-Taped from Hollywood, Florida
-Your hosts are Lenny Leonard and most importantly for the CZW portion, KEVIN STEEN
-Low Ki vs. Bobby Fish
Match in Five Words or Less: Low Ki With An Upset
Match Highlights: Man, I almost forgot Low Ki was in this promotion. Some early kick attempts go nowhere. Both men exchange holds on the mat. Kick and a paint brush slap. Chop by Ki. Snapmare and an elbow drop. Fish with a forearm. Kick to the chest. Another kick sends Ki in the corner. Snapmare and a springboard senton. Sitting abdominal stretch. Ki stomps out and hits a chop. Kick by Fish. Back to the chop goes Ki. Fish sent head first into he turnbuckle. Elbow off the ropes. Fish kicks out at one. Stiff kick to the midsection. Leg kick from Fish. Ridiculous strike exchange. Fish with a trio of kicks to send Ki down. Back suplex. Dropkick. Into the bodyscissors. Shot to the ribs and leg kick by Fish. Forearm on Ki. Ki prevents being whipped. Kick in the corner. Elbow to the back of the neck. Fish hits a powerslam. Chinlock. O’Connor roll into the bridge for two by Ki. That looked awesome. Kick from Fish. Forearm. Chop from Ki. Fish with a knee to the midsection. Fish with a strike to the ribs. Snap suplex. Forearms in the corner. Whip in the corner. Blind charge misses. Handspring swinging kick by Ki. Ki Crusher blocked. Knee from Fish. Boot out of the corner. Ki hits a running clothesline. Ki Crusher.
Match Analysis: This is essentially how the match worked. Fish worked over Ki’s ribs and midsection for eight minutes before Ki came back and hit his finisher for the victory. Pretty pedestrian as I’ve pretty come to expect from Ki. In a different spot, this would have undoubtedly been a better match. Too bad Evolve/DG USA could never really use Fish to the fullest extent because of his NOAH commitments.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Low Ki/11:50/**1/2
-Uhaa Nation said Mad Blankey will prove they’re the best tonight. Tozawa says the group name means “Bullshit.” He uses that word a lot. Those Rosetta Stones tapes are really paying off.
-Mike Cruz vs. Ricochet (Open the United Gate Champion, Open the Brave Gate Champion)
Match in Five Words or Less: Battle Of The Speedsters
Match Highlights: This is a breakout chance for Cruz. More will come later on in the show. Early arm work and a kick to that arm. Shoulder tackle but Cruz kips up right away. Pace picks up. Ricochet with takedown. Cruz hits a rana and dropkick. Uppercut in the corner. Shoulder tackle. Springboard but Ricochet dropkicks Cruz coming back in the ring. Series of kicks. Elbow to the back of the neck. Headbutts from Cruz. Ricochet uppercuts back. Ricochet stretches Cruz out and drives him into the middle turnbuckle before sending him down to the mat. Chop. Another uppercut. Whip in the corner. Ricochet misses another charge. Running knee strike and clothesline by Cruz. Running forearm. Ricochet reverses a whip. Cruz up and over. Springboard dropkick. Forearm exchange. Ricochet with kicks. Cruz with a boot. Ricochet comes from behind and hits an incredible acecrusher. Cruz takes a nasty head bump. Might wanna reconsider ever doing that again. Hard forearm to the back. Cruz counters. Cruz catches Ricochet in a German suplex and bridges over for two. Ricochet counters out and hits an enziguri. Snapmare driver again plants Cruz on his head. Shooting star press and Ricochet wins.
Match Analysis: For the time they were given and based on expectations for its position on the card, this was a fine wrestling match. I dug Cruz’s performance a lot, and Ricochet is really developing into an all around talent. He’s not just an guy who does flashy moves but can be a charismatic personality as well. Solid work.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Ricochet/7:12/**1/2
-Mad Blankey, specifically Akira Tozawa and BxB Hulk make their way down for a beatdown. Cima and Masaaki Mocizhuki make the save.
-Pinkis Sanchez is drunk and not even dressed. Sami Callihan yells at him before talking about Sabu not being on his mind. Arik Cannon talks about the elimination match taking place later on in the evening. Callihan wants everyone to talk about the DUF. They get no respect even though they ended 2011 on top. No one can stop them. No one is safe.
