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Review of JCW Crazy 8 Tag Team Tournament
by Lawrence Kleber
Sunday afternoon, November 23, was a glorious day and I headed over to
the Garfield Boys and Girls club to check out the JCW show. With
approximately 60 fans in the audience, I had only wished that there had
been more people there. This was a well run show and congratulations are
given to Ricky O. and Nick. At the top of the show at 3;45 pm, the JCW
announce team, Berkowitz and MacDougle introduced the clown prince of
wrestling, Shawn Sheridan. After a false entrance without music,
Sheridan appeared and said, “Mike, I’d like you to say something
nice
about me.” Berkowitz replied, “You’re the light heavyweight
champion!”
The promo was a set up for the next JCW show on December 6 where Sheridan
will be taking on Damian Dragon for the title in a falls count anywhere,
loser leaves JCW match. Shawn did a funny monologue comparing Damian to
well known movie monsters!
Match 1 The first round tag tournament match pitted the hysterical
Christopher Street Connection against the dastardly Dirty Rotten
Scoundrelz with John Shane. E. C. Negro said it the beginning of the
match, “I’m not making out with any of you fruitcakes!”
This fine opener
featured good chops of K. C. Blade, Negro getting kissed by the
Connection and a textbook suplex from the Connection. With Negro coming
off the top, Blade picked up the pin to move on.
Berkowitz introduced Noel for a long promo where she pugged her website,
plugged the new JCW hotties unleashed website and introduced her new
personal assistant Miss Dana. I first saw Dana at the last SSCW show and
I am looking for good things from her.
Match 2 In the next tournament match, FIST, Icruis and Akuma were
pitted against the champs Dave Greco and Dixie, Team Ethic. The title
was on the line in this match. Both teams are strong and Greco and Dixie
make great faces. The finish, where Greco and Dixie picked up the
victory was a bit confusing.
Match 3 The Solution defeated the Wild Cards in the next tournament
match. I had not seen the Wild Cards before and they had a good gimmick
with a deck of cards. They are decent workers, but the Solution is one
of the top teams on the indy circuit. Photographer Rob Payes said of
this match, “Business is about to pack up and relocate!”
Match 4 In a first round ladies tournament contest, April Hunter came
off the second rope to pin Alere Little Feather. April, with the
advantage, executed a side slam that should have been it and did a funny
gag pulling Alere round by the hair. She finished with what I call a
“hair mere”. The adorable Alere is getting better all the time
and her
chops are starting to have sting to them. Her gimmick is also quite
good.
Match 5 In the last first round match, Brian Wenzel and Inferno
defeated favorites Jay Lethal and K. Browlik. The match featured a nice
hurricanrana by Jay, a sitting power bomb by Brian, and good body slams
by Browlik. Wenzel took a very stiff fall on the floor. These workers
always give you a good match.
Match 6 Following a 20 minute intermission, Tracy Brooks pinned Miss
Kara with her foot on the ropes. Tracy appeared in a modified Bruiser
Brody outfit which prompted Shawn Sheridan and I to chant “Huss,
Huss!”
Match 7 DRS was pitted against the Solution in the semi finals. At
the top of the match, DRS ambushed the Solution during their entrance
and
John Shane did some damage with a garbage can. At the close, Shane
pulled the ref out of the ring. The Solution shoved him around, and
Negro was able to get the pin. However, an imposter member of the
Solution had been substituted by DRS to lose the match. The decision was
overturned with the Solution picking up the win.
Match 8 In a good, solid match, Wenzel and Inferno became the tag
champs by defeating Greco and Dixie. During the match, Inferno broke a
chair over Greco.
Match 9 For the heavyweight strap, Slyk Wagner Brown, with April
Hunter, pinned Ace Darling, with John Shane, to become the champion.
Shane complained up front: “Wrestling is a man’s sport. What
is April
doing out here.” Later on when April and Shane started to go at it,
they
were both barred from ringside. This fast moving match featured an
unbelievable flip by Slyk, a hurricanrana by Slyk and a super kick by
Ace. Shane reappeared when the ref was knocked out, pushed Slyk off the
top, but hit Ace by mistake allowing Slyk to get the pin. I am glad Slyk
is getting such a good push. He deserves it. He is a great worker and
fine gentleman.
A promo followed by Inferno and Wenzel for the main event. Now these
guys were heels in the first two matches. Somehow, they turned face and
did a classic face promo. I didn’t quite get it.
Match 10 In the women’s final, April Hunter pinned Tracy Brooks
in a
solid contest.
Match 11 The final contest between the Solution and Wenzel and
Inferno was a 30 minute face-face dance which featured a lot of science.
At 6:20 pm, I was getting a bit tired couldn’t get into the match
as well
as I should have. Wenzel and Inferno picked up the win and retained the
title. At the end of the contest, there was a ROH handshake.
All in all, this card was solid from beginning to finish. It was nice
to
see Richie Rotten, and Rob Payes in attendance. I was
also happy to see Ricky O., recovered from his recent health problems,
and his family, including the 3-year-old Queen of the Power Bomb, Casey,
at the show. I had the special pleasure of having a long conversation
with wrestling memorabilia vendor Eric Simms, who is extremely
knowledgeable about the wrestling business.
