by Brett Schwan
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Disclaimer:
The following opinions are those of Brett Schwan and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of anyone else who may write for or contribute to The Wrestling Clothesline (except possibly Frank Andreotolla who never writes for us but shares many of the same opinions).
The following comments are written by Brett Schwan, a FAN of indy wrestling. In no way, shape or form do I claim to be a "wrestling journalist" or a "reporter". I strictly tell about what I see, what I liked, and what I disliked. All comments should be taken for what they are worth. In no way are my comments meant to sway anyone away from or into purchasing tickets to any upcoming events.
If you are a promoter, wrestler, manager, valet, ring announcer or anyone who works for any promotion I write about here, I am more than happy to listen to your comments and if you wish them to be posted, I would be more than happy to. You can contact me at WresClothesline@aol.com. I do not want anyone to think I would "cut them up" on my site without reason. With that in mind, enjoy....
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Welcome to my latest diatribe on a weekend of going to indy shows.
Let me start by saying that on Friday morning at 10:30 am I was completely ready to give up this entire website, give up going to the indy shows, and put the entire Wrestling Clothesline to rest...for good. I was fed up. PERIOD. (If you want to see my entire listing of reasons, check the message boards under Upcoming Events. I would like to thank everyone who went out of their way to attempt to sway my decision. Thanks to them (I'll name names later lol) and two very enjoyable nights of wrestling I'm not hanging it up just yet.
Love me or hate me. I don't care anymore. Trash me all you want, I refuse to sink to that level of "professionalism". Striker said it best, "Why do you do this? For them or for you? You do it because you love it". That woke me up. I do it for me. I do it for the sick (and not so sick) individuals who for some reason want to read what myself, Brambilla, Gerry Strauss, Lawrence Kleber, Peter Stanisforth and anyone else who contributes to this site, has to say. I do it to try and give indy promoters an extra outlet to promote a show. I do it so fans can learn more about some of the best wrestlers on the indy scenes and where they can be seen in action. I do it so people will support their local indy show because if I didn't have an indy show to go to nearly every weekend, I would be stuck watching that crap on TNN and UPN (and I can't stomach that). With all this mumbling said... let's get onto the shows...
On Friday, May 30, IHPW presented Betrayal at the Knights of Columbus in Lyndhurst. I left my home in lovely Islip at 2pm. Thanks to the great NY traffic, I arrived in Union at 5:30 to pick up Frank. From there, the usual 20 minute ride to Lyndhurst ended up being more like 50 minutes. We finally made it to the KOC at 6:20. Due to the traffic, our plans of pre purchasing SH3 his dinner, were scrapped. Sorry Shawn.
We headed in to the building knowing that there was no way doors were opened yet. WRONG! Doors were open. Impressive. We bought our tickets and headed in to grab some seats in the 3rd row, behind Lawrence Kleber and alongside Paul "Don't Call Me Avery Schreiber". The room slowly started to fill (sadly it didn't seem as full as the last show).
Luminaries in attendance included Ricky O, El Bandido, Alicia, JCW's Bob C, Striker, and Monsta Mack.
The show started of (pretty close to belltime) around 7:40.
The opening match featured Showtime Shawn Sheridan (coming to the ring to Men Without Hats' "Safety Dance") defeating Damian Adams in a very good match. Both men are an asset to any promotion that uses them. Short match (for a reason) with the crowd strongly behind SH3 (whom with the vision of a hawk never noticed we has a pretzel waiting for him!).
For the IHPW Television Title, Chris Idol defeated Dan The Man to become the new IHPW TV Champion. The question was asked to me during the match, by someone who will remain unnamed but bears a striking resemblance to Evil Bandido, "Where does IHPW have TV?", but that's besides the point. Idol has improved since the times I saw him in other feds. I haven't been all that impressed with Dan The Man thus far, however, I haven't seen him more than a couple of times. Idol made Dan the Man submit to a Texas Cloverleaf.
We were then treated to Talent Relations coming out to address the crowd. Noel, Inferno, and Tiger Mulligan. Noel, looking completely ready for her nighty match, explained to the crowd that while her divorce to Peter Van Orton hasn't been finalized yet, she is still Co Owner of IHPW and she will be sharing that CO Ownership with Inferno. Inferno and Noel announce that Tiger Mulligan will now be the #1 contender to Wenzel's World Title as Justin Credible hasn't earned the shot that he's getting tonight. Peter Van Orton gets on the mic and says that's news to him and the only news he believes is "the news I read on wrestlingclothesline.com". He must have said that at least 3 times. (I love cheap plugs... thank you Peter). Peter announces that tonight there will be a #1 Contenders Match between Tiger and Shawn Sheridan. Great mic work by Inferno as usual. Noel was perfect in explaining the pending divorce and Inferno's role in Talent Relations. PVO also did a good job (trying a little too hard to sound like some Vince guy) in setting up the #1 contenders match.