-Samuray Del Sol vs. Masato Yoshino
Match in Five Words or Less: A Legitimate Upset
Match Highlights: Johnny Gargano enters beforehand to talk about it being great to be back in the ring after recovering from an awful back injury. Gargano talks about his upcoming title defense against Yoshino. He means no disrespect but he pledges to take a front row seat in order to scout his challenger. This is the second breakout match, and Del Sol’s odds might be even longer than Cruz. Right? Feeling out process. Boot and clubbering blow by Yoshino. Armdrag exchange. Del Sol hits a rana and immediately kips up. Dropkick sends Yoshino out. Fake dive. Dropkick to the leg and an immediate leg submission by Del Sol. Chop exchange. Del Sol kick. Back elbow by Yoshino. Yoshino locks Del Sol’s arm. Kicks from Yoshino. Yoshino with a hammerlock/neck submission. Del Sol blocks an Irish whip. Dropkick misses. Yoshino connects. Vertical suplex. Del Sol up and over the top. Kick. Springboard dropkick. Nasty spill by Del Sol as he falls off on a springboard. Rolling DVD and a dropkick by Del Sol. Springboard splash gets two. Yoshino up and over. Slingblade gets a nearfall. Dropkick misses. Del Sol lifts Yoshino for a gutbuster. Yoshino does…something off the ropes. Slap misses. Del Sol sends him into the knee. Twisting suplex. Yoshino with a boot out of the corner. Leaping enziguri by Del Sol. Rana blocked. Yoshino hits a dropkick off the top rope. 1-2-NO! Series of slaps. Torbelleno. Del Sol gets a roll-up out of nowhere for the victory.
Match Analysis: Wasn’t exactly enthralled with the out of nowhere finish, but Del Sol winning his debut match against someone like Yoshino is huge for his career. If Yoshino is going to go through the motions as he did here, then he doesn’t deserve to be winning matches like this anyway. Del Sol was awfully sloppy here, but thankfully he’s improved greatly in six months.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Samuray Del Sol/10:24/**1/4
-Gargano says Yoshino may not have had his A-game on this night but makes sure to put over Del Sol. Yoshino says not to forget him and shoulder blocks him out of the way. Gargano vows victory.
-The Scene (Caleb Konley and Scott Reed w/Larry Dallas and Amber O’Neal) vs. Cima (Open the United Gate Champion) and Masaaki Mochizuki
Match in Five Words or Less: They Don’t Care
Match Highlights: Everything the Scene does just repulse me in every way, and not in a “I want to pay money to see these guys get beat” kind of way. Scene attack right away. Reed goes to work on Mochizuki in the ring. Kicks from Mochizuki. Exchange of shoulder tackles. Up and over goes Reed. Punt to the back by Mochizuki. Stalling from the Scene. Kick from Konley on Cima. Armdrag and dropkick by Cima. Leaping elbow drop. Mochizuki comes back in. Cima puts Konley upside down. Kick right in the balls. Snapmare by Cima on Reed. Low blow by Mochizuki for Reed as well. KneeDT by Mochizuki on Konley. Mochizuki maintains the knee bar before transitioning into a sharpshooter. Dropkick by Cima. Mochizuki with a chop. Konley kicks the middle rope. Reed kicks the middle rope on Cima. Heat segment. Mochizuki with a kick and right hand. More strikes. Konley with a kick to the back. Mochizuki springboards and hits Konley. Leaping kick on Reed. Jumping tag to Cima. Series of kicks on Reed. Konley from behind. Running elbow. Clothesline/bulldog combination. Konley reverses a whip. Cima with a scoop slam and double stomp. Konley drives Cima into his foot. Mochizuki comes in and kicks Reed. Whip reversed. Overhead kick and running boot by Mochizuki. Reed hits a clothesline. Headbutt by Reed. Series of go behinds. Double thrust kicks on Reed. O’Neal goes on the apron and begins stripping. Cima appears impressed. Forearm by Konley. That’s Obscene but Mochizuki breaks the count. Slingshot by Konley into the powerslam by Reed. Mochizuki with an overhead for Konley. Running yakuza kick on Reed. Konley attacks. Clotheslines miss. Double kicks. Dropkicks miss. Mochizuki with hard kicks on each. Scene set up. Running knees. Cima hits Schwein. Twister by Mochizuki. Stereo Meteoras. Cima and the Veteran Team pick up a win.
