International Wrestling Cartel presents No Excuses IV
Date: 8/2/2008
From: Elizabeth, PA
Backstage, Shiima Xion is on the phone with presumably Jason Gory telling Gory that they have a TLC match tonight and they have to get the tag titles back tonight. Xion turns the corner and Jimmy DeMarco is there to interview Xion with a bottle. Zion tells DeMarco that Gory is at a furry convention. Xion respects Sexual Harassment and never gave them credit for their accomplishments as a team after a decade of “acting like homos”. Xion says it’s not about time served, but how you make the food. Xion says making food at McDonalds doesn’t make you a chef. Xion has worked everyone and has a lean cuisine. DeMarco mentions that in two weeks Xion is wrestling the Motor City Machine Guns. Xion says it doesn’t matter how many times you can counter a wrist lock from them getting them dropped on their heads. DeMarco talks about two weeks from now and talks about the women getting moist after seeing him and compares it to Hurricane Katrina.
Opening Contest: Matt Cross vs. Johnny Gargano: They show respect for each other by slapping hands before Cross snapmares Gargano, but Gargano recovers and they aovid each other several times. They then have a standoff. Cross arm drags Gargano a couple of times. Gargano lifts Cross into the middle rope and arm drags Gargano out of the corner. Gargano arm drags Cross followed by a spin kick. Gargano continues with a senton splash out of the corner for a near fall. Gargano takes Cross over with a snap suplex for a two count. Cross boots Gargano in the corner and delivers a kick to the head for a two count. Cross kicks Gargano over the back a few times. Cross elbows Gargano coming off the ropes and delivers a standing moonsault for a near fall. Cross wedges his knee into Gargano’s back and switches to a sleeper. Gargano elbows Cross to break free, but Cross clubs Gargano over the back. Gargano nails Cross with a codebreaker to stagger Cross into the ropes. Gargano waits in the corner and misses a superkick. Cross leg sweeps Gargano followed by an elbow drop and a standing shooting star press for a two count. Cross avoids Gargano in the corner and hits a springboard double stomp to Gargano’s lower back for a near fall. Cross climbs to the top missing a moonsault and Gargano delivers a superkick. Gargano spikes Cross with the Uniquely You for the win. (**. The action never felt like it got out of first gear and I was surprised by how the match ended after not even ten minutes of action. It’s a good win fr Gargano, but it wasn’t an overly exciting way to kickoff the show.)
Second Contest: The Best Around (Bruce Maxwell & TJ Cannon) vs. The Gambino Brothers (Mickey & Marshall): Maxwell spears Mickeyl to kickoff the match followed by right hands. Maxwell kicks Mickey in the midsection. Maxwell continues with strikes, but is tripped. Cannon delivers a baseball slide dropkick. Mickey works over Cannon in the corner, but misses a splash. Cannon splashes Mickey in the corner after leaping off of Maxwell’s back. Marshall is taken out to the floor, as well. Gambino’s are sent into each other on the floor. Marshall is rolled back into the ring and misses a double clothesline. Cannon takes Mickey out with a suicide dive. Marshall clotheslines Maxwell and delivers a few strikes. Marshall chops Maxwell in the corner to maintain the advantage. Mickey enters and works over Maxwell with stomps on the mat followed by an elbow drop. Marshall returns to the match and stomps Maxwell in the corner. Marshall taunts Cannon on the apron and Mickey chokes Maxwell while the referee is distracted. Marshall chokes Maxwell and sends Maxwell into the corner chest first. Mickey continues to control Maxwell and tags in Marshall. Marshall chokes Maxwell over the middle rope and tags in Mickey. Marshall splashes Maxwell over the middle rope and delivers a strike. Mickey plants Maxwell with a back suplex for a two count. Marshall and Mickey double team Maxwell in the corner. Mickey forearms Maxwell in the corner, but Cannon gets the hot tag and double stomps Mickey followed by a standing moonsault for a two count. Cannon is caught by Marshall and Maxwell hits a springboard dropkick to knock Cannon onto Marshall. Mickey and Maxwell trade strikes until Maxwell puts Mickey on the middle rope. Marshall grabs Maxwell to deliver a backbreaker and Mickey hits an elbow drop to pickup the win. (**. Similar to the opening match they didn’t get a lot of time. I tend to enjoy the Best Around and they didn’t get much opportunity to shine here. It’s a decent match that just lacked time to truly get going.)
