Csonka’s WWN Supershow Review 4.01.17

Csonka’s WWN: Mercury Rising Supershow Review 4.01.17

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Keith Lee defeated Jason Kincaid, Austin Theory & Gatekeeper McMassive @ 6:06 via pin [**½]
– SHINE Title Match: Champion LuFisto defeated Toni Storm @ 7:25 via pin [**¼]
– Ethan Page defeated Jimmy Havoc @ 10:30 via pin [**½]
– The SPPT defeated Catch Point @ 15:10 via pin [****]
– PROGRESS World Title Match: Champion Pete Dunne defeated ACH @ 18:40 via submission [***]
– EVOLVE Title Match: Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Mark Haskins @ 19:52 via submission [***]
– WWN Title – Elimination Match: Matt Riddle defeated Fred Yehi, Jon Davis, Parrow, Tracy Williams and Timothy Thatcher @ 28:06 via submission [***]

– Drew Galloway and Matt Riddle brawled to begin the show; Galloway catches Riddle with a piledriver, following up on the other night when he piledrove him through a table. Catch Point comes out to make the save, and then Keith Lee appears for his match. Galloway then tried to recruit Keith Lee to join his cause, but Lee was disinclined to acquiesce to his request; hit the spirit bomb, jackhammer and moonsault, fucking him up so badly he thought he was Drew McIntyre once again…

Well hey @GallowaySpeaks… pic.twitter.com/7UqKNYiY9R

— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) April 2, 2017

Keith Lee vs. Jason Kincaid vs. Austin Theory vs. Gatekeeper McMassive: Thatcher was supposed to be in this, but Stokley pulled him since he got him in the main event. Darby Allin then came out to take his spot, even though he wasn’t medically cleared and collapsed. McMassive of the Gatekeepers took his spot. McMassive quickly tossed Theory, Kincaid sat in the corner and eventually helped Theory try, and fail, to work over Lee. McMassive and Lee then did little man things that they shouldn’t be able to do at their size. Theory hit suicide dives, but Lee then caught him and posted him. Black hole slam by McMassive in the ring, Lee then beat on Theory in the corner, and then planted him with a chokeslam. Lee and McMassive faced of and traded strikes Lee then hit the spirit bomb and ground zero for the win. Keith Lee defeated Jason Kincaid, Austin Theory & Gatekeeper McMassive @ 6:06 via pin [**½] This was a solid opener, serving as a showcase for Lee, which I am good with because he kicks ass. Lee reiterated that EVOLVE was his home and that he’s running this place.

SHINE Title Match: Champion LuFisto vs. Toni Storm: Su Yung reportedly no showed or was reportedly fired, so she’s out. All I know is some shit went down. But fuck it, we got Toni Storm; LuFisto ran down Yung and issued an open challenge, enter Toni Storm. Toni attacked right away, sent LuFisto to the floor and hit a suicide dive leading to a brawl on the floor, with LuFisto posting Toni. They fought back into the ring; LuFisto worked the head for a bit until Toni fired up with strikes and kicks but LuFisto cut her off, hitting a curb stomp. Toni started to put some sustained offense together, but LuFisto slammed her to the corner and hit the cannonball and face wash for the near fall. Toni escaped the burning hammer; hit the snap German suplex and running kick for 2. Toni again fought back, but LuFisto cut her off, hit the burning hammer and retained. Champion LuFisto defeated Toni Storm @ 7:25 via pin [**¼]Solid match as they made the best of things and Storm was more than a suitable replacement. I’d like to see a rematch at some point, where they actually have some time to lay things out and such.

Ethan Page vs. Jimmy Havoc: They brawled to the floor right away. It was fine, but considering the previous match started the same way, they really should have done something else. As they brawled into the crowd, Havoc took a selfie with a fan as he beat on Page. They then fought to the gimmick tables and further to the back; it was difficult to see due to the lack lighting in the crowd. They brawled back to ringside; Havoc hit a superkick, a running kick and then stole a beer from a fan. Back in, Havoc was distracted by a gatekeeper and ate RKEGO for a near fall. Havoc countered iconoclasm with a head scissors, and the lung blower got 2. They traded strikes, and then kicks. They worked a series of counters around their finishes; Havoc hit a double stomp for a near fall. The Keepers distracted Havoc, who ate the spinning Dwayne for the loss. Ethan Page defeated Jimmy Havoc @ 10:30 via pin [**½] This, unfortunately, felt flat and lifeless; the distraction finish did it no favors either.

