On the 30th of November, Premiere Wrestling Xperience returned to Neighborhood Theatre for the last show of 2012. It was a phenomenal show from top to bottom, and PWX’s finest show of the year but no one was prepared for what The “Dojo Bros” had in store for PWX. Adam Cole, Roderick Strong & Eddie Edwards would claim all the championships heading into the new year and put PWX on notice that no one could beat them. The following is a full review of one of the best Indy shows of 2012 including the emergence of the ROH stars’ full scale assault on the talent of PWX and a BRUTAL I Quit match capping off a feud between “The Southern Savior” John Skyler and Lodi. I encourage you to seek out this event on DVD, you will NOT regret it. Remember the following is…….

“Do Or Die” Chip Day vs Kyle O’ Reilly

Chip Day stepped up to perhaps the biggest challenge of his career in this opening match up with ROH talent Kyle O’ Reilly. Both men are known for being innovative, and powerful strikers and that was the story of this match. O’ Reilly and Day exchanged kicks, countered each others strikes and went to to toe for 15 minutes in one of the better opening matches I’ve seen live this year. Day nearly got the victory(without his 4Ever teammates) on several occasions and withstood each and every assault by the young prodigy of Davey Richards. In the end it was O’Reilly getting the victory with a cradling head and arm suplex.

 

                                                           Photos Courtesy of: Adrian Rohr

#1MansOpinion: The best compliment I can give to this match is that throughout the encounter I felt like I was watching ROH TV. Obviously O’Reilly is featured prominently on ROH for some time now, but Day showed he fits in with that style just as well. These two could meet again and I think they could top this great first matchup, the strikes alone are worth checking this match out, much like a chess match each man landed his strikes and sustained punishment from his opponent. *** 1/2

Return Match
“The King of Old School” Steve Corino w/ Thomas Simpson vs Alex Avgerinos w/ $5 Wrestling Champion Freight Train

Corino came out to berate the crowd as only he can. If you’ve never seen Corino live, you shoud do so just for his promo alone. Corino tore apart several fans at ringside, then said Charlotte was known for a lot of great things, but he doesn’t know any of them so don’t ask. His opponent, the young talent Alex Avgerinos came out with a big surprise for Corino, $5 Wrestling champion FREIGHT TRAIN! Train was announced as guest enforcer and took his place beside Thomas Simpson for the duration of the match. Avgerinos really came out with a different attitude in this return match, taking the action directly to Corino, clotheslining him over the top and dragging him around Neighborhood Theatre. The youngster nearly got the win before Corino kicked the rope and got the advantage. Corino soon looked to his manager Thomas Simpson once again and brought the Kendo Stick in to dispose of Avgerinos. On this night Alex had Freight Train in his corner and Train knocked the kendo stick away but the youngster, Avgerinos was caught hitting Corino with it and got disqualified. After the match $5 Wrestling Champ Freight Train was sprayed with aeresol and Corino had an even more dastardly plan, as he launched a fireball into Avgerinos face!!

                                                           Photos Courtesy of: Adrian Rohr

#1MansOpinion: These two had a pretty nice feud over the last few months and this was a great way of escalating that. The youngster Avgerinos looked as good in this match as I’ve seen him and will really benefit from working with a veteran like Corino. I don’t think I’ve seen a fireball in over 20 years. Corino has incredible heat to his matches and really knows how to work a crowd up. There is no telling what will be in store for 2013 when Corino returns to PWX with his fellow ROH Tag champion Jimmy Jacobs. ***

Cedric Alexander vs Davey Richards
“The American Wolf” Davey Richards returned to PWX to face hometown favorite Cedric Alexander. After a feeling out process with Cedric getting the better of Davey, the story became one upsmanship and neither man was giving an inch. Richards seemed to have Cedric put away several times with vicious kicks and power moves but Alexander would not give up.

                                                        Photos Courtesy of: Adrian Rohr

 

Cedric gave just as much as he got. In the end Richards focused in on Alexander’s legs and applied the anke lock with Cedric barely making it to the ropes. A frustrated Richards then laid 3 kicks directly to the chest of Alexander who asked for more. Alexander countered the 4th attempt for a near fall and then switched into hyper mode hitting the “Kick to Kill” and a high impact frogsplash to get the huge victory to end 2012.

