Post by PdW2kX on Nov 28, 2007 1:41:12 GMT -5
The Obligatory Note: After a small hiatus, here we go with another offering of SoCal goodness courtesy of Gary Yap and friends. Mr. Yap always manages to send me the goods, so I was pretty excited to wrap my brain (and my pen, and later my copy of Microsoft Word) around this four-disc behemoth. Questions and feedback of any kind is always welcome. I had planned and still plan to continue my line of classic AJPW reviews, the topic I posted them in is somewhere in my message history and I'll likely update it when I get another review out. Also, pardon the double-post. And so...
EPIC Pro Wrestling WAR Proudly Presents "Untitled: The War Rages On"
September 8, 2007
The American Legion Hall in Newhall, California
The DVD begins with the first three editions of "EPIC Worldwide WAR", EPIC WAR's online show. With some hype and highlight videos sprinkled here and there throughout all the shows, the first edition sees Gary Yap going over WAR's history before handing the title over to Markus Riot. This honestly comes off pretty good in translation, and feels a lot more involving than other "Here, you're the champ" segments. Just handing the belt to a guy always feels varying levels of cheap, but I think this was the best possible way to do it. Gary really gets over the faith he has in Markus, the potential he sees in him, but it's made clear that Riot has a long and very hard road ahead of him. The next video is "How Biggie Got His Groove Back", which is basically a comedy bit about Biggie Biggz doing demeaning things to earn his spot back at EPIC WAR. The final edition sees Markus Riot trying to cut a promo…hilarity abounds. This is an honest piece, kinda tongue-in-cheek, because Markus is not known for being a wunderkind on the mic. All joking aside, he does manage to put together a pretty decent promo to highlight his main event match with Jack Evans. After some final shilling of Art Over Life Studios products, the main show gets under way.
Dark Match: Albino Thunder vs. Johnny Chocolate
This "dark" match (being on a DVD technically doesn't make it a "dark match", but that's neither here nor there…I think) pits students of Tony Kozina and Davey Richards against each other. We get some decent chain wrestling, as the two trade holds pretty well. Albino Thunder sticks to using his size as an obvious advantage, while Johnny Chocolate uses his agility and some stiff kicks to try and get the win. After some back-and-forth stuff, Chocolate gets Thunder in a particularly vicious submission hold, but Mike Santiago and Kazuki come out and lay waste to both men, causing a DQ finish.
Analysis: I'll be honest, I was waiting for this match to suck. I don't particularly enjoy tearing apart a rookie match, it's just that- let's be honest- it was announced at the beginning of this match that these two had never been in front of a live crowd before. I wasn't exactly expecting a classic. Thankfully, this match never really gave me the grief I half-expected it to. It was a very basic match, no doubt about it, but both showed some passion and flare. It stalled at times, and it was painfully clear at times that the two were calling spots, but we all make mistakes and we've all got to start somewhere. I'll go a little easy here and say this: with some work, I wouldn’t mind seeing either of these two again. **
The Suburban Commandos (T-Rent, DJ Rizz, and D-Unit) vs. "The Natural" Charles Mercury, Biggie Biggz, and Chimaera
Chimaera scores a nice dropkick, only to get kicked in the face. Biggie hits a crazy dive through the ropes, capping off some highspots. The Commandos Triple-Suplex all their opponents, with poor Biggie landing almost directly on his head. Chimaera is isolated, but Mercury comes in and cleans house. Charles accidentally takes out both of his partners, and instead of carrying on, he angrily leaves the ring. The Commandos quickly take advantage, leading to Biggie getting pinned with a big splash. Post-match, Mercury starts to rant about being placed in a match with "yayhoos" when he's still technically the #1 Contender to the championship.
Analysis: Although this was my first time seeing the Suburban Commandos in action, I must admit that they impressed me. They're a very well-oiled unit, capable of using their separate strengths for the good of the team, as well as combining their attributes for some nice and inventive double or even triple-team maneuvers. The opposing side, though highly random, had something to bring too. Chimaera was the high-flyer, Biggie the powerhouse, and Mercury the all-rounder. The only fault I really have with this match is that, at times, it felt like we were just waiting and waiting for the spots to happen. The overall execution of key spots could have been faster and crisper, even if the main story of the match was about a team (The Commandos) being better than just three guys randomly put together (their opponents). Either way, this was a good way to start the "official" show. ***
Joey Ryan (with Lizzy Valentine) vs. "The New York Knockout" Nikki
Ryan gets a little spank-action on Nikki, until Nikki clocks him with a pretty dang stiff forearm. Nikki gets a head of steam and tries a Wheelbarrow Armdrag, which Joey blocks, only for Nikki to give him a Purple Nurple, allowing her to complete the armdrag. Nikki surprises even me with a Run-Up Springboard Twisting Armdrag, plus a diving splash through the middle rope. Lizzy begins interfering on Joey's behalf, and there's a hilarious spot where Nikki gets in a Huracanrana and goes for a pin, only for Joey to kick out…but he keeps pulling Nikki back onto his face, despite kicking out. Of course, being Joey Ryan, he then nearly decapitates her with a lariat. Nikki battles back, even working her way out of a Mustache Ride, but Lizzy interferes and costs Nikki a win via Victory Roll. When Nikki gets up to complain, Joey blasts here with a Superkick to get the win.
