PWG's history is a very strange one. They started off as your average "super" independent promotion... and it shows on their older shows A LOT (I'm looking at you 2004...), but once they hit 2009 they really started to find their stride and were able to produce much more bottom to top solid shows. 2011 was the year that they really broke out and showed everyone exactly what PWG was all about with such shows as Steen Wolf and FEAR (two shows HIGHLY regarded as some of their best, with FEAR being sold out for years).
On September 10, 2011 they put on this show, The Perils of Rock N' Roll Decadence. I bought this show late last year during PWG's annual Winter Sale as a "filler" DVD to get 5 in my basket... and this may be one of the best "filler" DVD's I have ever snagged! The only complaint I have for this show is that the early matches greatly outshined the main events, but it was still a fun show all around.
The show started out with Brian Cage-Taylor (who was related to Chuck Taylor, via kayfabe) taking on "Pretty" Peter Avalon. A lot of people may find Cage's current work to be quite bland, but back in 2011 he was great. He wasn't the Swole-Verine that we all know today, but he was still fit, and still got his shit in. Hell, even Peter Avalon, who I've always just thought of as a glorified jobber, had a great showing in this match! There weren't any super memorable spots in this, but it was a fun match, and a great way to kick off the event.
Next up was Willlie Mack vs Ryan Taylor. I'm bummed that Ryan Taylor doesn't do anything with PWG anymore. He wasn't amazing or anything, but he was fun to watch, and pretty talented for just looking like your average indy guy. This was another fun match. Nothing super memorable, but fun!
Next was the match that got me marking out hardcore, RockNES Monsters (Johnny Goodtime & Johnny Yuma) vs Super Smash Bros (Player Uno & Dos). This match was fan-fucking-tastic! I never cared for much of what I saw from RockNES, but this match is by far a highlight of their PWG career! Kevin Steen was on commentary (I think he recently had a falling out with ROH) and was bashing Ring of Honor for not bringing in the Super Smash Bros after trying to book them constantly. This match was insanely fun, and really makes me miss SSB. I hope Player Dos' border issues can be cleared up because it'd be amazing to see them back in the states again! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED MATCH, even though I know no one is going to watch this
After that match came Eddie Edwards vs TJ Perkins. I used to think that Davey Richards was my favorite of the American Wolves, but after seeing more of Eddie's early work... GODDAMN. This was a great match, especially in a pre-dabbing world. A lot of great submission holds, some stiff shots, and just great in ring chemistry between these two. It went around 13 minutes, which for PWG standards in this type of match felt a little short, could definitely have gone another 5!
Following that great match was El Generico taking on Rocky Romero. I was hoping for a bit more between these two. Not saying it wasn't good, because it was, but just was hoping for more. There were some pretty insane spots though, if I am remembering correctly, involving the turn buckle and apron. I guess I felt a bit empty after this since I really expected more
... STILL FUN THOUGH!
Next up was the Tag Team Title match between The Young Bucks and The Dynasty (Joey Ryan & Scorpio Sky). I didn't expect a whole lot from this, but it really delivered! Joey Ryan's work around this time in his career was easily some of his best. I love his comedy act he has going on right now, it's fun, especially to see live, but he was a really solid performer and pretty over with the crowd too, considering back when he won their Battle of Los Angeles tournament he was practically booed out of the building. Scorpio Sky is a guy who I haven't see a WHOLE lot of, but he continues to impress me the more and more I see of him. The Young Bucks also helped this match a lot by playing their "TNA Superstars, Generation Me" gimmick, which I loved so much because you could tell they thought TNA was a joke and a waste of their time and talent... which is true... Anyway, this match was fun, but compared to other Bucks matches I've seen in PWG, a bit on the "safe" side.
The main event of this show was Kevin Steen defending his PWG World Title against Davey Richards. This is where I had that thought that I enjoy Eddie Edwards work a bit more than Davey Richards. It was a really good match, but compared to the matches I have seen these other guys put on, something just felt like it wasn't completely clicking. There were a lot of really close calls that made me think that Richards was actually going to pick up the title again, though, and that made this match feel a bit stronger!
After the match Kevin Steen called out El Generico and said that he will challenge him at the next PWG show in a match that ROH were too scared to book them in, a Ladder Match (which they'd have a year later in Generico's final ROH match before going to NXT). I've seen that show already and can say it is by far one of the best PWG matches I have seen... SO GO WATCH STEEN WOLF.
