Pro Wrestling Guerrilla’s “TEN” Tenth Anniversary Preview

Terry Funk.  Roddy Piper.  Jake Roberts.  Jushin Thunder Liger.  Rob Van Dam.  Bryan Danielson.  CM Punk.  Claudio Castagnoli.  AJ Styles.  Samoa Joe.  The list of historic names goes on and on as all of these men have stepped in a PWG ring at some point in its illustrious ten year history.  It’s crazy to think that all of this started when six wrestlers, but more importantly friends came together with $500 each to start a wrestling promotion on July 26, 2003.  That’s ALL the money they’ve put into PWG.  Since that first show, they’ve been able to make enough money to promote shows for the last ten years.  Its amazing to hear wrestlers coming together to start a promotion and not ending up screwing each other over.  It’s been ten great years filled with the good, the bad and the ugly and it’s only fitting that one of wrestlers that truly embodies the spirit of PWG makes his return to the promotion he helped create.

Six Person Tag Match:  The PWG Returns of Ryan Taylor, Peter Avalon and Joey Ryan vs. Willie Mack, B-Boy and Candace LaRae

After missing four shows, Joey Ryan is back in Reseda.  Hopefully he took enough money from TNA to make it worth his while.  Surprisingly, he’s teaming with two other local talents that are also returning to PWG after an extended period of time.  Peter Avalon’s last match in PWG was in the opener of “World’s Finest” in March of 2012 against Kevin Steen.  Ryan Taylor’s last PWG appearance was in the opener of “Failure to Communicate” which was October of 2012.  How fitting that these three should team together.  However, it just seems like another match in the ever running saga between Joey Ryan and Candace LaRae.  I think they should shock the crowd and turn Candace heel and form a new Dynasty with Ryan, Taylor and Avalon.  I think a the tag team combination of Joey Ryan and Candace LaRae creates a completely new dynamic not just in PWG, but tag wrestling in general.  Imagine a top tag team consisting of a male and female wrestler?  I can only imagine what a Joey Ryan/Candace LaRae vs. Young Bucks match would be like.  I think turning Candace would create some fresh story lines, which are already few and far between, and make some fresh match ups teaming with Joey Ryan.  Plus it would give something new for Joey Ryan since he’s already won the PWG World Title, a multiple time PWG World Tag Team champion and the 2010 Battle of Los Angeles winner.  Willie Mack and B-Boy are perfect candidates to pair against a newly formed Dynasty.  I make the bold prediction that Candace turns heel and costs her team the victory.  But I’m probably way wrong.

WINNERS: Joey Ryan, Ryan Taylor and Peter Avalon

Kyle O’ Reilly vs. Manik TJ Perkins

So everyone including Hulk Hogan knows that TJ Perkins is/was Suicide.  When people found out, he accepted it and now was/is Manik.  But TNA owns the gimmick so Manik will not appear and it will just good ol’ TJ Perkins.  In PWG, he’s also wrestled as Puma and Pinoy Boy.  But no matter how many monikers he is given, he will still have to contend with Kyle O’ Reilly, who may be in line for a future title shot.  I initially thought O’Reilly would get a title shot at this show, but the World Title story line right now focuses on Kevin Steen and Drake Younger.  Despite all the recent television success of TJ Perkins, Kyle O’ Reilly seems to be gearing up for a run at the top.  In March at “All Star Weekend 9 Night 2”, he defeated Sami Callihan and at “Is Your Body Ready?” he defeated his mentor Davey Richards.  Those are some top level indy names.  I’m sure both guys want to look strong heading in BOLA two weeks later, but right now I have to give the edge to O’ Reilly.  It seems the crowd is slowly getting behind him too after pulling out those two big wins.

WINNER: Kyle O’ Reilly

Brian Cage vs. Anthony Nese

Nese is making his PWG debut and had a great showing at the first Wrestling Cares show against Adam Cole.  Nese’s style fits in very well with PWG and can easily get over with the fans.  I’m surprised Brian Cage and Michael Elgin are wrestling singles matches.  I thought for sure they would get a shot at the PWG World Tag Team titles but perhaps that’s being saved for a later date.  Both have been announced for BOLA so this is somewhat of a preview match.  Both guys are ripped psychically but Nese will have the speed advantage and it seems like Brian Cage always has the strength advantage.  This will be a fun match and a fun debut for Anthony Nese.  I think both Cage and Elgin need to look strong going into BOLA while Nese just needs to focus on getting the crowd behind him.

