Squared Circle Wrestling presents Roman Empire
Date: 5/17/2015
From: Rome, NY
Opening Contest: Sean Carr vs. JT Dunn: Dunn controls Carr with a waist lock, but Carr counters quickly. Dunn takes Carr down with a rollup, but Carr reaches the ropes to break the hold. Carr takes Dunn down over with a headlock, but Dunn quickly gets to his feet and counters with a front face lock, which Carr counters. Dunn regains control with a headlock on the mat, but Carr breaks free with a head scissors on the mat. Dunn pops up and they have a standoff before shaking hands. Dunn backs Carr into a corner with a wrist lock, but Carr breaks free and they trade arm drags. Carr gets a two count with a rollup and arm drags Dunn twice before gaining arm control. Dunn elbows Carr, but runs into a heel kick. Carr kicks Dunn and hits a standing moonsault for a two count. Carr takes Dunn out with a suicide dive to the floor. Carr heads to the top as Dunn returns to the ring and hits a crossbody for a two count. Dunn stops Carr with an elbow strike for a two count. Dunn works over Carr in the corner with stomps and chops. Dunn dropkicks Carr coming off the ropes for a near fall. Carr fights back, but is stopped by another strike and Dunn controls Carr on the mat with an abdominal stretch. Dunn tosses Carr into the corner, and delivers a discus elbow for another near fall. Dunn works over Carr with strikes, but Carr battles back with a few strikes. Dunn knee lifts Carr, but Carr clotheslines Dunn several times. Carr comes off the ropes with a spinning heel kick and a pump kick. Carr follows up with a Codebreaker for a near fall.
Dunn boots a charging Carr in the corner, but Carr delivers a boot a rolling fireman’s carry. Dunn blocks a moonsault by getting his knees up. Dunn kicks Carr on the middle rope and almost wins with a rollup. Dunn superkicks a kneeling Carr for a near fall. Dunn misses a splash in the corner. Carr kicks Dunn in the corner and nails Dunn with a shining wizard for a near fall. Dunn nails Carr with another superkick sending Carr to the floor. Carr struggles on the floor, but returns before being counted out. Dunn goes to the apron and kicks Carr in the face. Dunn drops Carr over the railing gut first and goes to the apron again. Dunn leaps off hitting a leg drop on Carr. Dunn rolls Carr into the ring and heads to the top rope. Dunn double stomps Carr on the back and manages a two count. Dunn waits in the corner and signals for another elbow strike, but Carr hits a superkick. Carr spikes Dunn with a tombstone for the clean win. (***. A solid opening match and the crowd responded to both men. The first half of the match was a little too slow for too long, but it picked up and became an entertaining bout to kickoff the show.)
Second Contest: Jason Axe vs. Cheech vs. Kevin Graham vs. Mattick: Axe works over Graham while Cheech forearms Mattick. Mattick and Graham hit stereo hip tosses and dropkicks. Mattick punches Cheech in the corner while Graham does the same to Axe. Graham and Mattick hit running strikes in opposite corners. Axe boots Mattick and Cheech dropkicks Mattick as Graham went to the floor. Mattick backdrops Cheech to the floor onto Graham and head scissors Axe. Axe dumps Mattick to the apron, but Mattick floats over and delivers a kick to the head. Mattick forearms Axe, but Axe responds with a forearm. Axe clotheslines himself and Mattick to the floor. Graham atomic drops Cheech followed by a clothesline. Graham forearms Cheech and tries to send Cheech into the corner. Cheech kicks Graham on the knee and misses a big boot. Graham nails Cheech with dropkicks, but Axe plants Graham with a spinebuster. Axe chokes Graham in the corner and delivers a baseball slide to the groin. Axe slams Graham and delivers a knee drop. Cheech knee