Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling presents Third Anniversary Show
Date: 2/19/2005
From: Philadelphia, PA
For what it is worth, the crowd is looking a bit smaller than they had been drawing months previous.
MATCH #1: DAMIAN ADAMS VS. AMISH ROADKILL
FINISH: Roadkill hits a TKO and a top rope splash to win the match.
Bob’s Take: Roadkill was a cult a favorite in ECW, but I’m not sure it translates as being a bigger act on the indies in the mid-2000s. From an outsider perspective, I don’t think many people would really understand or get behind the Roadkill character. Monsta Mack is at ringside and he naturally helps Adams get control early in the bout. Roadkill withstands the basic offense by Adams to deliver a side slam and a side walk slam. Adams survives a middle rope splash and Mack entered to powerslam Roadkill while the referee was out of position. Roadkill cleanly prevails over Adams despite the interference less than a minute after Mack got involved again. Not the kind of opener that is going to pop the crowd with excitement, but Roadkill seems to be a top face for 3PW, so that works well for them, I guess.
Match Rating: *1/2
MATCH #2: MIKE KRUEL VS. MATT STRIKER
NOTE: Striker continues his impression gimmick and he’s doing Hollywood Hogan this month. Striker hadn’t been here since November. Striker cuts a promo as Hogan and calls Kruel Sal Bellomo. Striker is quite entertaining.
FINISH: Kruel avoids a leg drop and pins Striker with a rollup.
Bob’s Take: Striker’s ability to do this impression as Hogan is honestly fantastic. Striker is even doing the sounds of Hogan selling. This is a comedy match in all aspects as the referee accidentally does a double clothesline for Kruel. The referee scoop slams Striker at one point. Kruel delivered two top rope elbow drops, but Striker hulks up. The finish was a bit flat, but this had some fine comedy from Striker.
Match Rating: NR
Commissioner Bill Apter comes out to cut a promo and says the fourth year of 3PW is going to be incredible. Apter says he’s getting an executive assistant named Michael Freedom. Apter says an executive assistant doesn’t dress the way he does, which is just a shirt and jeans. Freedom is from England, and he’s acting like a heel. Apter notes that he will not be here next month as he’ll be in the United Kingdom and Freedom will be in charge. Apter brings out the number one contender for the 3PW Heavyweight Championship, Slyck Wagner Brown. Brown has a ladder with him and says he’s going to climb his way up to the top of the company when he pins Christopher Daniels to win the title. Brown is going to celebrate just like the Patriots did when they beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl. Slyck says he’ll be known as “golden Slyck Wagner Brown” when he wins the title. April Hunter comes out to join the segment. Hunter asks if Slyck has forgotten about her and she says that she helped him. Hunter tells Slyck that he owes her and she wants a title shot, too. Hunter wants a fair shot at the title and she knows things about Slyck that nobody knows. Apter books Hunter in a singles match against Blue Meanie where if she wins then she gets a title shot. Meanie doesn’t want to hit a woman. Hunter taunts Meanie suggesting he’s a chicken. Apter will fine Meanie $5,000, and Meanie is forced to compete.
MATCH #3: APRIL HUNTER VS. THE BLUE MEANIE
FINISH: Hunter avoided an elbow drop and locked in the Crossface to win the match by submission. After the match, Meanie and Hunter shake hands.
Bob’s Take: Meanie tried to make Hunter pin him quickly, but Apter stopped that and wanted a legit match. A bit of a basic match for the most part. Meanie slams Hunter out of the corner, but missed a middle rope elbow drop. Hunter quickly put the Crossface on Meanie to force the submission.
Match Rating: *
Slyck Wagner Brown enters the ring and he’s pissed about April Hunter getting a title shot. Apter reminds Brown that Hunter had to pin her opponent to get a title shot, but she didn’t do that and instead won by submission. Apter says that she doesn’t get the title shot. If this is a slow build to Hunter getting a title shot then is something I can get behind.
Simon Diamond comes out to cut a promo and says he has a surprise. Diamond says that he needs a coach and some direction because he has so much ability. Diamond has found a genius and someone who will lead him to the top. Diamond introduces Talia (eventually known as Velvet Sky in TNA years later).
MATCH #4: SIMON DIAMOND VS. AJ STYLES
FINISH: Styles is able to pin Diamond with a cradle. After the match, Diamond offers a handshake and Styles accepts.
Bob’s Take: A slow start to the match focusing on mat wrestling. Styles gets the advantage delivering his trademark mat moves including a knee drop. Diamond responds with a clothesline to cutoff Styles momentum. Diamond delivers a couple of great looking punches to counter a tornado DDT attempt. Styles kicks Diamond to gain the advantage. Styles clotheslines Diamond followed by a spin kick and a brainbuster for a near fall. Diamond battles back with a discus punch and the Simon Series, but Styles fought free to drop Diamond over his knee. Late in the match, Talia tries to get involved, but Styles stops because her groin smells bad as he went for the Styles Clash. Diamond superkicks Styles for a near win. Styles not hitting the move because Talia smelled bad was a bit funny. The finish is a bit flat with another rollup. Why can’t these guys just win with their finishers? It’s an average match overall, not too bad for the most part.
