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Mark Adam Haggerty
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Pro Wrestling Syndicate
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http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=14168
This weekend Pro Wrestling Syndicate took over the Tri-State with shows in both New York City and New Jersey. The action kicked off with an outdoor event at the New Jersey State Fairgrounds at 1PM, and continued up the Turnpike into Bay Ridge Brooklyn. I was at the Brooklyn show, which began promptly at 8 […]
This weekend
Pro Wrestling Syndicate
took over the Tri-State with shows in both New York City and New Jersey. The action kicked off with an outdoor event at the New Jersey State Fairgrounds at 1PM, and continued up the Turnpike into Bay Ridge Brooklyn. I was at the Brooklyn show, which began promptly at 8 o'clock, and featured local heroes, established legends, and current world renowned superstars. Ethan Carter was on hand with his TNA world heavyweight belt; Taz made a very rare independent appearance just a stone’s throw from his hometown; and Comedy Central was in the house filming material for Larry Wilmore’s late night talk show. Pro Wrestling Syndicate provided transportation for its fans aboard a chartered bus from their homebase in Rahway to Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Bay Ridge, and featured separate rosters for each event. I was there along with my Cheap-Heat and B+ Player Radio colleague Gary Mastriano—we were both taken aback with the overall welcoming atmosphere, and professionalism both inside the ring and out.
Before the Bell
We arrived at the venue—a Catholic Church Rec Center—about an hour before the bell, and already there were people filling the gymnasium with anticipatory commotion. We saw Virgil sitting idly by waiting for someone to pay for an autograph. Emphasis on pay; one kid asked Virgil how he was, and the former WWE/WCW wrestler responded with ten fingers, meaning it’ll cost $10 to get Virgil to talk. It’s unclear how much of this is part of the “Angry/Lonely Virgil” gimmick. Comedy Central was in the building filming footage featuring Virgil, so it’s
very
possible he was just laying it on extra thick. We saw Brian Myers and Balls Mahoney before the show began; I went to the bathroom and struck up a conversation with a New York City police officer while on line. With my back turned to the gym, the officer pointed in my rearview and exclaimed: “Holy shit it’s Balls Mahoney!” Needless to say we all let Balls and the prepubescent boy he was with go ahead of us. Burgers were overlooked, popcorn was burn, but the beer was cold and at just $3, they went down faster than CPA. More on him in a few moments.
Special Guest
Taz made a very rare independent shot tonight, and welcomed the audience to his hometown of Brooklyn New York. He reminisced about the ECW days and dropped a number of names to illicit a crowd reaction. He put over his new relationship with CBS radio, as well as his daily series featuring Mike Tenay, Jim Ross and producer SethI tried to get a “We Want Seth” chant going, but Taz thought someone said “One More Match” and said his wife won’t let him to wrestle anymore. He jokes about the shape he’s in on his podcast, but the Human Suplex Maxhine looked awesome. He capped off the evening with his signature catch phrase—”Beat me if you can, survive if I let you”—and the show was set to begin! Funny note: as Taz began wrapping up, he commented that his speech had already one on long enough and asked: “What is this? Monday Night Raw?”
Davey Richards w/ Angelina Love vs. Mario Bokara
The first wrestler through the curtain this evening is Mario Bokara—dubbed the “Croatian Sensation,” this highly impressive individual comes to the ring wrapped in the Croatian flag, while sporting a hooded robe to match. His opponent is one half of the TNA world tag team champions, Davey Richards, who enters the arena with his wife Angelina Love. This was a fantastic way to begin the show. Both Richards and Bokara are lightning quick, and employ a ground-based attack with sharp kicks from Davey and more of a submission style out of Mario. After an evenly contested contest, Bokara sneaks out by the skin of his teeth, pulling out the victory and the inevitable upset. I
REALLY
enjoyed Mario Bokara’s entrance theme, which sounds like something Eastern European Immigrants would play in the belly of a ship on the way to America. Following the match, Davey Richards took hold of the mic and commented on some audience members chanting “TNA Sucks.” Davey says that those fans are entitled to their opinions, but also says that he doesn’t consider himself a TNA wrestler. He considers himself an independent wrestler, and always has. With that, Davey wants to wish his beautiful wife a happy birthday, and asks the audience to join him in a celebratory song. Happy Birthday to Angelina Love.
Winner: Mario Bokara
Rating: 2 3/4 Stars
Colt Cabana vs. Ethan Carter III w/ "Vincent"
I wasn’t sure if the big names were being booked first because they were in a hurry to leave, or if it was in response to the impending rainstorm. Either way we go from a match featuring a TNA tag team champion to a match with the TNA
WORLD
Heavyweight Champion
.