Third Contest: John McChesney vs. Ricky Reyes: Reyes takes McChesney down to the mat to gain control with a hammerlock. Reyes counters with a head scissors on the mat. McChesney puts a waist lock on Reyes, but Reyes quickly counters with a hammerlock. McChesney regains control with a hammerlock. Reyes counters with a wrist lock and switches to a headlock. Reyes shoulder blocks McChesney and gets a rollup for a two count. Reyes knee lifts McChesney and tries for a slam, but McChesney counters with a rollup. McChesney gets another rollup for a two count, but Reyes gets a two count with a body scissors on the mat. Reyes shoulder blocks McChesney, but McChesney dropkicks Reyes to the floor. McChesney hits a slingshot crossbody to the floor. McChesney runs into a forearm by Reyes. Reyes knee lifts McChesney coming off the ropes and keeps control with a stomp on the mat. Reyes hits a gut wrench suplex and knee drops McChesney on the back before locking in a sleeper hold. Reyes chops McChesney against the ropes, but misses a clothesline. McChesney head scissors Reyes to the mat, but Reyes regains control with a sleeper on the mat. McChesney manages to reach the ropes to break the hold. Reyes forearms McChesney into the corner. Reyes forearms McChesney in the corner leading to a near fall. Reyes puts a sleeper back on McChesney. McChesney tries to break free, but gets yanked down to the mat.
Reyes puts a body scissors on McChesney while putting a choke on McChesney in the middle of the ring, but doesn’t get a submission. McChesney prevents his arm from dropping three times. McChesney elbows Reyes and comes off the ropes, and hits a sunset flip. Reyes regains control with a sleeper on the mat again. McChesney elbows Reyes and shoulder blocks Reyes. Reyes nails McChesney with a spinning heel kick for a two count. Reyes kicks McChesney on the chest and delivers strikes in the corner. Reyes goes back to the sleeper in the middle of the ring. Reyes spikes McChesney with a brainbuster for a near fall. Reyes comes off the ropes to put another sleeper on McChesney. Reyes headbutts McChesney followed by a scoop slam. Reyes leaps off the middle rope, but is met with a boot to the face. McChesney nails Reyes with a jawbreaker and a superkick for a two count. McChesney chops Reyes in the corner and sits Reyes on the top turnbuckle. Reyes gets out of an electric chair driver to send McChesney into the corner, but misses a splash. McChesney nails Reyes with a missile dropkick for a two count. Reyes avoids a clothesline and tries for a German suplex, but McChesney reaches the ropes. Reyes hits a tiger suplex for a two count. McChesney chops and strikes Reyes a few times. Reyes forearms McChesney and delivers a jumping kick to the head. Reyes plants McChesney with a Splash Mountain powerbomb for a two count.
Reyes strikes McChesney against the ropes. McChesney tries for a tombstone, but Reyes counters with a tombstone and gets a near fall. Reyes waits in the corner as McChesney struggles to his feet. Reyes sits McChesney on the top turnbuckle, but McChesney strikes Reyes a few times. Reyes headbutts McChesney and tries for a superplex, but McChesney held onto the ropes and tossed Reyes to the mat. McChesney leaps off the top missing a frog splash, but rolls through. McChesney superkicks Reyes followed by the TKO. McChesney heads to the top rope hitting a frog splash to pickup the win. (***1/2. An enjoyable match that got a proper amount of time and a clean finish. Reyes continues to impress me each time I’ve seen him in a singles role in this era. It’s making me actively look at cards he’s on so that I can watch more of his stuff. A well done match that the crowd appreciated, too.) After the match, McChesney offers a handshake and Reyes accepts.
Originally, there was suppose to be a tag match where Samoa Joe teamed with Raymond Rowe to take on J-Rocc & Jason Bane. However, TNA pulled Joe due to a house show they had on the same day in Laredo, Texas. In case you’re wondering, Joe retained the TNA World Championship against Abyss. Rocc cuts a promo going over the history of the Cleveland Mafia that Raymond Rowe was once part of the group. Rocc admits that he’s always been about himself, but Rowe changed. Rocc considers Bane to be the baddest man on the planet. Rocc believes there story ends tonight and recalls the various injuries they both have had.