                                                             Photos courtesy of: Adrian Rohr

#1MansOpinion: These two did not disappoint. This was the match everyone outside of Neighborhood Theatre were talking about before the show and Davey and Cedric both brought their A Games. The nearfalls here were supercharged with excitement as the crowd was securely behind the hometown favorite Alexander. Some of the moves these guys subjected their opponent to on this night that were sure to signal the end of the  match just took the crowd on a ride which made it seem that neither man would outdo the other. As I’ve said this card top to bottom is well worth admission or price of the DVD and I suggest highly that you check this out! ****

6 Man Scramble-Lucha Rules
Adam Page vs WIlliam “The Hammer” Roberts vs Corey Hollis vs “Mr Elite” Drew Myers vs “Cinderella Man” Ernie Osiris vs Chiva Kid

                                                         Photos Courtesy of: Adrian Rohr

The scramble match is becoming a regular part fo the PWX shows, as several have taken place over the last half of 2012. Chiva Kid has had immense success in these wild, often out of control matches and the last Scramble match of the year was no different. The action started off with some great mat wrestling between Hollis & Mr. Elite(a match I would love to see down the road) but quickly the biggest man in the match(BY FAR) William The Hammer Roberts tagged himself in emphatically chopping Myers. Roberts turned away each man as they tried to ground him and make up for the height advantage. Roberts launched several of his compeitors into the air, hit a powerbomb on and a big boot. The match at this point broke down with all six guys in the ring and Chiva Kid delivered a double missle dropkick onto The Hammer and Corey Hollis. With Roberts on the outside, Page kicked off a great display of high flying with a SSP fom the apron. Hollis followed that up with a tope, which was followed by a flipping dive over thet top onto all 4 men by Osiris. Everyone’s favorite Goat(Chiva) was left in the ring and he got a running start and flew over the top on all five guys, landing on his feet! The men who were able climbed back in the ring and it was Mr. Elite hitting a nice lifting german on Page,  followed by Hollis hitting the “Styles Clash” on Osiris but  Chiva back was up top and hit his amazing 720 splash onto Hollis to win the match & enter 2013 as PWX’s breakout Talent!

                                                         Photos Courtesy of: Adrian Rohr

#1MansOpinion: What an effort from all 6 men here! This was the best of the Scramble matches I’ve seen yet. I’ve said several times and it held true tonight, The Cinderella Man is getting an opportunity to show his acumen INSIDE the wrestling ring in PWX. Hollis & Page are two of the brightest young talents on the indy scene and looked great here. William “The Hammer” Roberts who is still very new to the business had his best outing in this match and played the dominant “Big Man” role to perfection. Mr. Elite is one of my personal potential  Breakout Stars for PWX in 2013. He has the looks, charisma, and in ring talent to really move up the ladder. Chiva is perhaps the most over talent in PWX and his high flying electrifies the crowd each time he’s out there. I look forward to seeing Chiva reap some benefits of winning these scramble matches in the coming year and get involved in some higher profile feuds possibly with Hollis, or Elite and eventually a possible match with a top tier guy like Cedric Alexander, Caleb Konley or even Adam Cole. *** 1/4

No Disqualification “I Quit” Match
“The Southern Savior” John Skyler vs Lodi
Following the Davey and Cedric match it was the conclusion of the hottest feud of 2012 in PWX. Lodi and John Skyler preceded to brutalize one another all throughout the Neighborhood Theatre, using any weapon they could get their hands on. The only goal of each man? To punish  his opponent(and bitter rival) to the point they have no choice but to say I Quit!! Lodi controlled the action early after Skyler tried to ambush him during his entrance and it wasn’t long before the blood was flowing, even before Lodi got his FED EX box of goodies out from under the ring. Using cookie sheets, muffin pans, and his chain necklace, Lodi battered Skyler but just couldn’t get him to give it up. SKyler turned the tides with a nasty keyboard shot to Lodi’s head that really opened up the laceration across the head of “The Original Sign Guy” Lodi. Skyler then pulled out some handcuffs and left Lodi helplessly hooked to the ring ropes.

                                                        Photos Courtesy of: Adrian Rohr

Skyler dropped the key down his tights and proceeded to berate Lodi verbally and physically but yet again could NOT get hiim to give up the fight. Skyler’s cockiness may have spelled the end for him in this one as he was dangling the key in front of Lodi who had gotten some powder and blinded The Southern Savior. Now freed from the ropes Lodi drove Skyler through a pile of thumbtacks in a ghastly scene and choked him out with referee Mitch Blalock’s belt until he had no choice but to give it up.