Analysis: That was definitely surprising. Intergender matches always reek of suck, but this one was one of the rare Intergender matches that….didn't suck. Looks aside (and make no mistake about it, Nikki fully deserves her "New York Knockout" nickname), Nikki was a hell of a performer and really worked well with Joey Ryan. Joey Ryan will always be Joey Ryan, and I'll always be a fan of Joey Ryan. He's charismatic, he works well with just about anybody, and he works a great match in just about any setting. Add to this the surprising ability of Nikki, and you've got a pretty unique match. Some of the spots could have used just a bit more polish, but in the end this is a match that caused me to grimace at first glance, only to turn out pretty entertaining when I gave it a chance. There's a lesson about books and covers in there somewhere. ***
'Lil Cholo vs. "Tornado" Tony Kozina
After some nice and frantic chain-wrestling that sees Cholo take the lead, Cholo gets stiffed only to shout something at Kozina that sounds a lot like "you hit like a *****". Tony answers that challenge with a pretty impressive Springboard Tornado Bulldog, but Cholo answers that back with an STF. A nearfall exchange sees Cholo sit down on a Victory Roll, giving him the win.
Analysis: Cholo is always such an underrated individual. Not only can he really dart around the ring, he really knows how to chain-wrestle well, and he can bring out some of the best positives in his opponents. Cholo is one of those wrestlers that consistently surprises you with his level of skill, and he was definitely having a good night. Tony Kozina seems years more polished than I last saw him, but then again, the last Kozina match I saw was from a year or so ago. Although the face/heel dynamic was nothing original and I would've liked a more decisive finish, this match gets good marks since it featured quick hits and good chain wrestling. ***
Special Bonus Match: Mike Santiago and Kazuki vs. Aaron Scott and BOLO
I don't know what particularly makes this a "Special Bonus Match", but that's neither here nor there. And while I'm on this particular subject, at least every single match isn't given some weird moniker like "Special Challenge Match" or "Special Attraction Match". Take that however you see fit. In regards to the match itself, some brawling and dives start us out. Aaron Scott is isolated and pummeled for a bit, leading us to the completely unexpected and totally-not-ever-done-before "hot tag" spot. Kazuki hits a Phantom Clothesline (meaning it misses by a mile but it's still sold), and to make matters worse… not only is it sold, it's ridiculously over-sold. Kazuki tries again, scoring a clothesline that does hit, and is quite vicious to boot, which enables him to get the pin and the win for his team.
Analysis: Decent enough, but like the "dark" match, it suffered because it felt really basic. I should note, though, that when I say "basic", I'm not saying "this match sucked because it didn't have cool spots or crazy dives or swank chain-wrestling". What I mean is that these guys wrestled with a limited moveset, and it felt like this wasn't by choice, but rather due to a lack of experience. Everyone has something different to offer, but they never felt fully-utilized to me. Aaron Scott and Mike Santiago were basically in the same boat (mildly athletic guys that use a variety of wrestling styles and techniques) but neither really did anything to stand out. Kazuki was the powerhouse, but never really emerged to any level except the big guy that just kinda stands there. BOLO reminded me of KUDO, and I loves me some KUDO, but BOLO played a bit part and I never really saw as much of him as I would've liked. Everyone gave a decent effort, but match is lacking in some key areas. **¼
Special Challenge Match: Davey Richards vs. "The Rock Superstar" Kaos (with Jezebel)
Speak of the devil…a "Special Challenge" match! Still, it's SoCal Davey Richards. And since SoCal Davey is better than his other forms, The Daveynite Kid and KENTAVEY RICHARDS, I'll let the whole "Special Challenge" thing pass. Davey showboats a bit, but generally backs it up by outwrestling Kaos. Kaos relies on cheating and his valet, but he's able to inflict some damage. Davey does the whole thing where he gets a sudden power boost due to getting angry (a form I like to call "The Incredible Dulk") and quickly nails Kaos with all kinds of stiffness. A series of near-falls by both men leads to Davey nearly getting his head chopped off with a vicious clothesline, only to steal the win seconds later.
Analysis: Although this match (somewhat surprisingly) has Davey basically walking all over Kaos, I'm always a fan of a good Davey Richards match. Kaos definitely has his fair share of positives and negatives, but both men managed to work pretty well together, and they gave us a convincing contest. There was a lot of stiffness, some high-impact moves, and just enough all-around stuff to make the win feel valued, if a bit rushed. Although it did feel a little weird to see Davey dominate for almost the entire match (he's usually at his best when it's an evenly-matched affair, plus Kaos had the height and weight advantage), all in all it was a good contest. ***
Ryan Drago vs. "The Mexican Playboy" R2K
After following a looooong spot where R2K stalls, R2K heels it up but eventually eats a Backbreaker. After taking a sick flying elbow off the apron, R2K goes low, giving him the opportunity to get back into things. After being sent into the entrance steps, Drago gets in a few pin attempts, as does R2K. After taking a sick suplex, R2K sneaks a win by holding onto the ropes, despite the referee clearly seeing him hold onto the ropes.
