Squared Circle Wrestling presents 11th Hour
Date: 11/11/2011
From: Watertown, NY
Opening Contest: First Class (Graham & Van Slyke) vs. Dewey & The Beast vs. Steve McKenzie & Loca Vida in an elimination match: Graham and Vida kickoff the tag match. Vida wants to shake hands, but fakes out Graham. Vida sidesteps a lockup and taunts Graham. Graham knee lifts Vida to gain the advantage. Graham runs the ropes and cartwheels to avoid Vida. They run the ropes until they trade arm drags and Vida scoop slams Graham before being kicked away. Graham slams Vida, but is kicked away. Vida leg sweeps Graham and they both try for dropkicks leading to a standoff. First Class regroups on the floor for a moment. Van Slyke enters the match to try his luck against Vida, but McKenzie is tagged into the match instead. McKenzie drop toe holds Van Slyke and delivers a dropkick to send Van Slyke into the corner. McKenzie works over Van Slyke with strikes before tagging Vida back into the match. Vida leaps off the middle rope to deliver a strike to the midsection. Vida forearms Van Slyke, but is stopped with a strike to the midsection. ZSII grabs Vida foot from the floor and is ejected from ringside. Vida and McKenzie dump First Class to the floor. They also send Dewey and Beast through the ropes to the floor. McKenzie and Vida hit stereo crossbody blocks off the top to take everyone out on the floor.
Vida chops Van Slyke over the back before returning to the ring. Vida chops Van Slyke several times in the ring, but Van Slyke responds with a chop and works over Vida in the corner. Van Slyke kicks Vida over the back after a snapmare and tags in Graham to deliver a strike from the middle rope. Graham hits a rolling neck snap on Vida for a two count as McKenzie made the save. Graham rams Vida into the corner and kicks Vida before tagging in Van Slyke. Van Slyke nails Vida with a running elbow strike. Van Slyke tosses Vida overhead with a suplex for a two count. Vida forearms Van Slyke, but Van Slyke drives Vida into the corner back first. Graham tags in and delivers a leaping strike in the corner. Dewey and Beast enter the ring to finally get involved in the match without a tag. Dewey sends Vida into the corner and delivers a splash. Beast splashes Vida in the corner, as well. Graham forearms Beast a few times, but Beast hits a Codebreaker on Graham. McKenzie is driven down with a double powerbomb by Beast and Dewey. Van Slyke fights Beast and Dewey, but is stopped by a double spinebuster. Dewey and Beast have been disqualified and have been eliminated.
Graham and McKenzie trade strikes until McKenzie rams Graham into a corner. McKenzie nails Graham with a kick to the head and both men are down. Vida clotheslines Van Slyke, but Van Slyke doesn’t budge. Vida delivers a couple of knee strikes and leaps off the middle rope to knock Van Slyke down. Vida tosses Graham out of the corner. Vida is caught by Van Slyke in the corner and placed on the top rope. Vida spikes Van Slyke with a tornado DDT. Vida covers Van Slyke for a two count. McKenzie sends Graham into the corner and delivers a spinning elbow strike as Graham comes off the ropes. Vida airplane spins Graham and Graham falls to the mat. McKenzie rams Van Slyke into the corner and Vida works over Van Slyke with right hands. Van Slyke powerbombs Vida out of the corner. Graham leg drops Vida over Van Slyke’s knee from the middle rope leading to the three count. (**. That got a lot more time than I was ever expecting it to get to start the show. I liked the usage of Beast and Dewey. The match itself wasn’t awful and showcased Van Slyke and Graham well since they are the future of 2CW in a local talent sense.)
Isys Ephex comes out to cut a promo, and gets annoyed by a fan saying they don’t want him there. Ephex says that if he was in the Grand Prix this year he would have won it. Ephex is injured and thinks that whomever wins the tournament should accept a challenge for the original winner of the Grand Prix. Ephex is well in spirit and as soon as he’s back to action he’ll beat the Grand Prix champion.