                                                           Photos Courtesy of: Adrian Rohr
#1MansOpinion: This was my MOTN and a definite must see! The toll these guys put on their bodies on this night was amazing and capped off a very entertaining feud that I hope we haven’t seen the very last of. If you’re a fan of the hardcore style you’ll certainly love this but I loved it for the Old School feel. The yelling into the microphone as each man tried to make his opponent submit brought me back to Tully Blanchard and Magnum TA’s great I Quit match in the 80s, and when the dust was settled and NEITHER Man looked the part of “Winner” you knew that Lodi & John Skyler came their to settle a feud and each fan benefited from their exertion with a fantastic match. **** 1/2

Grudge Match
“The Cadillac of Stars” Zane Riley vs “Hard Knox” Craig Huffman

This match was a pure brawl. Neither man has any love for the other after last month following a scramble match, Huffman cut the signature beard of Riley. Before the ring announcements could be completed Riley jumped Huffman and took him directly to the side of Neighborhood Theatre and bashed his head into the wall! Huffman & Riley fought through the 6th row of the packed crowd exchanging closed fists and berating one another verbally. Riley spit beer on Huffman, but Hard Knox reversed a whip into the post to regain the advantage briefly. Back in the ring and Huffman bragged about his actions at the last show as he reigned kicks and punches down on Riley. This however was the night that Huffman would pay for those transgressions as Riley fought back and hit his signature Cannonball into the corner followed by a death valley driver to pick up the satisfying victory. Zane showed just how he feels about Huffman with a double “Farmers Handkerchief” into the face before leaving the ring victorious.

                                                           Photo Courtesy of: Adrian Rohr

#1MansOpinion: This has been a good, but quick “mini-feud”. I think everyone was shocked when Huffman cut Riley’s beard at the last show and knew that if and when these two met it would be a FIGHT. Riley seems to have taken the loss of his signature beard in stride and is looking to the next chapter of his career, but is Huffman done with Riley? Or is one beating sufficient payback in Riley’s mind? These two I’m sure will cross paths again in 2013. ** 3/4

 

 

                                                         Photos Courtesy of: Adrian Rohr

PWX Tag Team Championship Match
The Great Outdoors(“Manscout” Jake Manning & Grizzly Redwood) (c) vs “Die Hard” Eddie Edwards & Roderick Strong

The Great Outdoors have taken on all comers since winning the PWX tag titles back in June, and on this night they, nor anyone else was prepared for what The Dojo Bros had in store for PWX. Manning & Grizzly took the fight directly to Strong & Edwards to start out and nearly put the match away early on a few seperate occasions. The ROH superstars were able to isolate Grizzly and keep Manning frustrated in the corner ambushing him several times allowing for many double team attacks on Redwood. Grizzly was not giving up those tag titles without a fight however and each time he was surely counted out he found a way to battle back, until finally he got the tag to The Manscout. Manning came in and was unstoppable taking out both Strong and Edwards and allowing Redwood just enough of a breather to get involved back in the match. After sending Strong to the outside, The Great Outdoors went for the “Doomsday Device” but Strong was able to get back in and knock Grizzly off the top, and chop block Manning who went to the outside with an injured knee. Back in the ring, The littlest lumberjack fell prey to a dominator/double stomp combo as “Die Hard” and Roddy became new PWX tag team champions.

Photo Courtesy of: Adrian Rohr

#1MansOpinion: Probably the best Tag team match of the year from PWX. On a show that was stacked from top to bottom this could have easily been MOTN. Manning & Redwood are extremely popular with the crowd at Neighborhood Theatre. Redwood takes a beating like very few  can and remains resilient, and all four guys in this match are top talents as far as in ring work. It’s hard to have a bad match with those components involved. Roddy & Eddie used classic tag team wrestling to isolate Redwood and lure Manning in on several occasions, and before the night was over we saw that it was all part of a master plan on behalf of ROH’s “Dojo Bros”. *** 3/4

 

Photo Courtesy Of: Adrian Rohr

                                                         Photos Courtesy of: Adrian Rohr

PWX Championship Match
“The Midnight Son” Caleb Konley (c) vs “The Panama City Playboy” Adam Cole

