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3:05 and "doors" open. Signs on the table clearly stated $15 No Refunds (I wonder why?). Belltime was announced as 4pm so we found a nice set of seats in the front row and claimed our spots. It was difficult, as we were the only paying customers there so far. We waited. Watched some wrestlers walk around getting ready. Watched Smoke and Sinister X plan out there match in front of us. We waited. 4pm came along. We waited. 4:05... 4:10... 4:15 we started getting a little impatient HOWEVER, the gentleman who would later be doing commentary for the show did apologize for the delay. Kudos to him. We did a quick headcount.... 43. That's slightly less than the 70 something they drew at the last show. (Now I know I will be contacted and I will be told there were more than 43. I have 6 eyewitness accounts that at several points during the show, heads were counted and 43 was the highest we ever got. That does NOT include those who were seated that I know didn't pay as they were boyfriends, girlfriends or relatives of people who worked the show). Not to mention one of us heard the woman at the ticket table talking about the 22 advance they had. I honestly do not know why this show didn't draw more. Yes there were 5 other shows in the NJ/PA area but how did more fans that were going to JAP not know about this show? Or Why did those fans choose not to come if they did know? On the other hand, I honestly don't know how a promotion can put on an even less impresive show than their last one. Let the flaming emails commence. Here, I'll make it easy as, if nothing else, I pull no punches. WresClothesline@aol.com
4:20 the show begins. Sound system sucked. A bunch of guys, which included the apology dude, Larry Winters, and someone else got in the ring and basically ran down the card. I think that's what they said, we couldn't hear over the deafening roar of the 43 people in attendance. (actually, the sound system still sucked and it would all day). Blah Blah Blah out comes Firehawk and Vanity. Murmurs on the mic and Larry Zbyszko is introduced. Basically "The Living Legend" Larry Winters and "The Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko (whos speech about Vince and the WWE is the same he's done at every show in the past year) set up a match for later.
On with the show.... Your ring announcer, who never announces himself or his 7 Deadly Questions....Gerry Strauss.
Opening contest: Chi Chi Cruz v Striker v Rob Eckos. Eckos, who has a legit broken foot, came out on crutches. He announced his replacement as Nick Berk (the guy who's finisher is the Texas 2K2 even though it's now 2K3). Eckos is "funny as hell". Striker is hilarious and evidentally does not get mentioned on this site enough. Hell Striker... you're getting mentioned multiple times in this column alone!! Good match with Striker taking a seat from behind us at one point and sitting in the aisle watching. He promptly returned the seat in case the droves of fans needed it. Striker got the victory after some backfired interference by Eckos. Good opener. Should have stopped while we were ahead.
Blasphemy w/ Hunter Q defeated Kappa Tappa Kegga. The highlight was KTK doing a funnel. Until the spit the beer on Blasphemy. What a waste of good warm beer!! Destiny came out at one point but did nothing. Ref didn't do much either.
For the Hardcore Title: Jackie Dreamer defeated Tyrus (I think it was Tyrus, as it didn't look like Cyrus, and we couldn't hear the name). Typical harcore match minus the blood. Garbage cans, Nintendo, signs and the like were used. Dreamer pulled out a VCR from under the ring and shouted to the 43 fans "I got this on Ebay with a Pootie Tang CD." Unfortunately, out of the 43 fans...only 3 of them got it and that was after I explained it to 2 of them. (You know you wanted me to mention it Dreamer, so I did... just for you!). They brawled outside the ring and back in. Dreamer won. What a shocker!
For the Cruiserweight Title Shawn Sheridan defeated Dave Greco. Sheridan entered the ring to A Ha's Take on Me, high fived the crowd, told Brams he read's his column religiously (I guess he doesn't read mine. I don't blame him) and hit the ring. Four people sang along. Very good match. Great back and forth action by both men. This was one of the best matches on the card and both men deserve credit for giving it their all.
Joey Matthews, Hungarian Barbarian, and Crazy Ivan defeated Mike Preston, Damien Adams, and Kid USA. What a waste of Ivan and Adams. Both have come into their own as of late as decent singles wrestlers, especially Adams who had the match of the night last week on the WXW show. Typical 6 man with the ref being "distracted" by the faces trying to enter and the heels triple teaming. I never understood that, I never will. After the bout, Slyk Wagner Brown and April Hunter hit the ring and attacked Hungarian Barbarian and Miss Asia (who stood still at ringside with her Lurch look a like) the entire match. I publically apologize to any other females in the indys that I may have ever called a 5th Ringpost (trademark Devin Sturgis) as Miss Asia has officially taken the crown. Slyk then challenged Hungarian. I assume this sets up a match for the next show.
We were then treated to an interview with Hot Commodity. EZ Money, Chris Hamrick, and Julio Dinero came to the ring to discuss their match later on in the show. Thank God all 3 have mic skills. Danny Doring came out and made it a three way match. Yes a three way match. Was that a three way? Yes, a three way.
Crowbar w/ Serena (who had no clue how we knew she made good brownies so... she asked us) defeated Matt Vandal. Even Crowbar couldn't carry this kid.
At approximately 6:30 Firehawk made his way to ringside. 30 minutes till about 1/2 the crowd is going to leave for JAP and the promoter has to come out to do commentary for the next match. Actually, I'm grateful he did commentary, as it meant we didn't have to watch him defend the SpankOutABatch.com Internet Championship. Larry Winters, who we assumed was the hell took on Larry Zbyszko, who was accompanied by Vanity. Vanity is normally with Firehawk, who is a heel, so who the hell is the bad guy in this match?? Winters was as red as a lobster as the tanning machine must have stayed on too long. I can honestly tell you that the majority of the males in attendance were more focused on Vanity than on the match. Firehawk hit Winters with the belt which allowed Zbyszko to gain the victory.
Sinister X defeated Smokey M. Smoke had to get on the mic and do his usual Rock paradoy. This match was to unify the CSWF and USWF Championships. Sinister X does have a great look and, I'm willing to bet, if given the right opponent can have a decent match. Sinister X got the win and both titles. But wait... Hunter Q, who wasn't good in his prime and is worse now, came out and got on the mic. Again, no one heard what was said but an envelope was given to Sinister X and Hunter Q took one of the belts. Great. A unification match with a screwjob false finish. Way to pay off on your promises. (As if anyone cares who has which belt).
Your main event was next (and 6:55) Chris Hamrick got so tired of waiting for Julio to stop talking he just walked to the ring and yelled "Come on already!". EZ Money and Doring followed. Hamrick told us he'd try and make it quick so we could go see Funk! Thanks Chris!! This was match of the night. Hamrick and Money combine comedy and wrestling like nobody else. Hamrick does not get the credit he deserves. Most of the match was Money and Hamrick teaming up on Doring then interrupting the pin. Julio did favor his Hot Commodity partners. Doring got the pinfall on Hamrick while Money was knocked from the ring. Great match.