WINNER: Brian Cage 

RockNES Monsters of Johnny Yuma and Johnny Goodtime vs. Forever Hooligans of Rocky Romero and Alex Koslov

Two more names making their returns to PWG in Forever Hooligans.  Romero hasn’t been in PWG since the infamous “Steen Wolf” show in October of 2011 while Koslov’s last appearance was “World’s Finest”.  I’m hoping Koslov sings the Russian national anthem in Reseda as he usually does in Japan and I will stand up straight, some what tipsy but straight, and salute in respect.  I’m hoping the crowd will catch on that it’s a joke and get into to it.  RockNES are coming off a loss against the Unbreakable F’n Machines at “Is Your Body Ready?” and need to a win to rebound from recent tag losses.  I’m not sure if Romero and Koslov will be appearing more frequently or not, so smart booking would put the RockNES Monsters over since they are the regulars who need big win on an established tag team.  Even though Hooligans play heels, I think in Reseda they’ll come off as faces especially since the RockNES Monsters are playing cheating heels right now.

WINNERS: RockNES Monsters

Michael Elgin vs. AR Fox

This match has the potential to steal the under card.  Elgin has proven he can mix up with high flyer’s and still produce insane matches.  Fox has proven that he’s crazy by the sure amount of death defying dives he’s done over the last couple of years.  We saw a preview of this match in the crazy six man tag from “All Star Weekend 9 Night 2” with Elgin getting the pin on Fox.  Elgin has looked like a beast in PWG for the last year and half or so and even though he’s a strong candidate to win BOLA, I think he can afford a loss here and give the upset to Fox.  It would make it seem like Elgin might not have what it takes to win BOLA by virtue of this loss yet PWG can play up that expectation and give Elgin and another deep run in BOLA despite losing to Fox.  AR Fox has yet to win a match in PWG and this is also his first singles match.  This would be the perfect time to put Fox over with the fans with a big win here and getting people excited for how far he might go in BOLA.

WINNER: AR Fox

Paul London and Brian Kendrick vs. N****S in Paris of Chuck Taylor and Johnny Gargano

Chuck Taylor picked that team name, not me.  But besides that, this match will be a unique treat for the fans.  I’m not entirely sure where this match can possibly take place besides Dragon Gate USA which they’ve never done.  Independent wrestling’s past, present and future are all clashing in this match and it’s probably going to be funny.  I can just imagine what Chuck Taylor antics might occur with Paul London and Brian Kendrick around.   I’m not expecting an entirely comedic match because all four of these can go in the ring.  I think it will start out like a comedy match and then eventually turn things up a notch down the stretch with a hot finish.  London and Kendrick don’t really need the win as they only make sporadic appearances.  If Gargano and Taylor want to challenge for the tag titles, a big win over two veteran indy stars might be enough to earn themselves a shot.

WINNERS: N****S in Paris of Chuck Taylor and Johnny Gargano

Double Main Event #1~Triple Threat Ladder Match for the PWG World Tag Team Titles:
The Young Bucks of Nick and Matt Jackson(c) vs. Dojo Bros. of Roderick Strong and Eddie Edwards vs. Inner-City Machine Guns of Ricochet and Rich Swann

This match will be nuts.  I’m not sure it will be just as nuts as last year’s ladder match, but it might.  This will be crazy, epic, dangerous and awesome all at the same time.  We know the Bucks can get crazy with ladders.  Eddie Edwards has been a Ladder War.  I’ve never seen Roderick Strong, Ricochet or Rich Swann in ladder match before but I’m pretty sure those guys can easily come up with some innovative stuff.  Dojo Bros had their shot at the tag titles in March at “All Star Weekend 9 Night 2” but came up short.  Inner-City Machine Guns faced off with Bucks in the first round of “DDT4 2013” and also lost to the Young Bucks.  I’m bringing my mom’s vinyl copy of Lionel Richie’s “Can’t Slow Down” which has the song “All Night Long”.  I’m hoping the Inner-City Machine Guns autograph it or it’s used as a weapon during the show.  Either way, I’ll be satisfied.  This match is tough to call.  If the Young Bucks retain, the crowd won’t be so happy before the other main event.  And if Cole retains as well, the show would end on a downer like “The Empire Strikes Back”.  But if Dojo Bros or Inner-City win the belts, then I think it would be okay with Cole retaining as the crowd would still be happy seeing the Bucks lose the belts.  But, I have a feeling that the Young Bucks won’t lose the belts until the last show of the year or DDT4 next year.