Ethan Carter is up next, and begins down the aisle with his championship belt and a bodyguard named “Vincent.” This is not Virgil, but another bald black guy dressed like Virgil. Carter tells the fans in attendance that he doesn’t want to be there and is ready to collect his money and leave. His opponent is far more excited to be in Brooklyn, and once the music hits the crowd goes crazy. Even on the independent level, Colt Cabana is making more out of the casual Jewish gimmick than Barry Horowitz ever could. Ethan Carter tells Vincent to pay Colt off, in the hopes of calling it a night, but no such deal is to be made. Carter is so certain he’ll win tonight, that he’s prepared to “confess his sins” should be lose. This was a comedy match with some especially fun parts scattered throughout. At one point Colt was winding up for the “Bionic Elbow” for what must have been 45 seconds, while Carter continued to reel back and forth. He looked like a
Mortal Kombat
character just before a fatality. Colt and EC3 wrestled out of the ring, but it was Colt who got the best of Carter once the count was up. Ethan Carter had victory in his sights and decided to celebrate with Vincent on the apron—a bit prematurely. An ill-timed handshake between buddies catches Carter off guard, and the champion falls from the lip of the ring to the floor below. The former “Scotty Goldman”—yeah Colt, that was me—slid into the ring as Carter tumbled out, winning this match by a count our. After the match, “Father Goldman,” as the crowd dubbed him sought to provide absolution to a wayward Ethan Carter III, and listened as he confessed his sins. Carter said that he owns embarrassing albums, he cheats to win all of his matches, and most amazing of all—has impure thoughts about his Aunt Dixie Carter.
Winner: Colt CabanaВ
Rating: 1 Star
Comedy Central Match feat Virgil
Before the next match a producer from Comedy Central came to the ring, and explained the premise for the next match. He told us that it was for an episode of Larry Wilmore’s Comedy Central series, and asked that we keep our enthusiasm up. You can imagine how that went. People nearly booed him out of the building, which begs the question: what did he expect? I don’t think anyone smartened him up to the possibility of getting a negative reaction, because he continually stopped in mid sentence with a genuine: “Come on guys, seriously.” The match was a horrendous pile of shit that I imagine is a lot funnier within the context of the Comedy Central program. In a nutshell: Virgil wrestled some white guy claiming to be a “Borderhopper,” who would continuously tell the crowd: “I’m here to take your jobs!” They wrestled an awful match; there’s a problem when Virgil is the best wrestler in the ring. I think the faux Mexican won, but I was busy getting me a burnt hamburger. Hey but listen—burnt or not, they were good. And they were cheap. Three bucks! Just like the beer. After the match, a guy dressed in a revealing policeman’s uniform stormed the ring and tasered both individuals. He then proceeded to post up on the middle turnbuckle, where he attempted to start a “White People” chant. Not Pro Wrestling Syndicate’s fault. When Comedy Central wants to shoot a TV show at your Indy event, you do it. Simple as that.
Winner: Uh…
Rating: N/A
Chairs Match
Craven Varro vs Devon Moore w/ "Shining" Edward Jackson
Craven Varro entered the ring almost immediately following the previous shitshow, and all-but apologized for its inclusion in the overall event. He said, “If you think that was brutal, wait �til you see Devon Moore’s face when I’m done with it!” Devon Moore is escorted by "Shining" Edward Jackson—a lanky manager dressed as a newsy who resembles Paul Scheer from
The League.
All jokes aside, the guy did an awesome job, as he spent the vast majority of the night shepherding various heels to ringside. This was a chairs match, a fact that was lost upon me until halfway through the bout when I asked Gary: “How many chairs are they gonna use in this thing?” This was perhaps the most violent attraction of the night, and included a ton of spots worth mentioning; Jackson made quite a few run-ins, placing chairs in the trajectory of his client, Devon Moore. The fan-favorite fought tooth-and-nail, but in the end, the numbers game proved to be too much for Craven Varro. Devon Moore gets the win, and "Shining" Edward Jackson is off to a good start!
Winner: Devon Moore
Rating: 2 Stars
“I Quit” Match
Habib From The Car Wash vs Matt Macintosh
We continue along with an already entertaining evening, and head into an "I Quit" match featuring the immensely over Habib from the Carwash and the highly impressive Matt Macintosh. Habib enters the arena to the 1975 classic "
Car Wash
" by Rose Royce. There was a young woman in front of us who didn't appear enthused by
any
of the action taking place, but came alive the moment
Habib
came through the curtain! This guy is a legitimate star, but let's not take anything away from the 27-year old 3-year veteran Macintosh. Habib aims to win this one by wearing down the former
Suicidal Six Way Champion
, and does so with an impressive assortment of spinning heel kicks and running attacks. Macintosh would prefer to keep Habib grounded, and works the 140-pound athlete over with a series of heart stopping submissions. Pro Wrestling Syndicate has its share of comedy bouts scattered throughout each card, which—in some instances—might detract from the more serious competition. But Habib and Macintosh seem to have found a median safe-zone wherein laughter fuses with ferocity to yield what I thought was the "Match of the Night" up unto that point. I would have preferred less vocals from the referee—a little too "Mike Chioda" for my liking: "What do you say? Do you give up?" That being said, it
did
open the door for Habib's signature response: "Thank you, come again!" After various attempts at sending Habib
BACK
to the Carwash, Matt Macintosh was bested by a bit of wordplay! They went back and forth on the mic, as Macintosh exclaimed: "It's not
Thank You, Come Again—
it's
I QUIT! I QUIT!"
The official took the words to heart, and rang the bell, declaring Habib from the Carwash the winner.
