IWA-MS presents Running With The Bulls
Date: 5/12/2018
From: Memphis. IN
Opening Contest: Neil Diamond Cutter vs. Jordan Kage vs. Stephen Wolf vs. Austin Tyler Morris vs. Tre Lamar vs. Alex Zayne vs. Aaron Draven in an elimination match: Kage is superkicked to the floor as is Morris. Kage and Morris are taken out by Cutter with a suicide dive to the floor. Draven takes the three guys out with a somersault suicide dive. Wolf hits a springboard somersault dive to the floor onto the men. Zayne hits a corkscrew dive over the top to the floor. Lamar tries for a dive, but Kage cuts Lamar off with a forearm strike. Zayne nails Kage with a head scissors, but Morris decks Zayne from behind and delivers a snap suplex. Kage and Morris double team Zayne. Morris and Kage knock Lamar and Wolf off the apron. Zayne is double teamed some more by Kage and Morris. Kage delivers a double knee and Morris hits a cannonball. Draven missile dropkicks both Morris and Kage. Cutter forearms Draven a few times. Draven responds with strikes and a superkick. Cutter decks Draven with a clothesline and a standing senton. Cutter hits a springboard moonsault for a two count on Draven. Draven trips Cutter onto the middle rope and Draven hits a cannonball over the middle rope for a two count. Draven tries for a suplex, but Cutter drops Draven with a side suplex. Kage and Morris hit a back suplex into a backbreaker on Cutter for the first elimination.
Draven is met with a dropkick by Kage. Morris climbs to the top rope, but Draven sends Kage into Morris to crotch him. Draven hits a rolling fireman’s carry on Kage and hits a Spanish Fly on Morris for a two count. Lamar sends Kage into Morris and hits a neckbreaker on Morris, which causes Morris to DDT Kage. Lamar moonsaults off the apron onto Wolf on the floor. Lamar hits a springboard clothesline on Morris. Draven chops Lamar, but Lamar hits a Pele kick and a snapmare driver on Draven for a three count. Draven has been eliminated.
Wolf misses a double stomp on Lamar, but gets a two count on a rollup. Wolf drop toe holds Lamar onto the ropes, and misses a 619 only to clothesline Lamar. Zayne drives Wolf down to the mat with a modified facebuster and a standing shooting star press for a two count. Morris splashes Zayne in the corner followed by a shoulder ram. Morris missile dropkicks Zayne followed by a cutter for a two count as Zayne reached the ropes. Zayne plants Morris with a pump handle driver for an elimination.
Wolf clotheslines Zayne to the floor and collides with Lamar on a crossbody. Kage heads to the top rope and elbow drops Lamar for a two count. Kage goes to the top again and elbow drops Wolf for another near fall. Zayne returns to the ring and punches Kage into the corner. Kage rams Zayne into the corner face first. Kage sits Zayne on the top turnbuckle and tries for a suplex, but Zayne tosses Kage off. Zayne misses a 639 off the top! Kage spikes Zayne with a piledriver over the middle rope for an elimination.
Wolf forearms Kage a few times and decks Kage into the corner. Wolf is kicked onto the middle rope and stops Lamar with a kick. Kage plants Lamar with a Dudley Dog and a backstabber to Wolf for a two count. Lamar double stomps Kage coming off the ropes and Wolf hits a top rope frog splash to eliminate Kage.
Lamar and Wolf are the final two. Wolf shoves Lamar, which Lamar returns. Lamar counters a powerbomb. Wolf knee strikes Lamar, but Lamar comes back with a kick. Wolf delivers a roaring elbow and hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. Wolf heads to the top rope after dragging Lamar to the corner. Wolf misses a splash. Lamar goes to the apron hitting a slingshot swinging flatliner. Lamar spikes Wolf with a snapmare driver for the win. (***1/2. I thought this was a great way to start the show. Of the seven, I’m only really aware of Zayne and Wolf, for the most part. Lamar is great and I love his style. Zayne had some insane offense, and when he got eliminated it felt as if the crowd may have lost interest. However, it’s a very good high flying showcase with everyone looking good. I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to.)