Anyway... it was a fun show that just flowed well, even if there were some not so good matches, but comparing those to, say, a Baron Corbin match, they were phenomenal
On September 10, 2011 they put on this show, The Perils of Rock N' Roll Decadence. I bought this show late last year during PWG's annual Winter Sale as a "filler" DVD to get 5 in my basket... and this may be one of the best "filler" DVD's I have ever snagged! The only complaint I have for this show is that the early matches greatly outshined the main events, but it was still a fun show all around.
The show started out with Brian Cage-Taylor (who was related to Chuck Taylor, via kayfabe) taking on "Pretty" Peter Avalon. A lot of people may find Cage's current work to be quite bland, but back in 2011 he was great. He wasn't the Swole-Verine that we all know today, but he was still fit, and still got his shit in. Hell, even Peter Avalon, who I've always just thought of as a glorified jobber, had a great showing in this match! There weren't any super memorable spots in this, but it was a fun match, and a great way to kick off the event.
Next up was Willlie Mack vs Ryan Taylor. I'm bummed that Ryan Taylor doesn't do anything with PWG anymore. He wasn't amazing or anything, but he was fun to watch, and pretty talented for just looking like your average indy guy. This was another fun match. Nothing super memorable, but fun!
Next was the match that got me marking out hardcore, RockNES Monsters (Johnny Goodtime & Johnny Yuma) vs Super Smash Bros (Player Uno & Dos). This match was fan-fucking-tastic! I never cared for much of what I saw from RockNES, but this match is by far a highlight of their PWG career! Kevin Steen was on commentary (I think he recently had a falling out with ROH) and was bashing Ring of Honor for not bringing in the Super Smash Bros after trying to book them constantly. This match was insanely fun, and really makes me miss SSB. I hope Player Dos' border issues can be cleared up because it'd be amazing to see them back in the states again! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED MATCH, even though I know no one is going to watch this
After that match came Eddie Edwards vs TJ Perkins. I used to think that Davey Richards was my favorite of the American Wolves, but after seeing more of Eddie's early work... GODDAMN. This was a great match, especially in a pre-dabbing world. A lot of great submission holds, some stiff shots, and just great in ring chemistry between these two. It went around 13 minutes, which for PWG standards in this type of match felt a little short, could definitely have gone another 5!
Following that great match was El Generico taking on Rocky Romero. I was hoping for a bit more between these two. Not saying it wasn't good, because it was, but just was hoping for more. There were some pretty insane spots though, if I am remembering correctly, involving the turn buckle and apron. I guess I felt a bit empty after this since I really expected more
... STILL FUN THOUGH!Next up was the Tag Team Title match between The Young Bucks and The Dynasty (Joey Ryan & Scorpio Sky). I didn't expect a whole lot from this, but it really delivered! Joey Ryan's work around this time in his career was easily some of his best. I love his comedy act he has going on right now, it's fun, especially to see live, but he was a really solid performer and pretty over with the crowd too, considering back when he won their Battle of Los Angeles tournament he was practically booed out of the building. Scorpio Sky is a guy who I haven't see a WHOLE lot of, but he continues to impress me the more and more I see of him. The Young Bucks also helped this match a lot by playing their "TNA Superstars, Generation Me" gimmick, which I loved so much because you could tell they thought TNA was a joke and a waste of their time and talent... which is true... Anyway, this match was fun, but compared to other Bucks matches I've seen in PWG, a bit on the "safe" side.
The main event of this show was Kevin Steen defending his PWG World Title against Davey Richards. This is where I had that thought that I enjoy Eddie Edwards work a bit more than Davey Richards. It was a really good match, but compared to the matches I have seen these other guys put on, something just felt like it wasn't completely clicking. There were a lot of really close calls that made me think that Richards was actually going to pick up the title again, though, and that made this match feel a bit stronger!
After the match Kevin Steen called out El Generico and said that he will challenge him at the next PWG show in a match that ROH were too scared to book them in, a Ladder Match (which they'd have a year later in Generico's final ROH match before going to NXT). I've seen that show already and can say it is by far one of the best PWG matches I have seen... SO GO WATCH STEEN WOLF.
Anyway... it was a fun show that just flowed well, even if there were some not so good matches, but comparing those to, say, a Baron Corbin match, they were phenomenal
Do you like old people porn? Because I just put enough to fill an old folks home in the wrestling section!