ProWresBlog: April 2024

Monday, April 29, 2024

All Japan Pro Wrestling 4/28/2024 Champion Carnival 2024 Day 6

Day 5 is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/04/all-japan-pro-wrestling-4272024.html

I skipped one match here:

Champion Carnival 2024 Block A Match - Yuma Aoyagi vs. Cyrus

Cyrus is attacked before the bell rings. Yuma hits a bunch of forearms on him then climbs his back for a sleeper. Yuma lets go, charges at him and is lariated. Yuma is knocked off the apron into the rails then Cyrus chokes him on the rails. Cyrus walks on him outside then sends him into the rails. Yuma is thrown over the rails then Cyrus chokes him over the rails with his leg.

Cyrus throws the ref out of his way and butt drops Yuma's spine. Cyrus hits shots on him against the post then headbutts the post when Yuma moves. Yuma climbs his back for a sleeper then is rammed into the post. Cyrus powerbombs him on the apron.

Yumma rolls Cyrus up in the ring then Cyrus suplexes him. Cyrus splashes him for 2. Cyrus takes face kicks on the apron. Yuma tries to battering ram him but misses and takes a guillotine legdrop over the 2nd rope. Cyrus charges at him outside and ends up going into the rails. Yuma baseball slides him and wins via countout.

This was bogus. They were out there for a good 5 minutes or so and nobody was counted out then Cyrus couldn't get in by the 10 count later on in the match and was counted out. The match was the usual Cyrus offerings otherwise with slow and so-so brawling outside the ring.

Champion Carnival 2024 Block B Match - Lord Crewe vs. Rei Saito

They lock up and Crewe is driven back. Crewe hits some shots and they shoulder battle. Rei knocks him over then Crew back elbows him. Rei is pulled over the top rope and Crewe cannonballs him off the apron. Rei drives Crewe's back into the post then shoulderblocks him against the post.

Rei stomps on Crewe then shoulders him over. Rei slams and elbow drops him for 2. Rei slams him then stands on him. Rei shoulders him over and hits a splash for 2. Crewe hits a punch combo to the body then samoan drops him for 2.

They trade chops for forearms and Rei sumo palm strike flurries him. Rei hits a chop flurry. Crewe goes up and over him in the corner and hits a german. Crewe then runs into a lariat. Crewe hits two corkscrew kicks for 2. Crewe hits another bad looking corkscrew kick and wins it.

It was short and not that good. They just did a standard match here with a shoulderblock battle and some strikes. Crewe's corkscrew kicks here were not good either which is a real problem since those were used for the finish.

Hikaru Sato, Kuroshio TOKYO Japan & Ryuki Honda vs. Jun Saito, Ren Ayabe & Rising HAYATO

Jiro does his usual pre-match screwing around, doing a long entrance and dancing with the fans.

Sato and Rising start us off. Rising wristlocks him then Sato spin kicks him. Rising hits a big chop then spinning headscissors him. Rising teases a dive out but asai moonsaults back in. Sato then gets behind him and kicks him.

All 6 men fight outside and go onto the stage to fight. Jiro gets on Honda's shoulders then Rising gets on Ren's shoulders. Rising and Jiro then fight and Rising steals Jiro's jacket. They head back to the ring and Jiro is on his knees begging for his jacket. Ren face kicks Jiro while he's on his knees.

Ren slams Jiro then Jiro is triple teamed in the corner. Jun slams and elbow drops Jiro. Jun then thries to pin Jiro with his foot on Jiro's chest. Rising chokes Jiro with his own jacket then whips him with it. They tug of war over the jacket. Jiro armdrags him with the jacket then whips him with it.

Jiro then takes the tag to Honda with his jacket. Ren shoulders Honda over then Ronda chokes him on the ropes, counting along with the ref. Honda and Ren trade then Ref big boots him. Honda germans Ren then Ren dropkicks him.

Jun running face kicks Honda then hits corner punches. Honda suplexes Jun. Jun takes corner attacks from huis opponents then takes an enzugiri from Sato. Sato waterwheel drops him then is slammed on his kimura attempt. Jun running back elbows Sato then suplexes him.

Honda and Jiro double team Ren while Jun claws Honda. Ren hits a double lariat on Honda and Jiro then Rising springboard plancha's Jun and Honda outside. Sato enzugiri's Jun then Jun running face kicks him for 2. Jun does a bad cobra clutch chokeslam on Sato and wins it.

It was fine with them goofing around some, Rising doing a dive or two and Jiro getting his jacket stolen.

Jiro chokes Ren outside with a towel after.

Champion Carnival 2024 Block A Match - Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Hokuto Omori

DBS = Davey Boy Smith Jr.