Second Contest: Chase Holliday vs. Vinnie Scarpone: Scarpone gets wrist control at the start, but Holliday counters into a wrist lock of his own. Scarpone reaches the ropes to break the hold. Holliday takes Scarpone down to the mat, but Scarpone breaks free and they have a standoff. Scarpone wants a test of strength, but Holliday can’t reach his hand. Holliday arm drags Scarpone and delivers a knee strike. Holliday tries for a leg lock, but Scarpone reaches the ropes and bails to the floor to regroup. Scarpone strikes Holliday coming off the ropes and hits a back suplex onto the apron. Scarpone stomps Holliday on the floor and sends Holliday into the ring post face first. Scarpone strikes Holliday over the back and rolls Holliday into the ring. Scarpone continues to work over Holliday in the ring and taunts the crowd. Scarpone dumps Holliday to the floor and delivers a forearm strike. Scarpone rolls Holliday into the ring and manages a two count. Scarpone forearms Holliday into the corner followed by an elbow strike. Scarpone splashes Holliday in the corner and continues to taunt the crowd. Scarpone chokes Holliday over the ropes. Scarpone forearms Holliday a few times. Holliday decks Scarpone with a forearm strike a few times. Holliday kicks Scarpone a few times and dropkicks Scarpone into the corner. Holliday delivers a double knee strike in the corner. Holliday hits a suicide dive to the floor to send Scarpone into the crowd. Holliday hits a slingshot senton splash for a near fall. Scarpone nails Holliday with a pump kick and swinging side slam for a near fall. Scarpone tries for a slam, but Holliday counters and locks in an STF to win the match by submission. (*. Holliday could have potential to be a decent worker with more experience. Scarpone didn’t do much of anything of interest.)
Third Contest: JC Rotten vs. Frankie Flynn: Rotten leg sweeps Flynn to the mat and plays to the crowd. Flynn taunts Rotten to avoid a test of strength. Rotten decks Flynn with a right hand. Rotten headbutts Flynn into the corner and delivers several more right hands. Rotten sends Flynn into the corner chest first. Flynn sends Rotten chest first into the middle rope and delivers a few stomps on the mat. Flynn forearms Rotten into the corner followed by a running forearm. Flynn delivers a dropkick and a sliding forearm in the corner. Flynn tries for a cover, but Rotten kicks out at two. Flynn kicks Rotten on the knee and chokes Rotten over the ropes. Flynn rubs Rotten’s eyes over the top rope. Flynn kicks Rotten on the mat. Flynn delivers a neckbreaker and holds onto Rotten’s head for a submission attempt, but Rotten doesn’t give in. Flynn plants Rotten with a neckbreaker for a near fall. Rotten sends Flynn into the corner, but is met with an elbow. Flynn hits a blockbuster off the middle rope for a two count. Rotten chops Flynn in the corner, but Flynn kicks Rotten. Flynn misses a missile dropkick and Rotten signals for a lariat. Flynn ducks the lariat and hits a dragon suplex. Rotten no sells and tosses Flynn with a German suplex. Flynn dumps Rotten to the apron and delivers a kick. Flynn hits an elevated pedigree over the middle rope for a two count. Rotten kicks Flynn followed by a running knee strike for a near fall. Rotten sends Flynn into the corner and forearms Flynn. Rotten walks the ropes and hits a stunner for a two count. Flynn nearly wins with a rollup. Rotten spikes Flynn with a twisting tombstone to win the match. (*1/2. It was a little weird of a match as after a big move it felt lifeless until the next big spot. Rotten seems to have a decent move set, but I don’t think he’s a guy to have incredible matches or anything.)
