Squared Circle Wrestling presents #75
Date: 6/23/2012
From: Binghamton, NY
Opening Contest: Dick Justice, Pete D. Order & Beast vs. Loca Vida, Killer Steves (Steve Kruz & Steve McKenzie): Vida and the Steves have the early advantage, but they get clotheslined by the heel and dumped to the floor. Vida is left in the ring with Justice and they trade a few strikes. Order hits a running crossbody to a seated Vida for a near fall. Order slams Vida to keep control and delivers a splash for a near fall. Beast headbutts Vida on the groin and knocks Vida to the floor with a few strikes. Justice splashes Vida in the corner followed by a leg drop for a two count. Vida runs into a clothesline by Justice. Justice lifts Vida up with a double hook before Order tags in and strikes Vida to the mat. Order counters a wheelbarrow attempt by driving Vida down to the mat. Order delivers a middle rope elbow drop. Vida nails Beast with a kick to the head. Justice knocks the Steves off the apron to prevent a tag. Vida fights off a triple team, but is caught on a crossbody attempt. The Steves battering ram Justice into the other two. Vida hits a 325 on Justice and Justice lands on his partners leading to a triple team. (1/2*. Well, at least we got the bad stuff out of the way in the opening match.)
After the match, Dick Justice and Pete D. Order cut a promo calling out Kevin Steen saying they want the 2CW Heavyweight Championship. Steen makes his way out with the championship to confront them. Steen believes he’s earned the championship and proceeds to kick Order in the nuts. Steen does the same to Justice. Eventually, the 2CW Commissioner comes out and confronts Steen. Steen thinks the commissioner has a problem with him being champion. Keith Harris, the commissioner, says he doesn’t have a problem with Steen being the champion. Harris says Steen isn’t the champion. Steen recalls beating Brodie Lee for the title and sending Lee into retirement. Steen declares we’ll never see Brodie Lee again and he’s the champion. Steen suggests Harris fight him for the championship. Or, Harris makes him defend the championship tonight. Harris tells Steen that he’ll earn the championship. Jason Axe, Jay Freddie and Isys Ephex appear on the aisle and Harris books a four way dance for the 2CW Heavyweight Championship. Steen leaves through the crowd.
Second Contest: Colin Delaney vs. Cheech: Delaney gains control with a wrist lock, but Cheech quickly counters and Delaney arm drags Cheech to the floor causing Cheech to regroup. Cheech returns to the ring and kicks Delaney in the midsection followed by a boot scrape and shoulder rams in the corner. Cheech arm drags Delaney out of the corner, but is met with a boot. Delaney arm drags Cheech out of the corner, but misses a standing moonsault. Delaney arm drags Cheech and delivers a chop in the corner. Cheech head scissors Delaney out of the corner. Cheech avoids a rollup, but Delaney arm drags Cheech to the floor again. Delaney takes Cheech out with a suicide dive. Delaney rolls Cheech into the ring and is taken down by Cheech. Delaney kicks Cheech into the corner and delivers a chop to the chest. Delaney continues with chops and sends Cheech into the corner across the ring. Cheech boots Delaney in the corner and catapults Delaney into the corner. Delaney hits a twisting crossbody, but Cheech gets a two count with a rollup. Cheech catapults Delaney into the corner chest first and slingshots over the ropes to axe handle Delaney on the apron.
Cheech continues to work over Delaney and rams Delaney onto the apron. Cheech hits a slingshot senton into the ring leading to a near fall. Cheech keeps a chin lock on Delaney, but doesn’t get a submission. Cheech splashes over Delaney’s back to keep control of the match. Cheech chokes Delaney over the middle rope. Delaney headbutts Cheech a few times, but Cheech eye rakes Delaney to stop the momentum. Cheech continues with a suplex and heads to the top rope. Cheech avoids Delaney in the corner, but runs into a boot and a kick to the head causing both men to be on the mat. Delaney clotheslines Cheech a few times and a heel kick. Cheech tosses Delaney with a pump handle suplex and delivers a DDT for a near fall. Delaney stops Cheech with a jawbreaker, but is met with an elbow strike. Delaney tries for a tornado DDT, but Cheech tosses Delaney away. Delaney knee strikes Cheech followed by a t-bone suplex for a two count. Delaney heads to the top rope and drops Cheech over the top rope. Delaney settles for the middle rope to hit a leaping cutter for a two count. Cheech knee strikes Delaney from the apron and gets a rollup for the win! (**. I think I like it better when they are teaming up instead of wrestling each other. It’s a fine match for the undercard and didn’t over do big spots for a quick reaction or anything. Considering there are bigger matches right after this one, I think they worked the right match.)
