CZW Deja Vu Ohio 09.07.13 VOD Review

This show was scheduled to be a live iPPV but due to a last minute decision based on some sketchy thoughts about the internet connection and capabilities at the venue in Dayton, RF Video and CZW decided to pull the plug on the iPPV stream. Therefore, this review piece is NOT play by play style, in real time.

DAVID STARR vs. GREG EXCELLENT: As soon as I saw this was the opener of “Deja Vu,” I had questions. My immediate on paper questioning of the opener at “Tangled Web 6” in August was because of the participants involved. However, in terms of delivery, despite how relatively obscure JT Dunn and David Starr are to CZW at this point, at Tangled Web 6 they delivered singles action that stands as an above worthy combat zone level opener. My immediate questioning of Starr versus Excellent on paper as the opener for this show was surrounded by questions like chemistry, pacing and card placement. What type of match are these two going to work? Will this unknown, fresh contest  between combat zone rookie and veteran be something  that reels me into the remainder of the show? On paper, it would be easy to stick your nose up at the idea of this as the opener, but we all know how illogical and selfish it is to jump the gun in pro wrestling. It turns out jumping the gun here was not all that illogical. These two put on a very bland opening contest and it felt very out of place. They kick off the match with a little nonsensical comedic influence involving a strip down of their gear. The ref even joins in. Then, I guess they try to get serious and Excellent takes immediate control. Starr acts as if Excellent’s size and power is too much to handle and therefore his offense is very limited. Starr does manage to hit one german for a near fall. As soon as the match takes legit shape and becomes about winning rather than laughs, it ends.  Tiger Driver by Excellent followed by the 3 count. Blah. Winner: Greg Excellent. *1/2.

DAVE CRIST vs. BIFF BUSICK: Unlike the opener, on paper this is a contest that sparks immediate intrigue. The major conflict between in-ring styles is most interesting here. Unorthodox, high risk versus natural wrestling ability is more often than not a story viewers can easily invest in. A mega over hometown babyface against a hot, over heel almost always manages to create some energy. From the second these two locked up, they set a pace, stuck to it and a nice little match formed. A little ground work doesn’t take long for Crist to bust out of and the conflict of styles is really showcased. Crist makes sure he looks faster. Busick makes sure he looks stronger. The move sets they both choose manage to tell that simple wrestling story of strength versus agility and most importantly the execution was nearly perfect. They got very little time but with the time they had, both men made.sure to make it count. Crist earns a very abrupt pin fall victory and then a frustrated Busick lays him out with a massive clothesline. Winner: Dave Crist. **1/2.

THE CATALYST, DUSTIN RAYZ AND ERIC RYAN vs. AEROFORM, FLIP KENDRICK AND LOIUS LYNDON: It takes no time at all for these teams to shift into a high gear and then stay at that same speed. Aeroform displays some innovative offense early and often. The early narrative here is that Rayz and Ryan appear caught off guard by Aeroform’s energy and the high speed at which they are hoping to dictate the match with. Rayz catches a baseball slide attempt from Lyndon and then launches him face first into the barricade. The Catalyst show full control for the first time in the match and then proceed to isolate Lyndon. This isolation doesn’t last very long and the pace is certainly not affected. Aeroform begins to dominate the contest again by going high risk. Things break down into more of a tornado style tag bout. One miscue by Lyndon leaves Kendrick vulnerable in the ring. Rayz powerbombs Kendrick and then Ryan, who is the legal man, snatches the three count. I didn’t care for the finish and would have enjoyed another five minutes or so, but similar to the Crist/Busick match, this was nearly flawless for the time it was given. Winners: Dustin Rayz and Eric Ryan. ***.

NEVEAH vs. KIMBER LEE: This is one of the better female encounters I’ve seen be put on by dub this year. Enough said. Great flow. Nothing sloppy. I can really get behind both women. Much like the matches that came before it, I thought it deserved a little more time in order to become something half-way memorable, but nevertheless both women took advantage and actually sent a message to CZW management at the same time. A message that says lets do this again. The finish comes when Neveah superplexes Lee off the middle rope and on impact they roll into a pin. The three count follows but both women appeared to have their shoulders on the mat. They argue about who actually won the match. “I won.” “No, I won.” “I pinned you.” No, I pinned you.” The match is ruled as a no contest. After the decision, the crowd makes it known that they want the match restarted and then a small brawl between Lee and Neveah ensues. No contest. **1/2.

Rockstar Pro Wrestling Showcase Match – AARON WILLIAMS vs. MATT TAYLOR:  This show is taking place at the home venue for Rockstar Pro Wrestling so it’s only fair this match takes place. A respectable back and forth contest the whole way through. A few flashy sequences but nothing to really take away from. Seriously, this was as even keel as it gets and even if you are not familiar with the talent being showcased here, you should find it easy enough to sit through. No particular story. No particular style. Just two guys throwing their best stuff at each other, working for near fall pops and ultimately the attention of the viewer. Williams hits a tower of London and then a buzzsaw kick, putting Taylor away for the pin fall victory. Winner: Aaron Williams. **1/2.

BLK JEEZ vs. CALEB KONLEY: This match can basically be split into three parts. Konley takes the majority of control early on. More towards the midpoint of the match Jeez takes over the majority of the offense. As the pace picks up a tad, neither man is in complete control and therefore back and forth exchanges of suplexes, strikes and near falls begin. Jeez gets the upper hand and pins Konley after a small package driver. Winner: Blk Jeez. **1/2.