Analysis: Ref blunder aside, this was a decent match. Although it did feel pretty lethargic, most of it is watchable. The bulk of the match simply felt mundane, bordering on kinda boring, but it did have some high points, such as a few good bumps and spots. The only real feeling I got from this match was the feeling that Ryan Drago could've done a lot better when it comes to opponents that bring out his A-Game. It's a solid match nonetheless, but I did expect more. **½
"Brawlin'" Bo Cooper vs. "Mr. Instant Replay" Matt Jackson (with "Slick" Nick Jackson)
Big Bo tosses around and stiffs the much-smaller Matt Jackson, and even makes the poor guy take a sick lariat. Matt isn't on his back for long, however, as brother Nick interferes, which allows Matt to take the big man off his feet with a Springboard Dropkick. From there Bo is slowly picked apart, heelishly when need be. Bo makes the big comeback, only for the referee to get caught in the crosshairs, allowing the Young Bucks to double-team Bo, even hitting their double-team finisher. Bo manages to kick out of that, and follows it up with a nice Death Valley Driver to Matt, but once again Nick interferes. Matt is able to get in a low blow, and rolls up Cooper for the victory.
Analysis: For its type, this is definitely a good match. It's the classic "hometown" match, where the hometown hero takes on the big villain, with the odds stacked against the hero through one way or another. Although I doubted it at first, Matt and Nick are really good heels, mostly because they took their babyface stuff and did the polar opposite of it. Although this match ran the gauntlet of "big man face vs. little guy heel with outside help" clichés, it's still quite a decent matchup. As his name suggests, Bo Cooper is a pretty effective brawler. Meanwhile, Matt and Jack were cheating heels with a pinch of goofiness, and it works. Although this match definitely sounded weird on paper, after giving it a chance, it most likely deserves its place as the semi-main event. ***
EPIC Pro Wrestling WAR Championship Match: Markus Riot © vs. Jack Evans
Both men start out chain-wrestling each other, and are evenly-matched for the most part. Markus hits a nice Suicide Somersault Senton to the outside, and follows it up with a barrage of offense that can't put Jack down. Jack is no slouch either, and both go for pins frequently. Markus had been searching for a Discus Lariat all match, and when he finally hits it, he follows it up with a nice Tornado DDT. After hitting his Running Shining Wizard thing, Jack starts busting out flips. Both score some increasingly-close nearfalls on each other until an insane Avalanche Ace Crusher knocks both men out, starting a ten-count. At the count of 8, Riot suddenly rolls it into a Dragon Sleeper. After countering out of a 630° Splash, Riot hits the LA Riot to retain the championship and finally beat his mentor. After the match, both men shake each other's hands and hug.
Analysis: Well, that wasn't what I expected. Don't get me wrong, I expected something good here. I love Jack Evans, love love love 'im. Jack has some crazy charisma, his flips are always executed with so much grace, and he knows how to make almost anyone look good. Markus Riot has been improving with every match, and he was at his best because he knew he had to prove himself to…pretty much everybody. I expected something like a spotfest, with both men dishing out big moves and killer neck-bumps to bring the fans to their feet and send them home happy. But instead of that, we got this very-meaningful "student vs. teacher" match that emphasized both men slowly wearing each other down. There's a surprisingly deep story here. Jack is always the good guy, but thinking he had an easy night, he wasn't afraid to make known his feelings of being let-down, going as far as to say "This is the competition you bring me?" when the match first started. And make no mistake about it, Jack pretty much dominated Riot for a good chunk of the match. But Riot wouldn't go down, wouldn't give up, kept kicking out, and slowly wore down Jack to the point where Jack got so frustrated he loudly shouted "What are you trying to prove?". This frustration opened up the only gap in Jack's defenses that Riot would get, and despite getting his ass kicked, Riot took that advantage and brought the fight to Jack. Jack, caught off-guard by Riot's will to survive, ended up waiting too long to try and bust out his killer signature moves, meaning that Jack was too worn-down to put all his strength behind his stuff. Faced with an onslaught of classic Jack Evans offense, Markus was too fired up, too close to reaching his long-sought-after goal, and kept countering or kicking out of all of Jack's best moves. Neither man was as insane as they could've been, but that's a huge factor of this match. It's not about insanity, it's about Riot finally stepping up and proving to everybody- the fans, the wrestlers, even me- that he was taking this whole "Champion" thing seriously, and wouldn't go down without the fight of his life. And Riot did give the fight of his live, since this is probably the best match of his career so far. As a testament to its quality, I think this match is even one of the best matches Jack Evans has had. Above all else, this thing set the tone for EPIC WAR in the same way that Super Dragon vs. Jack Evans set the tone for the original Pro Wrestling WAR promotion. It's a simple yet engaging storyline centered around good talent. Nothing is blown out of proportion, giving us a down-to-earth feel. As a match, it's quite good, but this is one of those matches where a promotion can point to it and say "Hey, this is what we're really about." This entire match summarized the rebirth and joining of EPIC and WAR, and I tip my e-hat to all involved. ***¾
Disc III: The Next Day…And More!
Included on Disc 3 are several matches featuring EPIC WAR talent in other promotions.
EPIC Pro Wrestling WAR in Anaheim, California: Albino Thunder, Kazuki, and Biggie Biggz vs. Mike Santiago, Aaron Scott, and Brain Moreno
September 9, 2007
After some basic wrestling and hold-for-hold trading, Brain Moreno is double-teamed for a bit, then Biggie slams people for a bit. Eventually Santiago and Albino Thunder mix it up, with Santiago scoring a twisting neckbreaker. After a short cluster-****, a rolling elbow followed by a splash puts Albino Thunder down.