This led to the match every sick, twisted pervert (me included) was waiting for. Noel, who was still in the ring, decided to do a little pre match stretching to the thrill of the crowd. Luckily, Inferno pointed out a few times that she should stretch over by "the wrestling clothesline" crew (another beautifully placed cheap plug), so we could get a nice view. OMG!! When the hell did Noel become so friggin hot!? (not saying the bright pink hair wasn't attractive). Enter Foxxy Dreams with Damian Dragon. (and damn that Damian is a lucky man!!) Foxxy (who's online journal can be read by clicking here) had a stellar match last week in a mixed tag. Tonight, something a little different as the two women would battle it out in their nighties. (and before I forget, whoever came up with this idea.. THANK YOU! LOL). Ricky O seemed way to happy during this match and Bandido's smile lasted well into the early morning. Noel (who has a legit broken kneecap, torn meniscus, and who knows what else) spent the beginning of the match trying to avoid tying up with Foxxy. (Reminiscent of Savage avoiding Steamboat for the first 5 minutes of their classic WrestleMania 2 match). Foxxy finally got her hands on Noel and the two rolled around on the mat. Noel whipped Foxxy into the corner. The match went on until Tiger distracted the referee, giving Noel the chance to get the Queen of the Catfight Plastic Tiarra of Death and use it to knock out Foxxy. Referee made the three count. Noel wins the match. The crowd wins for getting to witness the equivalent of Flair v Steamboat for the 2000's and I get my "smile back" thanks to Noel mooning me and just finishing reading Foxxy's journal entry. For more on the lovely Noel, check out her website at NoelsKisses.com
Chino Martinez defeated Kevin Matthews in a very good match. Chino has always been a solid worker. Matthews has impressed me the last two times I have seen him wrestle. Chino was able to apply a single leg boston crab. Matthews took the offense hitting some highspots. Chino got the win with the sharpshooter. After the match, as Chino and Shawndido (from JCW) put the boots to Matthews. "Greased Lightning" played and 3 guys (some of whom looked like Ramones and one who looked like Stay Puff) hit the ring to chase them off. Who were they? Don't think I ever want to know.
The Machines defeated The International Alliance. The highlight of the match was one one of the Machines bodyslammed his opponent and in the process nearly took out the chandelier which was above the ring, dead center. Ralphie Valladares from the KOC did NOT look happy (and if anyone gets the Valladares reference, I'll be DAMN IMPRESSED!) The Nelsons run in and steal back their tag belts which the Machines stole last show.
Next match was for the United States Title. It was announced prior to the match (and in the evening's program) that IHPW is taking a page out of the ROH book and all IHPW US Title defenses must now end with a handshake. No!! This does not mean the first man to shake hands with his opponent wins. The handshake takes place AFTER the match! (Thanks to Frank for pointing that out to me LOL) Three of the best on the indy scene today faced off as Jay Lethal, Rob Eckos, and Josh Daniels battled for the belt. Eckos got the pin on Daniels which left him against Lethal. Lethal hit a pumphandle sitout slam on Eckos for the 3 count. Eckos refused to shake hands which led to Paul E Normous coming to the ring. Normous explained how he was the last holder of the belt and how he had defeated several different people during his tenure as champion, including Johnny Thundar (to which Eckos said "Isn't he in a nursing home?"). After some convincing by Normous, Eckos shook hands and ran. Normous made it clear that anytime he wanted that title back, he'd come get it.
Intermission
Reckless Youth defeated Homicide in a #1 Contenders Match for the Television Title. Great submission type match. Both men using a variety of submission holds on each other. Reckless used his feet on the ropes to pin Homicide. Great match with a not so great finish. Both participants get applause from the crowd.
For the IHPW Tag Team Titles, Eddie Thomas and Corvis Fear faced the champions, The Nelsons. Nelsons are really small but very good. Nelsons get the win with a version of the LOD's Doomsday Device only using a dropkick.
Ryan Wing defeated Damian Dragon w/ Foxxy (making his debut). Another great match. One of the best I've seen out of Wing in a while. (Granted, I haven't seen Wing wrestle at all in quite a while LOL). The crowd was all over Wing with Screech and Saved By The Bell chants. Ricky O was too busy with his own chants of Wolverine. Dragon, as I will say until it is no longer needed for me to, is SO underrated. He is such a solid worker (and his online journal is here). Wolverrr, Screeeerrr, Ryan won with a victory roll.
Striker defeated GQ. This was originally scheduled to be Alura vs GQ. For whatever reason, it wasn't. THANK YOU!! Another great outing by Striker who was able to hit the "Death to Smoochy" knees to the opponents back. Striker gets the win by submission and made my retirement seem even less of a reality.