Match Rating: **1/4
Prior to the next match, Rob Eckos cuts a promo thinking O’Doyle sucks. Eckos promotes the match as being a no holds barred match and he’s going to end O’Doyle’s career tonight.
MATCH #5: ROB ECKOS VS. CJ O’DOYLE — ANYTHING GOES
FINISH: O’Doyle wins following a top rope leg drop.
Bob’s Take: It doesn’t take long for the action to go to the outside where O’Doyle beats on Eckos. Eckos gets some strikes in, but it’s just basic brawling around ringside. O’Doyle backdrops Eckos into the crowd and they brawled into the audience and merch area. O’Doyle sends Eckos into the wall, but again, it’s mostly just basic brawling spots. They brawled into the bleachers where O’Doyle rammed Eckos into a chair being held by a fan. Eckos tosses a trash can into O’Doyle’s face. Interestingly, the audience doesn’t follow much of their brawling in the crowd, which might be a sign that they just don’t care about these two. Eckos throws a chair into another chair into O’Doyle’s face. O’Doyle tosses Eckos overhead to fight back. Eckos nails O’Doyle with a side Russian leg sweep and a superkick, but O’Doyle refused to stay down. O’Doyle drop toe holds Eckos into a chair in the corner and hit a cutter. The finish is fine, but this is a lackluster anything goes match. The crowd didn’t seem to care too much and thus this felt like the thirteen minutes of action dragged on a bit.
Match Rating: **
Prior to the next match, Monsta Mack suggests that Mike Kruel give up the tag titles. Mike Kruel comes out to join the segment. Mack notes that Kruel’s manager and tag partner are not there, which are Gary Wolfe and Jasmine St. Claire. Kruel goes right after them anyway.
MATCH #6: DAMIAN ADAMS & MONSTA MACK VS. MIKE KRUEL & SIMON DIAMOND — VACANT 3PW TAG TEAM TITLES
FINISH: Simon Diamond, who was not in the match, hit Mack with a superkick to win the match and titles. After the match, Mack grabs a microphone and he’s confused. Talia gets a contract and shows them that is legal.
Bob’s Take: Kruel started off taking on both Adams and Mack on his own. Mack gains control fairly quickly to work over Kruel for a bit. Mack misses a frog splash off the top. Talia comes out at one point to watch the match. Kruel hits a bulldog/clothesline combo. Kruel almost wins after a top rope elbow drop on Adams, but Mack returned to the rind and delivered a clothesline. Late in the match, Diamond got involved, which would explain Talia coming out. Diamond winning in this manner makes sense to put him over as a heel. I’m not entirely sure if this is a heel thing or Diamond is face now? Anyway, Kruel did a good job when he was playing the face in peril.
Match Rating: *1/2
Rockin’ Rebel cuts a promo about the Eagles losing and thinks that is why the fans are mad. Rebel notes that Jack Victory isn’t there and is busy looking at tits. Rebel rips on a fan in the crowd. Matt Striker comes out doing a Hulk Hogan impression. Yes, Striker is now doing the face Hogan impression.
MATCH #7: MATT STRIKER VS. ROCKIN’ REBEL
FINISH: Striker slams Rebel and hits the leg drop to win the match.
Bob’s Take: Rebel tries to play the Sheik role early on, but Striker powers up. Striker puts the cobra clutch on himself, which is a bit hilarious. The crowd loves Striker, which is the only act on the show to get a strong reception. This is again just complete comedy, but done fairly well.
Match Rating: NR
MAIN EVENT: 3PW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION CHRISTOPHER DANIELS VS. SLYCK WAGNER BROW
FINISH: Late in the match, April Hunter hits Daniels with the championship over the back allowing Slyck to hit the Appreciation Bomb to win the title.
Bob’s Take: Early on, it’s a focus on mat wrestling between these two as they are feeling each other out. Daniels gets the first extended period of offense on Slyck working on his back for a bit that included a delayed vertical suplex. Daniels takes Brown out with a dangerous looking somersault dive over the ropes to the floor into the guard railing, a major spot in the match. Brown fought back with a slingshot leg drop onto the apron. Brown returned the delayed vertical suplex to drive Daniels down to the mat. Daniels drops Slyck with an STO. Daniels continues with a flurry of moves, but Brown recovers to hit a leaping neckbreaker. Brown hit a leg lariat, but Daniels quickly responds with a slam. Of course, there’s referee bump that prevents Daniels from winning with a rollup. Brown delivered a full nelson backbreaker. Slyck tries to use the championship, but April Hunter stops Slyck and gets in the ring after there was a double clothesline. Brown blocks Hunter’s attempt and Daniels hit the STO again on Slyck. This was just a swerve to keep Hunter and Slyck aligned. Well, the crowd didn’t seem to like the finish, but the action was good, and by far the best match on the card.
Match Rating: ***
Final Thoughts:
This is a miserable overall 3PW show. The main event is good, but it’s not a show saver by any means. I would have been far more interested in a April Hunter vs. Brown feud for the title, and they could still go that route since she helped him and she could use that in her eventual quest. Anyway, this show gets an easy thumbs down. Only bright spots were the main event and Striker doing his impressions.
Thanks for reading.