Fourth Contest: Raymond Rowe vs. Jason Bane: Rowe backs Bane into the corner, but Rowe counters and they back each other into the corner a few times. Rowe leg sweeps Bane and puts a waist lock on Bane before getting a sleeper for a moment. Bane snapmares Rowe and elbows free. Rowe forearms Bane and they trade strikes until Rowe hits an exploder suplex. Bane no sells it and tosses Rowe overhead with a suplex of his own and they have a standoff. Bane forearms Rowe through the ropes to the floor and sends Rowe into the ring post. Bane chops Rowe against the railing followed by an overhand strike. They trade a few chops on the floor. Bane rolls Rowe onto the apron to deliver another strike and an elbow smash to the chest. Bane forearms Rowe in the corner several times. Bane misses a splash in the corner. Rowe stomps Bane face first into the corner, but misses a running double knee strike attempt. Bane elbow drops Rowe on the left knee a few times. Bane chop blocks Rowe on the left knee. Rowe chops Bane away in the corner. Bane chops Rowe in the corner several times followed by a big boot. Bane covers for a two count. They trade forearm strikes until Bane gets the advantage. Bane tosses Rowe with an overhead suplex for a two count. Bane misses a clothesline and Rowe decks Bane with a clothesline.
They continue to trade forearms in the middle of the ring. Rowe forearms Bane into the ropes. Rowe forearms Bane staggering Bane to the mat. Rowe decks Bane with a short arm clothesline for a two count. Rowe hits a head and arm overhead suplex for a two count. Bane forearms Rowe before hitting a German suplex for a near fall. Rowe hits a dragon suplex and heads to the top rope missing a moonsault attempt. Bane shoulder rams Rowe in the corner and sits Rowe on the top turnbuckle. Bane tosses Rowe off the top with an overhead suplex for a near fall. Bane climbs to the top rope, but Rowe backdrops Bane off the top for a near fall. Rowe grabs J-Rocc at ringside. Bane clubs Rowe from behind, but Rowe knee strikes Bane into Rocc on the apron leading to a two count. Rowe forearms and chops Bane, but Bane plants Rowe with a weak looking powerbomb. Rowe running knee strikes Bane into the corner. Rowe hits the Chaos Theory German suplex to pin Bane for the win. (**. As the match went longer it appeared that Bane was gassed and couldn’t keep up with Rowe. The finish was impressive because Rowe hit the rolling German suplex with rather ease on a larger opponent. Rowe seems like he could be a future main event guy for IWC. For what it’s worth, this is the final appearance for Bane in IWC.) After the match, J-Rocc fires Bane and says that he saw what he wanted to see and welcomes Rowe back.
Fifth Contest: The Hollywood Balds (Jimmy DeMarco & Vendetta) vs. Jake Roberts & Michael Facade: DeMarco and Facade kickoff the tag match with DeMarco avoiding leg kick attempts by Facade. Roberts tags into the match and drops to his knees to mock DeMarco’s height. Roberts controls DeMarco with a wrist lock and lifts DeMarco up and down to the mat. Facade returns to the match and keeps wrist control. Facade strikes DeMarco several times. DeMarco shoulder blocks Facade and runs the ropes. DeMarco avoids Facade in the corner, but misses a clothesline and is kicked several times by Facade. DeMarco tries for a slam, but Facade avoids it. Vendetta helps from the apron allowing DeMarco to hit a snap suplex. Vendetta legally tags into the match and clubs Facade over the back. Facade hits a crossbody off the ropes for a two count. Roberts keeps a front face lock on Vendetta as Vendetta avoided a DDT attempt. Roberts tries for another DDT, but Vendetta bails to the floor to regroup. Roberts backs Vendetta into the corner and delivers an elbow strike. Facade returns to the match and kicks Vendetta on the mat. Facade gets a rollup on Vendetta for a two count. DeMarco kicks Facade from the apron and Vendetta keeps the advantage. DeMarco returns to the match legally and stands on Facade’s back over the bottom rope. Vendetta drops Facade over the top rope and DeMarco gets a near fall. Vendetta works over Facade, but Facade nails Vendetta with a spinning heel kick. Vendetta nails Facade with a clothesline for a two count. DeMarco tags back into the match and puts a sleeper on Facade. Facade elbows DeMarco followed by a jaw breaker and hits an STO. Roberts gets the tag and cleans house with strikes. Roberts nails DeMarco with a short arm clothesline. Facade hits a springboard heel kick to Vendetta. Roberts spikes Vendetta with a DDT and picks up the win. (*. It’s not a good match, and you get exactly what you’d expect from Roberts. Roberts can do very little and just needs to deliver his trademark DDT to make the fans happy.)