Whoever is submitted or takes the pin fall will be removed from the Chris Cash Memorial Down with the Sickness Ladder Match for the CZW Wired Championship on Sept. 14, 2013 – AR FOX AND SHANE STRICKLAND vs. ALEX COLON AND ANDREW EVERETT: As Strickland and Fox make their entrance to the ring together, I could not help but to imagine how awesome they would be as a legit tag team. This turned out to be a typical, generic indy style tag match. With the players involved, all you probably need to do is read their names, read the match out loud and from there on your expectations can be set. These are interesting pairings and the match is just as interesting. The isolation spots are sparse. The high risk spots are plentiful. The contest breaks down into a tornado style slug-fest between both teams. The lack of order actually benefits the match because from this point, both teams look like viable options to pull off the win, and with the stipulation in play, unpredictability becomes an important part of the contest. A subtle, but notable sub-story to this match is how both teams do a lot of solo work early on, but by the mid point of the match both teams realize they should try to come up with double team stuff. Everett and Colon take out Strickland with some impressive double team work. They go to retrieve a ladder from under the ring and proceed to hit Strickland with it. This sounds the bell due to disqualification. This finish means they worked around the stipulation in play here, because nobody was submitted or pinned. The match is ruled as a no contest but technically Fox and Strickland walk out the winners. Colon then attacks Everett with the same ladder they just took out Strickland with. The ladder match on September 14 at “Down with the Sickness,” is forced to become a four-way. Winners: AR Fox and Shane Strickland. ***1/2.

CZW World Championship Match – DREW GULAK def. vs. SHANE HOLLISTER: Hollister earned a title match by winning a six-way a few shows back so this contest is not quite as random as it may seem. This match up feels like and looks like old school versus new school and I find that dynamic rather appealing. Gulak tends to wrestle like he has a broomstick up his ass and Hollister tends to wrestle like he is simply excited and happy to be there. Gulak the sourpuss against the more laid back Hollister adds something here. The character chemistry is there throughout, but perhaps the same cannot be said for the in-ring chemistry. Early on Hollister is beating Gulak at his own game. Even though Hollister was holding his own, he begins to try and break away from the technical work. This transition somehow works in Gulak’s favor. Gulak takes note that he is control so he goes back to the technical stuff. Hollister manages to hit the first high risk, high impact move of the contest but he is unable to turn the match around. A roaring lariat by Gulak earns the first near fall of the contest. Hollister uses the kickout as a way to build up some energy but Gulak stops him dead in his tracks with each attempt of some offense. Hollister sells a leg tweak after a failed top rope double stomp. Gulak takes notice and applies a modified indian death lock to make Hollister tap. Winner: Drew Gulak retains. **1/2.

RON MATHIS vs. TOMMY DREAMER: I really like Mathis so this match is one of the more intriguing contests of this show. Some nice exchanges early on but neither man can gain control so they agree to push the reset button. Some solid mat work, but again neither man gains control so they push the reset button again. This time the reset pissed them both off so they lip off a little and throw strikes at each other. They take the fight to the outside. Dreamer hits Mathis with a trashcan and then a crotch shot with the ring bell. Dreamer then has a fan hold up a chair and he sends Mathis head first into the chair. The innovator of violence is being innovative. Mathis fights back though and hits a trashcan shot of his own and then a copy cat crotch shot with the ring bell. Mathis decides he has gained control, so for the first time since the opening bell, he takes the fight back into the ring. Mathis slows things down with a chin lock but the crowd fires up Dreamer enough to break the hold. The Mathis attempt to slow things down turns into Dreamer actually being able to do so. The highlight spot of the match happens when Dreamer armdrags Mathis off the apron to the floor. Dreamer retrieves a trashcan and a chair. They both utilize the chair, but the fun stuff comes to an end when Mathis sends Dreamer head first into the trashcan, then followed up by a spinning tombstone and the three count. A really nice win for Mathis here. Winner: Ron Mathis. ***.

No Ropes Barbed Wire Match – DJ HYDE vs. JAKE CRIST: This match had everything it needed in order to be main event worthy, but unfortunately I felt the execution lacked a little too much and a little too often throughout. All of the ideas being presented were perfect but perhaps those ideas were not able to translate as well as they could have or should have. DJ Hyde often speaks out on CZW’s new-found attempt to be more conscious of violence for the sake of violence. Perhaps that was part of the issue here as Hyde and Crist are not exactly embroiled in a deep, heavy feud. Sure, there is heat between them, but no ropes barbed wire like heat? Not so much. The spots were well drawn out and the story telling of bully against hometown hero definitely clicked, but as a whole the match didn’t snap together. One too many super kicks. One too many “O.I’s.” Not enough doucheyness from the bully and not enough emotion from the hometown guy. The use of the barbed wire ropes felt and looked sloppy on many occasions but props can still be handed out for the ideas these two presented. There is also plenty of cringe-worthy spots with loose pieces of barbed wire and a few other out of nowhere moments you’ll pop for. Jake wraps his foot with a loose piece of wire and superkicks Hyde. Jake hits a death valley driver on Hyde sending him through the stage. Those two spots and a spear by Hyde that sent Jake through the barbed wire ropes should cement in your memory, but I doubt the same can be said for every minute of the 25 they went. They both sell the stage spot as if it did them right in. As if it killed them both. I thought even though the recovery period took a long time it really added to the match. Hyde gets Jake in a crossface with a little help from some loose barbed wire. Neveah can’t stand the site any longer so she runs to the aid of her husband. This allows Jake to escape the situation but soon after he is taken out by a massive lariat leading to the pin fall victory for Hyde. Winner: DJ Hyde. ***.