– Post match, Page cut a promo and then said Progress can kiss his ass; Darby Allin arrived with a pipe and helped Havoc fight off Page and the Keepers. Looks like havoc found his American son.

Catch Point (Chris Dickinson and Jaka) vs. SPPT (Travis Banks and TK Cooper): The SPPT had an awesome match on the Progress show against Callihan and Strickland. Nice opening stretch, mixing styles and presenting both teams as evenly matched. Dickinson was just lighting people up with no regard for their health; in fact, he beat on Cooper like he owed him money. They’re doing a nice job of keeping things moving, working quick tags and keeping the pacing high as Jaka and Dickinson work the heat and continue to beat on Cooper. Cooper finally managed to make the tag, and Banks hit the ring and ran wild, slamming Jaka into Dickinson. Banks actually picked up the pace even more here, working a great hot tag leading to things breaking down and everyone in brawling; Banks hit a dive and then Cooper went up top and wiped out the pile with a twisting press to the floor. Just when you thought they couldn’t turn up the volume anymore, they keep escalating the action and we work into a quadruple down with the crowd being the hottest it’s been all night. Jaka and Dickinson work some great double teams. They hit the powerbomb/splash combo platter, but only get 2. Cooper returns, runs wild to make the save for Banks. The SPPT lays into Jaka with superkicks, but Dickinson Germans both at the same time. Banks makes the comeback, hits the springboard 450 on Dickinson, but he kicks out at one to a HUGE pop. The SPPT hit double superkicks into the assisted spike DDT for the win. The SPPT defeated Catch Point @ 15:10 via pin [****] I really hope that EVOLVE can get some dates with the SPPT down the line, they were great this weekend and I need them in my life more. This was their second awesome tag match (that I saw) this weekend, and they likely earned themselves a lot of new fans (and possible bookings) with their great efforts.

– It was announced that Drew Galloway opted to go to NXT and bail suffered a rib injury and was out of the main event.

PROGRESS World Title Match: Champion Pete Dunne vs. ACH: ACH tried to use his speed early, but Dunne dragged him to he matt and tried to rip off his arm and or fingers. They picked up the pace, working some flashier exchanges and played around a bit. Everyone was all smiles and friendly, but Dunne attacked and then slammed ACH to the apron. Back in, ACH kept fighting back and worked the Muta lock. Dunne escaped, and hit the Ode to Paul (Pedigree) for the near fall. Dunne again attacked the arm of ACH and then worked fish hooks while looking for the surfboard. ACH then attacked the fingers of Dunne for some payback; hit a RANA and then the PK from the apron. Back in, Dunne avoided the high cross, but hit the neck breaker for 2. Dunne’s such a dick he puts his hands behind his back and challenges ACH to hit him, he does a few times and Dunne shakes it off and just fucking levels him; “NO PUNCHES FOR YOU FLIPPY BOY!” ACH put together some rapid-fire offense, they battled up top and Dunne fought off the sunset bomb as they dropped to the mat and exchanged kicks before Dunne decapitates ACH with a lariat and then hits a tombstone for the near fall. ACH then hit the slingshot cutter and air raid crash for 2. Dunne hits ACH as he flew in with an uppercut and that led to the near fall; Dunne then locked in the Regal stretch, but ACH managed to escape. Dunne tried to use the ref as a shield, but ACH hit a lariat and brainbuster for the near fall. ACH then missed the 450, and Dunne locked in the Regal stretch for the win. Champion Pete Dunne defeated ACH @ 18:40 via submission [***] Good match overall, ACH had some good flashes and near falls, but I feel that this would have been a better and tighter match with 2-3 minutes cut off; they didn’t need almost 19-minutes to tell the story they did here. Rough weekend for ACH, failing to win the EVOLVE title and now the Progress title.