drops Graham as he tagged in on Axe. Cheech forearms Graham over the back and hits a snap suplex. Cheech covers Graham for a two count. Cheech forearm strikes Graham before Axe enters the match. Axe hits a senton splash on Graham and chokes Graham on the mat. Graham shoulder rams Axe, but is stopped by a strike over the back. Graham hits a suplex on Axe and both men are down. Cheech stops Graham and decks Mattick off the apron. Cheech hits a back suplex on Graham. Cheech stops Mattick with a jawbreaker. Cheech sends Graham into the corner, but is met with a boot. Graham hits a blockbuster and both men are down again. Mattick tags in and cleans house with clotheslines on Cheech. Mattick big boots Cheech followed by a senton splash. Mattick nails Axe with Eat Defeat. Axe and Cheech are on the floor when Graham hit a suicide dive. Mattick takes everyone out with a somersault dive to the floor. Mattick rolls Graham into the ring and hits a middle rope double knee strike. Mattick strikes Cheech and hits a reverse suplex. Axe nails Mattick with a gut buster and a DVD on Graham landing onto Mattick. Cheech hits a running boot to Axe and a brainbuster. Mattick stops Cheech with a cutter. All four men trade forearms. Cheech stomps Graham in the corner while Mattick chops Axe across the ring. Cheech knocks Mattick to the floor and hits a face wash/dropkick in the corner on Graham and Mattick. Axe knocks Cheech to the floor and hits a fisherman suplex on Graham to win the match. (**. I didn’t like how they started off tornado rules and then went into a tag format only to then break the structure. They should have kept it tornado the whole time. The action wasn’t bad, but felt bland for the most part.)
Third Contest: Ted Goodz vs. Isys Ephex: Goodz gets control with a waist lock, but Ephex counters with a wrist lock for a moment. Goodz gets wrist control, but is slapped and arm dragged by Ephex. Ephex dropkicks Goodz coming off the ropes and Goodz regroups in the corner. Ephex forearms Goodz in the corner. Ephex tosses Goodz with a headlock suplex and a kick to the head. Ephex nails Goodz with a shining wizard for a near fall. Goodz avoids a kick and forearms Ephex into the corner. Goodz hits a running elbow strike and superkicks Ephex on the back of the head. Goodz delivers an elbow drop and covers Ephex for a two count. Goodz controls Ephex with a front face lock on the mat. Ephex backdrops Goodz and continues with a clothesline and elbow strike. Ephex knee strikes Goodz and delivers a backbreaker followed by a spin kick. Goodz staggers to the corner and Ephex delivers a running knee strike to the chest. Ephex heads to the top rope hitting a double knee strike for a near fall. Goodz knee strikes Ephex and delivers a forearm strike. Goodz hits a Codebreaker for a near fall. Goodz knee lifts Ephex, but runs into a boot in the corner. Goodz kicks Ephex on the middle rope. Ephex is on Good’s shoulders, but Goodz manages to hit a full nelson slam for a near fall. Goodz kicks Ephex and hits a backstabber. Goodz tries for a cover, but Ephex kicks out at two. Goodz heads to the top rope, but is stopped by Ephex. Ephex hooks Goodz and hits a middle rope Falcon Arrow for the win. (*1/2. Kind of a lifeless match, but Ephex’s character is kind of anti-fun and bland compared to his character in the past of being exotic to an extent. The finish was good, but not much else in this match stood out.)
Fourth Contest: Bin Hamin, EMT & Pete D. Order vs. Austin Hope, Dick Justice & Steve McKenzie: As per my tradition, I’m not going to give this match a feature. It’s the definition of filler and it’s never good. Hamin forced Hope to submit to the camel clutch while Order had one on McKenzie, as well. Justice was held on the floor by EMT to prevent the save.