Fourth Contest: PB Smooth vs. Amazing Maria: They shake hands and twirls Maria to check her out. Maria puts a waist lock on Smooth, but Smooth has her feel his chest, and she backs off. Maria ducks a strike and chops Smooth a few times. Smooth tosses Maria with a slam. Smooth yanks Maria out of the corner and taunts her. Smooth yanks Maria down to the mat by her hair. Smooth chokes Maria in the corner. Smooth misses a splash in the corner. Smooth misses a clothesline and Maria tries for a face buster, but Smooth counters with a scoop slam for a one count. Smooth misses a somersault senton. Maria kicks Smooth for a two count. Maria knee strikes Smooth and delivers a few strikes on the mat. Smooth stops Maria with a boot to the face. Smooth plants Maria with a curb stomp for a two count. Maria tries for an inside cradle, but Smooth counters with a slam for a one count. Maria tries for another inside cradle, but Smooth counters. Maria sends Smooth into the corner and delivers a series of strikes. Smooth tosses Maria into the corner, but Maria kisses Smooth to distract him. Maria delivers a headbutt to the midsection and rams Smooth into the corner followed by a face buster off the ropes for the win. (*. I’m assuming they couldn’t do too much because man vs. woman match tend to be a sticky situation. I didn’t like the approach here. It didn’t connect with me as they went into a sexual tease angle.)
Fifth Contest: Mike Outlaw vs. Cole Radrick vs. Billy Mattern: Mattern sends Outlaw to the floor, but Radrick shoulder blocks Outlaw upon returning to the ring. Mattern hip tosses Radrick and all three trade dropkicks leading to a triple dropkick attempt and a standoff. Radrick blocks a kick by Mattern and Outlaw forearms Mattern to the floor. Outlaw gets a rollup on Radrick for a two count. Outlaw arm drags Radrick, but Radrick counters an arm drag with a rollup. Radrick head scissors Outlaw into the corner. Radrick is shoved off the ropes by Mattern. Mattern tries to kick Outlaw, but is met with a leg sweep. Mattern clotheslines Outlaw in the corner. Radrick is elbowed by Mattern and Mattern hits a moonsault off the corner. Mattern kicks Outlaw and hits a springboard moonsault for a two count as Radrick made the save. Radrick strikes Mattern and hits a Falcon Arrow for a two count as Outlaw breaks the cover. Outlaw hooks Radrick for a piledriver, but Radrick holds Outlaw’s knee and delivers a facebuuster over the knee. Outlaw elbows Radrick to break free and kicks a charging Radrick n the corner before hitting a tornado DDT for a two count Mattern breaks the cover. Mattern forearms Outlaw in the corner along with stomps. Mattern chokes Radrick in the corner. Mattern kicks Radrick several times in the corner. Mattern sits Radrick on the top turnbuckle and delivers a few strikes. Mattern tries for a suplex off the top, but Radrick punches Mattern and connects with a headbutt and forearms. Outlaw powerbombs Mattern out of the corner. Radrick leaps off the top to hit a crossbody on Outlaw. Outlaw elbows Mattern in the corner and forearms Mattern . Radrick kicks Outlaw a few times, but Outlaw nails Radrick with a jump kick. Radrick senton splashes Outlaw and Mattern tries to steal the match, but Outlaw kicks out at two. Outlaw counters the Stroke and tries for a backslide on Mattern. Mattern counters Outlaw to hit the Stroke for another near fall. Mattern dumps Radrick to the floor. Outlaw backhands Mattern and Radrick nails Mattern with a kick. Radrick plants Outlaw with a German suplex. Radrick plants Mattern with a stunner and a cutter to Outlaw. Radrick springboard cutters Mattern, who also hit a cutter on Outlaw. Radrick hit a sit out modified pump handle slam and pins Mattern to win the match. (*1/2. A little bit sloppy, but Radrick is clearly the most talented of the three. It kind of felt like a backyard wrestling match for the most part.)
