American Legion Post #309
Reseda, CA
May 27th, 2009
PWG World Champion: Chris Hero (Since 7/6/2008)
PWG World Tag Team Champions: The Young Bucks (Since 8/31/2008)
WARNING: As I’ve noted in the past, sometimes you’re forced to talk about bad people in this industry when you’re doing a project like this. And sometimes those people are worse than most. While you may see moments of praise or positivity in reviews such as these, please understand it is not an endorsement of the particular person(s) or their actions. I’ve been guilty of not notating this in the past, but knowing who’s on this show made me feel like I should bring it up at the get-go.
To start the show, Excalibur is in the ring with Paul London and Bryan Danielson. In words that only Paul London can deliver, he admits to having an injury and being unable to compete in tonight’s tournament. He seems legit bummed by it. He also notes that it is his partner in the Hybrid Dolphins, Bryan Danielson’s, birthday. So he has some gifts for him. First, it’s a special ring robe he had made for their team. Then, it’s a Dean Malenko action figure because Bryan applied to the Malenko academy camp when he was younger but didn’t get in. Then it’s a copy of the Four Horsemen DVD (a top 3 WWE DVD ever, FWIW). Then it’s a Shawn Michaels action figure. Then it’s a piece of cake that Bryan “may not want to eat”. He also asks for Chris Hero to come out. Hero comes out with the PWG Title and says that this belt means the world to him so he cannot take part in tonight’s tournament, and in speaking to his opponent, Roddy Strong has volunteered to tag with Bryan in Paul’s place. Hero will give Roddy his shot at another time I suppose and Hero announces an open challenge for his title later tonight. London then calls Roddy out to the ring. In the interim, Excalibur announces that one of the members of Los Luchas is also hurt and not here, so they are being replaced in the tournament by Dark and Lovely (Scorpio & Tornado) who will face Men of Low Moral Fiber (Omega & Taylor) in the first round. London welcomes Roddy to “the hive” with him and Bryan and does a stupid little ceremony to award him a Killer Bees mask. Suddenly, Joey Ryan and Scott Lost attack Bryan and Roddy to start their match.
Match #1: Hybrid Dolphins (Danielson/Strong) vs. The Dynasty (Ryan/Lost) [DDT4 Quarter Finals Match]
This wasn’t bad. Dynasty did a lot of really solid work on an isolated Danielson, who sold so fucking well. Roddy’s got so much fire here. Like I’m not implying his work the last 5-6 years hasn’t been great or anything. But god damn 2000’s Roddy hits different man. Super fun run building up to the finish where Danielson and Strong really start fighting back. Dynasty try their cheap shit but the Dolphins overcome it. Roddy hits End of Heartache on Lost before locking him in the Walls and Danielson does an AWESOME cut off spot on Ryan and traps him in a seamlessly done cattle mutilation and both Lost and Ryan tap at the same time. Good fun and a great opener to set the pace.
***
After a break, Excalibur is back in the ring. He says that Roddy was supposed to have another partner before teaming with Bryan (Oh I guess I totally misheard the opening segment then. So why did Hero make it seem like Roddy’s choice left him without an opponent? How high is everyone at this show?), but now that they’re together, there’s only seven teams, so the Motor City Machine Guns will receive an automatic bye to the second round. Crowd boo’s this and rightfully so.