Fake Omori comes out with the horse mask. DBS thinks it's the real Omori then the real Omori top rope dropkicks him. DBS is double whipped into the rails outside and the match officially starts. They go through a door and Omori and Fake Omori try to lock DBS out of the arena. DBS then gets in through another door, which Omori doesn't see.

DBS beats up on Omori outside and bangs his head off the apron. Omori is sent into the rails then Davey stomps him on the floor. DBS drops him with forearms in the ring then chinlocks him. They trade forearms. DBS stomps and foot chokes him.

DBS suplexes him then hits a gutwrench suplex for 2. DBS headscissors him then grabs the arm. DBS legdrops him and Omori back body drops him on a piledriver. Omori hits forearms, trips him into the 2nd rope then basement dropkicks his back. DBS face kicks him then backdrops him for 2. DBS crabs him.

DBS misses a charge and is rolled up. Omori cradles him off a suplex attempt. DBS is nearly sent into the ref. Omori low blows him in front of the ref and gets a 2 count. DBS ddt's him. DBS powerslams him for 2. DBS hits a stiff lariat then a stiff sitout powerbomb before the win.

I didn't like the fighting before the bell had rung thing as DBS got double teamed and nothing could really be done about it. Omori low blowed DBS right in front of the ref and the ref didn't care. Omori kind of needed to do more cheap tactics here and DBS needed to be more rough with him for it.

Champion Carnival 2024 Block B Match - Hartley Jackson vs. Yuma Anzai

Hart = Hartley Jackson

Hart running lariats Yuma at the bell then death valley drivers him on the apron. Yuma is out for a bit, gets in then is thrown back out. The same thing happens again. Yuma is sent into the rail for chops then sent into the post. They then do that spot again too.

They trade shots in the ring and Hart chops him down. Hart gets on his back and chinlocks him. Yuma's double underhook suplex is blocked and Hart chops him down. Hart slams Yuma then sentons him. Hart corner splashes him then hits a big lariat for 2.

Yuma ducks a lariat and hits forearms. Yuma hits a belly to belly suplex. Yuma forearms him then double underhook suplexes him for 2. Yuma grabs a sleeper and Hart drops him backwards out of it. Hart misses a senton then Yuma germans him. Yuma puts him in the facelock and wins it.

The idea was okay here but I didn't like Yuma throwing Hart around with ease and I don't him using the facelock as a finisher. It's just not a strong enough finisher. It was an average bigger guy vs smaller guy match here.

Champion Carnival 2024 Block A Match - Kento Miyahara vs. Shotaro Ashino

They lock up and clean break on the ropes. Ashino wristlocks him. Kento rolls through it then Ashino side headlocks him. Kento hits a face kick then Ashino does a fireman's carry style takedown. Kento misses a face kick and they stand off.

Ashino clubs Kento's back on a break then Kento basement dropkicks him over the 2nd rope. Kento headbutts him outside and Ashino tries to fight back with forearms. Ashino thinks he is fine then he flops over. Ashino takes more headbutts outside then is thrown in.

Ashino dragon screws Kento over the middle rope, dropkicks his knee then does his pose. Ashino ties up Kento's leg in the rails outside then bangs his leg off the post. Ashino stretch mufflers him, karelin's lifts him then does another stretch muffler. Ashino stands on Kento's leg. Kento dropkicks him in the knee and the side of the head.

Kento hits a flying pumping knee in the corner then Ashino ankle locks him at 10 minutes. Kento boots his way out of it and they fight on the apron. Kento face kicks him there then apron piledrivers him. Kento pumping knees him on the ropes and is caught with an ankle lock. Kento cradles him for 2 then Ashino germans him. Kento no sells it and germans him.

They trade forearms and Ashino clubs on Kento's back. Kento germans him then Ashino hits a nice lariat. Ashino backdrops him then Kento flying pumping knees him. Kento delay straightjacket germans him and wins it.

It had a little of everything with Ashino working the leg for the ankle lock and Kento doing his usual offense. I liked Ashino firing up some and clubbing all over Kento. I would say it all did flow together in the end but it could have been done smarter.

Champion Carnival 2024 Block B Match - Suwama vs. Hideki Suzuki

HS = Hideki Suzuki

They do some grappling to start. HS rolling kimura's him and breaks when he has the mount. Suwama trips him and is headscissored. HS grabs the arm then Suwama full nelsons him. HS reverses it then Suwama trips him into a front facelock. HS cravates him and Suwama ropebreaks on his chickenwing attempt.