Second Contest: Marcos vs. Sean Carr vs. ZSIII in a Grand Prix Tournament Match: Marcos works over Carr to kickoff the match. ZSIII gets involved to deliver a double shoulder block. ZSIII drives Carr down with a vertical suplex for a two count. Marcos shoves ZSII and dumps ZSIII to the floor. Carr hits a spinning heel kick and a rolling fireman’s carry slam on Marcos. Carr hits a standing moonsault for a two count as ZSIII breaks the cover. Carr nails ZSIII with a heel kick and arm drags for the advantage. ZSIII tries to escape the ring and hits the post groin first. Carr crotches Marcos on the top rope and dropkicks ZSIII. Carr slams Marcos off the top to the mat and drop toe holds ZSIII onto Marcos groin. Carr presses ZSIII’s face into Marcos groin to embarrass both men. Carr atomic drops ZSIII, but Marcos low blows Carr from behind and hits a Slice Bread. Carr’s legs are split apart by the heels and double teamed on the mat. Marcos and ZSIII double team Carr in the corner with chops. Marcos tries for a slam, but Carr is too heavy so ZSIII scoop slams Carr. ZSIII slams Marcos onto Carr, but a second one misses. ZSIII slams Marcos to the mat a second time as Carr rolls around the ring to avoid it. ZSIII runs into an elbow in the corner. Carr misses a splash and Marcos leaps off the top to miss a crossbody on both men and crashes to the mat. ZSIII kicks Carr into the corner and sits Carr on the top turnbuckle. Springate hooks Carr for a suplex, but Marcos powerbombs ZSIII to the mat as Carr is taken over with a suplex. Marcos tries for a cover on both men, but only gets a two count. Marcos ducks a clothesline, but ZSIII plants Marcos with a claw slam. Carr takes advantage and pins Marcos to advance in the tournament as ZSIII was celebrating with First Class. (*1/2. The finish is a little lame, but Carr moving on is the right call. Carr is a lot of fun and is a fresh talent for 2CW to rise up the ranks. Marcos was good with comedy.)
Third Contest: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Cheech in a Grand Prix Tournament Match: Ciampa backs Cheech against the ropes and cleanly backs off. Ciampa takes Cheech down to the mat, but Cheech counters quickly with arm control. Ciampa counters with an arm bar for a moment. Cheech keeps Ciampa down with a leg lock. Ciampa kicks Cheech away to the floor. Ciampa wants to do a test of strength. Cheech tries for a kick, but Ciampa blocks it and chops Cheech to the floor. Cheech tells the referee to get in the corner and wants to do a test of strength. Ciampa switches and is met with an eye rake. Cheech controls Ciampa with a side headlock. Cheech shoulder blocks Ciampa and runs the ropes until Ciampa dropkicks Cheech. Ciampa sends Cheech into the corner and delivers a leaping forearm strike for a two count. Ciampa clotheslines Cheech in the corner and rams Cheech into the corner. Cheech catches Ciampa on his shoulders to deliver a gut buster. Cheech hits a senton splash for a two count. Cheech keeps Ciampa on the mat with a body scissors and does a few sit-ups to taunt Ciampa. Cheech rubs Ciampa’s face onto the mat before delivering shoulder rams in the corner.
Cheech delivers a flurry of strikes in the corner to keep the advantage. Ciampa sunset flips Cheech, but is met with a chop. Cheech eye rakes Ciampa in the corner. Ciampa sits Cheech over the middle rope to deliver a couple of chops before hitting a German suplex. Cheech brings Ciampa to the apron and they trade chops. Cheech clotheslines Ciampa over the ropes into the ring. Ciampa slides to the floor and yanks Cheech down onto the apron. Ciampa rolls Cheech into the ring and covers for a near fall. Cheech stops Ciampa with a flapjack for a two count. Cheech keeps Ciampa on the mat with an arm bar. Cheech rolls Ciampa up for a two count. Cheech strikes Ciampa in the corner and puts an abdominal stretch on Ciampa. Ciampa hip tosses Cheech, but Cheech clotheslines Ciampa for a two count. Ciampa overhand chops Cheech against the ropes. Ciampa sends Cheech into the corner a few times and delivers a clothesline. Ciampa locks in a Torture Rack and hits a sit out Burning Hammer for a near fall. Ciampa sits Cheech on the top turnbuckle and signals for a superplex. Cheech shoves Ciampa off the ropes and kicks Ciampa into the corner. Cheech nails Ciampa with a running boot strike and a dropkick from the floor for a two count. Ciampa dropkicks Cheech on the knee and delivers a stomp to the head. Ciampa pulls down his knee pad and nails Cheech several times. Ciampa tries for a cover, but Cheech kicks out at two.
