FEED-BACK TIME!
FEED-BACK TIME!
FEED-BACK TIME!Thought I’d play off Ryback’s “Feed Me More” chant to open this rather than some ordinary greeting. So, I’m going to assume that everyone has read the results. If not,
DON’T READ THIS, as spoilers are dead ahead.
As said initially, this was a great show. One of the best I’ve read this year and possibly all time. To me, there was no drop off anywhere. Every single match delivered. I know there was a delay (for a damn good reason) in posting, but as always is the case, the wait was more than worth it. So before I jump in (I’m going to try a different format for my feedback) I wanted to say thank you to the staff, everyone who wrote a match or segment and everyone who RP’ed this cycle. The dedication is not lost on this handler
Ok. Usually I read and write at the same time, picking out things as I go and giving my take right after. I’m going to keep the selections and then give my take at the end of it all and see how that works.
Underground Title Match
Andy D vs Lunacy ©* The opening banter between Ace and Jerry (including Ace laughing at the use of the word ‘Rumpus’)
* Andy D’s speech and the smart move of having backup to even the odds with 2Guys!
* “Holy hell, Jerry...Andy’s fighting like a drunken sailor!”
* In-crowd action
* Backstage action and as a tribute to Joe Bob Brigg’s “Drive-In Totals” on TNT MonsterVision, we have toilet seat Fu! Head-meet-wall Fu! Gratuitous use of an ironing board and steel chair, Which becomes the sequel to Head-meet-wall...because they are used on the back of his head...IN-STEREO FU!! pier six brawl, chop block Fu! I think Andy had talked the PASS method on last weeks Pulse with Murdoc, so if I remember right it was a cool call back to that. Oh...Extinguisher to the other five-hell is freezing over deluxe. Wrong time for an error message. Foam finger sighting! The tried and true kick to the jewels, because desperate times calls for desperate measures.
* A ZIP LINE to return to the ring with! A fifteen foot fall with shifted momentum brings the end for the champ.
Winner and NEW Underground Champion: Andy D
Thoughts: That was entertaining as hell. I was wondering how Andy would fair in the hardcore environment against the war waging, ultra-violent trio of Anarchy. I loved the use of 2Guys to make it a fair fight and I could see these two continuing going forward. There was all sorts of action in this and it had me sucked in from the speech on (seriously should have made popcorn). Excellent tone setter. I was NOT expecting a god damn zip line to get used. Was 100% expecting some spot from the balcony that would draw medics, HOLY SHIT and a Joey Styles, “OH MY GAWWWD!!,” but I found the line to be really smart. Congrats to the new champion!
Saniti/Crazy Boy Segment: I laughed at the flying relish projectiles. This was a good way to request backup to make sure The Darkness doesn’t try anything. Plus, with the former history of (Un)Stable, it made sense. Short, sweet and to the point.
Rick Majors Segment: Short, sweet and to the point x2. I liked Rick’s short answers and how he mentioned he hasn’t felt physically well in a decade. Brings a sense of realism as the wear and tear of professional wrestling (regardless of the age) does take a toll and does add up over time. So that was a nice touch.
North American Title Match
Crazy Boy vs Alexa Black ©* Nathan Saniti changing into N. Saniti by way of (literally) smoke and mirrors. But he’s not alone as Kelli Starr and two relatives also step out of the mirrors with him. In unison. Highly creative visual.
* “Wherever there is Darkness, there will always be those who oppose it...” “We are the Harvesters”
* Quick test of the referee’s count with a choke in the corner and a sit-out powerbomb to follow.
* Alexa shooting daggers in the direction of N. Saniti for protecting Crazy Boy.
* Hat pin dart to Alexander Shaw’s hand followed with a heart punch from Naomi to an oncoming Frederick Shaw.
* Yes, where IS Baby Jenks??
* Woo! Crazy Boy feels froggy!
* Theft of Naomi’s prosthetic leg from an unseen abductor. The important thing is Kelli and Rasputin were able to save her from being pulled under completely.
* ...A Baby Jenks sighting as she hands the fake leg to Alexa for use to put away the challenger.
* Post-match showdown between N. Saniti and Baby Jenks leads to some magical hubbub and her disappearance.
Winner and STILL North American Champion: Alexa Black
Thoughts: As with the previous, I like the fact Crazy Boy had some backup to even things out. I do have a minor nitpick with how the match started as I would have liked to seen the animosity spill over given the history of the ex-teammates and the circumstances from last Trauma. The match wasn’t as long as I had thought it was, which was fine. It didn’t need to be. The action was good. The outside parties got into it which played well into Alexa retaining with a nod to Zach Gowan.