Fifth Contest: Dalton Castle vs. Pepper Parks: They both take time to play to the crowd and they are both greeted to positive reactions. Castle actually getting more of a babyface reaction than Parks. Parks backs Castle into a corner, but Castle counters quickly and taunts Parks while backing away from the corner. Parks backs Castle into a corner, but Castle counters. Parks counters back and taunts Castle in the corner. Castle gets in Parks face and yells at the fans. Castle backs Parks into a corner and delivers a kick to the midsection. Castle snapmares Parks and locks in a headlock. Castle shoulder blocks Parks and plays to the crowd. Parks sends Castle to the floor with a hurricanrana and Castle appears to hurt his ankle on the landing. Parks chops Castle against the railing. Castle is visibly upset regarding his ankle. Parks rolls Castle into the ring and gets a two count. Castle punches Parks to break free. Parks hooks Castle for a suplex, but Castle blocks it. Castle drops Parks gut first over the top rope and Parks falls to the floor. Castle stomps Parks on the mat and delivers a scoop slam for a two count. Castle dumps Parks through the ropes to the floor and plays to the crowd. Castle kicks Parks off the apron. Parks shoulder rams Castle from the apron and tries for a sunset flip, but Castle kicks out. Castle clotheslines Parks for a two count. Castle keeps a waist lock on Parks for a few moments. Castle controls Parks on the mat with a waist lock. Castle tosses Parks to the mat and heads to the middle rope missing an elbow strike, but avoids a boot strike. Parks pump kicks Castle and plays to the crowd. Parks snap powerslams Castle for a two count. Parks clotheslines Castle in the corner a few times. Castle boots Parks, but runs into a knee strike. Parks hits a swinging neckbreaker for a near fall. Castle elbows Parks and dumps Parks to the apron. Parks heads to the top, but is caught and tossed with an overhead suplex by Castle. Castle slams Parks to the mat chest first and manages a two count. They begin to trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Castle tosses Parks with a suplex. Parks nails Castle with a clothesline and plays to the crowd. Parks plants Castle with a sit down powerbomb to win the match. (**1/4. I think Castle’s apparent ankle injury likely impacted the match, but it didn’t appear to be as serious as it could have been. It’s still a decent match.)
Sixth Contest: 2CW Heavyweight Champion Nick Ando vs. Tommy Dreamer: Dreamer gains wrist control at the start, but Ando reaches the ropes quickly. Dreamer gets a waist lock, but Ando quickly counters to a hammerlock. Dreamer switches to a hammerlock and a headlock. Dreamer controls Ando with a wrist lock, but Ando kips up to get wrist control. Dreamer somersaults free and puts a wrist lock on Ando. Ando counters with a headlock. Dreamer elbows Ando and hits a hip toss to send Ando bailing to the floor. Dreamer puts a headlock on Ando and delivers a shoulder block to send Ando rolling to the outside again. Ando jabs Dreamer a few times to maintain the momentum. Dreamer blocks a strike and jabs Ando several times and knocks Ando to the mat with an elbow strike. Dreamer nails Ando with a baseball slide to knock Ando to the floor. Dreamer spits a drink into Ando’s face. Dreamer chops Ando a few times before grabbing a fans cane. Dreamer low blows Ando with the cane. Dreamer uses a viking hat on Ando, as well. Ando kicks the middle rope to low blow Dreamer and keeps control with stomps before choking Dreamer over the middle rope. Ando chops Dreamer in the corner. Ando continues to chop Dreamer and taunt the crowd. Dreamer fights back with a few overhand strikes. Dreamer misses a spear and hits the ring post. Ando punches Dreamer against the railing a few times. Ando wraps Dreamer’s arm around the ring post.
Ando slams Dreamer’s arm on the mat before rolling back into the ring to manage a two count. Ando controls Dreamer with an arm bar, but doesn’t get a submission. Dreamer fights out and sunset flips Ando for a two count. Ando decks Dreamer with a clothesline and chokes Dreamer on the mat. Ando stomps Dreamer on the mat followed by a knee drop. Dreamer fights back, but Ando elbow strikes Dreamer and delivers a scoop slam. Ando heads to the top rope missing a diving headbutt. Dreamer boots a charging Ando and delivers a clothesline. Dreamer punches Ando several times in the corner. Ando elbows Dreamer in the corner, but Dreamer hits a headlock slam for a two count. Dreamer is handed a chair and sets it up in the middle of the ring. Ando blocks being rammed into the chair. Ando drop toe holds Dreamer face first onto the chair leading to a near fall. Ando wedges a chair into the corner and grabs Dreamer. Ando tries to send Dreamer into the corner, but Dreamer counters. Ando nails Dreamer with a clothesline for another two count. Dreamer low blows Ando and hits a DDT. Dreamer covers, but Ando easily kicks out at two. Ando avoids the DVD and low blows Dreamer for a near fall.