Tiger Mulligan defeated Shawn Sheridan in the match to determine the #1 Contender to the World Title. Mulligan attacked from behind as SH3 made his entrance. After some back and forth action, the ref is knocked down. Ryan Wing runs to the ring in a ref shirt. Mulligan goes for the cover but Wing only counts 2. Wing then turns on Sheridan hitting a Razor's Edge type move that has Shawn landing chest first. Mulligan makes the cover and gets the fast 3 count. Good match. Got the storyline across. My only question, why did Wing not just run in, take out Sheridan and let Tiger pin him?
The Main Event. For the IHPW World Title. Wenzel retained the title by defeating Justin Credible with a DDT. Fairly short match for your main event BUT it does establish Wenzel as a dominant champion. After the match, Mulligan attacks (setting up the title match for next time).
Overall, a very enjoyable show. HUGE improvement over their last outing. What a difference no Thundar or Metal Maniac makes!! The crowd has hot. Sadly, it seems as if the indy scene is in a lull at the moment as not many feds are drawing big numbers. However, with continued good shows like this, word has to spread. The roster, as it stood for this show, is solid (sans the Machines and International Alliance). Unfortunately, to draw the "marks" or the average fan, shows need that one "big" name to pull them in. This show had Justin Credible. Not sure if he's just not that big of a name to draw or what but it's unfortunate more people weren't able to see this show.
Day one of the doubleheader ends with a beer (thanks Ricky) and some Jack Daniels Sesame Chicken Strips at TGIF. Thanks to the lovely waitress who approached and asked if there was anything she could do to make me comfortable (luckily I didn't tell her exactly what she could do) and asking me if I'm the "world renown Wrestling Clothesline's, Brett Schwan". Again, thanks Ricky LOL.
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Day Two. We're off to Sussex, NJ for the supposed "Super Card" that will feature Jeff Jarrett, Disco Inferno, Jerry Lawler, Brian Christopher, Chris Candido, Ron Killings, Little Jeannie, Ariel, Traci Taylor, Gorgeous George, and more. Can you guess who won't be there?
Pouring rain, winding uphill roads, crowing roosters. We make it to the Wallkill Valley Regional High School. That's the H.S.?? It looks like a friggin barn!! Oh, wait. It is a bard. The High School is behind it. Whew.
We meet up with Brams and Paul and decide to hit the Steakhouse for lunch. After Paul took 15 minutes to order and find out if the food here is homemade, we recapped last night's show for Brams. By the way, all the food here is homemade. This was quite possibly the best pre match lunch I have ever had. Plus, all the food here is homemade! As we are eating, Jeff Jarrett and someone walk in and get a table. To put it bluntly. Holy Shit! The one person I knew would NOT be in Wallkill HS this evening was JJ. Oops.
We head inside at around 5:45 (since it's raining). We are immediately told by one of the promoters, Sam (the midget birthchild of Stanley Tucci and Bill Goldberg) that doors will not open until 7 and tickets will go on sale at 6. We wait. 6:15 tickets go on sale. Four tickets are sold, to Brams, Ron, Paul, and I. Then tickets are no longer on sale. NOW, tickets will go on sale a 7pm. Poor Frank is trapped on one side of the ticket table with the guy who's wife and sister is next to him (and there's only one woman next to him). While we sit on a bench behind the ticket table telling the freshmen girls who are in FBLA which people are actually wrestlers and should be allowed in. DUH! Brams, why didn't we tell them Frank was a wrestler?
We are all allowed in at 7:00 for the 7:30 belltime. At 7:55 the show begins. Our ring announcer for the evening, Alicia (see her interview with Lawrence Kleber elsewhere on this site). She welcomes us but the music drowns her out.
Damian Adams faces Shawn Donovan in the opening match. The crowd, of approximately 350 (which is weird since the promoters were telling people the presold 1000 tickets), immediately popped for Adams and booed the hell out of Donovan. How do they know who the heel is? OR Does Donovan just look like the type of guy you want to hate? Personal highlight of the match, Admas whips Donovan into the ropes where he somehow comes off but gets his head between the middle and top rope and nearly decapitates himself. He covered it fairly well. Donovan climbs to the top rope but misses and elbow. Adams goes to the top and misses a moonsault. A MOONSAULT ATTEMPT IN THE FIRST MATCH!!?? OK. Adams goes for the sunset flip from the ring apron, Donovan grabs the ropes and the ref counts three. Donovan wins, Adams leaves to work the ECPW show in Morristown.
