-Taped from Taylor, Michigan
-Your hosts are a number of individuals associated with the show. Just glad they’re back.
-We open with a video package showing some of the highlights of CLASH Wrestling. This is a very positive addition to their DVDs. It makes them look more professional and showcases some of the athletes who work in the promotion. The announcer comes out dressed as Doc Brown from Back to the Future and a mascot. How many wrestling companies can say they have one of those?
-White Ranger vs. R2TD2
Match in Five Words or Less: TOO MANY REFERENCES!
Match Summary/Analysis: We’ve got a Star Wars reference against a Power Rangers reference on a show that’s a Back to the Future reference. My head is about to explode. TD walks like a robot since he’s supposed to be “from the future.” What a wacky show this is going to be. TD tosses White Ranger down and holds his fist up. Is he aligned with Faarooq. Someone program the Delorean to go back to 1996. Don’t forget JC Ice and Whoopee D. Charging boot in the corner, AND HE’S STILL ACTING LIKE A ROBOT! Ranger punches away to no effect. TD malfunctions. Ranger trips him. Dropkick. Wasn’t it the Zeo Rangers that took on the machines? Slap and spinning boot gets three for the win. I’m giving this a full star just because TD maintained his robot gimmick the whole match.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: R2TD2/2:52/*
-Dave Manzo vs. Keith Calhoun
Match in Five Words or Less: Party Like It’s 1986
Match Summary/Analysis: Calhoun walks into the time machine and walks out as a 1986 version of himself. The fashion gives it away, especially the pants. Calhoun pearl harbors him (1941) him. Nice vertical suplex. Boots, bodyslam, and an elbow drop. Swinging neckbreaker. Leg lariat by Manzo. Both men are down. Right hands followed by a release German suplex. Calhoun out of a DVD (BETA max?) attempt and a roll-up for two. F-5 gets Manzo a rockin’ victory. Short but inoffensive.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Dave Manzo/2:41/1/2*
-Matt Cross vs. Tyler Elkins
Match in Five Words or Less: Matt Cross Is Tough Enough
Match Summary/Analysis: Elkins is a caveman, so this is an easy time travel for him. Cross come out in his Spartan character. At least he didn’t have to go into the 1980s for that Hulk Hogan Australia tour again. Cross appears to have stolen Bryan Danielson’s indy gear. Immediate charge misses by Cross. Elkins sent to the outside. Huge missile dive. Cartwheel off the top rope. Boot in the corner followed by a knee to the back. Series of clotheslines won’t take Cross down. Stomp on the foot. Sunset flip. Elkins sits and misses. Diving clothesline by Cross. Elkins takes control of the contest. Snapmare followed by a leg drop. Another leg drop misses. Boot by Cross. He’s caught in the cross body and powerslammed. Clubbering blows. Elkins charges toward the corner. Belly-to-belly suplex for two. After choking Cross, Elkins climbs to the bottom rope to miss a headbutt. Polish hammers by Cross. Crossbody for two. Cross elbows out of a chokeslam but gets hit with a northern lights suplex. Elkins lifts Cross to the top turnbuckle. Cross kicks him away. Tornado DDT. Cross misses a moonsault but lands on his feet. Bicycle kick misses. Elkins applies the mandible claw. Matt Cross’ shoulders are counted down for three. I’d call that a bit of an upset. This was an okay match that never really got going fully.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Tyler Elkins/7:47/**
-Elkins wants to end his rivalry with Cameron Skyy at the next show, which I guess takes place in September.
-Moshpit Battle Royal (N8 Mattson, Bump N Ugly #1, Victorious Secret (Mason Conrad & Cameron Salem), Valentino, Gideon Malice, Marvelocity, TD, Keith Calhoun, “Swagg Starr” Dave Manzo, “Sweet” Willie Watts, etc.)
Match in Five Words or Less: Random
Match Summary/Analysis: Some band called The Family begins playing as the battle royal gets underway. Not sure why some guys who’ve already competed are in this thing but whatever. I’ve tried to list as many people as I can, but I may have left one or two out. This was just about every battle royal you’ll ever see…except with heavy metal music playing and the guys moshing in the ring. Quite the gimmick going I’d say. It kinda feels like they went back in the Delorean to 2000 to rip off New Jack’s gimmick. I’m not a fan of this style of music, so I think this may have hurt any enjoyment of the contest I may have had. At least it was something different. Mattson eliminates BNU #1 last to pick up the victory. His post match celebration is epic.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: N8 Mattson/5:00/N/R
-Jenny from “Rock of Love” is back to hose “Ring of Love.” She ironically comes out to Huey Lewis’ “Power of Love,” the song Back to the Future made famous. Her guests are Gavin Quinn, the CLASH Heavyweight champion, and Simon Dean. Dean looks an awful lot like that Hollywood Nova guy I saw back in May for AAW. Dean puts Quinn over stronhly on the microphone. He puts down the crowd and building to be a dick. Quinn talks about being in better shape than anyone. As the boys are about to cormer poor Jenny, Too Sweet saves the day. What noble babyfaces they are saving a hot blonde woman who used to be on television. Too Sweet challenges Dean and Quinn to a match later on in the main event. I guess they accept.
-Treznik and Vaughn come out to gloat about their tag team title victory that took place at the last show. Treznik has created a human doll for Vaughn, and the only way she can live is through Treznik’s elixirs. Her name is Haley Jane, and she’s got quite the shrilly voice.