Ciampa misses a splash and hits the post. Cheech spears Ciampa in the corner and hits a pump handle suplex for a near fall. Cheech tris for a slam, but Ciampa counters with a rollup for a two count. Cheech takes Ciampa down with a rollup and uses the ropes for leverage to win the match. (**3/4. A decent match between these two. I was hoping for a little more hard hitting action as it felt like it didn’t truly get going. I’m a huge fan of Ciampa and wish he would have continued on in the tournament, but it’s a good win for Cheech in 2CW.)
Fourth Contest: Nigel McGuinness vs. Eddie Edwards: They shake hands to kickoff the match. Nigel backs Edwards against the ropes, but cleanly backs off. Nigel gains control with a top wrist lock, but Edwards counters and takes Nigel down to the mat. Edwards keeps arm control on the mat for a moment. Nigel counters, but Edwards keeps the advantage with a wrist lock. Nigel snapmares Edwards, but Edwards counters again. Nigel breaks free from wrist control and Edwards rolls through to break free. Edwards keeps Nigel on the mat and presses Nigel’s legs apart on the mat, but doesn’t get a submission or pin. Nigel breaks free and pats Edwards on his head to taunt Edwards. Nigel takes Edwards down to the mat and keeps leg control. Edwards manages to send Nigel to the floor to break the hold. Edwards takes Nigel down to the mat and keeps control with a headlock. Nigel breaks free from the headlock and plays to the crowd. Edwards drop toe holds Nigel to the mat and keeps control with a front face lock. Nigel reaches the ropes to break the hold and Edwards cleanly backs off. Edwards regains control with an arm bar on the mat. Edwards switches to a hammerlock. Nigel breaks free by sending Nigel through the ropes to the floor.
Nigel holds the ropes for Edwards to return to the ring. Nigel forearms Edwards to the mat and drives Edwards into the corner before sending Edwards shoulder first into the corner. Edwards falls to the floor to regroup. Nigel follows and grabs Edwards by his ears. Nigel slams Edwards arm against the railing. Edwards responds with a chop, but Nigel eye rakes Edwards. Edwards responds with another chop to stop Nigel. Nigel forearms Edwards into the railing and delivers a throat strike. Nigel delivers another chop and runs into a boot. Edwards continues with chops on the floor. Edwards rolls Nigel into the ring, but Nigel decks Edwards into the railing. Nigel rolls Edwards into the ring to continue the bout. Nigel stomps on Edwards left arm and wrenches Edwards arm over the ropes. Edwards strikes Nigel, but Nigel strikes Edwards on the arm. Nigel slams Edwards arm on the mat. Nigel knee drops Edwards on the arm. Nigel wrenches back on Edwards arm and leans back on Edwards free arm. Edwards gets a half Boston Crab, but Nigel escapes by reaching the ropes. Nigel yanks Edwards down to the mat by his injured arm for a two count.
They begin to trade strikes in the middle of the ring until Nigel stops Edwards with an eye rake. Edwards chops Nigel, but is met with a headbutt to the midsection. Edwards boots Nigel off the apron and hits a suicide dive to the floor. Edwards rolls Nigel back into the ring and heads to the top rope missing a double stomp. Edwards kicks Nigel on the knee and delivers a running kick to the chest for a two count. Edwards tries for leg control, but Nigel kicks Edwards away a few times. Edwards kicks Nigel to break free. Edwards sends Nigel into the corner a few times. Edwards forearms Nigel away, but is stopped on the top rope. Nigel tries for an elevated stunner, but Edwards holds onto the ropes. Nigel tries for a superplex, but Edwards fights free and shoves Nigel off. Edwards hits a missile dropkick for a two count. Nigel drives Edwards down to the mat with an arm breaker. Nigel keeps control on the mat with an arm bar. Edwards manages to reach the ropes to break the hold. Nigel nails Edwards with a running uppercut in the corner. Nigel sits Edwards on the top turnbuckle and tries for the stunner, but Edwards counters and almost wins with a rollup. Edwards switches to a modified STF. Nigel reaches the ropes to break the hold.