The next match...Enter Ron Killings. Killings starts cutting a heel promo. He immediately verbally attacks Brams. He makes fun of his shoes (which he can't see from the ring). He makes fun of his breath (Brams responds, "That's alcohol") and something about his teeth moving out of the way. Then, I had to open my mouth and yell Hooked on Phonics. Killings attacks with "What the hell did you have for supper? The table?" and "Most people stop eatin' when they get full. You stop eatin' when you get tired". OK. Killings must be the heel! Disco Inferno enters and explains that Brian Christopher was too scared to show up and since he is the #1 contender to the NWA TNA World Title. He will be in any title match tonight. Therefore, the main event is a Three Way Dance. Killings starts telling Disco not to make fun of the crowd. HELLO?? What did you do 5 minutes ago?
Your next contest...Kevin Knight and Roman v The Soul Brothers. The Soul Brothers, whom I had hoped retired, quit, or had eatin too much to ever work again, are working again. When a guy in the bleachers starts yelling "Do something else" during your match. You know you're in trouble. Soul Brothers win with a double pin. Even the majority of the inbreds here didn't care. The match felt as if it lasted longer than the 7 Years War.
Church enters the ring to face DOINK!! Good comedy match. You expected London v Beckett? Doink wins with the big buttdrop off the top rope onto Church. Doink got some NICE hangtime on that buttdrop.
"We will now break for a 30 minute intermission". WHAT? We've had 3 matches in 60 minutes and it's time for intermission. Church comes over and we discuss his upcoming PTW show in Staten Island on June 26th an the Sportsfest (I can put a plug anywhere, can't I?) He must have signed 100 color photos for the fans for NO CHARGE. Very classy!
Gorgeous George is out (and has been the whole show) signing and posing for pics. Traci Taylor, Ron Killings, The Soul Brothers, etc. Wait.. Who is that WAY in the back by the open EXIT door? Jeff Jarrett?? Why the hell isn't he announced or in the ring doing his polaroids. I head over. All I can say is WOW. He resembled a 1941 leather samsonite.
First match after intermission is a women's match. Ariel Vs Little Jeannie (who corrects Alicia and makes her re announce her as Magnificent Jeannie), both of whom have 10 Questions elsewhere on this site, square off. Brams begins the "Get a tan" chant for Jeannie who looked as if she hadn't seen sun in years. Great match. Little Jeannie hit a nice version of the Dino Bravo sideslam. Flying headscissors by Ariel followed by a hurracanrana for a two count. Flying cross body by Ariel, Jeannie uses the momentum to roll over on top. Feet on the ropes, 1, 2, 3. Little Jeannie gets the pinfall. Best match of the night so far. Ariel has become one of the best women wrestlers on the indy scene today. Jeannie has always been one of the better ones.
As Alicia attempts to tell the crowd about the merchandise and concession stands, the music hits. Enter Justin Credible! Credible with Traci Taylor announces that there is nobody in the county that can beat him in a hardcore match. Hit the music.. "Enter Sandman"! The crowd went nuts. (Sidenote: Both Sandman and Justin Credible were booked for the USA Pro Big Dick Memorial Show in Franklin Square. Frank Goodman did tell me via email that Sandman's wife and family were in Franklin Square and told him they broke down on the belt.) Sandman walks through the crowd and into the bleachers behind us. Beer all over us. He offers one to a 3 month old. Thanks Sandman! The crowd loved every minute of this match. Brawl into the crowd. Credible attacks Sandman and tries to take a kid's plastic belt. The kid won't let go. Credible yells "I'll give it back!" The kid obliges. Sandman gets hit with it. Credible throws it back to the kid. Sandman chokes out Credible with the plastic chain guard rail. Back into the ring. Sandman hits the drop to hold onto Justin into a chair. Table is set up in the corner. Sandman spanks Traci. DDT by Credible. Side russian leg sweep with the cane by Sandman for a 2 count. That's Incredible piledriver for the three count by Justin. Sandman gets a standing ovation and bows to all four sides of the ring.
Your main event... For the NWA TNA World Title. Jeff Jarrett defended the title against Disco Inferno and Ron The Truth Killings. JJ and Killings double teamed Disco. Disco gets a DDT on JJ for a 2 count. Killings with a beautiful famouser type move with a spinaroonie in the air. Killings to the top rope, JJ shakes the ropes. Killings falls. Disco hits the stroke on JJ for a two count. Match continues with every guy getting offense. Killings gets knocked out of the ring and JJ hits the Stroke on Disco for the pinfall.
Overall, the first two matches were not phenomenal. The Church v Doink match was a great comedy match. The entire second half was great. The ladies had the best wrestling match of the night. The added surprise of Sandman and Credible made the crowd completely forget about Lawler (who chose to go to a Fleetwood Mac concert) and Christopher. The three way dance was also very well done. Killings is a tremendous talent and why he's working high schools in NJ is beyond me. I went expecting nothing. I got some good matches. Some great food LOL. Plus, some great laughs. As long as the crowd leaves happy, that's all that matters. (And I won't even mention there not being a Candido on the show).
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Contact Brett Schwan at WresClothesline@aol.com