John McChesney comes out to the ring and appears to be pissed with Jake Roberts, who he’s had issues with earlier. Roberts isn’t allowed to have a snake in the venue due to McChesney. Roberts defeated McChesney earlier in the year to prevent McChesney from entering the Super Indy Tournament. Roberts and McChesney wrestle in two weeks.
Sixth Contest: CJ Sensation vs. Logan Shulo: They lockup with Shulo backing Sensation into a corner, but backs off cleanly. Sensation misses a chop and Shulo delivers a few of his own. Sensation avoids a strike and misses a clothesline. Shulo kicks Sensation and hits a standing crossbody. Shulo hip tosses Sensation to the floor. Shulo follows to the floor, but Sensation chops Shulo and hits a springboard somersault dive to the floor. Sensation heel kicks Shulo coming off the ropes for a two count. Sensation kicks Shulo over the back followed by a seated dropkick for a near fall. Sensation keeps control with a chin lock on the mat. Shulo comes off the ropes, but is met with a knee lift. Sensation chops Shulo against the ropes, but Shulo fights back with a bulldog. Shulo dropkicks Sensation coming off the ropes. Shulo knee lifts Sensation and drives Sensation to the mat gut first for a near fall. Sensation kicks Shulo, but is met with a powerslam. They trade forearms until Shulo gets the clear advantage. Shulo sits Sensation on the top turnbuckle. Sensation shoves Shulo off the middle rope. Shulo leaps to the top rope and takes Sensation off the top with a hurricanrana. Shulo covers managing a two count. Shulo sunset flips Sensation, but the referee kicks Sensation’s hands off the ropes leading to a near fall. Sensation argues with the referee. Shulo leaps over the referee to spear Sensation for another two count. Shulo tosses Sensation with a double under arm suplex for a near fall. Sensation tries to use the ropes for leverage, but Shulo kicks out. Shulo drops Sensation over his knee face first and picks up his first victory in his wrestling career. (*1/2. Logan Shulo would go on to be known as Elias in the WWE. This felt awkward and it’s very early in Logan’s career, which would explain the pacing and how the match came across. Shulo impressed with his vertical leap in the corner and showcased some entertaining offense.)
Seventh Contest: IWC Super Indy Champion Jerry Lynn vs. Super Hentai: They shake hands to kickoff the match. Lynn takes Hentai down with a headlock, but that doesn’t last long. Lynn sidesteps a dropkick and keeps a headlock on Hentai. Hentai forearms Lynn a few times in the ribs and delivers a shoulder block. Lynn goes back to a headlock in the middle of the ring. Lynn takes Hentai down to the mat and keeps arm control. Lynn controls Hentai with a top wrist lock, but they counter each other leading to Hentai sending Lynn through the ropes to the floor. Hentai holds the ropes to allow Lynn to re-enter the ring. Hentai puts a hammerlock on Lynn, but Lynn counters and tries for a slam, but Hentai breaks free. Hentai charges towards Lynn and they collide heads leading to Lynn falling through the ropes to the floor. Hentai holds the ropes a second time to let Lynn back into the ring. Hentai puts a headlock on Lynn for a moment. Lynn runs the ropes, but misses a leg drop attempt. Lynn sends Hentai through the ropes to the floor. Lynn holds the ropes, but Hentai refuses to accept Lynn’s sportsmanship. Lynn backs Hentai into a corner and delivers a forearm strike. Hentai knee strikes Lynn in the corner followed by a hurricanrana to send Lynn to the floor. Hentai springboards to the floor to take Lynn out with a crossbody on the floor. Hentai forearms Lynn on the floor before returning into the ring. Hentai avoids a leg drop over the middle rope. Hentai is crotched on the top rope and Lynn forearms Hentai. Lynn hits a hurricanrana off the top rope for a near fall.
Lynn rams Hentai into the corner and continues with a stomp. Lynn clotheslines Hentai into the corner and tries for a TKO, but Hentai avoids it. Hentai nearly wins with a rollup and clotheslines Lynn for a two count. Hentai uppercuts Lynn and continues with strikes in the corner. Lynn sunset flip powerbombs Hentai out of the corner for a near fall. Lynn tries for a cradle piledriver, but Hentai breaks free and hits a northern lights suplex. Lynn counters another suplex with an inside cradle for a two count. Hentai stops Lynn with a clothesline and climbs to the top rope hitting a splash for a near fall. Hentai climbs to the top rope missing a double knee splash. Lynn almost wins with a rollup. Lynn spikes Hentai with the cradle piledriver to pickup the win. (**. The crowd felt a bit lifeless for this one and Hentai didn’t feel like he was a viable contender to Lynn. It was a decent match with a disappointing crowd reaction to it. Lynn is a guy that I never feel bored watching and I can’t explain it.)