Edwards grabs Nigel on the apron looking for a suplex, but Nigel blocks it and forearms Edwards a few times. They trade strikes on the apron. Edwards kicks Nigel over the ropes into the crowd. Edwards goes to the top, but Nigel manages to hit the elevated stunner for a two count as Edwards got his boot on the ropes. Nigel goes back to the arm bar, but Edwards manages to counter with the single leg Boston Crab. Nigel tries to reach the ropes, but Edwards pulls Nigel back. Nigel almost wins with a rollup. They trade several pin attempts. Edwards manages to roll over on a backslide and that keeps Nigel down long enough for the three count to win the match. (***1/2. They started off slow with the mat wrestling based action, but the action picked up and turned into a good match. It’s a shame what happened to Nigel medically and this is essentially the end of his career for over a decade.) After the match, Nigel cuts a promo to thank the fans for their support and coming out. Nigel proceeds to talk about the start of their careers and notes that Edwards came to HWA to wrestle for free. Nigel embraces Edwards to show respect.
Fifth Contest: Slyck Wagner Brown vs. Mike Bennett in a Grand Prix Tournament Match: They lockup and struggle for position before letting go and having a standoff to kickoff the match. Bennett takes Brown down with a rollup for a one count and taunts Brown. Bennett puts a headlock on Brown for a moment. Brown sends Bennett into the ropes and is met with a shoulder block. Bennett drops down and puts a headlock on Brown. Bennett takes Brown to the mat and doesn’t followup and instead taunts Brown. Brown shoves Bennett, and is shoved to the mat. Brown works over Bennett with a strike, but Bennett dropkicks Brown to the floor. Bennett plays to the crowd as Brown bailed to the floor to regroup. Bennett slingshots Brown into the ring from the apron and delivers a chop. Brown kicks Bennett followed by a dropkick to avoid a backdrop attempt. Bennett gets a two count with a rollup, but Brown responds with a leg lariat for a two count. Brown stomps Bennett on the mat several times to keep control of the match. Brown rams Bennett into the corner face first to keep the advantage. Brown clubs Bennett over the middle rope and Bennett drops to the apron. Brown overhand strikes Bennett to keep control of the contest. Brown chokes Bennett in the corner for a few moments.
Brown chops Bennett in the corner, but Bennett responds with a series of chops. Bennett misses a splash in the corner and hits his shoulder on the top turnbuckle. Brown stomps Bennett on the mat several times. Brown rams Bennett into the corner several times. Brown grabs Bennett with a gut wrench, but Bennett holds onto Brown’s knee. Brown manages to hit a gut wrench suplex for a two count. Brown puts a choke on Bennett, but doesn’t get a submission. Brown keeps control of Bennett’s arms, but Bennett powers to his feet. Bennett runs into an elbow strike and Brown gets a two count. Brown decks Bennett over the back several times on the mat and locks in a sleeper again. Bennett fights free, but Brown clubs Bennett over the back. Brown hooks Bennett to hit a delayed vertical suplex. Brown heads to the top rope, but Bennett decks Brown on the top rope several times. Bennett tries for a superplex, but Brown holds the ropes. Brown tells the fans to move for a suplex to the floor. Bennett prevents that from happening and hits a superplex off the top! Both men are laid out on the mat. Bennett and Brown trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Brown gains the advantage backing Bennett into a corner, but Bennett hits a couple of clotheslines in the corner followed by a leaping neckbreaker. Bennett is fired up. Brown tosses Bennett over the top to the apron. Bennett shoulder rams Brown from the apron and tries for a sunset flip, but avoids a kick. Bennett gets a two count on a rollup and plants Brown with a spinebuster for a two count. Bennett has Brown on his shoulders, but Brown breaks free. Bennett plants Brown with a TKO for a near fall. Bennett heads to the top rope and misses a sunset flip. Brown kicks Bennett and hits a sit out powerbomb. Brown locks in the Texas Cloverleaf and forces Bennett to submit. (***. A good match and I’m glad that Slyck got a clean submission. These two kept a faster pace than I was expecting.)