Suwama rolls him into an armbar attempt. HS hits shots to the gut. They stare down and Suwama forearms him. They trade and HS hits various strikes. Suwama belly to belly suplexes him then sleepers him. HS rope breaks and is chopped up on the ropes.

HS dropkicks him then hits a dragon suplex. HS does a cobra twistthen Suwama hits germans on him. Suwama running lariats him then HS backdrops him out of the sleeper. HS hits an enzugiri then hits downward elbows. HS does an octopus stretch to him and taps him out with it.

They mailed this one in here. The match was not long enough for the style of match they were doing and it was over before it really even got started. The highspot of this one was a weak dragon suplex and the finish was an octopus stretch of all things. Maybe it beats a 30 minute Suzuki borefest, but that's about it.

Overall thoughts: It was not a great day at the Champion Carnival. The main was a pretty lame effort. Ashino/Kento was a casserole of various things put together that somehow worked in the end. Yuma/Hartley was average. I didn't like Davey/Omori. The 6-man was fine and I didn't like the other two CC matches. I'd probably give it a 4-5 out of 10.

New Japan Pro Wrestling 4/27/2024 Road to Wrestling Dontaku 2024 Day 7

I skipped one match here:

Pre-show: HANZO & Rey Paloma vs. Oleg Boltin & Toru Yano

Yano takes a turnbuckle pad off to start things. Hanzo drops him with kicks then Rey corner lariats Yano. Rey flying lariats Yano for 2. Yano atomic drops Rey and sends him into the exposed buckle.

Oleg gets in and stomps on Rey. Oleg slams him. Yano is tagged in and stomps on Rey. Rey spin kicks him. Hanzo chops Yano then handstands on the 2nd rope. Yno gets furstarted and misses a charge, going into the exposed buckle. Hanzo dropkicks Yano in the knee then chops him off the 2nd rope. Hanzo armlocks Yano and Oleg breaks it with a chop.

Rey indian deathlocks Yano and gyrates as he does it. Yano pulls him down by the hair then Oleg shoulders over Rey. Oleg splashes Rey for 2. Rey spinning headscissors Oleg and gets his pants pulled down. Rey runs with his pants pulled down. Oleg shoulders him over then karelin's lifts him with Rey's pants pulled down.

Rey rolls up Oleg while his pants are pulled down then Oleg rams him into the buckles. Oleg vader bombs him in a new move then finlay rolls him for the win.

Really? We had to watch a match with a dude whose pants were pulled down? I didn't need to see that. This was mostly all screwing around here and it wasn't good.

United Empire (Francesco Akira & Jeff Cobb) vs. TMDK (Kosei Fujita & Zack Sabre Jr.)

Zack and Cobb start us off. Zack takes him down then they get back up. Zack bridges and takes him down by the wrist. Cobb wrist throws him then Zack headscissors him. Cobb handstands out of it then stares him down.

Zack headlocks Cobb and misses a pele kick on the arm. Cobb tells him no then Kosei gets in. Kosei and Akria go at it. Kosei shoulders him over then Akira flying headscissors him. Kosei flying kicks Akira. Zack takes down Akira and kneedrops his leg.

Kosei is back in and slams Akira. Akira hits shots on Kosei then Akira leg lariats him. Cobb beale throws Kosei then Cobb drops Akira onto Kosei. Kosei and Akira trade forearms then Kosei spinning heel kicks him. Zakc hits euros on Akira and Akira superkicks him in the gut. Zack blocks a flying headscissors.

Akira springboard crossbodies Zack then Akira rolls him into a double stomp. Cobb hits forearms on Zack then backdrops him. Zack tornado ddt's him. Cobb and Kosei go at it. Kosei flying forearms him then somewhat hits a springboard swanton on him. Cobb crossbodies Kosei. Zack gets in, runs into a superkick then is plancha'd by Akira outside.

Kosei goes for a guillotine on Cobb then has his hurricanrana counted with a powerbomb. Cobb gets a 2 count on a pin attempt on him then does a tour of the islands slam to win it.

They didn't really have enough time here for this one and it was just so-so. I would have liked for this to go longer.

El Desperado, Shota Umino & Tomohiro Ishii vs. House Of Torture (EVIL, Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi)

The heels attack before the bell. Shota is 3v1'd. He sends Evil into Ren then dropkicks Yujiro. Ren is double shouldered over. Despy takes a flying knee press from Ren then Ren chokes him. Evil chokes Despy with a towel and Yujiro joins in.

Despy is thrown out and Togo rams a chair into his gut. Ren foot slaps Despy and Despy fires back. Ren puts him in a cobra twist the nsends Shota into the rails outside. Evil chokes Despy with something.

