SLAM! Wrestling's INSIDIOUS (10/24/2015) Who done it?

An instrumental theme from the 2010 film of the same name as tonight's event plays over a highlight video from last month's A SLAM! LONG FORGOTTEN event. Particularly highlighted are the return of Samoa Joe to challenge Alberto el Patron, the flash victory of Paige over Jamie Noble, and the Party Animals & Emma’s upset victory over Money & Power. The camera pans a standing room only crowd in Boston, Massachusetts landing on some fans holding up signs for Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, and others. Jim Ross and Paul Heyman welcome everyone to the show. In an allusion to the early days of Nitro, a shaking Chihuahua sits on the table in front of Heyman. "It's Pepe II, JR! He's a luchador for Halloween!" Heyman lets out a loud laugh and then puts the dog down on the ground, "now get out of here!"

Joe Hennig stands in the ring as the show picks up live on the WF Network, his entrance taking place before the broadcast. He rags on the crowd for not appreciating the stars they already had and getting excited for new stars already. A countdown clock appears on the video screen with 90 seconds remaining as Europe’s “The Final Countdown” rings through the arena. The crowd immediately begins chanting “Yes! Yes! Yes!” As the lyrics finally hit, “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson walks through the curtain to an eruption of applause, climbing the turnbuckles from the outside and holding one finger in the air before finally stepping down into the ring and disrobing before the first match of the evening.

MATCH #1: Bryan Danielson vs. Joe Hennig (Singles)
After the long introduction for American Dragon, the two men hit each hard and fast in the early going of the match. Hennig would take an early advantage, slowing down Danielson and taunting the crowd about their “golden boy.” The Dragon would eventually regain control with stiff kicks, eventually taking Hennig to the ground and locking in the LeBell Lock to force “the Perfect Son” to tap out after a quick match. (9:13)



MATCH #2: Money & Power & Los Matadores vs. Party Animals & Rosebuds (8-Man Tag)
MVP & Big E Langston represented Money & Power, accompanied by Big E’s apparent acquaintances, the matadors Primo & Epico. The Party Animals of Adam Rose & El Torito were joined by Rosebud members “Captain Comic” (dressed as a superhero) and “Soaring Eagle” (a bird-themed luchadore). The match became a buildup of waiting for El Torito to be tagged in, as first, MVP and Big E dominated Rose, who was relieved eventually by a tag to the Soaring Eagle. The luchadore showed where he got his name by flipping around the ring but would eventually need to use a double team alongside fellow Rosebud Captain Comic to take control of the match. Eventually, the Matadores were tagged into the ring, regaining some control with their double team offense but at long last Captain Comic made the hot tag to El Torito, who cleared out Primo & Epico and eventually MVP before being taken down by Big E. Chaos reigned as all eight men got involved in the match though eventually Rose would tag back into the match. After a flurry of offense from both teams, Big E would get Rose on his shoulders and plant him with the Big Ending to gain a bit of revenge with a pinfall victory. (15:47)



MATCH #3: Jamie Noble vs. Paige (Flag Match)
Noble and Colter are making their way down the entranceway as the show returns live to the arena. Colter accuses Paige of being an illegal immigrant and questions why she would want to wave the British flag, despite the fact that Noble isn’t even raising an U.S. flag, instead hanging the Gadsden flag on the poll to be taken down. Paige enters to a big “pop” from the crowd and immediately goes on the offensive against Noble. The pair puts together a far-more competitive match than before. Paige forces Noble to tap out to the PTO, but of course, the only means to gain victory was pulling down the flags. She goes up for the flags, but is stopped by Colter. She knocks down the curmudgeon only to be stopped by Noble. Eventually, the two end up exchanging right hands on the turnbuckles opposite the flags. Paige’s attempt at a superplex is broken countered, and Noble reverses it into a Gibson Driver off the second rope! With Paige completely incapacitated, Noble crawls to the corner and brings down the flags, standing over Paige to wave the Gadsden flag celebrating his victory. (14:12)