Third Contest: 2CW Tag Team Champions Briscoe Brothers (Jay & Mark) vs. Super Smash Brothers (Dos & Uno) vs. First Class (Kevin Graham & Mike Van Slyke) in an elimination match: Mark and Uno kickoff the title match. Uno shoulder blocks Mark and plays to the crowd. Mark arm drags Uno to the mat, but Uno responds with an arm drag. They both attempt dropkicks and they have a standoff. Mark headbutts Uno and tags in Jay to keep control of the contest. Uno sends Jay into the corner to hit Dos’ boot. Dos keeps control for a moment, but Jay delivers an uppercut and a strike. Dos chops Jay several times and jabs. Dos head scissors Jay to the mat and hits a standing hurricanrana. Dos misses a splash in the corner. Jay forearms Graham off the apron. Graham trips Dos and Van Slyake stomps on Dos as Van Slyke snuck a tag in at some point. Van Slyke delivers an elbow drop to Dos for a one count. Van Slyke drives Dos into the corner and Graham delivers a running clothesline. Graham drives Dos down with a vertical suplex, but Uno breaks the cover attempt. Graham puts his knee between Dos shoulder blades, but doesn’t get a submission. Graham takes Dos down with a side Russian leg sweep for a two count. Dos continues to be worked over in the corner by First Class. Van Slyke connects with a knee drop off the ropes for a two count on Dos.
Dos is sent hard into the corner, but misses a boot and Van Slyke hits an overhead suplex for a near fall. Van Slyke tries for a slam, but Dos counters with a reverse DDT. Graham yanks Uno off the apron to prevent Dos from tagging out. Dos sends Van Slyke into the corner and Mark gets tagged in. Mark cleans house on First Class with several strikes and a heel kick to the back of the head. Mark is dropped over the top rope and Van Slyke hits a double under hook suplex. Van Slyke sits Mark on the top turnbuckle, but Mark fights Van Slyke off. Jay enters and plants Van Slyke with a DDT. Mark leaps off the top hitting an elbow drop for a three count. First Class has been eliminated.
Uno stops Jay with a strike, but Mark hits a suplex. Dos splashes Mark from the top. Jay hits a Falcon Arrow on Dos for a two count. Jay chops Dos to the mat and tags in Mark. Jay slams Dos and Mark walks the ropes before hitting a senton splash for a near fall. Mark stomps Dos several times. Mark rams Dos into the corner and continues with strikes. Jay knocks Uno off the apron and slams Dos. Mark nails Uno with a running dropkick to the floor. Dos avoids a double team move and hits a double Pele kick. Uno tags in and cleans house with clotheslines. Uno nails Mark with a running knee strike and hits a DDT/flatliner combo on the Briscoe’s. Uno hits a kick to the head, but Mark kicks out at two. Uno and Dos hit a Alabama Slam/backstabber combo on Mark for a two count. Jay delivers kicks to Uno and Dos. Dos knee strikes Jay and then tosses Jay overhead onto Mark in the corner for a near fall. Jay knocks Dos off the top rope to the floor. Mark nails Uno with a kick to the head. Jay plants Uno with a chokeslam leading to a near fall. Briscoe’s try for the Doomsday, but Dos kicks Mark off the top rope. Dos locks Jay in the Gory Special and Dos hits a somersault blockbuster on Jay to pickup the win and win the titles. (***1/2. A good match with a fun pace and plenty of action. Once First Class got eliminated the action really picked up, but that’s not to say that First Class hindered the match terribly or anything. I thought First Class was actually going to win the titles here, but instead getting several minutes of a fun Bros vs. Briscoe’s tag match ended up being far more entertaining to me.)