Analysis: Although still a very basic match, the end-of-match cluster-**** gave me some enjoyment. It's pretty much a standard SoCal 6-Man Tag, meaning the participants are pretty much random and there's not much to do except show off your stuff and group together for the unavoidable everyone-gets-taken-out highspot. It honestly felt like most of the people in this match were there to hone their talents, not wrestle. It didn't really feel serious, it felt more like a "practice match" where everyone goes through the motions. Still, it did manage to hold my attention for the most part. **½
EPIC Pro Wrestling WAR in Anaheim, California: Katastrophe vs. BOLO
September 9, 2007
BOLO starts out by working the arm, but misses a Suicide Headbutt. Katastrophe isn't afraid to cheat to win, but BOLO mounts a comeback. Katastrophe sloppily rolls through a Flying Body Press to get the win.
Analysis: A waste of time, unfortunately. These two had no polish, no flow with each other, no chemistry…nothing. It wasn't particularly disastrous, but it really, really bored me. BOLO seemed a lot more limited in this match, so I have to question how, one day later, the charismatic KUDO-like BOLO went from entertaining and interesting to flat and unappealing. Maybe he was having a bad day, or maybe it was the opponent. Although this is the only match I've seen of his, "Katastrophe" felt completely colorless…nothing he did made me pay even the slightest attention to him. Simply put, you should avoid this one. *
EPIC Pro Wrestling WAR in Anaheim, California: Silver Tyger, Markus Riot, and Jack Evans vs. 'Lil Cholo, Junior, and The Human Tornado
September 9, 2007
Tornado is able to get in his dance-kick spot on Silver Tyger, but Tyger blocks the sliding crotch kick to finish out the spot…only to get pimp-slapped and crotch-kicked anyway. Markus Riot and Junior find the time to stiff each other so hard that part of me thinks they're shooting on each other. Riot gets some serious hang time on an Ace Crusher, then Tyger and Jack heel it up as they pick apart the fan-favorite Cholo. A hot tag is cut off as Jack goes low, and once again 'Lil Cholo gets his ass handed to him. Some flips are soon in store as everyone brawls. Jack busts out the Sasuke Special, earning him a decent pop despite playing the heel. Riot manages to hit the LA Riot, but Junior breaks it up. Cholo hits a weird Release Vertebreaker thing, that Evans takes on his face, to get the win.
Analysis: Although a bit longer than I would've expected, all the talent involved gave us a pretty choice match. We had a lot of styles clashing here, giving us some fun times and an energetic atmosphere. Despite only a day's delay, Riot and Jack seemed none the worse the wear from their hellacious battle, while the other four seemed just as fresh and just as eager to give the crowd a good match. Although six-man tags are always about the group factor, everyone was able to show off their own unique style and strengths. If you don't mind things being a bit on the long side (at least for this type of match), you're in for a treat: six guys that vary from good, to better, to always good for a fun time. ***¼
EPIC Pro Wrestling WAR at the Insane Wrestling League: Triple-Threat Elimination Match: Markus Riot (with Gary Yap) vs. Chris Spade vs. Johnny Suave
Markus is able to put a hurtin' on both men, but he's quickly double-teamed. He then goes back to dominating Spade and Suave, but a multi-man spot sends Markus onto his head. Everyone is mostly at a stalemate then, giving us some nice chain-spots. After some head damage, Spade taps to an Anaconda Vice. Riot and Suave manage to inflict some damage on each other, but a ref bump plus interference from Gary gives Riot the win.
Analysis: Kind've a standard match, thought not bad by any stretch of the imagination. It wasn't as polished as I would've liked, but though there are flaws, most of what we get here is good. "Grizzled veteran pulling no punches against young up-and-coming rookies" was an entirely new role for Markus Riot to play, but it suited him well and he did his best with what he was given. Since this was the first match of both his opponents, Riot gave us some convincing heel work, backed up with the always fun-to-hate Gary Yap. To their credit, Spade and Suave gave me something a lot more like a mid-level career match, not a start-of-career match. They're a lot more polished than most of the rookies I've seen, and their debut match actually entertained me, which I can't say about most debut matches. Suave had some natural charisma, and mixed well with both of his opponents, despite their stark differences. Although "Skinny Athletic White Guy That Can Flip" is about as ground-breaking a character as "Slightly Muscled Mid-Size Guy With Strong-Style Underpinnings", and despite the fact that I think just about anyone could take him, and despite the fact that he makes Matt Sydal look as grizzled and battle-scarred as The Necro Butcher…despite all that…Chris Spade showed a lot of talent and tenacity for having exactly zero matches under his belt. I pretty much enjoyed myself this entire match, which says a lot when you consider all the facts. **¾
Disc IV: Pro Wrestling WAR 4.10.05
Included as a bonus disc is the complete Pro Wrestling WAR show from April 10, 2005, which I will review as well. And so…
Charles Mercury vs. Yoshida
After some chain wrestling, and some other basic holds and maneuvers, Charles Mercury is able to sneak a pin.