Match #2: Men of Low Moral Fiber (Omega/Taylor) vs. Dark & Lovely (Tornado/Scorpio) [DDT4 Quarter Finals Match]
This is fun but there’s some stuff in it, mostly from Omega, that is very much not for me. Just some of his goofier mannerisms and video game shit that I’ve never been able to get behind. But whatever. D&L are a super fun team that I never knew I needed to see more of until now, and they make great foils for MLMF. MLMF are working through their own shit I guess, unless this is just their gimmick, because they have some miscommunication before they get into a shoving match and eventually a CAT FIGHT! CAAAAAT FIIIIIGHT! D&L have to break it up and take them to separate corners but then it’s revealed as a ruse as Omega & Chuck cheapshot them instead. See, that’s great. This opens up the really good control seg MLMF have on their opponents. Super good finishing run. Tornado blocks an Enzuiguri by Omega with a PIMP SLAP, my god, and as he goes to the floor Scorp meets him with a big dive! Scorp goes to get back in the ring, BUT NOW OMEGA STOPS HIM WITH A RELEASE GERMAN SUPLEX THROUGH AN ENTIRE ROW OF CHAIRS. GOD YES. Omega hits Tornado with Croyts Wrath and Chuck follows up with the Awful Waffle, and MOLMF advance!
***1/4
So the Young Bucks have vowed to defend the Tag Titles throughout the tournament.
Match #3: The Young Bucks (c) vs. The Cutler Bros [DDT4 Quarter Finals Match] [PWG World Tag Team Championships]
Had no idea there was a second Cutler. Also weird seeing Brandon with a ton of hair. This was kinda stinky, but to no fault of theirs. Brandon just isn’t good and his brother isn’t much better. So of course they have an overly long control seg because the Bucks are their friends. Ugh. Bucks win with More Bang For Your Buck.
**
Match #4: Phoenix Star vs. Malachi Jackson
Never had any idea there was a third Young Buck. But like 30 seconds into the match I can see why: it is because he is not good. There is not a shred of anything even resembling a passable wrestler here. This is borderline offensive to me, a fan of good wrestling. I see at one point on the indies, his name was CK Jackson, and I would say there is a non zero chance that during the last 18 months, the Young Bucks thought about bringing him into AEW as CK Punk. Or CK Funk. And had to be talked out of it. Because they’re stupid man babies. Oh. Yeah Phoenix Star wins with an Olimpico Slam. Ok.
3/4*
Match #5: The Young Bucks (c) vs. Men of Low Moral Fiber [DDT4 Semi Finals Match] [PWG World Tag Team Championships]
This was REALLY good. Both teams had a ton of fire coming out of the gate and it was super entertaining to watch. Even though (I think) MLMF are supposed to be heels and the Bucks faces, the crowd is really seemingly turning on the Bucks in this match. I don’t think it’s necessarily anything that is meant to turn MLMF, but I would fully believe if someone told me this was engineered as a deliberate turn for the Bucks, because they lean in to the pitch so well, just these nasty, little snot nosed pieces of shit. The Bucks both go through periods of getting isolated by MLMF and while MLMF aren’t the most polished team together, it’s two good-very good singles wrestlers so it’s at least coherent when they’re cutting the ring in half and establishing a flow early. The crowd REALLY gets hot for the finishing run, as MLMF keep throwing everything they have in their arsenal at the Bucks and just cannot put them away, getting 2.999 count after 2.999 count, again and again. The Bucks fight back and the crowd is already angry, knowing what’s coming. They get Chuck off the apron and take down Omega before hitting More Bang For Your Buck to win.
***1/2
Crowd HATES this, with one dude turning to the camera and violently flipping it off. Chants of “bullshit” and “FUCK THE YOUNG BUCKS” fill the Hall in Reseda.
Match #6: Hybrid Dolphins vs. Motor City Machine Guns [DDT4 Semi Finals Match]
This was awesome. It does go on maybe a bit too long, and I get that’s probably not ideal for a match in Reseda (maybe? I honestly don’t know), but I’m fine with it. Roddy & Shelley start off with a great exchange that leads to MCMG having an awesome, elongated control segment on Roddy, who is a great face in peril. Great in and out offense by the Guns, who keep Roddy isolated in their corner. One slip up by Shelley allows Roddy to get an early hot tag to Danielson, and they work it so smart by reverting from your normal hot tag expectations and going into mat work on Shelley that keeps him isolated now, in a complete role reversal. And it’s just a treat seeing Danielson and Shelley mat wrestle each other at a more seasoned pace than their already awesome encounter at the 2004 TPI. Match breaks down when Sabin gets his hot tag and all four men are throwing it all out there with some crazy flips and dives. Crowd is eating it up. Finishing run felt like it would never end but FINALLY Danielson catches Sabin with a nasty looking Triangle Choke and gets the win!