WINNERS: The Young Bucks

Double Main Event #2~Triple Threat Guerrilla Warfare Match for the PWG World Title: Adam Cole(c) vs. Kevin Steen vs. Drake Younger

This match will have the most emotion to it the whole night.  The PWG crowd over the last year has gotten behind Drake Younger just like Tomohiro Ishi has done in New Japan right now.  He’s hard hitting work ethic and love of wrestling has translated well with crowd and many feel that it’s Drake Younger’s destiny to win the PWG World Title.  Drake has given so much of his body for PWG and the fans have certainty taken notice.  He came so close to defeating Adam Cole for the title at “All Star Weekend 9 Night 2” and recently got a big win over Kevin Steen at “Is Your Body Ready?”.  We can’t forget about Kevin Steen though.  Steen is still seeking payback on Adam Cole for kicking him in the balls and stealing the PWG World Title from him at BOLA last year as well as revenge for losing the title, ironically in a Guerrilla Warfare Match as well, at “Mystery Vortex” in December of 2012.  This is certainly the most story line driven PWG World Title match in quite some time.  It doesn’t feel like just another PWG World Title match.  Fans are heavily invested in this match.  I figured that they would save Drake’s title win for the end of the year, but this show is the fastest sell out in company history.  Just like how Wrestlemania X had two challengers for the WWF World Title, I think this night will also end with a new champion.

WINNER:  NEW PWG WORLD CHAMPION DRAKE YOUNGER

Well those are my thoughts on the show.  PWG never fails to deliver the awesome.  This might be the most stacked show in company history given the nature of the two main events.  Just like last year’s anniversary show preview, here are my top five matches and moments in PWG history slightly updated:

Top 5 Moments:

5) Kenny Omega Breaking the Ring at “BOLA 2008 Stage 2”

4)Human Tornado Ending Joey Ryan’s Evil Title Reign at “Based on a True Story”

3) El Generico’s Farewell at “DDT4 2013”

2) Bryan Danielson’s Farewell at “Guerre Sans Frontières”

1) Generico and Steen Literally Tear Down the Roof/Super Dragon’s Return at “Steen Wolf”

Top 5 Matches

5) El Generico vs. PAC- “All Star Weekend 4 Night 2”

4) PWG World Title: Chris Hero© vs. Bryan Danielson- “Guerre Sans Frontieres”

3) 3 Way Guerrilla Warfare Match for the PWG World Tag Team Titles:  Peligro Abejas(c) vs. The Young Bucks vs. The Cutler Brothers- “Seven”

2) 3 Way Ladder Match for the PWG World Tag Team Titles: Super Smash Brothers(c) vs. The Young Bucks vs. Future Shock- “Threemendous Three”

1) PWG World Title Ladder Match: Kevin Steen© vs. El Generico- “Steen Wolf”

Honorable Mentions

Guerrilla Warfare Match: Kevin Steen vs. Super Dragon-“Astonishing X-Mas”

PWG World Tag Team Titles: Super Dragon and Davey Richards© vs. Roderick Strong and Jack Evans – “Hollywood Globetrotters”

Shingo vs. El Generico- “Guerre Sans Frontieres”

PWG World Tag Team Titles/DDT4 2009 Finals: The Young Bucks© vs. The Hybrid Dolphins (Bryan Danielson and Roderick Strong) – “DDT4 2009”

PWG World Title: Davey Richards© vs. Chris Hero-“Seven”

El Generico and Ricochet vs. Kevin Steen and Akira Tozawa-“All Star Weekend 8 Night 2”

BOLA 2010 Quarter Finals: Akira Tozawa vs. Chris Hero- “BOLA 2010 Night 2”

* Thanks for reading.  I’ll be tweeting live results from the show.  Here’s my plug:

https://twitter.com/#!/BrianDaBrain.