XWA Goldrush 2011
Formed in 2007 by Greg Lambert, XWA are based in the North West of England, and run their shows in the seaside town of Morecambe. XWA for anyone looking to follow, are quiet easy in that respect has they only run four shows a year, thus reducing the cost of travel to the fans getting to the shows, and with only 4 DVD’s to buy yearly, fans are not forking out loads off money buying DVD’s and can come up to speed with the company without shelling out a load of cash.
Before i get this review underway id like to thank Greg Lambert and XWA for supplying me with this DVD, really appreciate it guys !
Match 1 – El Ligero vs Jack Gallagher for the British Flyweight title [***1/4]
As soon as i saw the match listing for this show, this match stood out straight away at me. The young and highly praised Jack Gallagher taking on who many regard as the best on the British Indy scene El Ligero, and the match did not disappoint as both guys delivered a good enjoyable match up. The action started slow with a technical master class on display, as El Ligero showed that he could keep up move for move with the ‘Grappler’ Jack Gallagher and at times get the better of his younger foe. The match picked up a level or two in pace through the high-flying antics of El Ligero, with Gallagher using heel tactics to counter Ligero’s momentum and slow the pace of the match down. The final stretch was exciting with some stiff exchanges of European uppercuts and chops and some stiff kicks from Ligero. Ligero used his speed to his advantage to gain the upper hand only for Gallagher to hit some beauty looking german suplexs. The finish saw El Ligero pin Gallagher for the 3 count after hitting him with a springboard DDT. Quality opener from these two guys.
Match 2 – Zack Diamond vs Colossus [**]
Nathan Cruz was originally scheduled to take on Diamond but pulled out instead to keep himself fresh for Goldrush match up that was taking place later on in the night, so his replacement was his bodyguard Colossus (Kennedy). Colossus has i have already said in previous reviews is a massive dude, this match was basically an extended squash but was still entertaining. It was a typical big man little man match the only differences being that the fight back from the smaller wrestler in theses types of matches never materialized as such. For all the effort and fight back from Diamond he was never able to get the ginormous Colossus off, of his feet. Colossus picked up the win when he caught Diamond coming of the top rope and hitting him with a chokeslam. This was a decent match up for what it was, which was basically a squash.
After the match Nathan Cruz ordered his bodyguard to continue the beating on Diamond and choke the life out of him,which he did as the two posed above the fallen Diamond.
Match 3 – JD Sassoon vs Joey Hayes [**1/4]
Sassoon was accompanied to the ring by his tag team partner Axel Rage (the two are the tag team known as the Blackpool Blondes) to take on Joey Hayes, who has always impressed me when ever i have had the pleasure to watch him. The Referee early on stamped his authority in this match up, sending Axel Rage to the back after he tried to get involved in the match. This was a decent back and fourth match between the two. Hayes had the upper hand early on until Sassoon employed heal tactics to gain the upper hand. The finish saw the ref inadvertently getting knocked down, and Axel Rage came down from the back to clobber Hayes over the head with a trophy, before he could do so The Manchester Massive music played and Hayes former tag partner Declan O’Connor, who had at a previous event turned on his tag partner (the commentary brought me right up to speed with what had happened between Hayes and Declan O’Connor). O’Connor cleaned the ring of the Blackpool Blondes and came to the aid of Hayes allowing him to hit a diamond cutter on JD Sassoon and pick up the win. After the match up Hayes refused to shake the hand of his former tag team partner.
Match 4 – RJM vs Jynkz [***1/2]
This was match up was meant to be Jynkz challenging Alex Shane for the XWA title, but the champ unfortunately pulled out. Jynkz is over massive with the XWA fans. RJM taking on the massive babyface was never going to the most popular man in the building but his underhand and bully boy tactics, didn’t endear him to fans and he generated some major heal heat. The match up was the much stockier and bigger RJM using strength and a bullying menace to dominate the plucky Jynkyz, who used his speed to get himself back in the match up at numerous points making this a really good back and fourth match. RJM brought the power moves and heal tactics to the table whilst Jynkz brought the high risk element to this match and both styles messed really well. I gave Jynkz some grieve in my review of a Futureshock show, but here he looked like a completely different wrestler, kudos to both guys for putting on a really good entertaining match up. Jynkz picked up the win after rolling RJM up for the 3 count after some close call near falls.
