on Montoya, but is decked to the mat. Wheeler plants Wing with a spinebuster for a near fall. The match breaks down with everyone brawling. Wing pins Wheeler amongst the brawling. They won the titles. (DUD. That was lame.)
Fifth Contest: Glen Osbourne vs. King Kong Bundy: Osbourne gets a headlock on Bundy, but is sent into the ropes. Osbourne tries for a shoulder block, but Bundy doesn’t budge and shoulder blocks Osbourne to the floor. Osbourne works over Bundy in the corner with right hands. Bundy knee strikes Osbourne followed by a clothesline. Bundy elbows Osbourne to the mat. Bundy continues with stomps in the corner. Bundy misses a splash in the corner and Osbourne delivers three clotheslines to knock Bundy down. Osbourne comes off the ropes with a forearm drop for a near fall. Osbourne headbutts Bundy and chokes Bundy in the corner. Bundy splashes Osbourne in the corner and comes off the ropes to hit a big splash for the win. (1/2*. That went exactly as I expected it to go. The crowd popped for Bundy and his offense.)
Sixth Contest: Nova vs. Steve Corino: Nova backs Corino into the ropes and cleanly backs off after a shove to the back. Corino gets wrist control, but Nova counters and takes Corino down to the mat. Corino wants to do some mat wrestling and Nova assumes the position. Nova kicks Corino in the ribs and delivers an atomic drop. Nova clotheslines Corino over the top to the floor. Nova works over Corino around ringside, but Corino sends Nova into the ring post. Corino fakes sending Nova into the crowd and rolls him back into the ring. Corino delivers a heel kick to knock Nova to the mat. Corino hammers away on Nova against the ropes and chokes Nova. Nova powerbombs Corino with an elbow to the midsection on the way down. Nova hammers away on Corino as Little Guido is making his way down to ringside. Nova bulldogs Corino out of the corner for a near fall. Nova goes for a backslide and gets a two count. Corino knee lifts Nova followed by a strike against the ropes. Nova counters a slam and hits a twisting reverse DDT for a near fall. Nova tries to go after Guido, but Corino has gotten a chain. Corino misses a punch with the chain. Guido enters while the referee is distracted to hit an Un-Prettier and Corino wins the match. (*. These guys are capable of having a great match as they’ve proven that in ECW. It shouldn’t be a surprise that these guys didn’t put forth a crazy effort outside of ECW. A majorly disappointing match.)
Seventh Contest: Spike Dudley vs. Little Guido: Spike comes down to make the save and leads into his match with Guido. Dudley eye pokes Guido in the corner. Spike forearms Guido a few times and shoulder blocks Guido. Guido shoulder rams Dudley in the corner followed by stomps. Dudley forearms Guido a few times. Dudley hits a standing hurricanrana and sloppy bulldog. Guido bails to the floor to regroup. Dudley decks Guido around ringside with a few strikes. Dudley delivers a knee drop and tries for another hurricanrana, but Guido hits a powerbomb. Dudley rams Guido in the corner a few times, but misses another attempt and hits the ring post. Guido misses a slingshot crossbody hitting the floor. Guido drop toe holds Dudley into several chairs. Guido hits a middle rope leg drop to the back of the head followed by a back elbow. Spike almost wins with a rollup off the middle rope, but Guido responds with a clothesline for a near fall. Dudley ducks under an elbow and hits a crossbody, but Guido stops Spike with another strike. Guido forearms Dudley in the corner and blocks a head scissors by driving Dudley face first to the mat. Guido keeps control with strikes, but Dudley takes Guido down with a back suplex. Dudley hits a second back suplex. Dudley backdrops Guido followed by a forearm strike for a two count. Dudley hits a bulldog out of the corner for a near fall. Dudley boots Guido in the corner, but is met with a clothesline in midair leading to a near fall. Guido has a chair, but Dudley low blows Guido. Guido counters the Acid Drop and drops Dudley onto the chair. Guido locks in a Italian Crab. Nova decks Corino at ringside and hits Guido with a flatliner. That allows Dudley to pin Guido for the win. (*1/2. Man, I sure did expect a lot more out of the ECW guys on this show. They just did basic stuff and seemingly mailed in their performances. They did more in this match than the previous one, but the crowd seemed to be dead for the action.)
Main Event: Chris Candido vs. Too Cold Scorpio: Candido gets a headlock on Scorpio to open the main event. Candido shoulder blocks Scorpio, but is met with a dropkick and bails to the floor. Scorpio keeps control with a headlock and a shoulder block. Scorpio avoids a leapfrog and clotheslines Candido to the floor. Candido returns to the ring and they do a test of strength. Scorpio takes Candido down to the mat, but Candido powers back up and counters. They trade monkey flips until Scorpio dropkicks Candido and keeps arm control. Candido works over Scorpio in the corner with strikes and chops. Scorpio jabs Candido, but an eye rake stops him. Scorpio dumps Candido to the apron, but Candido hits a missile dropkick for a two count. Candido punches Scorpio a few times, but Scorpio backdrops Candido over the top to the floor. Scorpio leaps off the middle rope to dive onto Candido on the floor. Scorpio superkicks Candido at ringside. Scorpio delivers a DDT and keeps hold for a two count. Candido delivers a right hand, but can’t hit a powerbomb. Scorpio kicks Candido, but Candido plants Scorpio with a powerbomb for a near fall. Candido keeps a sleeper on Scorpio, but doesn’t get a submission. Scorpio kicks free to knock Candido to the mat.
Candido leg drops Scorpio for a two count. Candido keeps a sleeper on Scorpio, but fails to get a submission again. Candido stomps on Scorpio and taunts the crowd. Scorpio knee lifts Candido and hits a slam followed by a somersault leg drop for a near fall. Candido and Scorpio trade pin attempts and they bridge up where Candido spikes Scorpio with a piledriver. Candido tries for a cover, but Scorpio kicks out at two. Scorpio delivers a kick to the face, but Candido hits a German suplex. Candido connects with a northern lights suplex for a two count. Candido nails Scorpio with a clothesline coming off the ropes. Scorpio connects with a spinning kick to the face for a near fall. Scorpio heads to the top rope hitting a big splash, but Candido kicks out at two. Scorpio powerbombs Candido and signals for the 450 splash. Scorpio goes to the top, but Ace Darling crotches Scorpio on the top rope. Candido goes to the top rope hitting a superplex. Candido has the cover, but Scorpio kicks out. Scorpio gets a two count with a rollup. Scorpio accidentally splashes the referee in the corner and Candido clotheslines Scorpio. Ace Darling enters the ring and accidentally hits Candido with the championship. Scorpio covers Candido and wins the match. (**. For a main event, this was a little underwhelming. The finishes to the matches have left a lot to be desired. Unless this is setting up a match between Scorpio and Darling, I’m not sure what this accomplishes. I was hoping for something much better, but they didn’t do much out of the basic stuff.) After the match, all three men are brawling. I could get behind a three way dance.
Final Thoughts:
There’s nothing standout on the show and a lot of the matches were quite disappointing. I was hoping for more from the ECW guys and they did seemingly the bare minimum. This one gets a thumbs down from me.
Thanks for reading.