Analysis: If you're wondering why the match analysis is so brief, that's because I couldn't pay attention, which is because the commentary on this one was really overpowering. It's basically Michael "Millhouse" Zorilla and Gary Yap arguing with each other, and they don't stop arguing with each other, not even to call the match. Even though they're talking about the big storyline going on at WAR at that point, it's still a bit over-done. It's not a bad match, a decent opener and nothing more or less, but the commentary held all of my attention. Two major setbacks hold this match back: not only the overpowering commentary, but also the inability of the match itself to get me interested. **
EPIC Pro Wrestling WAR Proudly Presents "Untitled: The War Rages On"
September 8, 2007
The American Legion Hall in Newhall, California
The DVD begins with the first three editions of "EPIC Worldwide WAR", EPIC WAR's online show. With some hype and highlight videos sprinkled here and there throughout all the shows, the first edition sees Gary Yap going over WAR's history before handing the title over to Markus Riot. This honestly comes off pretty good in translation, and feels a lot more involving than other "Here, you're the champ" segments. Just handing the belt to a guy always feels varying levels of cheap, but I think this was the best possible way to do it. Gary really gets over the faith he has in Markus, the potential he sees in him, but it's made clear that Riot has a long and very hard road ahead of him. The next video is "How Biggie Got His Groove Back", which is basically a comedy bit about Biggie Biggz doing demeaning things to earn his spot back at EPIC WAR. The final edition sees Markus Riot trying to cut a promo…hilarity abounds. This is an honest piece, kinda tongue-in-cheek, because Markus is not known for being a wunderkind on the mic. All joking aside, he does manage to put together a pretty decent promo to highlight his main event match with Jack Evans. After some final shilling of Art Over Life Studios products, the main show gets under way.
Dark Match: Albino Thunder vs. Johnny Chocolate
This "dark" match (being on a DVD technically doesn't make it a "dark match", but that's neither here nor there…I think) pits students of Tony Kozina and Davey Richards against each other. We get some decent chain wrestling, as the two trade holds pretty well. Albino Thunder sticks to using his size as an obvious advantage, while Johnny Chocolate uses his agility and some stiff kicks to try and get the win. After some back-and-forth stuff, Chocolate gets Thunder in a particularly vicious submission hold, but Mike Santiago and Kazuki come out and lay waste to both men, causing a DQ finish.
Analysis: I'll be honest, I was waiting for this match to suck. I don't particularly enjoy tearing apart a rookie match, it's just that- let's be honest- it was announced at the beginning of this match that these two had never been in front of a live crowd before. I wasn't exactly expecting a classic. Thankfully, this match never really gave me the grief I half-expected it to. It was a very basic match, no doubt about it, but both showed some passion and flare. It stalled at times, and it was painfully clear at times that the two were calling spots, but we all make mistakes and we've all got to start somewhere. I'll go a little easy here and say this: with some work, I wouldn’t mind seeing either of these two again. **
The Suburban Commandos (T-Rent, DJ Rizz, and D-Unit) vs. "The Natural" Charles Mercury, Biggie Biggz, and Chimaera
Chimaera scores a nice dropkick, only to get kicked in the face. Biggie hits a crazy dive through the ropes, capping off some highspots. The Commandos Triple-Suplex all their opponents, with poor Biggie landing almost directly on his head. Chimaera is isolated, but Mercury comes in and cleans house. Charles accidentally takes out both of his partners, and instead of carrying on, he angrily leaves the ring. The Commandos quickly take advantage, leading to Biggie getting pinned with a big splash. Post-match, Mercury starts to rant about being placed in a match with "yayhoos" when he's still technically the #1 Contender to the championship.
Analysis: Although this was my first time seeing the Suburban Commandos in action, I must admit that they impressed me. They're a very well-oiled unit, capable of using their separate strengths for the good of the team, as well as combining their attributes for some nice and inventive double or even triple-team maneuvers. The opposing side, though highly random, had something to bring too. Chimaera was the high-flyer, Biggie the powerhouse, and Mercury the all-rounder. The only fault I really have with this match is that, at times, it felt like we were just waiting and waiting for the spots to happen. The overall execution of key spots could have been faster and crisper, even if the main story of the match was about a team (The Commandos) being better than just three guys randomly put together (their opponents). Either way, this was a good way to start the "official" show. ***
Joey Ryan (with Lizzy Valentine) vs. "The New York Knockout" Nikki
Ryan gets a little spank-action on Nikki, until Nikki clocks him with a pretty dang stiff forearm. Nikki gets a head of steam and tries a Wheelbarrow Armdrag, which Joey blocks, only for Nikki to give him a Purple Nurple, allowing her to complete the armdrag. Nikki surprises even me with a Run-Up Springboard Twisting Armdrag, plus a diving splash through the middle rope. Lizzy begins interfering on Joey's behalf, and there's a hilarious spot where Nikki gets in a Huracanrana and goes for a pin, only for Joey to kick out…but he keeps pulling Nikki back onto his face, despite kicking out. Of course, being Joey Ryan, he then nearly decapitates her with a lariat. Nikki battles back, even working her way out of a Mustache Ride, but Lizzy interferes and costs Nikki a win via Victory Roll. When Nikki gets up to complain, Joey blasts here with a Superkick to get the win.