Match Analysis: Everyone appears to have things in a relatively low gear here tonight. Not very inspired stuff from either team. The Scene are extremely generic, and the only reason they distinguish themselves is through their disgusting acts. Cima and Mochizuki should be way above this sort of thing at this stage of their careers. Blah match.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Cima and Masaaki Mochizuki/10:10/**
-Mad Blankey attack once again, which makes sense given Cima and Mochizuki were the ones who saved Ricochet. Ricochet returns the favor. Uhaa Nation takes everyone out. Tozawa tells everyone to shut the hell up. Tozawa reiterates what their group name means and vows victory in Miami.
-Johnny Gargano says his back is better. Chuck Taylor is glad Rich Swann made his flight. Taylor talks about his bucket list. Gargano tries to make things a bit more serious. Swann says they’re the best group in Dragon Gate. Posing is done.
-AR Fox vs. Pac
Match in Five Words or Less: Oh Yeah!
Match Highlights: Pretty sad this will be their only one-on-one match on the indies. Code of honor followed. Quick pace established right away with some hard mat work. Chinlock by PAC. Fox brings PAC down by the leg. Headscissors by PAC. Stand-off. Another handshake. Fox flips out of an armdrag. Fox with a headscissors. Leapfrog. Fox out of the way. Dropkick. PAC hits a springboard dropkick. Fox sent into the top turnbuckle. Snapmare and applied headscissors. Fox reaches the bottom rope. Weak axehandles by Fox. Chops from PAC. Snap suplex. Headbutts by PAC. Gutwrench suplex. Bodyslam. Series of slingshot knee drops. Fox whipped in the corner. Running back elbow. Kick by Fox. Forearms. Running elbow by PAC. Standing shooting star press into the modified chinlock. PAC hits a back suplex. Blind charge misses. PAC with an enziguri in the corner. Fox crotches PAC on the top rope. Springboard dropkick sends PAC down. Kick and reverse 450. Fox with blows to the chest of PAC. Leg drop. Diving clothesline and a dropkick. Cannonball shooting star press. 1-2-NO! forearms and a spin kick by Fox. PAC hits a kick. Reverse by Fox. Running forearm by PAC. Springboard dropkick by PAC. Brainbuster. Fox sent head first into the turnbuckle. Enziguri. PAC ducks a dropkick. Shooting star press met with knees. Rolling death valley driver by Fox. Springboard 450. 1-2-NO! PAC placed on the top rope. PAC ducks and hits a German suplex. Enziguri. Reverse rana. 1-2-NO! Sitdown powerbomb ends it.
Match Analysis: This match actually gave me something to work with as they put on a very entertaining bout loaded with hot action and a lot of great maneuvers. The positive about everything else not being stellar is that this stood out as something special. Both guys worked extremely hard, and I hope we can get a rematch in some form or another some day.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: PAC/14:56/***1/2
-Three Way Eliminator: Mad Blankey (Akira Tozawa, BxB Hulk, and Uhaa Nation) vs. D.U.F (Sami Callihan, Arik Cannon, and Pinkie Sanchez) vs. Ronin (Johnny Gargano, Chuck Taylor, and Rich Swann)
Match in Five Words or Less: Poor Uhaa
Match Highlights: Not gonna lie. I was almost looking forward to this match moreso than any other match during the entire weekend, including Hell in a Cell at Mania and Elgin/Richards. Cannon and Hulk switch alcoholic beverages. Mist showers both miss. Big old battle royal to start. Too much chaos to really call. Swann and Nation in the ring. Nation hits a dropkick. Nation press slams Swann to the floor. Shoving match with Callihan. Chops by Callihan no sold. Low kick by Nation. Callihan tossed in the corner. Blind charge misses. Enziguri and face wash by Callihan. A second face wash. He calls for a third. Nation leaps up and hits a clothesline. Gutbuster. Press slam. Standing moonsault but Cannon breaks it up. Chops. Nation whips Cannon in the corner. Boot by Cannon. Swinging neckbreaker. He calls for Callihan. Cannon ties Nation up and gives Tozawa some golden mist. Bicycle kick by Tozawa and beer flows. Rana and