Seromine Segment: As the author of such, I have no feedback to provide for it.
Kelli Starr Segment: Shane is having no luck is he? First Majors, now Starr. Everyone will have to wait to see who will be the mystery fifth partner. My money is on Razor Blade**, but hey...I don’t play the prediction game.
(**yes, I’m joking).
International Title Match
High Tide vs Seromine ©* Nice counter to Tide’s tilt-a-whirl DDT.
* Clothesline over the top-apron landing-baseball slide sequence. Creative.
* Tide blocks the six-six-six stomp attempt.
* Old school heel cheating. Take THAT ref!
* “Tide turned the TIDE of the match” “Oooo, ha ha. I bet you have been waiting to say that bad joke for a while now haven’t you?”
* No closed fists, High Tide!
* 360 lariat turning the challenger inside out like a shirt.
* Jerry Andrews continuing to hate on the defending champion.
* High Tide’s second wind and momentum shift.
* Crossface use leaves Seromine’s followers unsure what to do about it without an order from their leader.
* Tide can’t help himself with the ladies. Creative distraction from four of the females in the group.
* Destiny revives her husband while this is going on.
* Repetition from Seromine...but it doesn’t procure the victory!
* A second distraction ordered from the cult leader, this time with the males. IT BRINGS OUT WASP!
* Wasp getting attacked outside of the ring is enough to grab Tide’s attention. Before he can jump out to help, Seromine uses a school boy and handful of tights to retain his title.
* “Ya know, I’d be REALLY careful about all the things you been saying about him and his wife.
Winner and STILL International Champion: Seromine
Thoughts: An old school match in terms of pace. High Tide really brought the fight and for a moment there, I thought I was done for. I laughed at the first distraction and really liked the second one bringing some backup. As it’s my own match, I’ll keep things brief. It was good overall. It wouldn’t be the last time the two sides would see each other.
???: Life. That is all. Curious to see what that’s about.
Jerry: “Ohh dear God what next? We already have cults, twisted families, lunatics, pyromaniacs and Grimm running around here, what the hell is that?”
Lmao, and Grimm running around here.
World Title Match
Murdoc vs Grimm ©NOTE: This may get lengthy, lot of descriptions caught my attention (marked with **)
* “Do you suppose they’re gonna air one of those special warnings?” “For THESE two competitors, they should. But probably won’t.”
* “At least this is gonna be a clean match – neither of them have anyone skulking around anymore.”
* Welcome back Eira!
* “He’s not up against some punk kid or mouthy jobber. This is GRIMM.”
* “I’d just prefer to stay out of the ring entirely if Grimm is in there. Or Murdoc. Or Stormm. Or Showtime. Or - “We get the point.” “I was just saying” “We heard.”
* Security patdown for BOTH.
* Big match feel.
* Both analyze the other - **Clearly assessing for weaknesses. The faintest of hitches in a leg – an old injury to exploit? An arm with centimeters less range of motion – preexisting damage?**
* Vice headlock from Grimm.
**Grimm has the rare opportunity to be hung around Murdoc’s neck, feet clearing the mat by four inches before he drops less than a full second later**
* Sadistic is here! “Now now, fellas, I’m not here to cause trouble, I’m just here to
do the Super Bowl shuffle keep it from happening.” (Sorry, couldn’t resist sneaking the joke in).
* Eira v Sadistic showdown!
* Savage heart kick from Grimm. Ouch. Using one of Murdoc’s own trademarks on him.
** As if reacting to a starter gun at a race, they simultaneously launch themselves towards each other with all the seismic and pyroclastic fury of a raging volcano. Grimm’s earth and Murdoc’s fire explode against each other – and begin to spill destruction in the crowd.
(Q: was the ring reinforced for this clash?)
** No one really likes having to call in that “accidental death and dismemberment” clause of life insurance and all that.
* lukewarm beer to Grimm, large tub of popcorn turns Murdoc into Buckethead.
* “This is gonna get messy. No kidding – beer and popcorn just EVERYWHERE.
* Eira-Sadistic interaction.
** but at the last second Murdoc swerves to level him with a suspiciously low spear! Having that massive shoulder impact any part of one’s person is rough, but it’s clear Grimm is hurting as he rolls away!
** Sadistic is quicker to reach Grimm than Murdoc is, hauling his “little” brother back to his feet, jamming a chair into his hand! Eira is on Sadistic in an instant, badgering him back away from the action, hissed and growled invectives half-caught by camera audio.