Winner: Habib
Rating: 3 Stars
PWS Television ChampionshipВ
Chris Payne vs Brian Myers (c) vs BonesawВ
I'm 99% sure that Bonesaw's gimmick is that he
is
Bonesaw from the original Sam Rami
Spiderman
movie. The Macho Man character? Bonesaw was the first man through the curtain for the first of
four
scheduled title matches. It took me a minute and the assistance of Siri, but before too long I realized Bonesaw's music was a remixed version of the
Saw
theme. Bonesaw is one of two challengers hoping to win the
Pro Wrestling Syndicate Television Championship
from former WWE Superstar Brian Myers. Chris Payne is also looking to win the title, after coming up short last month in one-on-one competition against Myers. This was an exceptional bout with a ton of emphasis placed on Chris Payne, who looked absolutely phenomenal from bell to bell. There was a large group of people sitting behind us that stood up for the majority of the contest, and left immediately afterwards, so one would have to assume Payne's people were on hand to support their pal. I would have liked to see more out of Myers; a defending champion should most certainly have a better showing. That's not to say he was
bad
, but given the dynamics of a Triple Threat match—or a
TriForce Match
as PWS calls it—Myers was the odd man out for most of the match. Chris Payne was the inevitable victor, finally capturing a championship he's been after since first setting his sights on Myers.
Winner: Chris Payne
Rating: 2 Stars
CPA vs Mantaur
There's a brief intermission, which means more beer and burnt hamburgers for yours truly. I ate so much
food
at this thing, it was unreal. Know why? Awesome prices. If the WWE had $3 hamburgers and $3 beer at their shows, I'd be spending a lot more bread at the concession stand. But they aren't, so I don't. Before we return, ring announcer David Adams alerts the crowd that PWS intermissions are short, and that we're just five minutes from returning. Shout out to David Adams who does an absolutely incredible job. He has a great voice, and provides an infectious level of energy to the live audience. The first match back from break is a special attraction between the wrestling accountant CPA and former WWE "Superstar" Mantaur. This is just the
second
independent appearance for Mantaur since leaving the WWE; sadly the reverse Minotaur did
not
wear his taxidermied helmet. Nor did he have much time to work. After a few moments of CPA running from Mantaur, the match was disrupted by the
New Heavenly Bodies.
The �Bodies are currently one of the hottest tag teams in
America
, and have been tied to promotions such as Booker T's
Reality of Wrestling
and Jeff Jarrett's
Global Force Wrestling.
They tell the audience—along with CPA and Mantaur—that they're tired of waiting around for their match to begin, and are ready to take the tag titles from the
Handicapped Heroes.
Winner: —
Rating: DUD
PWS Tag Team Championship
Handicapped Heroes (c) vs The Heavenly Bodies
This was the first time I had the chance to see my
Cheap-Heat
colleague Gregory Iron in action. Greg is of course one half of the PWS Tag Team Champions, alongside the former bane of Vince McMahon's existence, Zach Gowen. Before the show even began, we could see Handicapped Heroes t-shirts by the dozen. In fact, aside from Bullet Club and NXT Brooklyn paraphernalia, I'd say the �Heroes were most certainly the best represented wrestlers on the show. Right from the gate, this match was on fire with all four men focused on retaining—or claiming—the tag team belts. Greg and Zach work with an uncanny fluidity that you have to see to believe; Gowen hit the �Bodies with an astounding springboard to the outside of the ring. Before long, CPA returned to the ring, as did a pair of Brooklyn natives that did
not
identify themselves; one was an African American guy, the other appeared to be some sort of Latino. Forgive me for not having their names, as Pro Wrestling Syndicate's website doesn't seem to have any information listed on the duo either. The Handicapped Heroes retain their tag team titles before this match has the chance to run
completely
off the rails. I was very much looking forward to this encounter, and wasn't disappointed with the action nor the outcome. By the way… I think this was the match Balls Mahoney interrupted? I’m not 100% sure. Funny note about Balls: he was leaving through the crowd during the main event and some guy yelled “We love you Balls!” Mahoney got in the guys face and screamed: “Shut the fuck up! You’re going to get me fired!” This lead to an hilarious rendition of: “FIRE BALLS! FIRE BALLS! FIRE BALLS!”
Winner: Handicapped Heroes
Rating: 2 1/4 Stars
Abyss vs Fallah Bahh w/ "Shining" Edward Jackson
Fallah Bahh is a former student of Kevin Knight and the IWF in Nutley New Jersey, and has since made a name for himself on a national stage. Bahh has appeared for
Reality of Wrestling
in Texas, and was a Pro Wrestling Syndicate Champion before losing the belt to Mario Bokara. Fallah Bahh is lead to the ring by a man who is
truly
"Shining"—Edward Jackson. I think Jackson might shine even brighter if he invests in a few different colored shirts. He wears a vest and hat combination, and opted for a gray button-down underneath. Why not take a page from Bobby the Brain or Jimmy the Mouth? Get a couple of shirts that go with each wrestler's motif, and switch out the button down between bouts. A quick change, no need to get rid of the vest or hat, just a shirt and you've got an entire wardrobe change! Enough about fashion, let's talk about Abyss. I'm not a fan of Abyss, and I think he is one of the worst aspects of
Impact Wrestling
. With that being said, it's still awesome to see Abyss in person. The same goes for Balls Mahoney and Virgil—not my favorite wresters, but a joy and an
honor
to see them live. There was a certain precedent set in the first match, and continued with Carter, Myers, and now Abyss. The nationally-recognized individuals appeared to be putting the local talent over in a big way throughout the night. Abyss would have been my favorite going into the show, but by the time this bout rolled around, I could see the writing on the wall. Fallah Bahh picks up a win—"Shining" Edward Jackson is
killing
it this evening.