shining wizard. Taylor in. Knee strike. Moonsault misses. Overhead throw. Sanchez comes in. Boot by Taylor. Sanchez sent up and over. Forearm by Taylor. Double stomp by Sanchez. Dropkick off the top rope. Hulk misses a clothesline. Thrust kick and sexy party. Elbow and leaping kick by Hulk. Kick on Swann. Swann flips over and hits a dropkick. Callihan comes back in. Bicycle kick. Death valley driver. Slingshot splash. Boot on Swann. Off the ropes with a diving lariat. Tope suicida. Gargano goes for a dive but gets hit with Callihan’s right hand. Kick blocked. Flatliner in the middle turnbuckle. Running forearm. Kick. Neckbreaker. Cannon dropkicks Gargano. Series of right hands. Shoulder blocks by Cannon in the corner. Forearm. Sanchez sent into the Gargano. Callihan with a backbreaker on Gargano. Another backbreaker as things have settled down into a regular tag team match. Cannon with a boot on Gargano. Snapmare into a dropkick. Camel clutch. Tozawa with a running senton as Mad Blankey now goes to work on the Open the Freedom Gate champion. Cannon tosses Tozawa and Hulk out since he and Callihan want to beat him up. Cannon and Callihan send Sanchez into the corner. Gargano out of the way. Roll through and enziguri on Callihan. Flatliner/DDT combination. Sanchez charges but gets back dropped onto his partners. Taylor and Swann cut Mad Blankey off. Triple dives by Ronin. Nation then dives… and tears his ACL. That did not look good. Know how sometimes guys hurt themselves on what appears to be innocent moves? This was not the case here. Match continues. Taylor forearms Sanchez. Cannon blocks a superplex. Taylor and Sanchez are brought down the hard way. Clothesline in the corner. Double clothesline. Cannon hits a Total Anarchy. 1-2-NO! Callihan and Cannon go to work on Tozawa. Hulk breaks the cover. Hulk with Mouse. Series of kicks. 1-2-NO! Tozawa doesn’t like the call. Kicks from MB. Flatliner by Hulk. Tozawa hits an Everest German suplex. Cannon and Callihan break it up. Sanchez counters and rolls Hulk up. Series of kicks by Hulk. Superkick. D.U.F. are done as Sanchez gets pinned. Hulk puts Swann in a chinlock. Hulk and Tozawa are heels but in a handicap match because of the injury to Nation. Very unfortunate situation. Swann sent into the turnbuckle. Chops from Tozawa. Amazing. This goes one for a good thirty seconds. He teases one more but then just punches him in the face. Double hip toss and a series of kicks by Tozawa and Hulk. Swann with a kick and rana on Hulk. Hulk shoved in the corner. Snapmare and Gargano hits a dropkick. Taylor sends Hulk into an acecrusher by Gargano. Taylor with chops on Hulk. Running elbow misses. Tozawa with a forearm. Dropkick by Hulk into a back drop driver by Tozawa. Swann breaks the count. Tozawa clears the ring. Big right hand. Spear by Gargano. Quebrada by Taylor. Frog splash by Swann. 1-2-NO! Back and forth go Gargano and Tozawa. Back drop driver by Tozawa ends the flurry. Forearm exchange. Kick by Tozawa. Enziguri misses. German suplex with a bridge gets two. Straightjacket German suplex attempt. Tozawa locks it and bridges over for the win.
Match Analysis: This felt way too disorganized at times. Nation’s injury certainly busted up the psychology of the match, but that’s at the bottom of the priority list. His injury really took me out of the match and there was no coming back. Good ending flurry between Tozawa and Gargano to set up their eventual match for the Open the Freedom Gate championship. Not a bad match by any means, but these nine guys are capable of so much more.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Mad Blankey/23:16/***
-Tozawa says bye. That’s polite of him.
The Verdict: Well, for a Dragon Gate USA show, this was pretty weak sauce as I’d argue this was the worst DG USA show in their history. With just two matches over three stars, it was obvious all these guys were saving themselves for the next two nights in Miami. I’d say thumbs down for this show, but I can’t help but feel like there was something missing…
Oh right, CZW. Well, this will be something else.