Analysis: That was definitely surprising. Intergender matches always reek of suck, but this one was one of the rare Intergender matches that….didn't suck. Looks aside (and make no mistake about it, Nikki fully deserves her "New York Knockout" nickname), Nikki was a hell of a performer and really worked well with Joey Ryan. Joey Ryan will always be Joey Ryan, and I'll always be a fan of Joey Ryan. He's charismatic, he works well with just about anybody, and he works a great match in just about any setting. Add to this the surprising ability of Nikki, and you've got a pretty unique match. Some of the spots could have used just a bit more polish, but in the end this is a match that caused me to grimace at first glance, only to turn out pretty entertaining when I gave it a chance. There's a lesson about books and covers in there somewhere. ***
'Lil Cholo vs. "Tornado" Tony Kozina
After some nice and frantic chain-wrestling that sees Cholo take the lead, Cholo gets stiffed only to shout something at Kozina that sounds a lot like "you hit like a *****". Tony answers that challenge with a pretty impressive Springboard Tornado Bulldog, but Cholo answers that back with an STF. A nearfall exchange sees Cholo sit down on a Victory Roll, giving him the win.
Analysis: Cholo is always such an underrated individual. Not only can he really dart around the ring, he really knows how to chain-wrestle well, and he can bring out some of the best positives in his opponents. Cholo is one of those wrestlers that consistently surprises you with his level of skill, and he was definitely having a good night. Tony Kozina seems years more polished than I last saw him, but then again, the last Kozina match I saw was from a year or so ago. Although the face/heel dynamic was nothing original and I would've liked a more decisive finish, this match gets good marks since it featured quick hits and good chain wrestling. ***
Special Bonus Match: Mike Santiago and Kazuki vs. Aaron Scott and BOLO
I don't know what particularly makes this a "Special Bonus Match", but that's neither here nor there. And while I'm on this particular subject, at least every single match isn't given some weird moniker like "Special Challenge Match" or "Special Attraction Match". Take that however you see fit. In regards to the match itself, some brawling and dives start us out. Aaron Scott is isolated and pummeled for a bit, leading us to the completely unexpected and totally-not-ever-done-before "hot tag" spot. Kazuki hits a Phantom Clothesline (meaning it misses by a mile but it's still sold), and to make matters worse… not only is it sold, it's ridiculously over-sold. Kazuki tries again, scoring a clothesline that does hit, and is quite vicious to boot, which enables him to get the pin and the win for his team.
Analysis: Decent enough, but like the "dark" match, it suffered because it felt really basic. I should note, though, that when I say "basic", I'm not saying "this match sucked because it didn't have cool spots or crazy dives or swank chain-wrestling". What I mean is that these guys wrestled with a limited moveset, and it felt like this wasn't by choice, but rather due to a lack of experience. Everyone has something different to offer, but they never felt fully-utilized to me. Aaron Scott and Mike Santiago were basically in the same boat (mildly athletic guys that use a variety of wrestling styles and techniques) but neither really did anything to stand out. Kazuki was the powerhouse, but never really emerged to any level except the big guy that just kinda stands there. BOLO reminded me of KUDO, and I loves me some KUDO, but BOLO played a bit part and I never really saw as much of him as I would've liked. Everyone gave a decent effort, but match is lacking in some key areas. **¼
Special Challenge Match: Davey Richards vs. "The Rock Superstar" Kaos (with Jezebel)
Speak of the devil…a "Special Challenge" match! Still, it's SoCal Davey Richards. And since SoCal Davey is better than his other forms, The Daveynite Kid and KENTAVEY RICHARDS, I'll let the whole "Special Challenge" thing pass. Davey showboats a bit, but generally backs it up by outwrestling Kaos. Kaos relies on cheating and his valet, but he's able to inflict some damage. Davey does the whole thing where he gets a sudden power boost due to getting angry (a form I like to call "The Incredible Dulk") and quickly nails Kaos with all kinds of stiffness. A series of near-falls by both men leads to Davey nearly getting his head chopped off with a vicious clothesline, only to steal the win seconds later.
Analysis: Although this match (somewhat surprisingly) has Davey basically walking all over Kaos, I'm always a fan of a good Davey Richards match. Kaos definitely has his fair share of positives and negatives, but both men managed to work pretty well together, and they gave us a convincing contest. There was a lot of stiffness, some high-impact moves, and just enough all-around stuff to make the win feel valued, if a bit rushed. Although it did feel a little weird to see Davey dominate for almost the entire match (he's usually at his best when it's an evenly-matched affair, plus Kaos had the height and weight advantage), all in all it was a good contest. ***
Ryan Drago vs. "The Mexican Playboy" R2K
After following a looooong spot where R2K stalls, R2K heels it up but eventually eats a Backbreaker. After taking a sick flying elbow off the apron, R2K goes low, giving him the opportunity to get back into things. After being sent into the entrance steps, Drago gets in a few pin attempts, as does R2K. After taking a sick suplex, R2K sneaks a win by holding onto the ropes, despite the referee clearly seeing him hold onto the ropes.