Winner: Fallah Bahh
Rating: 3/4 Star
Suicidal 6-Way Title
Starman (c) vs Amazing Red vs Anthony Bowens vs The Drunken Swashbuckler vs Bobby Wayward vs “The Lifeguard” Mike Del w/ Dylan Stiffwood
The semi-main event for the Brooklyn show was a rather confusing 6-way match up for the
Suicidal Six Way Championship
. I'm not a fan of multiple-person matches whatsoever, so my opinion of this was definitely hindered by my preconceptions. I thought Amazing Red lived up to his name, and proved what a class act he was following the bout when it came time to take pictures at ringside. A young fan asked for an autograph, and Red stood posed for what must have been 45 seconds as the kid's dad tried to get the flash on his phone to work. But I'm jumping the gun. I think my biggest problem with this match is that it offered an inverse of what we received in the "I Quit Match." Whereas Habib and the "Bad Apple" Matt Macintosh sought to pepper their blood feud with comedy, this was a comedy match struggling to be taken seriously. I like the Drunken Swashbuckler as a character—as a 1995 WWF character not unlike the
Goon.
My favorite participants were without question Anthony Bowens and "Lifeguard" Mike Del. Del is escorted to ringside by Dylan Stiffwood—an equally impressive-looking beach bum who tried to help Del secure the championship. Starman is the champion by the way; for those unfamiliar with Starman, he's a nationally-accredited professional wrestler who assumes the persona of—Starman. From the NES video game. At one point during the match, Starman stopped moving, as though he was frozen. The fans in attendance began chanting: "Blow the cartridge." Once his opponent blew in the readily available Nintendo cartridge, Starman leapt back into action, and won the match in a decisive manner.
Winner: Starman
Rating: 1 1/4 Stars
PWS CHAMPIONSHIP
Dan Maff (c) vs Kevin Matthews
The main event was the match of the night. Without question. Kevin Matthews—who looks like if John Cena and Palmer Cannon shared a meal comprised of Kenny Dykstra—is challenging for the championship belt currently held by Dan "Danny" Maff. This was the hardest hitting, and
lengthiest
match on the card. Maff hit Matthews with two of his signature inverted Death Valley Drivers, but the big man refused to go down. Matthews is a former champion himself; in fact Kevin Matthews has held the PWS championship belt three times, and hoped to break his own record with four. Maff is an unbelievable talent. A veteran of the squared-circle for over 15 years, Maff wowed even his most visceral detractors with a display of high risk acrobatics and hard-hitting brutality. A suicide dive to the outside, and a "This is Awesome" chant wakes up an almost exasperated audience. They continue at one another until a bump to the referee means anything goes for the foreseeable future. Maff went under the ring, perhaps looking for a table, but returned with a
DOOR
. Maff set the door against the turnbuckle, and looked to finish this fight once and for all. Matthews reversed the big man, and sent him spiraling through the splintered lumber. They continued to a chorus of "Holy shit" and other various cries from the crowd, until Maff delivered a third and
final
Death Valley Driver. After the three count, Maff thanked the crowd in Brooklyn; Dan is from Bayonne New Jersey, and had to put up with
angry
New Yorkers cheering for the hometown boy throughout the night. He said that he always considered Brooklyn a second home, and thanked Kevin Matthews for giving him such a great match. He says that to be the best in Pro Wrestling Syndicate, he
had
to go through Kevin Matthews, and that's exactly what he did. Matthews shares Maff's sentiments, and thanks his Bay Ridge brothers and sisters for coming out and showing their support.
Winner: Dan Maff
Rating: 3 1/2 Stars
An absolutely unbelievable night of professional wrestling from Pro Wrestling Syndicate. PWS will be back in action next month on October 24
th
when they return to Rahway New Jersey. In addition to everybody's favorite PWS athletes, the October 24
th
show will feature the very first one-on-one meeting between Rob Van Dam and John Morrison. For the audio breakdown of PWS: Bay Ridge courtesy of yours truly and B+ Player Radio –
CLICK HERE
. Remember to
LIKE
and
FOLLOW
us on Facebook for new episodes of the B+ Players; constant coverage courtesy of
DailyWrestlingNews.com
; and lots of laughs thanks to
GutBusterWrestling.com
!
http://www.cheap-heat.com/outsiders-edge-pro-wrestling-syndicate-bay-ridge/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/outsiders-edge-pro-wrestling-syndicate-bay-ridge/#comments Sun, 13 Sep 2015 16:24:34 +0000
B+ Players
CH Podcast
Abyss
Angelina Love
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Brooklyn
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Eric Pleska
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independent wrestling
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B+ Player Radio is a network of professional wrestling podcasts produced by writers, comedians, musicians, and most importantly—professional wrestlers! Listen to hours of exclusive content available every single week on iTunes – TuneIn Radio – SoundCloud and Cheap-Heat.com! Pro Wrestling Syndicate is one of—if not THE—hottest independent promotions in the Northeast United States. With a […]
B+ Player Radio is a network of professional wrestling podcasts produced by writers, comedians, musicians, and most importantly—
professional wrestlers!
Listen to hours of exclusive content available every single week on
iTunes
–
TuneIn Radio
–
SoundCloud
and
Cheap-Heat.com
!
Pro Wrestling Syndicate is one of—if not
THE—
hottest independent promotions in the Northeast United States. With a hoard of home grown talent rubbing shoulders with wrestling legends on a regular basis, it's not hard to see how PWS has grown a dedicated following. Gary Mastriano and Mark Haggerty of Cheap-Heat, Daily Wrestling News, and B+ Player Radio took a drive from their studio at the Jersey Shore to Bay Ridge Brooklyn to see PWS, and they were
NOT
disappointed. Check out this very special "Car Cast" – Gary and Mark are driving back to Jersey, and can't wait to break down their favorite moments of the night. In addition to outstanding in-ring competition PWS featured a rare appearance by Taz, Balls Mahoney almost
murdered
a fan for saying his name, and Comedy Central was in the house for a television taping with
Virgil
. That's right! Virgil! "How many trees you been climbing? I climb �em every day. Watch out. Bitches."