Sixth Contest: Bret Havoc vs. Joe Alonzo: Alonzo arm drags Havoc to start the match. Havoc does a cart wheel and arm drags Alonzo. Alonzo arm drags Havoc again, but Havoc elbows Alonzo on the back of the head. Alonzo clotheslines Havoc over the top to the floor. Alonzo slingshots to the apron and avoids a kick. Alonzo kicks Havoc from the apron. Alonzo forearms Havoc in the front row a few times. Alonzo forearms Havoc a few times and put a photographer in front of Havoc. Alonzo leaps over the photographer to hit a somersault senton to knock Havoc out of a chair in the crowd. Alonzo covers Havoc for a one count. Alonzo scoop slams Havoc for a two count. Alonzo has Havoc on his shoulders, but Havoc breaks free and hits a German suplex followed by a float over northern lights suplex and a double stomp for a near fall. Havoc strikes Alonzo into the corner several times. Havoc nails Alonzo with a series of chops and strikes in the corner. Alonzo dropkicks Havoc into the corner, but Havoc responds with a running dropkick in the corner. Alonzo forearms Havoc and nails Havoc with a clothesline for a near fall. Alonzo forearms Havoc in the corner. Havoc dropkicks Alonzo into the corner. Havoc nails Alonzo with a running boot in the corner leading to a near fall. Havoc kicks Alonzo over the back and continues with kicks against the ropes. Havoc uppercuts Alonzo against the ropes. Alonzo trips Havoc from the apron and tries for a springboard moonsault, but Havoc got his knees up. Havoc superkicks Alonzo, but Alonzo delivers a superkick, as well. Havoc drops Alonzo with a roundhouse kick. Havoc tries for the B-Town Driver, but Alonzo breaks free and Havoc decks Alonzo with an elbow strike. Alonzo catches Havoc on a springboard to hit a Death Valley Driver. Havoc hits a springboard Codebreaker for the win. (***. I’ve never seen Havoc before, but I thought he looked good in there. I enjoyed this match as the action was constant and fun for the most part. There’s something about Havoc that comes across well and he’s an entertaining worker.) After the match, they show respect to each other on the floor.
Seventh Contest: Kevin Lee Davidson vs. Kody Rice: Rice takes some time to oil up his body and the crowd yells something at Rice. Davidson knocks Rice down with a strike. Davidson forearms Rice into the ropes. Davidson slips off Rice due to the oil. Rice forearms Davidson, but Davidson doesn’t budge. They begin to trade strikes with neither man budging. Rice chops Davidson, but Davidson responds with a chop to stagger Rice. They begin to trade chops in the middle of the ring. Rice ducks a strike and chops Davidson. Rice misses a splash in the corner, but boots Davidson. Rice head scissors Davidson out of the corner for a near fall. Rice forearms Davidson in the corner a few times. Rice dropkicks Davidson coming off the rope for a two count. Rice chops Davidson in the corner to maintain control of the match. Davidson kicks Rice and continues with forearm strikes. Rice avoids a clothesline, but Davidson delivers an elbow strike and a spinning heel kick for a two count. Davidson casually steps on Rice. Davidson kicks Rice in the ribs for a two count. Rice forearms Davidson a couple of times, but Davidson nails Rice with a boot. Rice nails Davidson with a forearm, but Davidson cuts Rice off with a forearm strike of his own. Rice forearms Davidson and hits a yakuza kick. Rice hits a standing moonsault for a two count. Davidson forearms Rice and puts Rice on his shoulders to hit a rolling fireman’s carry. Davidson nails Rice with a senton splash for a near fall. Rice tosses Davidson with a German suplex, but Davidson gets up to toss Rice with a German suplex. Davidson hits another rolling German suplex. Rice rolls to the corner and Davidson misses a cannonball splash. Rice senton splashes Davidson in the corner and picks up the win. (**1/2. Honestly, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this match. They both came across well, but Davidson reminds me of Scott Norton and I think he’s a really good big guy. Rice displayed some agility that I was not expecting. A surprisingly good big man match.)