Fourth Contest: John Walters vs. Eddie Edwards: Edwards backs Walters into a corner, but backs off cleanly. Edwards controls Walters with a wrist lock, but Walters breaks free and they trade wrist control briefly. Walters takes Edwards down with a fireman’s carry and keeps wrist control on the mat. Edwards arm drags Walters followed by a headlock. They have a standoff once Walters breaks free. The crowd chants for both men as they lockup again with a test of strength. Walters gets control on the mat, but Edwards pops up to prevent his shoulders from hitting the mat. Edwards catapults Walters over and keeps Walters on the mat for a few moments. Walters shoulder rams Edwards against the ropes and delivers a chop in the corner. They counter each other on the mat until Walters bails to the floor to regroup. Edwards shoulder blocks Walters and they counter each other leading to another standoff. Walters gains control with strikes in the corner and chops Edwards. Walters puts a nerve hold on Edwards, but is dumped to the apron. Edwards tries for a suicide dive and takes Walters out on the floor.
The fans chant for Edwards to use a fans fake leg and he grabs the leg after sending Walters in the railing. Edwards nails Walters on the chest with the fake leg. Edwards chops Walters against the railing a few times. Walters sends Edwards into the railing and delivers a chop of his own. Walters continues to work over Edwards around ringside. Walters uppercuts Edwards and rolls Edwards into the ring. Walters tries for a cover, but Edwards kicks out at one. Edwards plants Walters with a vertical suplex for a two count. Edwards elbows Walters to the mat and goes to the floor to grab a crutch and eventually charges, but is met with a boot by Walters. Walters kicks Edwards in the ribs and gets a two count in the ring. Edwards avoids Walters in the corner, but misses a spear and hits the post shoulder first. Walters stomps on Edwards in the corner to keep control of the match. Walters drops Edwards arm over the top rope and stomps Edwards in the corner. Walters leaps off the top to leg drop Edwards on the arm for a two count. Walters keeps a top wrist lock on Edwards, but doesn’t get a submission. Edwards arm drags Walters followed by a hurricanrana. Walters boots Edwards in the midsection and continues to keep control in the corner.
Edwards almost wins with a rollup, but Walters gains control with a modified bow and arrow. Edwards rolls backwards for a two count, but Walters keeps control with strikes. Walters keeps arm control, but doesn’t get a submission. Edwards punches free with shots to the ribs, but Walters kicks Edwards. Edwards fights back by driving Walters down to the mat gut first. Edwards delivers a leaping forearm smash in the corner. Edwards heads to the top rope hitting a missile dropkick for a two count. Walters headbutts Edwards, but Edwards responds with a kick to the knee and a shining wizard for a two count. Edwards heads to the top rope, but Walters stops Edwards with a strike. Walters tries for a suplex, but Edwards fights off. Walters takes Edwards off the top with a hurricanrana. Edwards ducks a clothesline and chops Walters. Walters hits a northern lights suplex for a two count. Edwards slams Walters followed by a big boot. Walters hits a Codebreaker and locks in a triangle choke, but Edwards rolls over and nearly wins the match. Edwards elbows Walters in the corner and hits a leaping Codebreaker off the middle rope. Edwards hits a flipping slam for a two count. Edwards sits Walters on the top rope delivering a chop. Walters tries to avoid a backpack stunner, and Walters does avoid it, but is met with a superkick. Walters nails Edwards with a clothesline and both men are down.
They begin to trade forearms in the middle of the ring. They begin to trade a series of pin attempts with neither man getting a three count. Edwards tries for a single leg Boston Crabm but Walters kicks free. Edwards counters a sharpshooter attempt with a rollup and wins the match. (***1/2. This was a really good pure wrestling kind of match. They didn’t do anything over the top and kept it to mostly wrestling and fantastic counters. Obviously they got plenty of time and they paced it wonderfully. These are two of my favorites in 2CW and they delivered a hell of a match here.)
