I got home from work Friday night to a nice package from Highspots containing the 5 most recent PWG shows. This one, Pushing Forward Back, and all three nights of BOLA 2017! It was like my birthday came early!!!
So of course, me being me, I have to watch them in order, even if I am DYING to watch BOLA, so I started with Man On The Silver Mountain. I'm not going to lie, the show was, but just felt like it was missing something, I just don't know what it was though. Some matches felt a bit disjointed, while others just went all out and delivered tremendously. It definitely wasn't my favorite PWG, but it was still solid when it hit the right gear!
Going to bring back a "rating system" to help show which matches are worth watching...
MUST WATCH - Obvious
Great - Highlight of the show, if you're a fan of these guys definitely watch
Not Bad - Nothing too special, but if you like the guys it's watchable
Pass - Unless you REALLY like the performers, there is no reason to watch
Singles Match
Chuck Taylor vs. Trevor Lee
- Really fun opening match. Chucky T has always been one of the top guys in PWG, and Trevor Lee has gotten that cheap heat by always making the announcer introduce him as a TNA superstar. The match ended out of nowhere when Taylor hit a very simple running crossbody and got the pinfall. It sounds weak, but Lee ALWAYS reverses those, so no one expected it to happen.
Review: Not Bad
Three Way Match
Dezmond Xavier vs. Jake Crist vs. Jason Cade
- This match was NUTS. Spotfest galore with tons of dives. Dezmond still seems to be growing into his style, but that isn't a jab, but he's definitely improved a lot since I first saw him. Jake Crist is a goddamn madman, he by far stole the match for me with his insane moves, and Jason Cade was brand new to me, but he seemed really good, can't wait to see more of him. There was a moment where all three guys exchanged dives outside of the ring, that went on for what felt like a few minutes, and it was hilarious, and awesome. To end that spot, Jason Cade (if I remember correctly), went onto the turnbuckle and did the Randy Orton pose, and then they all proceeded to hit each other with RKO's. I believe this match happened around the time that whole "Dive..." Orton Twitter post happened.
Review: MUST WATCH
Singles Match
Keith Lee vs. Lio Rush
- This was a super fun big guy vs little guy match... AND HOLY CRAP THE SIZE DIFFERENCE WAS INSANE. I've met Rush, I know he's a smaller guy, and obviously Lee is a big dude, but jebus, seeing them stand face to face was something. Lee was bullying Rush around a majority of the match, and at one point throw Rush into the ropes and Lio looked like he landed REALLY bad and seemed a bit loopy for a few moments after it. Keith Lee still felt rather slow in this, I think I need to watch his work in EVOLVE or Wrestle Circus to really get the hype, because those matches were the ones everyone freaked out over.
Review: Great
Tag Team Match
The Unbreakable F'N Machines (Brian Cage & Michael Elgin) vs. War Machine (Hanson & Ray Rowe)
- Great hoss fight, but nothing TOO big took place. War Machine was insanely over while Cage & Elgin really showed their strength lifting and throwing around these big guys. Both teams got their stuff in and showed that despite their size and strength, they can still defy gravity.
Review: Pass
Singles Match
Matt Sydal vs. Sami Callihan
- This match was may more brutal than I ever expected. Both guys really kicked the crap out of each other and pretty much turned this into a hardcore match. At one point Sydal and Callihan were throwing chairs into the ring, so referee Rick Knox jumped out of the ring and started to fill the ring with chairs too (I think he interacts with Callihan at the next show in a silly way as well...). Good fight that ended with Callihan making Sydal submit to get the win.
Review: Not Bad
Singles Match
Jeff Cobb vs. Trent
- DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN!!!! While Lesnar does his usual Suplex City spot, Cobb is out there doing WAY MORE impressive suplex spots and just throwing his opponents around like they are rag dolls. Trent was the perfect guy for Cobb to toss around, and he took it like a champ, while also putting out a good fight on his own behalf. The finish to this match was just nasty with Trent basically telling Cobb to "bring it" and spat in his face. He was given a headbutt, some more slams, and then Cobb got the huge pin on Trent.
Review: Must Watch
Tag Team Match
reDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly) vs. The Leaders Of The New School (Marty Scurll & Zack Sabre Jr.)
- Both teams are technical wrestling masters, and they really worked each other so well in this. The beginning was a great "what ever you can do I can do better" routine, then when the actual match itself kicked off it definitely slowed down a bit, but it wasn't bad, just slower. The ending was really good and both teams definitely had the chance to pick up the win, but of course the LDRS reigned supreme and got the victory.
Review: Great/Not Bad
After the match Chuck Taylor came out to help fight off the LDRS and challenged Zack Sabre Jr to a rematch for the PWG title, which will take place at the next show.