Analysis: Ref blunder aside, this was a decent match. Although it did feel pretty lethargic, most of it is watchable. The bulk of the match simply felt mundane, bordering on kinda boring, but it did have some high points, such as a few good bumps and spots. The only real feeling I got from this match was the feeling that Ryan Drago could've done a lot better when it comes to opponents that bring out his A-Game. It's a solid match nonetheless, but I did expect more. **½
"Brawlin'" Bo Cooper vs. "Mr. Instant Replay" Matt Jackson (with "Slick" Nick Jackson)
Big Bo tosses around and stiffs the much-smaller Matt Jackson, and even makes the poor guy take a sick lariat. Matt isn't on his back for long, however, as brother Nick interferes, which allows Matt to take the big man off his feet with a Springboard Dropkick. From there Bo is slowly picked apart, heelishly when need be. Bo makes the big comeback, only for the referee to get caught in the crosshairs, allowing the Young Bucks to double-team Bo, even hitting their double-team finisher. Bo manages to kick out of that, and follows it up with a nice Death Valley Driver to Matt, but once again Nick interferes. Matt is able to get in a low blow, and rolls up Cooper for the victory.
Analysis: For its type, this is definitely a good match. It's the classic "hometown" match, where the hometown hero takes on the big villain, with the odds stacked against the hero through one way or another. Although I doubted it at first, Matt and Nick are really good heels, mostly because they took their babyface stuff and did the polar opposite of it. Although this match ran the gauntlet of "big man face vs. little guy heel with outside help" clichés, it's still quite a decent matchup. As his name suggests, Bo Cooper is a pretty effective brawler. Meanwhile, Matt and Jack were cheating heels with a pinch of goofiness, and it works. Although this match definitely sounded weird on paper, after giving it a chance, it most likely deserves its place as the semi-main event. ***
EPIC Pro Wrestling WAR Championship Match: Markus Riot © vs. Jack Evans
Both men start out chain-wrestling each other, and are evenly-matched for the most part. Markus hits a nice Suicide Somersault Senton to the outside, and follows it up with a barrage of offense that can't put Jack down. Jack is no slouch either, and both go for pins frequently. Markus had been searching for a Discus Lariat all match, and when he finally hits it, he follows it up with a nice Tornado DDT. After hitting his Running Shining Wizard thing, Jack starts busting out flips. Both score some increasingly-close nearfalls on each other until an insane Avalanche Ace Crusher knocks both men out, starting a ten-count. At the count of 8, Riot suddenly rolls it into a Dragon Sleeper. After countering out of a 630° Splash, Riot hits the LA Riot to retain the championship and finally beat his mentor. After the match, both men shake each other's hands and hug.
Analysis: Well, that wasn't what I expected. Don't get me wrong, I expected something good here. I love Jack Evans, love love love 'im. Jack has some crazy charisma, his flips are always executed with so much grace, and he knows how to make almost anyone look good. Markus Riot has been improving with every match, and he was at his best because he knew he had to prove himself to…pretty much everybody. I expected something like a spotfest, with both men dishing out big moves and killer neck-bumps to bring the fans to their feet and send them home happy. But instead of that, we got this very-meaningful "student vs. teacher" match that emphasized both men slowly wearing each other down. There's a surprisingly deep story here. Jack is always the good guy, but thinking he had an easy night, he wasn't afraid to make known his feelings of being let-down, going as far as to say "This is the competition you bring me?" when the match first started. And make no mistake about it, Jack pretty much dominated Riot for a good chunk of the match. But Riot wouldn't go down, wouldn't give up, kept kicking out, and slowly wore down Jack to the point where Jack got so frustrated he loudly shouted "What are you trying to prove?". This frustration opened up the only gap in Jack's defenses that Riot would get, and despite getting his ass kicked, Riot took that advantage and brought the fight to Jack. Jack, caught off-guard by Riot's will to survive, ended up waiting too long to try and bust out his killer signature moves, meaning that Jack was too worn-down to put all his strength behind his stuff. Faced with an onslaught of classic Jack Evans offense, Markus was too fired up, too close to reaching his long-sought-after goal, and kept countering or kicking out of all of Jack's best moves. Neither man was as insane as they could've been, but that's a huge factor of this match. It's not about insanity, it's about Riot finally stepping up and proving to everybody- the fans, the wrestlers, even me- that he was taking this whole "Champion" thing seriously, and wouldn't go down without the fight of his life. And Riot did give the fight of his live, since this is probably the best match of his career so far. As a testament to its quality, I think this match is even one of the best matches Jack Evans has had. Above all else, this thing set the tone for EPIC WAR in the same way that Super Dragon vs. Jack Evans set the tone for the original Pro Wrestling WAR promotion. It's a simple yet engaging storyline centered around good talent. Nothing is blown out of proportion, giving us a down-to-earth feel. As a match, it's quite good, but this is one of those matches where a promotion can point to it and say "Hey, this is what we're really about." This entire match summarized the rebirth and joining of EPIC and WAR, and I tip my e-hat to all involved. ***¾
Disc III: The Next Day…And More!
Included on Disc 3 are several matches featuring EPIC WAR talent in other promotions.
EPIC Pro Wrestling WAR in Anaheim, California: Albino Thunder, Kazuki, and Biggie Biggz vs. Mike Santiago, Aaron Scott, and Brain Moreno
September 9, 2007
After some basic wrestling and hold-for-hold trading, Brain Moreno is double-teamed for a bit, then Biggie slams people for a bit. Eventually Santiago and Albino Thunder mix it up, with Santiago scoring a twisting neckbreaker. After a short cluster-****, a rolling elbow followed by a splash puts Albino Thunder down.