Babyface Fire cut a promo regarding the main event. Shiima Xion gives Sexual Harassment props for beating them and repeats the same promo from earlier, but the crowd groans at the homo comment. Eric Xtasy insults Xion about looking like a cat. Xtasy says the ladders are going up their asses.
Main Event: IWC Tag Team Champions Sexual Harassment (Eric Xtasy & Justin Idol) vs. Babyface Fire (Jason Gory & Shiima Xion) in a tables, ladders and chairs match: All four men are in the ring trading strikes. The champs miss splashes and are met with running strikes by the challengers. Xtasy is slammed to the mat and met with a double team dropkick. Gory dropkicks Idol in the corner. Idol sends Gory chest first into the corner while Xion sends Idol to the floor with a head scissors. Xtasy delivers a double clothesline and checks on Idol outside the ring. Xtasy is met with a double baseball slide dropkick. Babyface Fire attempt for stereo suicide dives, but they are both met with chair shots. Idol and Gory trade forearms on the floor as Xion has been busted wide open on the back of his head. Xtasy brings Xion to the middle rope, but Xtasy shoves Xion to the mat. Xtasy manages to nail Xion with a spear in midair. Xtasy pummels Gory with strikes and a shoulder block. Xtasy wedges the chair in the corner. Xtasy sends Gory head first into the chair. Xtasy headbutts Gory several times followed by a reverse DDT for a near fall. Xtasy sets a ladder up in the corner and Gory is sent back first into the ladder. Xtasy splashes Gory against the ladder as Xion finally gets to the apron. Idol splashes Gory for a two count. Xtasy pummels Xion on the mat with strikes. Xtasy tries for a powerbomb, but Babyface Fire deliver stereo chair shots to the champs. Babyface Fire go to opposite corners and hit Coast To Coast on the champs for a near fall.
Xion backdrops Idol onto the ladder and Gory moonsaults Idol for a near fall. Xion sets up a ladder near the ropes and grabs a second ladder to lean it against the original. Xtasy sends Xion to the floor and overhead suplexs Gory onto the leaning ladder. Xion dropkicks Xtasy and climbs the ladder, but Idol decks Xion from behind. Idol forearms Xion, but Xion hits a reverse hurricanrana off th eladder. Xion nails Idol with a running knee strike for a two count. Xion climbs to the top rope hitting the 630 splash, but Xtasy breaks the cover. Xion nails Xtasy with a ladder shot. Xion rams the ladder into Xtasy, but Idol kicks Xion. Xion hits Idol with the ladder and Gory drives both Xion and the ladder onto Idol. Xtasy puts the ladder around his head and spins around decking the challengers. Idol is nailed by the ladder as is the referee. Xion smashes Xtasy with a chair shot. Xion dives off the top to nail Xtasy with a crossbody on the floor. Gory is knocked off the ropes by Idol and lands onto Xtasy and Xion on the floor. Xion curb stomps Xtasy onto a chair and kicks another chair into Xtasy’s head. Xtasy drives Xion onto the chairs with a backbreaker. Idol and Gory are fighting on the ramp. Idol tries for a suplex, but Gory counters hitting a Code Red and both men are hurting.
Xtasy brings a table into the ring and sets it up near the corner. Xtasy knee lifts Xion and tries for a powerbomb, but Xtasy knee strikes Xion and lays Xion onto the table. Xtasy stands on the middle rope, but is stopped by Xion. Xtasy powerbombs Xion off the middle rope onto the table, but the table doesn’t break. Idol and Gory fight over the chair, and Idol is knocked onto the table. Idol puts Gory through the table with the Spirit Crusher and picks up the win to retain the titles. (***. It was a little bit disappointing. I’m not usually a fan of TLC matches being pin finishes. They had a few good spots, but the match lacked a true big time moment. They did mostly basic TLC spots, though the finish by Idol on Gory was a big move and a good finish. I think I expected a little bit more of a wild match and Babyface Fire to shine a lot more than they did.)
Final Thoughts:
McChesney/Reyes was a good match and the main event was solid. There’s a lot of average wrestling and the runtime is less than 2.5 hours. I’ll consider this an average wrestling show tilting towards a slight thumbs up.
Thanks for reading.