After the match the The Ascension, Alex Shane, along with authority figure Greg Lambert announced that the scheduled match up between Shane and Jynkz was back on and would happen right now. RJM and Lambert’s minions beat down on Jynkz. Alex Shane then decided that the match was ready to start with Jynkz in no condition to compete. Shane toyed with the beaten Jynkz, before delivering at least 10 brutal and viscous knees to the head of the defenseless Jynkz. A massive running big boot from Shane to Jynkz followed by a cocky one foot pin on the fallen Jynkz got Alex Shane the win and a successful defence of his XWA title.
Johnny Phere’s music then hit to the roar of the XWA fans,he wiped out the XWA security before hitting the ring,with The Ascension, Alex Shane scurrying to safety. Phere threw a minion out of the ring onto the rest of the XWA security, he then proceeded to hit a spinning spinbuster on one of Greg Lamberts female minions to the delight of the fans. XWA security was able to eventually regain control and restrain Johnny Phere and carry him out of the building.
This was a cracking segment and hugely entertaining and a red hot crowd added to this , top notch stuff from the XWA.
Match 5 – The 15 man Goldrush Rumble [***3/4]
The Goldrush Rumble is basically a Royal Rumble match with 15 members of the XWA roster competing to earn a shot at the XWA title. I really enjoyed this Goldrush Rumble, the match itself was hugely entertaining and action packed and full of drama, and unlike over rumbles i have seen there was never a dead period where rumble matches can at times become boring and predictable. What this match had going for it was a number of storylines incorporated through out the match. There was drama to start with, as former tag partners Joey Hayes and Declan O’Connor opened up the contest teasing a possible handshake and reunion. Nathan Cruz and his bodyguard Colossus competed, in tandem to eliminate the competition. Big men Cyanide, Colossus and Stixx had some cracking exchanges amongst each other. There was the fantastic unannounced return of the charismatic Rockstar Spud and his eventually babyface turn to the delight of the crowd.
The last two competitors in the Rumble were the 12 and unbeaten in XWA Stixx, and the massive Colossus, both guys went toe to toe to earn the right to challenge the XWA champion Alex Shane. It looked as though Colossus was going to earn that title shot choking the life out of Stixx. However, Stixx was able to muster some strength from somewhere and used his legs to lift Colossus off the ground, eventually pushing him over the top rope and becoming the new number one contender to Alex Shane’s XWA title. As i said before this was a great Rumble match up that was entertaining and never outstayed its welcome, great effort from all the competitors.
After the match up The Authority returned and Greg Lambert announced that a worn out and beaten down Stixx was to receive his title shot against Alex Shane right now ! , Before the match was about to begin the MC announced that the new part owner of XWA ordered security to stand down as he was about to reveal himself right now. To a massive reaction and cheers from the crowd it turned out to be the suspended Sam Slam. Slam hit the ring and destroyed Lamberts minions and announced he was the new part owner of XWA that at XWA War on the Shore it would be Stixx vs Alex Shane for the title and he himself would be the ringside enforcer. The crowd loved this segment and i myself enjoyed it.
Overall show thoughts – Cracking show from XWA and one i recommend, so head over to XWA’s website and pick it up for cheap price of just £8 . Whilst no match was must see, there wasn’t a dull encounter with the Goldrush match being the match of the night, and two really good matches from Ligero vs Gallagher and RJM vs Jynkz, throw in two really entertaining angles and this show gets a thumbs up from me.
Again id like to thank the guys at XWA and Greg Lambert for providing me with this DVD i really appreciate it, thank you !
To find XWA on the internet:
website: http://www.xwawrestling.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/xwawrestling
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/21359939410/
To contact me:
E-mail: jamiepwponderings@gmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JamieIndyPW