Jason Axe comes out wearing a mask and distracts Ando. I mean, his tights literally say his name. Ando misses Dreamer in the corner and hits the chair. Dreamer plants Ando with the Death Valley Driver and wins the match! Dreamer is the new 2CW Heavyweight Champion. (**. Match wise, it’s pretty much what you’d expect from Dreamer at this point. I wasn’t all that bored, but it was a simple match. The crowd popped big time as Dreamer ended Ando’s lengthy title run. I remember being there live and not thinking Dreamer had a chance to win the title. So, it was a cool surprise.)
Seventh Contest: AR Fox vs. Colin Delaney: Fox starts the match by taking Delaney out with a somersault dive to the floor! Fox sends Delaney into the railing chest first a few times. Delaney fights back with a suicide dive to the floor to send Fox into the railing. Delaney does his entrance over again since Fox isn’t up to take him out with a dive. Fox recovers and hits a springboard moonsault to take Delaney out on the floor. Fox nails Delaney with a running boot against the railing. Fox takes a fans phone to take a selfie. Delaney chops Fox on the railing. Delaney nails Fox with a running forearm. Delaney runs around ringside and strikes Fox again. Delaney runs around ringside again, but is met with a boot. Fox delivers another kick to the chest and suplexs Delaney on the floor. Fox forearms Delaney at ringside and tosses Delaney into the railing chest first. Delaney sends Fox hard into the railing upside down. Delaney tries for a slam, but Fox counters and sends Delaney into the railing followed by a running boot. Fox rolls Delaney onto the apron and climbs to the top rope hitting a leg drop. Fox shoulder rams Delaney in the corner to maintain control. Fox chokes Delaney over the middle rope and plays to the crowd. Fox splashes Delaney and slides to the floor. Delaney responds with a suicide dive to take Fox out on the floor! Delaney chops Fox around ringside a few times. Fox misses a chop and Delaney delivers a throat thrust. Delaney spits water into Fox’s face. Delaney forearms Fox before getting back into the ring and gets a near fall.
Fox boots Delaney in the corner, but runs into a heel kick. Delaney punches Fox several times in the corner before being shoved away and met with a kick. Fox slams Delaney and hits a moonsault followed by a kick. Fox tries for a cover, but Delaney kicks out at two. Fox sends Delaney to the floor and hits a dive over the top to the floor onto Delaney. Fox nails Delaney with another kick on the outside. Delaney rolls into the ring and Fox follows. Fox forearms Delaney a few times and hits a back suplex for a two count. Delaney kicks Fox and rams Fox into the corner. Delaney hits an elevated Codebreaker for a two count. Delaney forearms Fox in the corner a few times. Delaney pump kicks Fox and continues with chops. Delaney headbutts Fox in the corner. Delaney sends Fox into the corner and is dumped to the apron. Delaney forearms Fox, but Fox hits a springboard dropkick to knock Delaney down on the apron. They both try for suplexs, but neither man can get the other over. Fox runs the ropes and nails Delaney with a kick. Delaney staggers on the apron. Delaney catches Fox and hits a Death Valley Driver on the apron!
Delaney and Fox trade strikes from their knees a few times. Delaney overhand chops Fox, who responds with a chop of his own. They get to their feet trading blows. The bell sounds and the time limit for the match has expired. However, the match is given five more minutes. They trade forearms in the middle of the ring for a few moments. Fox forearms Delaney, but Delaney responds with a few forearms. Fox nails Delaney with a jumping kick. Fox hits a springboard cutter for a two count. Fox heads to the top rope and hits a swanton bomb for a two count. Fox dropkicks Delaney and connects with a slice bread for a two count. Fox heads to the top rope and nails Delaney with a double knee splash for a two count. Fox drives Delaney down with a brainbuster. Fox hits a 450 splash off the top rope and covers managing a near fall. Delaney takes Fox down and locks in a Crossface, but Fox doesn’t submit. Fox reaches the ropes. Delaney brings Fox to the middle of the ring to lock in the Crossface again. Delaney delivers a flurry of headbutts and goes back to the Crossface. The bell sounds, but the time limit has expired again. (****. It’s a great match and it was great watching it live. These two just click incredibly well together. The crowd went nuts for it and these guys delivered a great match. The draw doesn’t bother me as it keeps the rivalry alive for a future match and the outcome a likely mystery. I’ll consider this an underrated indie rivalry.)