Eighth Contest: Pentagon Jr. vs. Shane Mercer in an IWA Rules match: Pentagon taunts Mercer, as per usual. Pentagon kicks Mercer and nails Mercer with a kick to the midsection to avoid Mercer on the mat. Mercer elbows Pentagon and clotheslines Pentagon from behind to the floor. Mercer tries for a suicide dive, but Pentagon kicks Mercer. Pentagon rams Mercer into the ring post. Pentagon kicks Mercer on the floor right in front of the audience. Pentagon sends Mercer into a bunch of seats in the crowd. Pentagon throws a trash can at Mercer. Pentagon grabs a ladder and sets it up against the apron. Pentagon hits Mercer with a baseball bat and rams Mercer onto a merch table. Pentagon grabs a steel chair and tosses Mercer in the face with the chair. Pentagon plays to the crowd for a moment. Pentagon chops Mercer against the ring post. Pentagon chops Mercer again against the post. Pentagon hits Mercer with a chair. Pentagon misses a chop and hits the ring post. Mercer throws Pentagon into the chairs in the crowd. Mercer tosses a ladder at Pentagon in the crowd. Mercer uppercuts Pentagon and hits a springboard moonsault to the floor! Mercer press slams Pentagon and drops Pentagon face first over the apron. Mercer stomps Pentagon on the mat. Mercer grabs a chair and rolls Pentagon into the ring leading to a near fall. Pentagon kicks Mercer, but Mercer fights back with a right hand several times. Pentagon kicks Mercer on the knee. Mercer punches Pentagon several times, but Pentagon superkicks Mercer. Mercer plants Pentagon with a pop up spinning powerslam for a two count.
Pentagon ducks a clothesline to hit a sling blade on Mercer twice for a near fall. Pentagon taunts Mercer’s manager with a chair, but doesn’t throw it. Pentagon tries for a Package Piledriver, but Mercer tosses Pentagon overhead with a suplex for a two count. Pentagon forearms Mercer in the corner, but Mercer clotheslines Pentagon in the corner. Pentagon fights back with a backstabber out of the corner for a near fall. Mercer sits Pentagon on the top rope and is met with a kick. Pentagon leaps off the middle rope to hit a Destroyer. Mercer gets up and hits a Destroyer of his own. Mercer picks Pentagon up and climbs to the middle rope. Pentagon fights free with strikes and hits a top rope Destroyer! Pentagon covers, but Mercer kicks out at two. Pentagon goes under the ring and grabs a door. Pentagon grabs a couple of chairs and kicks Mercer to keep Mercer on the mat. Pentagon sets up four chairs and lays the door onto the chairs. Pentagon kicks Mercer in the corner and sits Mercer on the to rope. Justin Saint, Mercer’s manager, gets involved and is kicked by Pentagon. Pentagon snaps Saint’s arm. Pentagon chops Mercer and they stand on the door. Pentagon hits a Package Piledriver, but the door doesn’t break. Pentagon covers Mercer and wins the match. (***1/2. That was a good match. I wasn’t sure if Pentagon would be motivated in front of a small crowd, but they did quite a bit. I find Mercer to be incredibly underrated and enjoy his style a lot. This one delivered.) After the match, Pentagon puts Saint through the door in the corner.
Main Event: Michael Elgin vs. Aaron Williams: Elgin backs Williams against the ropes, but cleanly backs off. Elgin blocks a kick, but misses a strike and they have a standoff. Williams puts a sleeper on Elgin and tries for a shoulder block, but Elgin doesn’t budge. Elgin plays to the crowd and runs the ropes. Williams kicks Elgin over the chest a few times. Williams kicks Elgin several times, but Elgin responds with chops. Williams kicks Elgin against the ropes. Elgin powerslams Williams coming off the ropes. Elgin stomps Williams on the mat. Elgin strikes Williams with a forearm and a chop to stagger Williams. Elgin forearms Williams, but Williams fights back with a few forearm strikes. Elgin drops Williams with several forearms. Elgin goes to the apron and clubs Williams over the back. Elgin misses a chop and hits the ring post. Williams strikes Elgin several times on the floor. Williams kicks Elgin’s knee and Elgin sits down in the crowd. Williams kicks Elgin several times on the chest and runs around ringside, but ducks a clothesline by Elgin. Elgin instead superkicks Williams and delivers a back suplex onto the apron. Elgin forearms Williams over the back several times. Elgin drives Williams down with a backbreaker for a two count. Elgin backs Williams into a corner and delivers a shoulder ram. Elgin clubs Williams over the back to keep control of the match. Williams stops Elgin with a jawbreaker. Elgin kicks Williams over the back on the middle rope and hits a slingshot blockbuster from the apron into the ring for a near fall.