EVOLVE Title Match: Champion Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Mark Haskins: As you would expect, Zack took it to the ground and tried to out grapple Haskins. This led to a lot of mat work early, with Zack largely controlling. Haskins looked to work the arm, but Zack quickly escaped that. Haskins attacked with the dropkick, and worked kicks to the legs and then attacked the knee of Zack. Haskins made the knee the focus of his attack, completely grounding Zack. They then picked up the action, working into a striking exchange, and then Haskins cutting off Zack and working the crossface. Haskins then hit a DVD for a near fall. Haskins laid in a series of kicks, Zack easily escaped, worked into the octopus but Haskins escaped into a roll up for 2. Zack rolls into an arm bar attempt, but Haskins hits cradle to the grave for a near fall. Zack then hit the OK, they picked up the pace and Zack fights of the sharp shooter, and locks in the triangle choke; Haskins fights, but Zack transitions into the ode to Breaks and Haskins has to submit. Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Mark Haskins @ 19:52 via submission [***] This was a good, but disappointing match. Technically, the work was good, but the crowd was apathetic most of the time, and the knee work went nowhere, and in the end came across as busy work; it simply lacked a reason to become emotionally invested, and they never made me believe that Haskins could win. Both are capable of so much more. Like ACH, Haskins had a rough weekend, losing his two attempts to win titles.

WWN Title – Elimination Match: Fred Yehi vs. Jon Davis vs. Matt Riddle vs. Parrow vs. Tracy Williams vs. Timothy Thatcher: They all brawled at the bell, with guys pairing off and Parrow being sent to the floor. Williams and Thatcher brawled to the floor, Yehi, Williams and Riddle stood together against Thatcher, Davis and Parrow. Thatcher then bailed and Parrow then hit a sitout tombstone on Riddle, Thatcher then choked out Parrow as the others attacked the big man, leading to Parrow’s elimination. I love that they all ganged up on the big guy to get rid of him. Davis and Thatcher reluctantly stood together to battle Catch Point, Davis wiped out Williams with a pounce as Thatcher and Yehi paired off. Yehi fired up with strikes and stomps on Thatcher, hits the elbow, jawbreaker and a neck breaker for a near fall. Williams back in and attacks Davis, but gets tossed to the floor. Yehi attacks Davis with strikes, but eats a buckle bomb and spine buster for a near fall. It broke down, Thatcher worked the choke on riddle, Williams & Yehi made the save and Riddle hit the tombstone, Williams hit a brain buster and then tapped Thatcher with the cross face. Catch Point seemingly agreed to focus on taking out Davis; Davis manned up and tried to attack but the numbers game got to him. he fought back and looked to use his power, hit an STJoe in the corner and then powerbombed Yehi onto Williams. He fought off bro to sleep and hit three seconds around the world but Riddle survived. Riddle fought back with the up kick, Williams and Yehi also attacked, bro to sleep by Riddle and then Catch Point worked the triple submission and Davis is out. Yehi and Williams then worked together, attacking the weakened Riddle. Riddle fired up and started to fight off both until Yehi hit a series of Germans. Williams then hit the Angle slam, Yehi hit a fisherman’s buster and Riddle is down. Williams is pleased, and then gets the sneaky roll up to eliminate Yehi. Williams then quickly attacked riddle, focusing on the neck and then telling Riddle that it WAS now personal. They traded strikes, Riddle hit the up kick, but missed the corner charge, but then hit bro to sleep and the German, but couldn’t hold the bridge , due to his neck. Riddle then laid in kicks and uppercuts, they battled up top but Williams fought him off and hit the DDT to the buckles. Riddle hit a desperation fisherman’s buster for the double down. Williams side steps the springboard knee and spikes Riddle with a DDT and transitions into the crossface. Riddle fights, but Williams transitions into the piledriver for 2. Riddle looks to be next to death, escapes a second piledriver but Williams drops back into the crossface but Riddle manages to get the ropes. Williams stomps on the neck once again, lays in elbow strikes and then locks in the crossface one more time. Thy trade one last flurry, Riddle locks in the triangle in the ropes. He has to release it, heads up top and Williams hits a super butterfly superplex for the near fall. Riddle counters the crossface, locks in the desperation bromission and Williams taps. Matt Riddle defeated Fred Yehi, Jon Davis, Parrow, Tracy Williams and Timothy Thatcher @ 28:06 via submission [***] Riddle was the right winner, he had unofficially been the face on WWNLive, and now officially takes that title. Williams was positioned strongly here, and will make for an immediate contender, which also plays into the issues that Catch Point has been having; on top of that, Williams was a manipulating, self serving asshole in this match, obviously using catch Point to try and walk away with the title, which could also lead to some interesting things in the future. This was a good main event to cap off the WWN Supershow, but was missing that special something, and got too repetitive at the end, to make it the great match I am sure that they wanted. It just kept going and going, and sometimes when you do that, instead of building drama, you get diminishing returns. That’s what happened here, as they tried too hard to make Riddle Superman, but they didn’t have to do that, because their fan base already loves him and looks at him that way.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”