Despy's mask is grabbed by Evil then Despy backdrops Evil. Ishii hits forearms on Evil then survives a 3v1. Ishii shoulders Evil over then Evil eye rakes him. Ishii suplexes Evil. Ishii is sent into the exposed buckle then shot takes corner attacks. Shota takesa a 2nd rope chop in the nuts from Togo.

Yujiro grabs his cane, misses a shot then Despy spears him. Despy spinebusters Evil then Togo gets knocked off the apron. Shota does a his slingshot ddt on the apron to Yujiro, who is over the 2nd rope. Shota hits a mcgillicutter to Yujiro then double arm ddt's him for the win.

It was your usual HoT match filled with shenanigans. At least it was somewhat believable.

Ren hits Shota with the push up board after and poses on him.

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima vs. Shoma Kato & Tomoaki Honma

KM = Katsuya Murashima

The two rookies go at it. KM takes down Kato and they get back up. KM does a nice shoulder throw then Kato side headlocks him. Kato shoulders him over and slams him. Honma in and trips KM then single leg crabs him.

Kato stomps on KM then hiptosses him for 2. Kato slams him then Honma back elbows KM. KM hits forearms on Honma then does a nice dropkick. Tana gets in and flying forearms Honma. Tana slams him and hits a 2nd rope swanton for 2.

Honma headbutts him. Tana and Kato trade. Kato dropkicks him, slams him then crabs him. Honma headbutt drops Tana while he's being crabbed. Tana gets his feet up in the corner and double boots Kato. Tana dragon screws him then texas cloverleafs him. KM hits a big slap on Honma then crabs him. Kato then taps out to Tanna.

It was a short young lion and vet match. It was fine for what it was and the young lions did a good job of going at it.

House Of Torture (SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) vs. Just 5 Guys (DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku)

All four fight to start. Douki foot chokes Sho. Sho takes a double team and double elbow drop. Sho is put in a camel clutch then Taka basement dropkicks him. Taka is sent int othe rails outside then Kanemaru slams Douki on the floor.

Kanemaru backdrops Douki for 2. Sho grabs Douki by the hair then eye rakes him. Douki suplexes Sho. Taka running knees KAnemaru when they get in then Taka puts him in just facelock. Sho breaks it up then grabs weapons. The ref and Douki thwart him then Sho takes a double team. Taka pump kicks Kanemaru then superkicks him for 2.

The ref is pushed into Taka. Kanemaru low blows Taka then pins him to win it.

I have no idea what the point of this 4:39 match was but it was a waste of time.

NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Title Match - TMDK (Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste) (c) vs. Guerrillas Of Destiny (El Phantasmo & Hikuleo)

Shane and ELP starts us off. Shane wristlocks him and ELP flips through it. ELP puts him in his own writlock. Shane gets out and kicks him in the back. ELP sideheadlocks him, Shane then shoulders him over. ELP flips over Shane's back then hurricanrana's him. They trade forearms. Both miss moves then stand off.

Hiku and Mikey go at it. Mikey side headlocks him and they shoulder battle. Hiku shoulders him over then running larits him. Mikey takes corner attacks a side slam. ELP 2nd rope elbow drops him for 2. Mikey ddt's ELP then ELP is sent into the rails. ELP is backdropped on the apron. ELP is tripped, takes a baseball slide, then has his face banged off the apron. Shane bodyscissors ELP.

ELP fights off a 2v1 then is thrown overhead by Shane. ELP step up enzugiri's Mikey on a 2v1 and Mikey stops him from making a tag. ELP flips out of backdrops and tags in Hiku. Hiku face kicks Mikey and hits snake eyes and a big boot on Shane. Hiku elbow drops Shane for 2.

Hiku hits a double northern lights suplex. ELP walks the top rope with Hiku's help and moonsaults onto TMDK outside. Shane takes a headkick + spinning torture rack neckbreaker for 2. Mikey is leapfrogged and runs into a Hiku ddt. ELP superkicks Hiku on accident then Shane reverse slams ELP for 2.

ELP is on top and Mikey powerbombs his own partner Shane so he can superplex ELP. Mikey sliding lariats ELP for 2. ELP dropkicks Mikey after kicking out of pin attempts. Hiku is tagged in and knocks Shane off the apron. Hiku and Mikey trade. Mike ytakes a powerslam. ELP then springboard swantons him and follows it up with a moonsault off the ropes.

ELP is slammed then reverses a double gorilla press into a double ddt. Mikey is superkicked into a chokeslam. ELP is rocket launched off the ropes for a 2 count. Shane flips ELP with a lariat then Hiku powerslams Shane. Mikey rolls up Hiku on a chokeslam attempt and wins it.