Main Event: 2CW Tag Team Champions Young Bucks vs. ROH Tag Team Champions The Addiction (Kazarian & Christopher Daniels): All four men are in the ring trading blows. Addiction avoid superkicks by going to the floor, but the Bucks hit stereo slingshot dives. Kazarian and Nick start the match. Matt hits a neckbreaker over Nick’s knee. Nick dropkicks Daniels off the apron. Kazarian accidentally hits Daniels and is nearly rolled up. Daniels trips Nick to allow a springboard leg drop by Kazarian. Daniels tags into the match and Daniels clotheslines Nick from behind. Daniels elbows Nick to the mat and controls with a chin lock. Nick elbows free and kicks Daniels to the mat. Matt tags in and cleans house. Matt baseball slides Kazarian and hits a slice bread on Daniels. Matt clotheslines Daniels to the floor. Bucks hit stereo suicide dives to the floor. Matt lays Daniels over the middle rope, but Kazarian helps Daniels. Daniels dumps Matt to the floor and Daniels hits a moonsault to the floor, but smashes his shins on the railing. Daniels doesn’t appear to be hurt following the move. Daniels chokes Matt over the middle rope and Kazarian hits a leg drop over the middle rope. Daniels elbow strikes Matt and Kazarian delivers a neckbreaker for a two count. Kazarian keeps Matt on the mat with a sleeper. Kazarian keeps Matt on the mat for a few moments. Kazarian stomps Matt on the canvas. Daniels yanks Matt down to the canvas and Kazarian delivers a dropkick in the corner. Nick superkicks Kazarian and Matt tries to make the tag, but Daniels knocks Nick off the apron.
Daniels stomps on Matt and fakes a tag while the referee is distracted by Nick. Matt delivers a jawbreaker and tries to run the ropes, but settles for a superkick to Kazarian on the floor. Nick tags in and clotheslines Daniels followed by a dropkick. Daniels kicks Nick, but is met with an elbow strike. Nick hits a slingshot facebuster and a moonsault to the floor on Kazarian. Nick heads to the top rope hitting a crossbody for a two count. Nick is stopped by a powerbomb/neckbreaker combo for a two count. Kazarian legally tags back into the match and sends Nikc into Daniels. Daniels knocks Nick down in the corner and takes Matt out with a suicide dive. Kazarian tries for a cover, but only manages a two count. Kazarian hits a northern lights on Matt and has a cover on Nick for a two count. Bucks work over Kazarian with strikes. Kazarian sends the Bucks into each other. Matt superkicks Daniels off the apron. Nick hits a top rope swanton on Kazarian over the middle rope for a two count. Matt tries for the Meltzer Driver, but Daniels makes the save. Kazarian hits a slingshot cutter on Matt for a two count. Kazarian is sent to the floor and the Bucks hit a running powerbomb/kick to the head in the corner. Kazarian hit a slingshot DDT on Matt, but Nick superkicks Kazarian. Daniels plants Nick with Angel’s Wings, but Matt superkicks Daniels and all four men are down.
Bucks hammer away on the Addiction and deliver superkicks a couple of times. Kazarian bails to the floor. Daniels sends Matt into Nick in the corner before hitting a slam on Matt. Daniels tries for the BME, but Matt got a boot up. Bucks hit a spike tombstone piledriver, but Kazarian makes the save. Nick superkicks Kazarian off the apron and hits a tornado DDT on the floor. Bucks hit More Bang For Your Buck on Daniels to win the match and retain the titles. (***1/2. A good match with both teams hitting their trademark moves. The pace was done well and the closing moments were entertaining. An ideal way to close the show with the two big acts on the show delivering a quality main event.)
Final Thoughts:
It’s a good with a solid opener and the last two matches delivering some great action. The Rome crowd was fired up throughout and added to the show.
Thanks for reading.