Prior to the next match, Jason Axe cuts a promo about not being surprised that the Watertown crowd would boo him. Axe thinks that 2CW has been screwing him over for months. Axe says a lot of it has to do with the referee and blames a fast count for losing the last time in Watertown. Axe wants Keith Harris to be the referee, and Harris enters the match to return to his referee roots.
Sixth Contest: 2CW Heavyweight Champion Jay Freddie vs. Jason Axe in a non-title match, Grand Prix Tournament Match: They lockup and neither man gets a clear advantage. Freddie gets wrist control, but Axe counters until Freddie takes Axe down to the mat. Axe gets a hammerlock on Freddie, but Freddie breaks free with a snapmare and they have a standoff. They do a test of strength until Freddie kicks Axe and gets wrist control again. Freddie hits a standing hurricanrana and they have a standoff again. Axe controls Freddie with a waist lock, but Freddie counters with a wrist lock. Axe backs Freddie into a corner and runs the ropes. Freddie head scissors Axe to the mat. Freddie arm drags Axe and keeps arm control on the mat. Freddie keeps Axe on the mat with an arm bar. Axe chops Freddie, but Freddie delivers a few chops and a clothesline of his own. Freddie elbows Axe to the mat followed by a chop in the corner. Freddie backdrops Axe out of the corner. Freddie runs into an elbow in the corner. Freddie dropkicks Axe coming off the ropes. Freddie gets a head start and fakes a dive to the floor. Freddie leaps off the apron to kick Axe into the railing. Freddie chops Axe before returning to the ring for a near fall. Freddie uppercuts Axe several times in the corner. Freddie hits a bridging suplex for a two count. Freddie tosses Axe with a front suplex and dropkicks a kneeling Axe. Axe stops Freddie with a tilt a whirl backbreaker.
Axe plants Freddie with a spinebuster for a two count. Axe forearms Freddie on the mat a few times. Axe keeps Freddie on the mat with a sleeper. Freddie elbows free and hits a northern lights suplex for a near fall. Axe tosses Freddie with an overhead pump handle suplex for a two count. Axe chops Freddie to the mat to maintain the advantage. They begin to trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Freddie plants Axe with a back suplex. Axe misses a clothesline and Freddie hits a twisting slam for a near fall. Freddie uppercuts Axe into the corner and crotches Axe on the top rope. Freddie tries for a superplex, but Axe crotches Freddie on the top rope. Axe nails Freddie with a running knee strike to knock Freddie off the ropes to the floor. Axe leaps off the apron to take Freddie out with a somersault dive. Axe covers, but Freddie kicks out at two. Freddie nails Axe with a jawbreaker and dumps Axe to the floor. Freddie takes Axe out with a suicide dive.
They return to the ring trading strikes in the middle of the ring. Axe nails Freddie with a forearm against the ropes, but Freddie responds with one of his own. Axe staggers Freddie with a big boot, but Freddie hits a yakuza kick and both men are down. Freddie’s right eye is swelled up. Axe nails Freddie with a kick to the back of the head. Freddie ducks a clothesline and connects with a discus clothesline. Freddie powerbombs Axe for a two count. Freddie locks in a Lion Tamer and is leaning far back trying to get a submission. Axe kicks free and locks in a triangle choke. Freddie manages to counter a Rings of Saturn. Axe doesn’t give in. Freddie tries for a full nelson suplex, but Axe counters with a Crossface. Freddie rolls free and kicks Axe before hitting a dragon screw leg whip. Freddie puts the Sharpshooter on Axe, but Axe refuses to give in and reaches the ropes. Freddie signals for a strike in the corner, but misses and hits the corner. Axe chokes Freddie in the corner. Axe pummels Freddie with a series of forearm strikes in the corner. Freddie tries for a rollup out of the corner, but Axe sits down and uses the ropes for leverage to steal the victory. (***1/2. These two have great chemistry and it’s no surprise that 2CW has these guys wrestle each other fairly often. The hatred comes across well and I enjoyed the action quite a bit. This should lead to Axe getting another title shot at some point since this was a non-title match. By the way, Freddie comes across as the perfect guy to be part of ROH in this era.)