* Grimm delivers a German suplex onto the unforgiving concrete in the upper level of the arena. Ouch.
* Action spilling into the men’s room.
* Dueling trademark shovel...AND THE KITCHEN SINK!! The former of which splits it right down the damn middle. Jesus Christ.
* “Looks like they’re throwing everything including the -” “Don’t say it.” “- bathroom sink at each other!”
* from the bathroom to the backstage area.
* BLITZKRIEG of attacks (kicks, punches, jabs and strikes).
* Poor Grimm. First it’s lukewarm beer. Now it’s scalding HOT coffee.
* Murdoc returns the German suplex favor from before.
** The audience howls its approval at the continued show, not so much cheering on either opponent but caught up in the visceral action – the finest gladiatorial display since the times of ancient Rome and the Coliseum!
* back to the stage!
* The Sword of Heimdall!
* Murdoc goes limp, wrenching Grimm’s arm with the sudden deadweight – the same arm injured at Trauma!
* So. Much. Action.
* Back to the ring!
* “YES! Get me some GRAVY and some TATERS, coz -” “You don’t have to do this.” “CHOPS ARE BEING SERVED!”
** Grimm and Murdoc continue their battle – no, their full blown WAR down the ramp. (#TRUTH).
* Murdoc is busted open and Grimm and a purpling eye.
* OHHH Murdoc hits Temporary Oblivion outta nowhere!
* GRIMM GETS HIS SHOULDER THE FUCK UP!
** Murdoc snaps up to a sitting position like a corpse popping up out of its coffin, lumbering to his feet- ad directly into a vicious Tornado DDT!
* Grimm hits THE HARVEST!
* MURDOC KICKS THE FUCK OUT!
* Beaten, battered, bloodied...both nearly are counted down until they hear 9.
* The last ounce of energy from both is reserved rush at one another and throw a flurry of fists...BOTH deliver and go down...with Murdoc falling on top of Grimm for the 1...2...3!!
Winner and NEW World Champion: Murdoc
Thoughts: ...Do I really have to say? I mentioned in my initial reply that this match was E-P-I-C and my observations really don’t do it justice. This was a match I was really, really looking forward to. There’s nothing I can say about either that hasn’t already been said. They are two of PCW’s greatest of all time. A huge congrats to Murdoc on capturing the World Title for the FIRST time. How in the hell that hasn’t happened before, I don’t know. But I’m happy for him. Will there be a rematch? If so, it may be somewhere other than the arena lol. The match may go down as MOTY. Lots and lots of punishing action in an epic clash that never let up until the final pinfall. Kudos to everyone involved.
The Revolution...will be televised. Interesting. Another mystery I’m looking forward to seeing the reveal for.
The Deadly RumbleI’m going to handle the Rumble a little differently. The order of entrance and elimination is at the end of the results, so I won’t cover that. I really won’t go over a whole lot of the action, as these sorts of matches is making sure you stay alive while trying to rid the ring of everyone else. Brochamp came in and was thrown right back out (lol) courtesy of Dan Fierce. The biggest surprise for me was the lack of surprise entrants this year. It’s not a bad thing really, but worth a mention given the history of the match. Nathan Saniti finally got to fight it out with Lunacy and Seromine at different times. Seromine made sure that Kelli Starr never got her chance to enter by attacking during her entrance, using a steel chair to viciously target the spine. That was a neat spot to read, wasn’t expecting it at all. There was a continuation of the International Title match prior to that happening between he and Wasp which also brought High Tide out. As the handler for him, I laughed at facing a 3 on 1 as each of them are going to be opponents in the huge T200 showdown. Hmm. Didn’t really think about the impact I had in the match. Oops. I made it to the same point this year that I did last, so that’s cool. I’m sure Starr will be looking for revenge lol.
If I had jumped in the prediction game, Fierce would have been my pick. He ended being the runner up, so congrats to Dan for making it to the final two. That’s an accomplishment in itself. There was some really good edge of your seat action at the end between Majors and Fierce (I’d love to see a one-on-one), including the heelish use of glitter, both men hitting finishers, a Karate Kid reference and a
RESTART of the match (nice Royal Rumble 1994 moment with both men hitting at the same time). Congrats to Rick Majors for winning the 2016 Deadly Rumble! I don’t know who will be the champion by the time the match happens, but he’ll certainly have his work cut out for him. I’m especially interested in seeing if there will be any friction between Saniti-Fierce-Majors as they were the last three, or if it’ll be understood that it was every man for themselves. The match was good and the action of the final two really kept me invested. Excellent drama involved, as it really could have gone either way.