-Danny Havoc vs. tHURTeen
Match in Five Words or Less: Not My Thing
Match Highlights: Kevin Steen is on commentary. They lock-up. This is a death match. Feeling out process. Steen buries Rob Naylor on commentary. If I start doing play-by-play of Steen’s commentary, don’t be surprised. tHURTeen with a headscissors as Havoc is sent to the outside. Insane tHURTeen hits an asai moonsault. Elbow by tHURTeen. And he grabs a light tube. Havoc bites it and hits a series of forearms. Havoc with a side suplex. tHURTeen sent into the corner. Havoc sends him front first. Electric chair into a low blow. Havoc applies a neck vice. Light tub misses. Havoc hits a tilt a whirl backbreaker on the light tube. tHURTeen sent head first into the turnbuckle. Kicks by Havoc. Havoc whipped. Running forearm by Havoc. tHURTeen hits a cross body. Double stomp of a light tube into Havoc’s chest. Forearm exchange. Kick to the mouth by tHURTeen. Snapmare and a chop. tHURTeen kicks a tube right in the back of Havoc. Havoc ducks. Double knees get two. Of course, a light tube was across the top of his body. Havoc hits tHURTeen. Big slam into the light tube. 1-2-NO! Bodyslam by Havoc. Chinlock. Havoc takes a light tube and hits a fallaway slam. Headbutts by Havoc. Full nelson. tHURTeen kicks a light tube back in the face by Havoc. On the apron they go. tHURTeen back in the ring. Kick to the head. Springboard but he can’t catch himself. tHURTeen ranas Havoc to the floor. tHURTeen sends Havoc back in the ring. He drags him across the light tube debris. tHURTeen misses something off the top rope and ends up in the tube debris. He manages to get some glass in his hands. Oof. More forearms. Havoc drops tHURTeen into the tubes. Boot by tHURTeen. Tiger suplex into a light tube. Havoc covers but tHURTeen kicks out. Sami Callihan actually put CZW over during this. Rana blocked. Havoc counters. DVD into the debris. 1-2-NO! kicks by tHURTeen. Havoc sends him up and over. Done
Match Analysis: if you like death matches and light tubes, this is the match for you. Me? Can’t say I’m a huge fan. Thank God for Kevin Steen and Lenny Leonard’s commentary. They made this a million times more palatable. I never feel right rating death matches, so this will not get a star rating.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Danny Havoc/14:01/N/R
-Drake Younger vs. DJ Hyde
Match in Five Words or Less: Conjugo!
Match Highlights: I like what Younger has done to get himself in shape. He’s had some fantastic matches for PWG, but I do not want to see this match. At all. Hyde buries the crowd and says he’s the best professional athlete in the world. Younger says he’s going to make Hyde bleed. Kick by Younger. Hyde reverses. Younger slides to avoid a light tube. Chop. Chops and a slap. Hyde responds. Staple gun but Younger with a right. Sunset flip. Hyde staples him. Outside for another staple gun shot. Hyde staples the dollar bill to Younger’s head. Whip into the chairs. Younger staples a streamer, and now it’s time to take a tour of the building. Younger begins wearing out Hyde’s head with plastic water containers. Punch of the light tubes into Hyde. Series of punches with the light tube assistance. Younger brings a light tube contraption to the center of the ring. Low blow sends a light tube into Hyde’s groin. Hyde chokeslams Younger through the light tube contraption. Stomp as the unbroken tubes get broken. Hyde drives a tube into Younger’s face. Hyde pours thumbs tacks into the ring. Younger sends him into the corner. Tube in the back. Cross body into the tacks. 1-2-NO! Side slam by Hyde. Younger with a forearm. Hyde fires back. Headbutt of a tube into Younger’s head. Cannonball. Steen calls out the referee for being careful pounding the mat. Three tubes are put in the center of the ring. Elbow by Younger. Drake’s Landing attempt countered. DVD. Two more placed on the chest. Younger climbs to the top. Frog splash. 1-2-NO! Drake’s Landing and Hyde kicks out at one. You’ve got to be bleeping me. Lariat by Hyde. Lariat breaks the tube. Younger breaks tubes off his head. Hyde drops him on his head. Lariat. It’s over.
Match Analysis: Hyde got to kick out of a finisher at one and went over. Must be nice to be the booker of CZW. All I can say… that was something.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: DJ Hyde/1532/N/R
The Verdict: Kevin Steen and Lenny Leonard’s roll CZW commentary legitimately raises this show to a thumbs in the middle. That’s all I got.
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Ki making someone look like shit? What a shock.