Main Event: 2CW Tag Team Champions Jimmy & Colin Olsen vs. Brian Kendrick & Paul London: Colin and London kickoff the tag title match with Colin controlling London on the mat. London is wearing a mask, but Colin removes it. Jimmy tags into the match and keeps wrist control on London. London flips free and leg drops Jimmy on the mat. Kendrick tags into the match and puts London’s mask back on. Jimmy is met with a double hip toss and headbutts as the challengers hit Jimmy with their masks. Kendrick controls Jimmy with a wrist lock and London tags in to deliver a double stomp from the top onto Jimmy’s left am. London keeps Jimmy on the mat, but Jimmy rams London into the corner. Jimmy shoulder rams London a few times. Jimmy forearms in the corner and sends London across the ring. London hits a springboard crossbody for a two count. Kendrick nails Jimmy with a double stomp off the top and puts a camel clutch on Jimmy. Jimmy drives Kendrick into the corner and tags in Colin. Colin forearms Kendrick against the ropes and delivers a knee drop. Colin cuts off Kendrick trying to fight back. Jimmy tags back into the match and hits a vertical suplex for a two count. Kendrick kicks Jimmy several times to break free from an arm bar. Jimmy pulls Kendrick away from his corner and Colin delivers a knee drop to Kendrick’s lower back. Colin forearms Kendrick into the ropes and tries for a hip toss, but switches to a side Russian leg sweep and a senton splash for a two count. Colin decks Kendrick on the mat and drives Kendrick into his corner, but Kendrick fights back with strikes. Jimmy chokes Kendrick over the ropes to stop the momentum.
Jimmy keeps a front face lock on Kendrick to maintain the advantage on the mat. Kendrick nails Jimmy with a jawbreaker and crawls towards his corner. Colin gets tagged in and stops Kendrick. Kendrick avoids a back suplex and tags in London. London cleans house with clotheslines and dropkicks. London backdrops both Olsen Twins. Jimmy stops London, but is sent to the floor. London dumps Colin to the floor, as well. London takes the champs out with a corkscrew dive to the floor. London rolls Colin into the ring and climbs to the top rope. Jimmy crotches London, but Kendrick knocks Jimmy to the floor. Jimmy prevents a Slice Bread by Kendrick and the champs hit a Samoan Drop/neckbreaker combo. Jimmy nails London with a reverse powerbomb. Kendrick kicks Jimmy to prevent a piledriver and all four men are down. London and Kendrick work over the champs in opposite corners. Jimmy knocks Kendrick to the floor, but London hits a double dropkick. London is shoved away by Jimmy, but hits an atomic drop and hurricanrana. London forearms Colin in the corner. Colin hits a Gory Special and Jimmy delivers a sloppy hurricanrana to London. The champs hit a double team powerbomb on London for a two count. Kendrick nails Colin with a Slice Bread and heel kicks Jimmy. London tries for a Slice Bread, but is stopped by Jimmy. Colin gets a rollup on London from behind and uses a handful of tights as Jimmy held Kendrick on the ropes to win the match. (***1/4. A good match, but a little sloppy in spots that took me out of the match a couple of times. The Olsen’s are a great team and incredibly underrated on the indies. Jimmy doesn’t get nearly enough credit for his heel singles run in 2CW. Kendrick and London seemed to be goofing off early in the match, but they settled into things and put on a solid main event to close the show. This is a big win for the Olsens and is the kind of booking that I love to see from an indie promotion. Get your local guys over with big wins over established named.)
Final Thoughts:
A good show by 2CW. Not as many matches as they usually have, but that just meant less filler. There was plenty of quality action throughout the event to make this an easy thumbs up.
Thanks for reading.