Today's episode
ALSO
features the debut of "
Ravishing Reminders"
with the IWF Heavyweight Champion Shawn Donavan. Shawn is hosting his own weekly segment wherein he hopes to make a difference and inspire your attire! For "Ravishing Reminders," skip to 45:14.
Shout out to Eric Pleska and the guys at Pro Wrestling Syndicate for welcoming us with open arms and providing us—and upwards of 500 fans—with a night of professional wrestling excellence. Follow them on Twitter @ProWreSyndicate
Questions or Comments? Follow the B+ Players on Social Media!
http://www.cheap-heat.com/educated-guess-nxt-takeover-brooklyn/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/educated-guess-nxt-takeover-brooklyn/#comments Sat, 22 Aug 2015 15:50:56 +0000
Mark Adam Haggerty
Blogs
Apollo Crews
B+ Players Podcast
Baron Corbin
Bayley
Blake and Murphy
Brooklyn
Dragon Gate
Field of Honor
Finn Balor
Jushin Liger
Jushin Thunder Liger
Kevin Owens
Ladder Match
NJPW
NXT
NXT Championship
NXT TakeOver
NXT Takeover Brooklyn
Prince Pretty
Pro Wrestling Syndicate
PWS
ROH
Samoa Joe
Sasha Banks
Tag Team Championship
Takeover
The Vaudevillians
Ty Dillinger
Tye Dillinger
Tyler Breeze
Uhaa Nation
Womens Championship
WWE
http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=13675
Summer time is almost at an end, and soon we'll be privy to chilly autumn days and back-to-school shopping. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the last two weeks of the seasons! What's Crack-a-Lackin' everybody? My name is Mark Adam Haggerty, and tonight is NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn LIVE on the WWE Network! I will […]
Summer time is almost at an end, and soon we'll be privy to chilly autumn days and back-to-school shopping. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the last two weeks of the seasons! What's Crack-a-Lackin' everybody? My name is Mark Adam Haggerty, and tonight is
NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn
LIVE on the WWE Network! I will be one of the tens-of-thousands of people in attendance at the Barclay's Center, hoping against
hope
for an exclusive Jushin "Thunder" Liger t-shirt. But what about the card? What might we expect to go down when the men and women of
NXT
perform in front of 16,000 fans—40 times the size of the fledgling Full Sail fan base? I've got a few ideas. When other professional wrestling pundits are making
predictions,
I'm doing the due diligence required to form
Educated Guesses
.
Samoa Joe vs. Baron Corbin
For someone that came into the WWE on a wave of momentum, Samoa Joe sure is jerking the curtain on an event that's set to break every record imaginable. Joe was part of TNA's tapings at the
Manhattan Center
, and made a name for himself with
Ring of Honor
in smaller venues across the city. This will
DEFINITELY
be the largest crowd Joe has ever worked in New York. It might even be the largest crowd he's worked in
America
, save for the dark match wherein he crippled Tyson Kidd. This is a tough one to predict; Baron Corbin is still undefeated as far as I'm aware—at least on television. One would assume Baron's toppling of the
Samoan Submission Machine
would cement him as part of the upper echelon of NXT. But Samoa Joe losing to Baron Corbin is a hard pill to swallow, especially when you've got almost twenty thousand blood thirsty New Yorkers who paid to see professional wrestling. You'd also have to guess that Corbin is due for his inevitable humbling sooner than later. Samoa Joe is the kind of
"living legend"
that can defeat Corbin at the end of a hard-fought battle, only to raise his hand in proverbial triumph at the end. Baron Corbin could lose the fight, but gain the respect of Samoa Joe—and in turn, the NXT fans.
Educated Guess: Samoa Joe
Apollo Crews vs. Tye Dillinger
With CJ Parker exploring the independent ranks of professional wrestling, there's a
hole
left on the roster. Parker was, for lack of a better term, "Jobber to the Stars"—the first stop for future
Superstars
such as Baron Corbin and Kevin Owens. Tye Dillinger appears to have adopted the mantle, as the "Perfect Ten" is booked to compete with the recently signed Uhaa Nation—debuting as "Apollo Crews." Listen—I get what they're doing with the name; Apollo like Creed and Crews like Terry, I get it. But a simple Google Image Search for "Apollo Crews" will yield nothing but group photos of NASA astronauts. Just wanted to make that known before its too late. I think it's safe to say Apollo will more than likely achieve victory. I'll be curious to see if they do the Titan Tron "fade out" with the name change, the way they did with KENTA into Hideo Itami and Prince Devitt into Finn Balor. I'm also wondering if he'll continue to employ his "Uhaa Combination";
most
independent stars are allowed to keep their finishing moves, with the exception of Kevin Owens' package piledriver.