It was just average. The finish didn't really help things here. The match they were doing needed another 5 minutes or so.

NJPW King Of Pro-Wrestling Title Rural Revitalization In Hamamatsu 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match - Great-O-Khan (c) vs. Yuya Uemura

1st fall - They have to stack 4 tires on traffic cones here. Khan was balding with a Manchu style haircut. He shaved the part that was balding. Khan backdrops Yuya and throws a tire at him when Yuya goes to plancha. Khan ties up Yuya's legs by putting tires on them. Khan sits on Yuya's neck in the corner and hits double chops. Khan throws a tire at him, Yuya moves then chops him off the top.

Khan forearms him and they swing tires at each other. They then do sumo with the tires. Khan knocks him over then slams him on a stack of tires. Yuya has tires put around his neck and they fight over a tire. Khan has a tire put on his neck then he is dropkicked. Yuya is ramed into the corner with a tire and they fight over the last tire. Yuya is swept with a tire then gets 4 tires on the cone to win it.

2nd fall - They had a lemon eating contest than Khan won.

3rd fall - Yuya flying forearms him, dropkicks him and plancha's him. Yuya is sent into the rails and into the seats. Yuya is slammed into the seats then sent into a rail near a door. Khan iron claws him in the ring. Yuya chop and backdrops him then Khan shoulder throws him.

They fight on the apron and Khan is dropkicked. Khan claws him then Yuya top rope crossbodies him inside. Khan belly to belly suplexes him then is german suplexed. Khan running lariats him then Yuya uranages him.

They trade on their knees then get up and trade. Khan hits a punch then is front suplexed into a table. Yuya wins.

The whole match was an embarrassment to NJPW and one of the worst things they've ever put on.

Ten Man Tag Team Elimination Match - Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito & Yota Tsuji) vs. BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors, David Finlay, Drilla Moloney & Gabe Kidd) & Jake Lee

DF = David Finlay, HT = Hiromu Takahashi

Yota and DF start us off. DF spits at him early and is shouldered over. HR and Drilla go at it, HT shotgun dropkicks him. HT corner lariats and basement dropkicks him. Clark is kncoked down into a basement dropkick on a double team. Drilla is double hiptossed then double hiptossed back.

HT is beat up in the corner by the heels and a bunch of wrestlers fight outside with Lee and Naito squaring off. Naito takes a hard ride into and over the rails. Gabe and Shingo trade headbutts in the seats. DF takes a fans phone and takes pics of Naito getting beaten up.

Back in the ring, Lee foot chokes HT in the corner. Lee hiptosses him then holds him for DF stomps. HT is nearly thrown out then gets suplexed and elbow dropped by Clark. HT forces Clark to hurricanrana Drilla then HT dragon screws Clark.

Naito gets in. He armdrags, atomic drops and baseball slides Clark. Gabe breaks up Naito's hold on Clark and stomps him. Clark pounces Naito. Shingo and Gabe get in and shoulder battle. Shingo corner lariats him then Gabe bites him. Shingo suplexes him then Gabe suplexes him back. They trade headbutts and forearms then drop each other with lariats. They trade shots then both go over the top on a Shingo lariat and are eliminated.

Bushi flying headscissors DF then runs into a Clark powerslams. Bushi takes a high/low combo for 2. Bushi rewind kicks Drilla then eliminates him over the top rope. Clark spears Bushi then Bushi rolls him up and pins him. Clark is eliminated.

DF pounds on Bushi then DF euros him. DF powerbombs Bushi over the top rope onto his partners and Bushi is eliminated. DF and Yota go at it. Yota flying headscissors him then hits a corner splash and a regular splash. DF sentons him then running euros him in the corner. DF throws him on a suplex. Yota and DF trade then Yota hits a big kneelift. Yota ends up on the apron nad gets eliminated after DF and Lee trick him.

Naito, HT, Lee and DF are the final four here. They pair off and fight. HT superkicks DF on the apron and gets his sunset bomb blocked through the ropes. DF hits a nasty uranage backbreaker then dominators him for 2. DF hits euros on HT then HT superkicks him. DF back elbows him and HT hurricanrana's DF over the top rope for the elimination.

Lee running knees him then running corner face kicks him. Lee knocks HT over the top with the kick and eliminates him. Naito and Jake Lee are the final two.

Lee hits a big knee to the gut and backdrops him. Naito tornado ddt's him. Naito sits up top and is facekicked to the apron. Lee misses a face kick and ends up on the apron with him. Naito legsweeps him and basement dropkicks him off to eliminate him. Naito wins.