-The H3RD (Tommy Treznik and Ded Vaughn w/Haley Jane) (CLASH Tag Team Champions) vs. Danny Danger and Josh Thor
Match in Five Words or Less: See Jane Play Dead
Match Summary/Analysis: Danger starts with Treznik. Shoulder tackle followed by a springbiard boot. He messes something up, but Treznik flees. The big men are in. Treznik goes after Thor from behind. The champions take control briefly. Charges miss. Thor with knees in the corner on Vaughn. Running clothesline. Running forearm by Danger. Treznik sent into his partner. Vaughn falls in an awkward place on Treznik with a little help. Double team work from the babyfaces. Hard clothesline by Vaughn. A second one leads to a tag to Treznik. Champions isolate Danger. Enziguri by Danger. Treznik tags but Danger sends Treznik into Thor. Hot tag and Thor goes to work on both heels. He knocks Vaughn down with a Polish hammer. Cover on both men for two. Forearm by Vaughn. Kick and Bus Driver by Treznik only gets two as Danger makes the save. Low bridge on Vaughn. Huge dive. Exchange between Danger and Treznik ends with a superkick. Jane comes in and tells Danger no. She goes dead on him. Hope that’s only the first time that’s happened. She trips him. Vaughn hits a kick to the shin followed by a butterfly driver. An acceptable match that established Jane as a threat in the corner for her group.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: The H3RD/8:42/**1/4
-Amazing N8 has something to say to one Cameron Skyy. N8 goes into a long diatribe, but the point is CLASH Wrestling is the place to be. He calls Skyy a mirror image of himself and gives him credit for being an excitable babyface. N8 says Skyy has lost his focus and called him distracted. N8 even has the gall to break HIS GLASSES! I’ve seen wars start for less than this. Here comes Mena Libra… with a broken foot. Well, this is awkward. She wants to wrestle despite her injury. N8 says this is what the promotion is all about. And we have a match.
Cameron Skyy vs. Mena Libra
Match in Five Words or Less: Doing What He Needed To
Match Summary/Analysis: Skyy is reluctant. Libra shoves and slaps him. Forearms but she falls and can’t get up. Sky’s continued hesitancy leads to a small package. He grabs her and hits a Russian legsweep. Cards are out for Deal Me In. Knee drop gets three. Although this was short, these two sold the emotions of the contest very well. They hug it out after the match.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Cameron Skyy/2:11/*
-Skyy is ready for Elkins in August. N8 gives Skyy his glasses back. Not sure why he would get the glasses back but this was a decent segment that told an interesting story. Be interesting to see where it goes at the September show.
-Too Sweet (Bryce Benjamin and Joey Marx) vs. Gavin Quinn (CLASH Heavyweight Champion) and Simon Dean
Match in Five Words or Less: Solid
Match Summary/Analysis: Some shenanigans before the contest starts. Push-ups and dancing. Oh my. Feeling out process to start as the babyfaces control Quinn with some basic stuff. Rana by Marx. Kick blocked and leg swept. Benjamin tags and they deliver a double flapjack. Springboard senton by Benjamin. Quinn finally tags Dean in the ring. Dean misses a forearm, and Benjamin shakes his ass in response. Well. Too Sweet goes to work on Dean now. Miscommunication by the heels and Quinn is back in the ring. Flying neckbreaker by Marx on Quinn. Dropkick sends Dean outside. Quinn and Dean powder. Series of takedowns by Marx. Dean nails Marx with his bag. Quinn takes advantage with a springboard moonsault. Heat segment on Marx. Dean doesn’t do very much, leaving Quinn to carry the load. Referee misses a babyface tag as the heels resume working over Marx. Quinn enziguris his partner and Benjamin is able to make the tag. Boot to the face and a lungblower for 2.5. All four men battle in the ring. Dean takes over on Marx. Heels try to send too Sweet into each other, but the hand of fate does not smile on them. Marx hits a dive on Quinn. Benjamin with an O’Connor roll for two. Small package by Dean turned into a small package by Benjamin. Referee counts three. A very good formula tag team match that served its purpose but didn’t wow me.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Too Sweet/14:33/***
Line of the Night:.Keith Calhoun with a great Biff reference that I doubt no one got, “Why don’t you make like a tree and get out of here?”
Finish of the Night: Elkins pinned Cross clean to build up his match with Skyy. This helped him tremendously by getting to beat someone who was just on national television, albeit briefly.
MVP: Even if it was a two minute match, you’ve gotta give it to Mena Libra for even showing up to work in her condition.
The Verdict: This felt like the best show of the four because of the pacing and storyline progression. The finishes all made sense and seemed to be building toward something. Having commentary, even if it isn’t great, helps get storylines over and describe what’s going on at a given time. This promotion has a lot of room to improve but also a lot of room to grow. I think their roster just needs to learn and grow together. I think further establishing a relationship with AAW is in both companies best interest as well.
For more information on Clash Wrestling, check out their website for updates on future shows and information on their mobile phone application. To purchase their DVDs for just 15 dollars (even less when a sale is going on), go to Smart Mark Video. For updates of 140 characters or less, check out Clash’s twitter account. Finally, check out theirfacebook for videos, updates, and comments from fans.
Contact Pro Wrestling Ponderings!
E-mail: mailbag@prowrestlingponderings.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pwponderings
Twitter: www.twitter.com/pwponderings
Youtube: www.youtube.com/pwponderings
Contact ME!
E-mail: jcusson07@gmail.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jeromeccusson