Educated Guess: Apollo Crews
NXT Tag Team Championship
Blake & Murphy (c) vs. The Vaudevillians
This week's episode of the
Outsiders' Edge
features our official
preview
show for both NXT and SummerSlam. No one on the show could understand why the Vaudevillians are in contention for the titles, especially since Enzo Amore and Big Cass aren't even scheduled for the
main
show. They're in an eight man tag during the TV tapings! Enzo and Cass are more
over
than the Vaudevillians, they've got
history
with Blake and Murphy, and it's their hometown! Big Cass is from the City, whereas Enzo's from Hackensack—which is
THROWING DISTANCE
from Brooklyn! I made a really outlandish guess, and said
maybe
something happens to the Vaudevillians? Maybe they get attacked before the show, or perhaps they're defeated courtesy of some underhanded tactics. We very well could see the "Certified G," as well as the big seven-foot Italian. Getting back to
this
match—there's no way the Vaudevillians are winning the titles. If this is truly the match they're going with, then I have no doubt Blake and Murphy are set to retain.
Educated Guess: Blake & Murphy
Jushin "Thunder" Liger vs. Tyler Breeze
I write a column for Daily Wrestling News called "
Weights & Measures
," about the
"Excitement Factor"
going into an event. It's just your average percentage scale with 0% representing no interest whatsoever, and 100% being the
presumable
cap. I broke the rules this month and said this match was at a
500%
.
You heard me. FIVE HUNDRED PERCENT! I mentioned earlier that I'm looking forward to finding an exclusive Jushin "Thunder" Liger t-shirt, but there's so much more involved! This guy has been wrestling
professionally
since 1984; he was in the
OPENING MATCH
on the first-
ever
WCW Monday Nitro. He's wrestled everyone from Ric Flair to Daniel Bryan to Dalton Castle! And now he's come to the WWE for the first time in his 31-year career at the age of 50 to wrestle one of the brightest stars in the company! Tyler Breeze seems to have been left by the wayside in recent months—since
NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way—
and has been defeated in the opening match on the last
TWO
TakeOver specials. Tyler is destined for great things in the WWE and the business at large, he's just been submerged beneath a deluge of debuting independent darlings. His time will come; tonight will be a defining moment in the career of Tyler Breeze.
Educated Guess: Tyler Breeze
NXT Women’s Championship
Sasha Banks (c) vs. Bayley
I know everyone is enamored with how amazing the women of NXT are, and all of the Tony Schiavone-wannabes are bolstering hyperbolic boastings such as "Sasha versus Bayley will be match of the night." Guys—Kevin Steen is wrestling Prince Devitt in a fucking ladder match. Jushin Liger is making his WWE debut. Uhaa Nation is making his WWE debut. Samoa Joe is working his largest crowd in New York ever. Sasha versus Bayley will be an outstanding match—but it will
not
be match of the night. There's just no way. Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch stole the show last month, which wasn't hard to do considering the main event never got started. Still, all scrutiny aside, I believe Sasha Banks is unquestionably the most talented in-ring performer the Diva's Division has ever had. Ever. Bayley is a fantastic sports entertainer and appears to have no trouble connecting with the crowd. I've said before that Bayley could very well be the WWE's female equivalent to John Cena—a smiling role model who wears bright colors and sells a ton of frivolous merch. But I don't think her in-ring ability is on par with Becky Lynch, or Charlotte, or Paige—let alone Sasha Banks. I think this is going to be a fun match, it'll be long with a lot of drama, and there will definitely be hugging and crying in the end.
Educated Guess: Bayley
NXT Championship
Finn Balor (c) vs. Kevin Owens
I'm not a main event mark, believe it or not. I'm one of those people who saw Savage/Steamboat and has since said: "The best stuff is on the undercard." And quite often, that's very much the case. But tonight's main event is going to be special. I've been to
hundreds
of events in my life; I've seen WWE, TNA, ROH, NJPW, PWG, ECW, PWS, and dozens upon dozens of regional Indy promotions. This will be my first NXT event, and despite how long I've been attending wrestling live—this will also be my first
ladder match
. So no matter what happens, I'm going to be happy with the result. I think most people are going on the assumption that Finn Balor
has
to win this match because Kevin Owens is on the main roster. While I'm assuming Finn will win, I'm not so quick to assume Kevin
can't.
Kevin Owens needs to maintain some sort of constant presence in NXT until Sami Zayn returns. Not only is the rivalry ongoing, but with Zayn and Itami on the injured list, NXT is pretty scarce in terms of main event talent. I'm very much looking forward to this match. I think it'll probably steal the show, and could very well be the
"Match of the Weekend
" when all is said and done.
Educated Guess: Finn Balor
http://www.cheap-heat.com/new-episode-of-pro-wrestling-syndicate-tv-with-no-dq-title-match-foley-raven-more/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/new-episode-of-pro-wrestling-syndicate-tv-with-no-dq-title-match-foley-raven-more/#comments Sat, 15 Aug 2015 02:59:51 +0000
Cassidy Haynes
Indy/Puro/Lucha
Pro Wrestling Syndicate
PWS
http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=13451
Brand new episode of PWS Wrestling features a No DQ Match for The Pro Wrestling Syndicate Championship between champion Mario Bokara, former champion Fallah Bahh, and top contender Dan Maff. Plus Johnny Howl, Mick Foley, Raven, and more. www.ProWrestlingSyndicate.com
Brand new episode of PWS Wrestling features a No DQ Match for The Pro Wrestling Syndicate Championship between champion Mario Bokara, former champion Fallah Bahh, and top contender Dan Maff. Plus Johnny Howl, Mick Foley, Raven, and more.