LOL I feel like the conversation on this went "Hey NJPW, Okada left, so we can't do Okada/Kaito 2 now. I know you guys are without any NOAH wrestlers to bury. How about burying Jake Lee?". I don't get the logic of having Jake lose the match here at all. I didn't get the logic of even having him in this at all. But when you give NJPW a chance to bury other promotions talent, they are not going to pass it up.

Like most elimination matches in NJPW, it wasn't as good as it could have been. Despite being in the main event on a somewhat big show, they didn't go all out and there weren't a lot of special moments. We barely saw Yota and both Gabe and Shingo went out pretty early. It wasn't awful, but there was nothing stopping them from putting on an epic here yet they chose not to. It was just a match and it was completely forgettable. I'm not even really surprised at this point though with how bad NJPW booking has been lately.

Overall thoughts: The main was disappointing and poor Jake Lee got made to look like a fool as is customary with outsiders. Khan/Yuya was one of the dumbest matches NJPW has ever done. The tag title match was average, Rey Paloma wrestled with his pants down during the opener and the rest of the show wasn't that good. This was one of the worst New Japan shows I've ever seen and stuff like this just makes you want to stop watching the promotion period.

Sunday, April 28, 2024

NWA Powerrr 10/15/2019 Episode 2

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2019/10/nwa-powerrr-1082019-episode-1.html

Joe Galli and Jim Cornette are on commentary here. They welcome us to the show and send us over to Dave Marquez.

Marquez interviews Aaron Stevens. He said he had success in film and that required him to leave wrestling. He said he heard that the NWA, studio wrestling and pro wrestling is back. He said he's here to announce that he is back. He asks everyone to avoid eye contact with him.

He is asked who he is wrestling first and said he will let us know when he's ready.

Trevor Murdoch vs Ricky Starks

Ricky is wearing a bandana and a baseball style shirt here. TM backs him up in the corner and clean breaks. Ricky armdrags him then TM hiptosses him. TM misses an elbow drop then Ricky misses a dropkick. They then regroup and TM does Ricky's pose.

They trade chops and TM face kicks him. TM russian legsweeps him then misses a 2nd rope legdrop. Ricky baseball slides him. Ricky neckbreakers him then dropkicks him off the buckles for 2. TM blocks a tornado ddt then Starks gets the surprise win with a crucifix. Starks is shocked.

It was a quick one here with Starks getting the upset win. I thought they could have built up to the win a little more.

Starks is interviewed after. TM says good job and it just wasn't my night. Starks says TM proved that even if you had a bad day, walk out with some dignity. Starks says he has a lot of goals. He said he can go for the world or national title. He said he wants to take this to a new level. He said he finally has gotten the platform he needed. He talks about how he thinks he's pretty. He said he may act funny, but his counting your money.

I didn't like this interview and it wasn't clear what he was trying to do here.

Joe Galli talks about last week's interview with Nick Aldis and Kamille. He said you need to ask tough questions sometimes and the people deserve tough answers.

Colt Cabana is interviewed. He says this is exciting. Joe wants to talk about the elephant in the room. Colt said he wasn't 100% last week but is ready to go now. He said he's in a tag match and has got a guy. Mr. Anderson then interrupts. He said Colt could have picked anyone but picked him. Colt does Anderson's lines.

Colt Cabana and Mr. Anderson vs Sal Rinauo and Jordan Kingsley

Colt wristlocks Sal. Sal tries to reverse it and is reversed. Colt brings him down by the arm. Sal rolls out out of the wristlock then is flipped over. Col flips him by the arm.

Anderson counters a headscissors from Sal with a side slam. Anderson hiptosses Jordan then hits chops. Jordan pele kicks him then is back body dropped. Anderson lariats him.

Colt comes in and hits a double chop. He elbow drops Jordan. Jordan takes a double shot to the gut then takes a finlay roll. Anderson then finlay rolls Sal onto Jordan. Colt flying back elbows Sal then Anderson flatliners Sal to win it.

It was all squash here with Colt and Anderson having no issues.

Nick Aldis is caught leaving the building. He says he didn't sign up for this and isn't happy with the interview. He said Joe's line of questioning was irrelevant and he wants to go back to business as world champ.

Eddie Kingston and Homicide are interviewed. Eddie said The Wild Cards being tag champs means something but not to them. Eddie says it means nothing until they beat them.

Allysin Kay vs Ashley Vox

Kay waistlock takedowns her then Vox running forearms her. Vox running dropkicks her then Kay powerslams her. Kay tries a one foot pin. Vox is caught on a crossbody and takes a fallaway slams for 2. Kay push kicks her and hits corner chops.