***1/2
MCMG get a standing ovation post match.
Joey Ryan is in the ring after a break, and he’s still steamed about losing the tag match earlier, so he’s accepting Hero’s open challenge for the belt.
Match #7: Chris Hero (c) vs. Joey Ryan [PWG World Championship]
Candice LeRae is at ringside with Chris Hero, and they WON’T. BACK. DOWN. (A bit for maybe like 2-3 people who maybe don’t even read this.) Chuck Taylor has joined Excalibur on commentary and uh…yeah. I’m not going to quote any of it. The match is a FIGHT though, and these guys are striking each other as hard as shit to kick things off. Kind of goes like this for a bit. Joey takes control after he hits a superkick on Hero, sending him off the apron and causing him to take a nasty flat back bump to the floor. Joey then smartly works the back of Hero. Hero sells great as the work continues and his only shot of moving Joey out of it is by goading him in to another slugfest and it again is very good. Hero has another just insane bump on to the floor when he fucked up leaping up to the top right and took a tumble down so he could sell the back more. The sort of work ethic that only the genius possess and the insane lament. Joey takes over from here and seemingly has it wrapped up, but his bravado gets the best of him. He tries to steal Hero’s rolling elbow to end it but it’s nowhere near enough to do the deal and it just pisses Hero off, who then launches his own roaring elbow that takes Joey’s head clear off, and that ends it. Hero retains.
***1/4
Post match, the crowd is booing Hero now too. Interesting. Hero takes the mic and gives the typical champion/Ace promo but says he noticed some cheers and some boos tonight. He puts over Joey Ryan’s effort as well as his past as PWG Champ but says that the reason Joey’s reign only lasted 10 months is because he lacks toughness, and he slaps Joey across the face. Joey picks up the belt and is the bigger man and puts Hero over and shakes his hand. He goes to hand him the belt but instead NAILS HIM with a shot to head with the belt before throwing it down and leaving.
Match #8: The Young Bucks (c) vs. Hybrid Dolphins [DDT4 Finals] [PWG World Tag Team Championships]
The Bucks again do great at leaning into being smarmy pieces of shit. And the Dolphins ain’t letting that fly, and they beat the absolute fuck out of them. The Bucks die on everything. It’s so great. Perfect culmination of the tournament IF this was the intended result. The Bucks try to fight back on the striking front and there’s no chance that’s happening and the crowd eats it up. AGAIN, if this is the intended result, it’s great! AND THEN they try to take Danielson and Roddy to the mat, but they get outmatched there as well, AND I AGAIN YELL FROM THE MOUNTAINTOPS, IF THAT WAS THE INTENDED RESULT, IT’S GREAT! But then all good will is thrown out the door as, the longer this goes on, the more it becomes evident that the Bucks are DETERMINED to make themselves the babyfaces in this, and it’s backfiring because Danielson and Roddy are just a complete mismatch for them, and the crowd is cheering their brutality. More things change, eh? The Bucks do manage to get some semblance of a good, fiery babyface finishing run going at the end, and they win the tourney with More Bang For Your Buck.
***1/2
Post match, Danielson grabs the mic and says he does not like the Young Bucks, and it sounds like the crowd doesn’t either. And he can’t blame them. They’ve got stupid 1990’s haircuts, their gear is a rip off of the Rockers and they’re no Shawn Michaels because he knows Shawn Michaels. He does NOT LIKE the Young Bucks…but after tonight, he damn sure RESPECTS the Young Bucks, and he shakes their hands, and so does Roddy. Crowd is mostly back on cheering and showing respect to the Bucks tourney win/title retention.
The more things change…
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