MATCH #4: Doink the Clown vs. Kane vs. Luke Harper vs. Mankind vs. Mark Henry vs. Rusev (Monster’s Ball)
The six men make their way to the ring in the order of their announcement for the match: Money & Power’s Mark Henry first, followed by Doink the Clown, Rusev, Harper, Kane, and finally, Mankind. Each man brings his own weapon, respectively, a garbage can, a bucket, a 2x4, a barbed wire board, a fire extinguisher, and a barbed wire bat. It doesn’t take long for the action to spill beyond the weapons carried by the competitors or the confines of the arena. Luke Harper and Mark Henry spill backstage, where they come across the Rosebuds, who are still partying despite the defeat that their leader, Adam Rose, suffered earlier in the night. Harper pushes down the Bunny, who falls back into the crowd. The two men continue to battle through the backstage area, eventually arriving in the area of the APA “office.” Henry throws Harper into the doorway, sending it careening over onto the table. The three men, still playing cards, get up and start to attack Henry and Harper, with Henry eventually taking a double team spinebuster through the card table! Dreamer chases off Harper, who starts to walk back towards the ring, but is jumped from behind by the Bunny! Back in the arena, Kane and Doink are doing battle on the outside while Mankind and Rusev battle in the ring, the two each bloodied by barbed wire, including a string that’s been ripped off of the plywood sheet. Kane hits Doink with a massive chokeslam on the outside behind the fans, but as he goes to return to the ring, he is attacked by a massive fan! It turns out to be no ordinary fan, though, as he reveals himself as Big Ryck of the Underground! Ryck takes out Kane before security drives him away. Back in the ring, Rusev has taken control of Mankind, wrapping the barbed wire around his throat and head as he locks in the Accolade. With no one standing to break it up and Mankind not moving, the referee calls for the bell, giving Rusev a victory via TKO. (22:46)


MATCH #5: Celeste Bonin vs. Tyler Breeze (Singles)
Tyler Breeze makes his way to the ring first to a mixed reaction, cheered by the so-called “smarter” audience but booed by the young fans. Celeste makes her way to the ring next to no mix, only cheers to do battle with the “King of Cuteville.” Celeste, now matched up with a smaller opponent, shows some of her strength to take it to Breeze in the early going. Tyler uses his cunning to regain control, and really ground Celeste with holds and quick strikes, including a Supermodel Kick for a nearfall. Celeste regains control after several false finishes, and seems to have Tyler set up for a spear in the corner, but he kicks his legs up on the ropes at the last second and the “Beauty and Brawn of SLAM!” eats the steel ring post. Tyler drops down to his feet and, as Celeste regains her composure and turns around, nails her with a Beauty Shot for a flash pin, surprising seemingly everyone in the crowd. He slides out of the ring, admiring himself in his iPhone as he walks to the back victorious. Celeste gets to her feet rather quickly, noticeably disappointed, but gets a warm reaction from the crowd as she walks to the back (12:32)


MATCH #6: Adrian Neville/C.M. Punk/Sami Zayn vs. Dean Ambrose/Dean Malenko/Matt Sydal (Tag Trios)
The pair of Deans and Matt Sydal make their way down the entrance way first to a mixed reaction filled mostly with boos. C.M. Punk leads his team to the ring as Jim Ross and Paul Heyman announce that the winners of this match will be placed in the Tag Trios Championship Tournament next month. The action is fast-paced as all six men get in some of their signature action in the early going. Eventually, the action spills to the outside between Ambrose and Neville as they head up the stage. Ambrose gets a head of steam and hits Neville with a shoulder tackle off the stage through a production table! Back in the ring, the men start with a flurry of signature attacks. Sami Zayn missed a Helluva Kick on Sydal and gets met with a Pele Kick, knocking him from the ring. CM Punk hits Sydal with a high knee in the corner and then a bulldog, but can’t follow up as he returns to his feet and is met with a cut block by Malenko. The “Ice Man” locks Punk in the Texas Cloverleaf, with the “Straight Edge Star” far from the ropes. Malenko grabs hold of the top rope for leverage as the referee asks Punk if he’ll submit. Suddenly, a petite female fan holding a “CM Punk” sign jumps the crowd barrier. She cracks Malenko over the head with her sign (to almost no effect) but it causes him to release the hold. Officials come and take the fan away kicking and screaming that she loves Punk. Malenko turns around and is met with a Helluva Kick by a back-on-his-feet Zayn! Malenko goes down in a heap, and Zayn pins him for the three count and the victory, establishing themselves as one of the top contenders for the Tag Trios Championship next month! (16:03)