Vox chop flurries her then Kay wheelbarrow germans her for 2. Vox rolls her up on a beach break attempt then Vox shotgun dropkicks her. Kay misses a corner charge then Vox headscissors her out of the corner. Vox hits a corner cannonball for 2. Vox goes for a hold then takes a beach brake. Kay then pins her.

It was a decent match here with Vox as the underdog trying to upset the champ Kay. Vox was likeable here.

Allysin Kay is interviewed. She said it's a new era of NWA and they are hungry athletes. She tells Vox to come over. She said she did good but not good enough today. She said her future is bright but not with her NWA title.

We get a Tim Storm interview from last week. He walks away without saying anything.

Joe Galli interviews James Storm. Storm said don't call him champ, he is James Storm. He said his title is like a prop and a way to get him in the fastlane for a title shot. He said he's here to become NWA champ and is a grown man. He goes off on Joe and does his lines. He says he is that man.

Eli Drake interrupts. He said he's right. He said carrying his title is a big deal and said Storm is next in line for the world title. He said he doesn't know what it means. Eli says to make the move and take the shot and tells him to remember his boy if he does win the title.

NWA Tag Titles - The Wildcards (Royce Isaacs and Thom Latimer) vs Eddie Kingston and Homicide

Thom and Eddie lock up. Eddie pushes him back then is pushed back into the corner. Thom boots and punches him off the break then Eddie lariats him. Eddie suplexes Royce then Royce takes a double shoulderblock. Thom takes one as well. Homicide flying forearms Royce for 2.

Royce lariats Homicide. Thom and Homicide fight. Thom backdrops him then chinlocks him. Royce powerslams Homicide for 2. Homicide sunset flips Thom but Thom tags out during it. Royce backdrops Homicide and rolls him into a pin attempt.

Thom chinlocks Homicide then slams him. Royce swears at Eddie then is crotched up top by Homicide. Eddie is tagged in and fights off the 2v1. He belly to belly suplexes Royce then uranage's Thom. The Dawson's then run in and beat up Eddie and Homicide for the DQ.

It was a decent match up until the DQ. It could have been a little bit quicker though especially since the finish was going to be a screw job.

The Dawson's throw The Wildcards out as well.

Joe Galli interviews Nick Aldis and Kamille. Nick says you get some power and say as champ. He said he wanted to defend his title against Tim Storm on the first episode of Powerrr. He said Tim is authentic and a real man but the match went in Aldis' favor. Joe asks why Nick needs Kamille as an insurance policy.

Nick said he feels like he's on 60 Minutes. They argue. Nick said he lost his title at AEW All-In due to outside interference and a crooked ref. He said at NWA 70, he evened the odds with Kamille and it worked out perfectly. He said when people are gunning for you, it's best to play to your strengths. Nick asks when Kamille had done something illegal and Joe said nothing comes to mind. Nick said he's not sure what he's getting at.

He said Kamille can speak when she wants to speak. Joe asks what's in it for Kamille. Kamille taps her mic but has nothing to say. Nick says he doesn't want to hear another word about letting her speak. They then end the interview.

I didn't get this one. I didn't get how it was supposed to interest me or what it is really building up to than more Kamille at ringside.

Overall thoughts: The format of the show is great and the production is very good. I don't know what the Aldis/Kamille stuff was about and everything except the main was on the shorter side. The crowd was great but I didn't think it was a great show.

AEW Rampage 4/27/2024

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/04/aew-rampage-4202024.html

Parking Lot Match - Chuck Taylor vs Trent Beretta

They have cars, trash cans, poles and net serving as the ring here. They trade shots and Trent's head is banged off a car. Chuck is driven into the car. Trent misses a charge and bounces off the car. Trent falls through the open window of the car then Chuck is backdropped on the car. Chuck is hit with a trash can lid then has the trash can thrown at him. Chuck is bleeding then Trent is pop-up powerbombed onto the car.

They climb on top of a truck and Chuck is knocked through a drywall sheet bridged on it. Trent hits Chuck with a trash can lid. Trent jumps off one car to another to elbow drop Chuck. Trent grabs a screwdriver and stabs Chuck with it. Trent throws a tv at Chuck's head but misses. A door is put against the car hood then Trent is suplexed through it.

Trent is catapulted into the back hatch of a truck then Chuck breaks a plywood board over Trent's back. Trent is then hit with a trash can. Chuck pulls out light tubes then hits Trent with a dust pan. Trent's head is banged off a truck bed. Chuck is thrown off the truck bed onto a board with light tubes. Chuck's head is then pressed into the car.

Trent takes a power bomb on the windshield (but was it real glass or a rental car?). They fight on top of a car and trade forearms. Trent low blows Truck then piledrivers him on the top of car. Trent triangles him on top of the car and taps him out.