Fifth Contest: Kevin Steen vs. Jason Axe vs. Jay Freddie vs. Isys Ephex for the vacant 2CW Heavyweight Championship in an elimination match: Ephex and Axe begin to brawl before Freddie finishes his entrance and Steen hasn’t been introduced yet. Ephex knee strikes Axe and Freddie double stomps Axe. Axe is double teamed by Freddie and Axe. Freddie plants Axe with a tornado DDT to send Axe bailing to the floor to regroup. Steen makes his entrance slowly and backs off from Axe on the floor. Steen wants to form an alliance with Axe. They slide into the ring and all four men brawl until Axe clotheslines Ephex to the floor. Freddie is worked over by Axe and Steen. Freddie is sent to the floor and Steen eye pokes Axe followed by a forearm strike. Steen gets triple teamed in the corner with several stomps. Axe is worked over by Freddie and Ephex as they hit a double snap suplex. Freddie and Ephex hit somersault dives over the ropes to the floor to take out Steen and Axe. Freddie and Ephex trade strikes in the middle of the ring while Axe is brawling with Steen on the floor. Steen hits Axe with a fans cane. Freddie and Ephex are trading pin attempts in the ring. Axe forearms Steen against the railing while Ephex clotheslines Freddie to the mat. Axe and Ephex trade forearms in the ring. Ephex uppercuts Axe, but is met with a kick to the head. Ephex nails Axe with a kick to the head. Ephex kicks Axe and runs the ropes, but is met with a gut buster. Freddie elbows Axe to the mat and delivers a chop against the ropes. Freddie backdrops Axe to keep control.
Freddie dropkicks Steen off the apron to the floor. Axe plants Freddie with a spinebuster for a two count. Axe hits a pump handle suplex while Steen hits Ephex with a ball. Axe forearms Freddie in the ring followed by a big boot. Steen pulls Axe to the floor and sends Axe into the ring post face first. Freddie tries for a shoulder ram, but Steen plants Freddie with a DDT. Steen drops Ephex with a neckbreaker. Steen rams Axe into the guard railing and continues with a chop. Steen hits Freddie over the back with a blow horn. Steen stomps Ephex and chokes him for a moment. Freddie boots Steen in the corner and leaps off the middle rope to hit a head scissors. Freddie decks Ephex with a lariat and a leaping forearm to Steen. Freddie hits a snap suplex on Steen, but knocks Axe off the apron. Steen press slams Freddie off the top to the mat. Freddie avoids Steen in the corner and hits a running clothesline in the corner. Steen crotches Freddie in the corner and bites Freddie’s forehead. Axe nails Steen with a kick to the head and a superkick by Ephex. Freddie hits the Diamond Dust. Freddie shoulder rams Ephex in the corner. Axe boots Freddie in the corner and Axe leaps off the top hitting a Codebreaker. Freddie hits a German suplex on Ephex. Axe hits a fisherman buster and pins Freddie for the first elimination.
Ephex avoids a fisherman buster and spikes Axe with a Death Valley Driver for a two count. Ephex signals for the end. Axe rams Ephex into the corner, but Axe breaks free of the Death Valley Driver. Ephex hits a dragon suplex and pins Axe for an elimination. Steen almost pins Ephex with a rollup. Ephex plants Steen with a brainbuster and heads to the top rope. Ephex misses a knee strike. Steen hits a running cannonball splash for a near fall. Steen connects with the F5 for another near fall. Steen tries for the Package Piledriver, but Ephex backdrops free and gets a two count. Steen counters the rollup and pins Ephex to officially become the champion. (**1/2. I didn’t even know this was an elimination match until the first one happened. For some reason the match didn’t click with me and the action felt mostly average. Steen as the champion for 2CW is a big deal and they are treating it as if it’s an invasion of some kind. I found the match to be a bit underwhelming.)