This was a rematch from just 2 weeks earlier in Boone, NC which saw Konley retain his PWX title only to be attacked after the match by Cole setting up this rematch. Konley was motivated to end 2012 at the top of the ladder in PWX but the Dojo Bros would be fully formed by the end of this match and Ring Of Honor laid claim to all the PWX titles. Konley & Cole went back and forth with Konley keeping the advantage for a large part of the match. When The Panama City Playboy did get the advantage he was more interested in asserting his dominance over Konley and mouthing off to the crowd. We now know that’s because Cole had a “fail safe” plan. As Konley fought back and locked Adam Cole in the “Oh Face!” submission, Roderick Strong came down the ramp and threw a towel into the face of the PWX champ, Konley released the hold and went after Strong who backed off. Then it was Eddie Edwards coming out and stifling another chance Konley had at retaining the title, and that’s all the opportunity Adam Cole needed as he got the pin on the distracted Midnight Son to win the PWX Title. After the match, Cole, Edwards, and Strong attacked Konley in the ring but The Great Outdoors came out and the ROH Faction bailed out of the ring and took the mic. Cole let the crowd know that they were the three best talents in the world, no one could beat them, they party harder than they wrestle and if they so chose there’s not a woman in the building they couldnt sleep with. They are the “Dojo Bros” and they now hold all the cards in PWX. Manscout got the mic and did some quick match saying they have 3 guys in the ring and The Dojo Bros are 3 guys so how about a 6 man at PWX’s 1st of event of 2013. Strong responded for The Dojo Bros with “I LIKE THAT!” as they made their exit.

 

                                                         Photos Courtesy of: Adrian Rohr

#1MansOpinion: This was another excellent match on a phenomenal card. Konley & Cole draw a lot of comparisons to one another and after seeing them battle, they do have similarities. Both are very talented inside the ring and match up well with one another. Cole impressed me in my first time seeing him live and has had a lot of success to end the year. Konley seems as focused as ever on making Cole’s goal of keeping the PWX title a living hell. *** 1/2

 

                                                   Photo courtesy of Twitter user @BPR1821

#1MansFINALOpinion: A phenomenal show from top to bottom, PWX’s best show of the year(and they’ve had some really good ones) Day & O’Reilly opened up the show wonderfully with their striking war, in a match that would’ve been at home on any weekly TV program. The intensity of matches like Riley vs Huffman and the AMAZING “I Quit” match between Skyler and Lodi were off the charts and had the crowd unglued throughout the whole match. Lodi vs Skyler and 4EVER  has been one of the most enjoyable feuds of the year for me. The Scramble match as I mentioned was the best one to date and really showed the depth of the PWX roster where any match has the potential to steal a show. The PWX championships matches and formation of The “Dojo Bros” which capped off the show was some of the  best stuff PWX has put on all year. The end of this final show of 2012 really sets up 2013 to be a big year in the promotion. I Strongly encourage you to check out pwxpro.com and highspots.com and once this event is released on DVD pick it up, you WILL NOT regret this purchase.

Overall Show Rating: 9/10 MUST SEE!


Stay tuned to pwxpro.com for more details on PWX’s first show of 2013 as they present “Living on the Edge”  on January 11th at The Chop Shop in Charlotte, NC. Already set is a huge  6 Man Main Event featuring The Dojo Bros(Cole, Edwards & Strong) vs The Great Outdoors and Caleb Konley. What do the Dojo Bros have in store for PWX in 2013? Can “Team PWX” fire the first shot it what should a long, grueling war with more than one casualty? Check out comments below from both The Dojo Bros & Manning, Redwood, and Konley about this upcoming event!!

 

The Dojo Bros speak about their successful debut in PWX

 

 

The Great Outdoors & Caleb Konley give us their thoughts on the Dojo Bros actions

Were you at the show? Agree or disagree with my MOTN or review? Its just #1MansOpinion and I would love to hear your comments!!! Leave them below or contact me on twitter @The1andonlyJer If you aren’t familiar with Premiere Wrestling Xperience I encourage you to check out www.pwxpro.com and www.highspots.com for all their DVD releases from this past year featuring All the talents of PWX such as The Great Outdoors, Caleb Konley, Cedric Alexander, Adam Page, Chiva Kid and many ROH talents like ROH World Champion Kevin Steen, Steve Corino, Davey Richards, “The Prodigy” Mike Bennett, Rhett Titus and More.

 

Thank You to all the talents of PWX who sacrificed their bodies and health for our entertainment over the course of the year. Also thanks to both, Ring Announcer Corky Franks who always does a phenomenal job and “The Voice of EVO” Chris Shore who provides all the play by play. Another thank you goes out to Sr. Official Mitch Blalock who works these shows alone! “Iron Man” style and does a great job. And last but not least PWX Owner/Operator Tyshionn Williams for putting on some of the best Indy wrestling of the year. Stay tuned to PWPonderings as I will have an interview with Ty up after the Holidays!

 

 

 

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