So of course, me being me, I have to watch them in order, even if I am DYING to watch BOLA, so I started with Man On The Silver Mountain. I'm not going to lie, the show was, but just felt like it was missing something, I just don't know what it was though. Some matches felt a bit disjointed, while others just went all out and delivered tremendously. It definitely wasn't my favorite PWG, but it was still solid when it hit the right gear!
Going to bring back a "rating system" to help show which matches are worth watching...
MUST WATCH - Obvious
Great - Highlight of the show, if you're a fan of these guys definitely watch
Not Bad - Nothing too special, but if you like the guys it's watchable
Pass - Unless you REALLY like the performers, there is no reason to watch
Singles Match
Chuck Taylor vs. Trevor Lee
- Really fun opening match. Chucky T has always been one of the top guys in PWG, and Trevor Lee has gotten that cheap heat by always making the announcer introduce him as a TNA superstar. The match ended out of nowhere when Taylor hit a very simple running crossbody and got the pinfall. It sounds weak, but Lee ALWAYS reverses those, so no one expected it to happen.
Review: Not Bad
Three Way Match
Dezmond Xavier vs. Jake Crist vs. Jason Cade
- This match was NUTS. Spotfest galore with tons of dives. Dezmond still seems to be growing into his style, but that isn't a jab, but he's definitely improved a lot since I first saw him. Jake Crist is a goddamn madman, he by far stole the match for me with his insane moves, and Jason Cade was brand new to me, but he seemed really good, can't wait to see more of him. There was a moment where all three guys exchanged dives outside of the ring, that went on for what felt like a few minutes, and it was hilarious, and awesome. To end that spot, Jason Cade (if I remember correctly), went onto the turnbuckle and did the Randy Orton pose, and then they all proceeded to hit each other with RKO's. I believe this match happened around the time that whole "Dive..." Orton Twitter post happened.
Review: MUST WATCH
Singles Match
Keith Lee vs. Lio Rush
- This was a super fun big guy vs little guy match... AND HOLY CRAP THE SIZE DIFFERENCE WAS INSANE. I've met Rush, I know he's a smaller guy, and obviously Lee is a big dude, but jebus, seeing them stand face to face was something. Lee was bullying Rush around a majority of the match, and at one point throw Rush into the ropes and Lio looked like he landed REALLY bad and seemed a bit loopy for a few moments after it. Keith Lee still felt rather slow in this, I think I need to watch his work in EVOLVE or Wrestle Circus to really get the hype, because those matches were the ones everyone freaked out over.
Review: Great
Tag Team Match
The Unbreakable F'N Machines (Brian Cage & Michael Elgin) vs. War Machine (Hanson & Ray Rowe)
- Great hoss fight, but nothing TOO big took place. War Machine was insanely over while Cage & Elgin really showed their strength lifting and throwing around these big guys. Both teams got their stuff in and showed that despite their size and strength, they can still defy gravity.
Review: Pass
Singles Match
Matt Sydal vs. Sami Callihan
- This match was may more brutal than I ever expected. Both guys really kicked the crap out of each other and pretty much turned this into a hardcore match. At one point Sydal and Callihan were throwing chairs into the ring, so referee Rick Knox jumped out of the ring and started to fill the ring with chairs too (I think he interacts with Callihan at the next show in a silly way as well...). Good fight that ended with Callihan making Sydal submit to get the win.
Review: Not Bad
Singles Match
Jeff Cobb vs. Trent
- DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN!!!! While Lesnar does his usual Suplex City spot, Cobb is out there doing WAY MORE impressive suplex spots and just throwing his opponents around like they are rag dolls. Trent was the perfect guy for Cobb to toss around, and he took it like a champ, while also putting out a good fight on his own behalf. The finish to this match was just nasty with Trent basically telling Cobb to "bring it" and spat in his face. He was given a headbutt, some more slams, and then Cobb got the huge pin on Trent.
Review: Must Watch
Tag Team Match
reDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly) vs. The Leaders Of The New School (Marty Scurll & Zack Sabre Jr.)
- Both teams are technical wrestling masters, and they really worked each other so well in this. The beginning was a great "what ever you can do I can do better" routine, then when the actual match itself kicked off it definitely slowed down a bit, but it wasn't bad, just slower. The ending was really good and both teams definitely had the chance to pick up the win, but of course the LDRS reigned supreme and got the victory.
Review: Great/Not Bad
After the match Chuck Taylor came out to help fight off the LDRS and challenged Zack Sabre Jr to a rematch for the PWG title, which will take place at the next show.
Do you like old people porn? Because I just put enough to fill an old folks home in the wrestling section!