With the ringside area cleared out, a familiar theme hits over the speakers and “Iron Man” Rob Conway makes his way to the ring. He grabs a microphone to address the fans – thanking SLAM! brass for the selection into the SLAM! Wrestling Hall of Fame next month and to officially announce that he will be stepping into the ring next month at Aged to Perfection and hopes to compete on both nights of the two-night extravaganza following the Hall of Fame ceremony. As he begins to wrap up, the lights fade out in the arena. The sound of a crow cackling fills the air. A violin theme plays over the speakers and a scorpion appears on the video screen. The lights return and “The Icon” STING is standing behind Conway, holding his baseball bat out at him. Conway turns around and nearly drops his microphone in disbelief. Sting takes a microphone of his own out of his coat. He says that he and Conway are “the best of a bygone era,” but that they never met one-on-one. He challenges him to a showcase match next month: the Icon of WCW against the Iron Man of SLAM! Conway accepts and the two shake hands.


MATCH #7: Big in Japan vs. Cody Rhodes & Goldust (Tag Team)
Commissioner Fitzsimmons and Joey Mercury walk out on the stage alongside his security team, shaking hands with them before sending them on their way. The Rhodes brothers come out next to a big pop from the crowd. This is obviously a cool down match between big matches but it is serviceable. Albert and Gallows dominate Goldust in the early going but eventually he’s able to make the hot tag to Rhodes. Rhodes clears them out momentarily, but eventually Albert regains control. Lifting up Rhodes for the Train Wreck, he seems to have the match in control before the lights go out, briefly. That same cackling laugh we heard last week (and in the opening segment) echoes through the arena. The lights return and Rhodes is on the ground ahead of Albert. He springs off the ropes and hits him with the Disaster Kick! Gallows tries to get in to break it, but Goldust holds his leg and the Rhodes Brothers pick up a quick victory. (8:23)


MATCH #8: Alberto “el Patron” vs. Samoa Joe (Main Event)
Alberto enters the arena first accompanied by his personal attendant, Ricardo Rodriguez, receiving a smattering of boos. The crowd grows quiet in anticipation before the “Godzilla march” theme begins and Samoa Joe makes his way down the ramp to a large eruption of cheers. After the introductions, the two are quick to start laying into each other with hands and kicks. After trading several nearfalls and false finishes, Joe cracks el Patron with the CCS Enziguri and seems to have the match won but Ricardo puts Alberto’s foot on the ropes. Joe notices, if the referee doesn’t and climb to the outside, grabbing Rodriguez. After a strong right hand, Joe plants Ricardo with a piledriver on the ring apron! As Joe climbs back into the ring, Alberto hits him with a stiff superkick to the side of the head, and Joe falls limp to the mat. El Patron dives on top of him, hooks the leg, and gets the pinfall victory. (18:32)

As Alberto celebrates, Joe begins to stir almost immediately. He pushes the referee away. El Patron turns around from his celebration and Joe knocks him down with a big superkick of his own. Joe pulls up Alberto and throws him to the top rope, collecting him and dropping him with a Muscle Buster. He climbs to the outside and grabs a chair, cracking El Patron across the skull, busting him wide open almost immediately. Alberto slumps to the mat, but Joe isn’t done. He throws the chair to the mat and lifts up his rival for another Muscle Buster – this time on the chair! Joe has completely snapped, laying in with fists upon Alberto’s skull. More officials and trainers come out to try and stop Joe, but he fights them off as well. Finally, Commissioner Fitzsimmons comes to the ring to restore order. He says if Joe doesn’t stop, there will be grave consequences. Joe, once again holding the chair, brings it down across the back of an official and then Alberto’s lifeless body once more. Fitzsimmons declares that Joe is hereby suspended for 90 days. He drops the chair, but fire never leaves the eyes of the Samoan Submission Machine as he walks backstage, cursing out Fitzsimmons as the show comes to a close.