Sixth Contest: Kage vs. Benjamin Boone vs. Matt Milan: Kage backs Boone into a corner, but is double teamed. Milan shoulder rams Kage in the corner a few times and Boone does the same. Milan forearms Kage a few times and Boone wants to setup a move, but Kage knocks them both down with a double clothesline. Kage shoulder blocks Milan, but is tripped by Boone from the floor. Kage fights them both off on the floor and sends them into each other. Kage covers Milan for a two count. Kage forearms Boone, but Boone clubs Kage over the back to block a move. Milan chops Kage in the corner followed by stomps. Boone stands on Kage’s back and taunts the crowd while Milan goes to the floor and knee strikes Kage over the apron. Boone covers Kage for a two count. Milan knee lifts Boone and delivers several forearm strikes and shoulder rams in the corner. Milan slams Boone to the mat and gets a two count. Boone and Milan trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Milan takes Boone over with a German suplex for a two count. Kage sends Milan shoulder first into the ring post. Kage clubs Boone over the back and delivers an overhand chop. Kage connects with a running boot to the face. Boone hits a leaping shoulder block for a near fall. Kage almost pins Milan with a rollup.
Milan forearms Kage in the corner and shoulder rams Boone in the corner. Kage boots Boone in the corner and clotheslines Milan. Kage hits a swinging neckbreaker on Milan for a near fall. Boone misses a clothesline and Kage plants Boone with a DDT and a quick knee drop for a two count. Milan tosses Kage to the floor. Milan forearms Boone against the ropes. Milan collides with Kage and Boone plants Milan with a chokeslam for a two count. Boone misses a splash coming off the ropes. Milan hits a suplex turned into a cutter, but Kage stops the cover. Kage steals the pin and wins the match. (*. That’s a bizarre finish for the babyface to win the match by stealing the match. I typically see heels doing that, but it makes sense for the match. It’s just an interesting twist for a finish. The match isn’t anything all that special and it felt like a put over moment for Kage. I think Kage winning with a signature move would have been better.)
Seventh Contest: Slyck Wagner Brown vs. Sean Carr: Brown works over Carr with several strikes to start the match. Brown rams Carr into the corner, but Carr comes back with a heel kick. Carr kicks Brown over the back and to the chest. Carr hits a standing senton and a moonsault for a one count causing Brown to bail to the floor. Carr goes to the apron and leaps off to take Brown out with a somersault dive on the floor. Carr sends Brown into the guard railing back first and taunts the crowd. Carr is handed the fake leg and Brown kicks Carr in the midsection. Carr rams Brown into the railing chest first. Carr gets caught on a splash attempt and Brown drops Carr gut first over the railing. Brown nails Carr with a running boot. Brown slaps Carr at ringside while taunting a few fans. Brown sends Carr into the railing. Brown kicks Carr at ringside. Brown rolls Carr into the ring and gets a two count. Brown delivers a leg drop for another two count. Brown keeps a cobra clutch on Carr, but doesn’t get a submission. Carr fights to his feet and elbows free, but Brown decks Carr over the back. Brown delivers a kick to Carr’s ribs and taunts the crowd as Carr remains on the mat. Brown puts a head scissors on Carr, but doesn’t get a submission, again.
Carr counters with a rollup for a two count, but Brown regains control with a clothesline. Brown delivers several elbow strikes before putting a sleeper on Carr. Carr stops Brown with a snap powerslam, but is dumped to the apron. Carr kicks Brown to stagger Brown away. Carr hits a missile dropkick and both men are down. Carr tries for a cover, but Brown kicks out at two. Carr signals for a superkick in the corner. Brown avoids a superkick, but a second attempt connects. Carr hits a running shooting star press for a near fall. Carr climbs to the top rope and Brown grabs the referee. Brown hits a sit out spinebuster after Carr got off the top rope. Brown locks in the Texas Cloverleaf in the middle of the ring. Carr reaches the ropes to break the hold. Brown stomps Carr a few times, but Carr responds with a forearm strike. Carr forearms Brown a few times and tries for a cover, but Brown cuts Carr off with a leaping leg lariat. Brown sits Carr on the top turnbuckle. Brown licks his palm and chops Carr over the back. Brown tries for the Appreciation Bomb, but Carr counters with a cradle and wins the match. (***. A solid match with a predictable finish as the cradle finishes for upsets seems to be a popular finish in 2CW. I enjoyed the action by these two and Carr’s offense came across like it had good fire and it was fresh.) After the match. Brown low blows Carr because he’s a sore loser.