http://www.cheap-heat.com/former-wwe-star-justin-gabriel-announced-for-pro-wrestling-syndicates-frozen-fallout-on-jan-31st/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/former-wwe-star-justin-gabriel-announced-for-pro-wrestling-syndicates-frozen-fallout-on-jan-31st/#comments Mon, 26 Jan 2015 16:59:06 +0000
Cassidy Haynes
Indy/Puro/Lucha
Frozen Fallout
Justin Gabriel
PJ Black
Pro Wrestling Syndicate
PWS
WWE
http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9260
Following the news that former WWE Superstar Justin Gabriel has been released by the WWE, independent wrestling promotion Pro Wrestling Syndicate have announced that Gabriel, now going under the name of "The Darewolf" PJ Black, will be appearing at their Frozen Fallout event, replacing the injured AR Fox. "BREAKING NEWS – PWS SIGNS FKA JUSTIN […]
Following the news that former WWE Superstar Justin Gabriel has been released by the WWE, independent wrestling promotion
Pro Wrestling Syndicate have announced
that Gabriel, now going under the name of "The Darewolf" PJ Black, will be appearing at their Frozen Fallout event, replacing the injured AR Fox.
"BREAKING NEWS – PWS SIGNS FKA JUSTIN GABRIEL – Taking the injured AR Fox's spot in The Suicidal Six Way Title Match THIS Saturday Jan 31st at Frozen Fallout in Rahway NJ will be "The Darewolf" PJ Black (fka WWE Superstar Justin Gabriel). Tickets available at ProWrestlingSyndicate.com."
http://www.cheap-heat.com/watch-pro-wrestling-syndicate-tv-episode-3-on-wlny-colt-cabana-vs-mario-bokara-plus-icp/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/watch-pro-wrestling-syndicate-tv-episode-3-on-wlny-colt-cabana-vs-mario-bokara-plus-icp/#comments Sat, 24 Jan 2015 21:47:23 +0000
Cassidy Haynes
Indy/Puro/Lucha
Colt Cabana
ICP
Insane Clown Posse
Pro Wrestling Syndicate
PWS
http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9239
Episode #3 of PWS Wrestling on WLNY Television. Pro Wrestling Syndicate show featuring Mario Bokara vs Colt Cabana, Starman vs Bonesaw, Suicidal Six Way action, The Insane Clown Posse, and more: www.ProWrestlingSyndicate.com
Episode #3 of PWS Wrestling on WLNY Television.
Pro Wrestling Syndicate show featuring Mario Bokara vs Colt Cabana, Starman vs Bonesaw, Suicidal Six Way action, The Insane Clown Posse, and more:
http://www.cheap-heat.com/ratings-for-pro-wrestling-syndicates-debut-episode-on-wlny/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/ratings-for-pro-wrestling-syndicates-debut-episode-on-wlny/#comments Mon, 12 Jan 2015 02:01:55 +0000
Cassidy Haynes
Indy/Puro/Lucha
Amazing Red
Bonesaw
Brian XL
Colt Cabana
Habib From The Car Wash
ICP
Insane Clown Posse
Mario Bokara
Matt Macintosh
Pro Wrestling Syndicate
PWS
Starman
The Lifeguard
http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=8784
Pro Wrestling Syndicate's TV show on WLNY premiered last weekend. The show was the sixth most watched program in the metro New York area for its 4:30am to 5:30am timeslot. The shown had a total viewership of 164,000. That is a very good number for airing at 4:30AM. The show also drew another,4,000+ views on […]
Pro Wrestling Syndicate's TV show on WLNY premiered last weekend. The show was the sixth most watched program in the metro New York area for its 4:30am to 5:30am timeslot. The shown had a total viewership of 164,000. That is a very good number for airing at 4:30AM. The show also drew another,4,000+ views on YouTube.com.
The next episode airs later on early Sunday morning. Below is the lineup for the next episode:
* The Insane Clown Posse will appear.
* Mario Bokara vs. Colt Cabana
* Bonesaw vs. Starman in a Ladder Match
* Suicidal Six Way Title Match: Habib From The Car Wash vs. Matt Macintosh vs. Amazing Red vs. Brian XL vs. Shynron vs. The Lifeguard.
–В Here is the debut episode of PWS on TV. The show aired on WLNY in the New York area this past weekend. В New episode air every Sunday morning at 4:30 AM ET.
http://www.cheap-heat.com/watch-the-debut-episode-of-pro-wrestling-syndicate-tv/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/watch-the-debut-episode-of-pro-wrestling-syndicate-tv/#comments Tue, 06 Jan 2015 07:13:10 +0000
Cassidy Haynes
Indy/Puro/Lucha
Pro Wrestling Syndicate
PWS
Team Impact Players
The Reynolds Brothers
http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=8549
Episode #1 of PWS Wrestling on WLNY television. Pro Wrestling Syndicate is an independent wrestling promotion based in Rahway NJ. Team Impact Players reunite to battle The Reynolds Brothers for The PWS Tag Team Titles and more. www.ProWrestlingSyndicate.com
Episode #1 of PWS Wrestling on WLNY television.
Pro Wrestling Syndicate is an independent wrestling promotion based in Rahway NJ.
