Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Scenic City Invitational 2015 – Night 1

What is the Scenic City Invitational? Read about it here!

Scenic City Invitational First Round Match
Corey Hollis vs. Joey Lynch

While this match had some distinct positives, the negatives outweighed it for me and made it an ominous start to the tournament. Let’s start with the good things. Hollis and Lynch displayed strong technical skill and mechanics. I already knew Hollis was someone capable of delivering greatness, but he managed to carry himself in the ring like he was a bigger deal than just another southern guy. Lynch also impressed me on a mechanical level. Unfortunately, I don’t think they took advantage of their skill to deliver a compelling match.

I liked the idea of Hollis controlling the majority of the match with Lynch coming close to making a comeback a few times. However, it just went too long and lost me long before the finish. Even if they did not lose me though, I would have been so annoyed by the finish that I would not have cared much how good the rest of the match had been.

First, Hollis pushed the referee away while stuck in a submission. He did this so he could tap out and make Lynch drop the hold. The ref of course missed that though. Then Hollis low-blowed Lynch before connecting on a superkick for the win. A screwy finish like that is just not a fun way to start a show or tournament (even if it’s paid off well later in the tournament). (**)

Scenic City Invitational First Round Match
Ace Rockwell vs. Mark Vandy

This was not a particularly exciting or interesting match. However, the simplicity of story was enough to make it solid. Rockwell was the local favorite. Vandy controlled the majority of the. Rockwell teased the Ace Crusher a bit. He finally hit it and that won him the match. Between that and Vandy’s endearingly goofy movements, this was perfectly fine. (**3/4)

Scenic City Invitational First Round Match
KT Hamill vs. Moose

This match had some good ideas, but the execution left a lot to be desired. Hamill was playing the resentful indie hustler who dislikes Moose for trading on his football career to get shortcuts in the business. Moose was playing Moose. Hamill wisely worked over Moose’s left leg while in control, and it seemed like we had the makings of a solid story. Moose’s poor selling kind of killed that though. In one moment, Moose’s leg has been so damaged that he cannot walk at all to suddenly being able to sprint and do power spots within a minute or two later. Hamill tried to get match back on track late in the game by going back after the leg. Moose ignored though for the most part and hit a big running spear for the win. This was frustrating. Hamill did solid work though. (**1/4)

Scenic City Invitational First Round Match
Kongo Kong vs. Tank

Kongo Kong is one of the best professional wrestlers not working at a somewhat major indie. Tank is a deathmatch worker that I had never seen before. I was hoping we would get a violent brawl of some sort, but this was instead just a plodding brawl. It did at least have an exclamation point finish with Kong leaping more than halfway across the ring with a Superfly Splash to pick up the win. This was not a good match, but Kong at least came off well going into Night 2. Watch Tank vs. Samoa Joe and Kongo Kong vs. Danny Cannon instead. (*1/2)

Scenic City Invitational First Round Match
Caprice Coleman vs. Jason Collins

This reminded me of the opener (annoying finish included). Both guys displayed strong mechanical skill and whatnot. They just did nothing to make me care about the match. There’s only so much that technical skill can do. There was little in the way of emotion, violence, and excitement. The fact that it went so long and was so dependent on enjoyment of physical skill made it baffling to me that it had to end via cheating (Collins put his legs on the rope after a back suplex). This was odd. Watch it for yourself though. (**1/4)

Scenic City Invitational First Round Match
Chip Day vs. Gunner Miller

Chip Day delivered the kind of match and performance that I have been looking for from this tournament. He worked the match with a sense of purpose and urgency. His heel character was also subtle enough to be effective but not so present that it overwhelmed the action. Gunner Miller, a newer wrestler, was kind of just along for the ride in one sense but did what he needed to do in order for the match to work. He sold nicely for Day’s offense and executed his main offensive moments well. The finish was also awesome. Chip Day foolishly went to the top rope, and Gunner caught him with a spear. This was fun the whole time and a nice performance from Chip. Watch this one here. (***1/4)

Scenic City Invitational First Round Match
Anthony Henry vs. Jimmy Rave

This was just on a whole different level compared to everything else. They spent the first portion of the match having Henry out-wrestle Rave. It was done in a manner that really made Henry look great and made Rave look smart for taking so many breaks to avoid getting in serious trouble. That strategy paid off for Rave, as he suffered no serious damage and was eventually able to cut off Henry with a lariat.

Rave then controlled the match, as Henry paid the price for not going for any big moves when he had the advantage. Fittingly though, finally going to that strategy paid off hugely for Henry, and he made the match competitive again by hitting apron moves and a dive. Rave recognized he was in trouble though and tried to sneak out the win with a pinning combo. That failed, but Rave immediately transitioned to a crossface for the win.

This match featured compelling action, fantastic storytelling, a masterclass heel performance from Rave, a breakout performance from Henry, and a fun environment. THIS is the kind of the match that the tournament desperately needed. WATCH IT NOW! (****)

Scenic City Invitational First Round Match
Chrisjen Hayme vs. Gunner

This was an odd choice for a main event even without knowing that Rave and Henry would deliver something great right before it. It was compounded by the fact that Hayme’s work on top just felt very insubstantial (let alone in comparison to what Rave and even Chip Day did right beforehand). In the end, this really just existed for Gunner to get a clean win. I’m not sure if he or the tournament were helped though by Hayme being in control so long. Gunner ended up avoided a 450 and then winning with his powerbomb. (**)