Main Event: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Rhino: Ciampa pie faces Rhino, but doesn’t knock Rhino down on a shoulder block. Rhino runs the ropes and shoulder blocks Ciampa to the mat. Ciampa gains control with chops in the corner, but Rhino fights back with a flurry of strikes in the corner. Ciampa elbows Rhino, but Rhino responds with a shoulder ram in the corner. They trade right hands a few times until Rhino gets the advantage. Ciampa dropkicks Rhino on the knee. Rhino press slams Ciampa to the mat. Rhino elbows Ciampa in the corner, but Ciampa knocks Rhino to the floor. Ciampa sends Rhino into the guard railing followed by an overhand chop. Rhino sends Ciampa into the guard railing back first. Ciampa forearms Rhino and delivers a running kick into the railing. Ciampa continues by ramming Rhino into the railing. Rhino fights back with a flurry of strikes and a running boot into Ciampa sending Ciampa into the railing head first. Ciampa clubs Rhino over the back and lifts the protective padding up. Ciampa hooks Rhino for a suplex on the floor, but Rhino blocks it. Rhino hits a suplex on the floor. Ciampa drops Rhino throat first over the top rope. Rhino fights back with chops to stagger Ciampa. Ciampa nails Rhino with a clothesline for a near fall. Ciampa pummels Rhino with right hands. Ciampa delivers a kick to the head to drop Rhino into the ring. Ciampa delivers a neckbreaker to drive Rhino down to the mat for a two count.
Ciampa chops Rhino several times in the corner and continues with right hands to drop Rhino. Ciampa tries for a cover, but Rhino powers out at two. Ciampa keeps an arm lock on Rhino, but doesn’t get a submission. Ciampa continues with a few right hands before switching to a chin lock. Rhino struggles to his feet and drives Ciampa into the corner. Ciampa boots Rhino and runs into a powerslam. Rhino chops Ciampa and delivers a clothesline. Rhino hits a running shoulder ram in the corner and a belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Ciampa stops Rhino with a knee strike for a near fall. Ciampa slides a table into the ring. Rhino drops Ciampa with a short arm clothesline. Rhino sets the table up in the corner, but Ciampa stops Rhino with a few right hands. Rhino tries for a Death Valley Driver, but Ciampa counters with a German suplex. Ciampa waits in the corner for a spear, but Rhino sidesteps it and Ciampa goes crashing through the table in the corner. Rhino tries for a cover, but Ciampa kicks out at two. Ciampa throat thrusts Rhino and delivers a headbutt. Rhino plants Ciampa with a spinebuster for a near fall. Rhino kicks the middle rope to low blow Ciampa. Ciampa knee strikes Rhino and goes to the top rope, but the lights go out.
Sami Callihan’s name appears on the screen and a video of Sami Callihan brushing his teeth. Sami says he’s short on time and had to do this while he’s brushing his teeth. Sami thought Ciampa was smarter than this and tells Ciampa to be careful for what he asks for. Sami has to teach Ciampa a lesson. Sami is going to hurt Ciampa on August 4th. (Sami must have said the wrong date because they dubbed over a woman saying 4th).
Ciampa was distracted by the video and Rhino hits the GORE to win the match. (**. I wasn’t expecting this to be a crazy good match or anything and it served its purpose. Ciampa didn’t get much of a shine here, and it’s clear that the main goal was to promote Sami/Ciampa thus the distraction finish. It’s kind of a bummer to finish the show with that kind of ending, but a showdown between Sami and Ciampa is something to look forward to.)
Final Thoughts:
I thought it was a quality show overall with there being plenty of wrestling that is worth the time to check out.
Thanks for reading.