Williams strikes Elgin with a few punches, but Elgin tries for a powerbomb. Williams counters and double stomps Elgin on the mat. Williams kicks Elgin a few times on the chest. Elgin blocks being sent into the ropes. Williams kicks Elgin and tries for a short arm clothesline, but settles for a spin kick to send Elgin into the corner. Williams splashes Elgin in the corner and hits a back suplex for a two count. Elgin kneels down to block a suplex attempt. Elgin back elbows Williams, but Williams delivers a strike. Elgin plants Williams with the Falcon Arrow for a two count. Elgin stands on the middle rope, and grabs Williams. Elgin tries for a suplex, but Williams knocks Elgin off the ropes. Elgin avoids a rolling DDT, but Williams delivers a GTS. Williams manages to hit a rolling DDT for a near fall. Elgin blocks a kick and nails Williams over the back of the head. Elgin hits a German suplex and holds onto Williams. Williams reaches the ropes, but Elgin breaks the grip and forearms Williams. Williams kicks Elgin through the ropes to the floor. Williams nails Elgin with a suicide dive and a somersault dive over the top to the floor! Williams climbs to the top rope and hits a frog splash for a near fall. Elgin ducks a kick and hits a sit out Alabama Slam, but both men are laid out.
Elgin clotheslines Williams in the corner and delivers a running clothesline in the corner. Elgin hooks Williams on the top rope hitting a superplex Elgin tries for a cover, but Williams kicks out at two. Elgin grabs Williams for a powerbomb, but Williams punches free. Elgin decks Williams with elbows, and they trade strikes. Williams pump kicks Elgin into the corner, but Elgin kicks Williams several times and both men are laid out again. They begin to trade strikes from their knees. Elgin bounces off the ropes and they continue to trade forearms in the middle of the ring. Williams avoids a lariat, and they trade rollup attempts several times. Williams takes Elgin over with a snap German suplex. Elgin avoids a kick and has Williams on his shoulders. Elgin hits an electric chair slam managing a two count. Elgin buckle bombs Williams, but Williams nails Elgin with a roundhouse kick and crawls over for a cover, but Elgin kicks out at two. Williams takes his shoe off and tries for a kick, but Elgin collapses. Elgin forearms Williams several times proving to be playing possum. Elgin nails Williams with a lariat and a Splash Mountain powerbomb for a two count. Elgin buckle bombs Williams, but Williams comes back with a jackknife cover only for Elgin to kick out at two. Elgin forearms Williams followed by a back fist. Elgin buckle bombs Williams again and hits a spinning Elgin Bomb for a two count. Elgin sits Williams on the top turnbuckle and hits a Burning Hammer for the win. (****. That was a great main event. Elgin looked fantastic and Williams held his own. It did come across as if Williams wasn’t on the same level of Elgin, but the action was great. This far exceeded my expectations as I wasn’t sure what to expect from Williams in this level of a match. A very good main event.)
Final Thoughts:
I thought this was a great IWA-MS show, honestly. I really enjoyed the show and I want to see more from Davidson, Lamar, Williams, Rice, and Havoc. IWA-MS gets a lot of negativity because of Ian Rotten, but the reality is that the company has been a place where a lot of great talent has been produced. The runtime is only a little bit over two hours. It was well worth the time. Recommended show.
Thanks for reading.