Analysis: Although still a very basic match, the end-of-match cluster-**** gave me some enjoyment. It's pretty much a standard SoCal 6-Man Tag, meaning the participants are pretty much random and there's not much to do except show off your stuff and group together for the unavoidable everyone-gets-taken-out highspot. It honestly felt like most of the people in this match were there to hone their talents, not wrestle. It didn't really feel serious, it felt more like a "practice match" where everyone goes through the motions. Still, it did manage to hold my attention for the most part. **½
EPIC Pro Wrestling WAR in Anaheim, California: Katastrophe vs. BOLO
September 9, 2007
BOLO starts out by working the arm, but misses a Suicide Headbutt. Katastrophe isn't afraid to cheat to win, but BOLO mounts a comeback. Katastrophe sloppily rolls through a Flying Body Press to get the win.
Analysis: A waste of time, unfortunately. These two had no polish, no flow with each other, no chemistry…nothing. It wasn't particularly disastrous, but it really, really bored me. BOLO seemed a lot more limited in this match, so I have to question how, one day later, the charismatic KUDO-like BOLO went from entertaining and interesting to flat and unappealing. Maybe he was having a bad day, or maybe it was the opponent. Although this is the only match I've seen of his, "Katastrophe" felt completely colorless…nothing he did made me pay even the slightest attention to him. Simply put, you should avoid this one. *
EPIC Pro Wrestling WAR in Anaheim, California: Silver Tyger, Markus Riot, and Jack Evans vs. 'Lil Cholo, Junior, and The Human Tornado
September 9, 2007
Tornado is able to get in his dance-kick spot on Silver Tyger, but Tyger blocks the sliding crotch kick to finish out the spot…only to get pimp-slapped and crotch-kicked anyway. Markus Riot and Junior find the time to stiff each other so hard that part of me thinks they're shooting on each other. Riot gets some serious hang time on an Ace Crusher, then Tyger and Jack heel it up as they pick apart the fan-favorite Cholo. A hot tag is cut off as Jack goes low, and once again 'Lil Cholo gets his ass handed to him. Some flips are soon in store as everyone brawls. Jack busts out the Sasuke Special, earning him a decent pop despite playing the heel. Riot manages to hit the LA Riot, but Junior breaks it up. Cholo hits a weird Release Vertebreaker thing, that Evans takes on his face, to get the win.
Analysis: Although a bit longer than I would've expected, all the talent involved gave us a pretty choice match. We had a lot of styles clashing here, giving us some fun times and an energetic atmosphere. Despite only a day's delay, Riot and Jack seemed none the worse the wear from their hellacious battle, while the other four seemed just as fresh and just as eager to give the crowd a good match. Although six-man tags are always about the group factor, everyone was able to show off their own unique style and strengths. If you don't mind things being a bit on the long side (at least for this type of match), you're in for a treat: six guys that vary from good, to better, to always good for a fun time. ***¼
EPIC Pro Wrestling WAR at the Insane Wrestling League: Triple-Threat Elimination Match: Markus Riot (with Gary Yap) vs. Chris Spade vs. Johnny Suave
Markus is able to put a hurtin' on both men, but he's quickly double-teamed. He then goes back to dominating Spade and Suave, but a multi-man spot sends Markus onto his head. Everyone is mostly at a stalemate then, giving us some nice chain-spots. After some head damage, Spade taps to an Anaconda Vice. Riot and Suave manage to inflict some damage on each other, but a ref bump plus interference from Gary gives Riot the win.
Analysis: Kind've a standard match, thought not bad by any stretch of the imagination. It wasn't as polished as I would've liked, but though there are flaws, most of what we get here is good. "Grizzled veteran pulling no punches against young up-and-coming rookies" was an entirely new role for Markus Riot to play, but it suited him well and he did his best with what he was given. Since this was the first match of both his opponents, Riot gave us some convincing heel work, backed up with the always fun-to-hate Gary Yap. To their credit, Spade and Suave gave me something a lot more like a mid-level career match, not a start-of-career match. They're a lot more polished than most of the rookies I've seen, and their debut match actually entertained me, which I can't say about most debut matches. Suave had some natural charisma, and mixed well with both of his opponents, despite their stark differences. Although "Skinny Athletic White Guy That Can Flip" is about as ground-breaking a character as "Slightly Muscled Mid-Size Guy With Strong-Style Underpinnings", and despite the fact that I think just about anyone could take him, and despite the fact that he makes Matt Sydal look as grizzled and battle-scarred as The Necro Butcher…despite all that…Chris Spade showed a lot of talent and tenacity for having exactly zero matches under his belt. I pretty much enjoyed myself this entire match, which says a lot when you consider all the facts. **¾
Disc IV: Pro Wrestling WAR 4.10.05
Included as a bonus disc is the complete Pro Wrestling WAR show from April 10, 2005, which I will review as well. And so…
Charles Mercury vs. Yoshida
After some chain wrestling, and some other basic holds and maneuvers, Charles Mercury is able to sneak a pin.
Analysis: If you're wondering why the match analysis is so brief, that's because I couldn't pay attention, which is because the commentary on this one was really overpowering. It's basically Michael "Millhouse" Zorilla and Gary Yap arguing with each other, and they don't stop arguing with each other, not even to call the match. Even though they're talking about the big storyline going on at WAR at that point, it's still a bit over-done. It's not a bad match, a decent opener and nothing more or less, but the commentary held all of my attention. Two major setbacks hold this match back: not only the overpowering commentary, but also the inability of the match itself to get me interested. **
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