They did way too much here. You know in wrestling, you are pretending that something hurts. There's no pretending car bumps and concrete bumps. You take one or two of those and you are done. So it failed on that level. However, it had a ton of highlights, it was insane and it was bloody. That part they got right. I think they should about half of what they did here but I still did like the match. This one is definitely worth a look for the violence and brutality. There is no way anyone got out of this without some kind of injury and that's a real problem considering Chuck just got back from one.

OC and Kris Statlander come down. Trent hits Chuck's ankle with a wrench, sending it through the side car window. Trent tells OC it's his fault.

Don Callis is seen watching this in the back on a monitor.

Kyle O'Reilly is interviewed. He said they will be in his hometown on May 11th. He said he saw wrestling there for the first time. He said he's coming back to wrestle there against the best wrestlers, in AEW, where the best wrestle.

Deonna Purrazzo vs Thunder Rosa

DP face shoves her then Rosa hits a knee to the gut. They lock up and DP side headlocks her. They shoulder each other and stare down. Rosa drops her with a big punch then hits mounted punches. DP single arm ddt's Rosa then puts her in a paradise lock using the ropes. DP the baseball slides her out of it. Rosa is pulled off the ropes and boston crabbed.
DP talks to the cameras then takes a baseball slide.

We go to PiP break and return. Rosa dropkicks her off the ropes then dropkicks her in the side of the head. Rosa dropkicks her against the bottom rope. DP hits a kneelift and russian legsweep. DP then boots her. Rosa rolls her into a stomp.

DP puts a fujiwara armbar on her then Rosa grounded chokes her. They try pin attempts on each other, DP grabs the arm and Rosa wins it.

This was a lose-lose situation here. Neither one of these girls should have lost and I had picked Rosa as the winner. It wasn't a good match. It was slow, it went on for a long time and the two didn't really click.

Rosa brags into the camera after then DP hits her from behind. DP sends her into a rail on the stage. They trade forearms on the ledge. Security come and break the fight up.

Roderick Strong, Matt Taven and Mike Bennett are interviewed. Taven says there's two guys who care about neck health here and they wish a speedy recovery to the world's greatest boss - Tony Khan. Strong said Will Ospreay has signed the downfall and demise of the aerial assassin. Strong said the world can sing his praises, but it won't matter when he gets in the ring with him. He says he will break him until he falls in front of the messiah of the backbreaker.

Big Bill vs Trevor Blackwell

Trev is splashed and takes a big boot. Bill hits another corner splash. Bill hits a black hole slam and pulls Trev up on the pin attempt. Bill hits a big short arm lariat then pulls Trev up on the pin attempt again. Bill chokeslams him and gets the win.

It was a quick squash as expected here.

Jericho was seen watching on a monitor in the back after. Bill says he hopes Jericho is watching after.

Katsuyori Shibata and Daniel Garcia vs Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty)

Shane and Lee get jumped then booted out. KS facekicks Shane on the rails then Lee is sent into the rails and kicked. Lee takes a suplex on the floor. KS and DG then do the KS sit down pose.

The four fight outside and Shane throws KS in. KS hits kicks to the body then Shane hits him with a nice punch. Lee boots KS in the gut in the corner. Lee headbutts KS in the gut then knees him in the head. DG gets in. He lariats Lee then twisting neckbreakers him three times.

Shane trips DG from the outside then bringing ddt's him on the floor. Lee stomps on KS. DG and Shane trade shots then Shane blocks a tag, sending DG into the corner. DG boots him out of the corner then takes a big punch. Shane uranges him then hits a splash for 2.

We go to PiP break and return. Shane misses a splash on DG then Lee kicks DG as he goes for the tag. Lee wristlocks DG. DG counters a 2v1 in the corner then backdrops Lee. KS is tagged in. KS running face kicks Shane then corner facekicks him. KS drops Lee with a forearm then the faces each hit shots in the corners.

The faces then do stereo corner dropkicks. KS flying face kicks Shane. KS then hits a chop and punch combo while DG dances. Shane takes a double suplex then Shane hits one of his own. We have brief audio issues.

Lee hits punches and chops on KS. Shane headbutts KS in the chest then Lee does a double underhook drop on KS. KS and DG do stereo sleeper holds. Shane takes a face kick and a backdrop. KS PK's Lee for the win.

It was okay but it went a little longer than it needed to here. It was basic face vs heel tag team stuff for the most part.

Overall thoughts: The opener is worth seeing. It was violent and brutal, though they did do overdo it. Rosa/Deonna was a mess. The main was okay here. I would say it was good overall.