Team Impact Players reunite to battle The Reynolds Brothers for The PWS Tag Team Titles and more.
http://www.cheap-heat.com/pro-wrestling-syndicates-tv-debut-to-feature-ecw-reunion/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/pro-wrestling-syndicates-tv-debut-to-feature-ecw-reunion/#comments Fri, 02 Jan 2015 01:48:22 +0000
Cassidy Haynes
Indy/Puro/Lucha
Amazing Red
AR Fox
Bonesaw
Brian Myers
Dan Maff
ECW
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Fallah Bahh
Frozen Fallout
John Hennigan
Kevin Matthews
Mario Bokara
Pro Wrestling Syndicate
PWS
Raven
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
Ricky Steamboat
Sabu
The Handicapped Heroes
The Heavenly Bodies
The Rock N' Roll Express
http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=8434
Pro Wrestling Syndicate will make their television debut this weekend on CBS affiliate WLNY, which airs in over 7 million homes in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and while the company has been keeping a tight lid regarding what will be shown on their debut one-hour weekly program which will air from 4:30am-5:30am, it […]
Pro Wrestling Syndicate will make their television debut this weekend on CBS affiliate WLNY, which airs in over 7 million homes in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and while the company has been keeping a tight lid regarding what will be shown on their debut one-hour weekly program which will air from 4:30am-5:30am, it has leaked out that an ECW reunion will feature on their debut show.
Meanwhile, for those looking to attend an upcoming PWS event, the company returns live on Saturday, January 31st at the Rahway Rec Center on 275 East Milton Ave in Rahway, New Jersey for "Frozen Fallout". Confirmed for that event is PWS Champion Fallah Bahh defending against Bonesaw, Dan Maff and Mario Bokara in a Four Corners Match, John Hennigan vs. Sabu, Brian Myers vs. Kevin Matthews in a Barbed Wire Match, The Rock N Roll Express vs. The Heavenly Bodies, The PWS On The Spot Title Shot Rumble Match and more including appearances from AR Fox, Amazing Red, The Handicapped Heroes, Raven and Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat.
http://www.cheap-heat.com/jeff-jarrett-talks-gfw-njpw-bullet-club-wrestlekingdom-9-at-the-tokyo-dome-and-more/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/jeff-jarrett-talks-gfw-njpw-bullet-club-wrestlekingdom-9-at-the-tokyo-dome-and-more/#comments Sat, 27 Dec 2014 02:47:01 +0000
Cassidy Haynes
Indy/Puro/Lucha
AAA
AJ Styles
Brad Armstrong
Bullet Club
GFW
Global Force Wrestling
Hulk Hogan
Jeff Jarrett
Jim Ross
Kenny Omega
Kevin Nash
New Japan Pro Wrestling
NJPW
nWo
Pro Wrestling Syndicate
PWS
Ring of Honor
Road Dogg
ROH
Scott Hall
Takahashi
TNA
WrestleKingdom 9
WWE
http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=8267
VOC Nation Radio Network sent out the following: Jeff Jarrett joined Nani & special guest co-host, stand-up comedian, Marty DeRosa, for Pandemonium on VOC Nation Radio Network to discuss Global Force Wrestling, NJPW, Bullet Club, Wrestle Kingdom 9 at the Tokyo Dome, & much more. Scott D'Amore also appeared earlier in the show. Here are […]
VOC Nation Radio Network sent out the following:
Jeff Jarrett joined Nani & special guest co-host, stand-up comedian, Marty DeRosa, for Pandemonium on VOC Nation Radio Network to discuss Global Force Wrestling, NJPW, Bullet Club, Wrestle Kingdom 9 at the Tokyo Dome, & much more. Scott D'Amore also appeared earlier in the show.
On when GFW will be a stand alone company:
"2015. I know that's very, very broad. We rolled out the name of the company in April & got our AAA alliance announced. The NJPW alliance, building up the brand. We got a couple funny Twitter comments from you [laughs] that I smiled all about so there's another alliance in there [to special guest co-host, Marty] but, no, all kidding aside… rolling out the brand. And then the New Japan situation came about and all eyes in Global Force are focused and if I would have to release details from now until January 4, I don't want anything seeding headlines or move anything. We're laser-focused on January 4. Post January 4, I'm going to be making announcements about distribution, talent, venues, and sponsorships, and everything that goes with a stand-alone. 2015 I've obviously been holding things pretty close to the vest and that's obviously by design. I made it a real focus. I want Global Force to be a different kind of brand. Yes, it's going to be a standalone. We have these professional relationships where we can present, not just to the North American audience but the entire globe… different styles, different forms, different, innovative ways to bring wrestling to the masses."
On doing cross-overs & co-promotions with other wrestling companies & whether is it essential to please wrestling fans:
"Essential is a pretty strong word. Do I believe it's beneficial? Absolutely. It goes without saying that WWE 95% of the market share. It's all about how do you cut through. Not that just because it's wrestling, WWE is #1, who's #2, who's #3, who's #4, who's #5. I don't think it's appropriate or necessary. I think it's counterproductive to success. In the music business, you can have 10 country music artists who are selling out arenas. You can have pop music, rock music, and all different forms. So, I believe it's in everybody's best interest. A couple of weeks ago, ROH had their pay-per-view and we used our digital space and our social media to encourage people to watch the show. I think that it's healthy for the industry if all promotions are thriving. Is it essential? I don't think I'd say it's essential but I do say it's very, very healthy."
On competition and Bullet Club:
"Well, I said back in February or March that I thought that the industry as a whole was right on the cusp of a boom period. Some people thought I was crazy and some people agreed. But, here we are 11 months later, NJPW is going to be on access, we're bringing the pay-per-view with Jim Ross and I can't tell you just how the media requests, alone. Jim can talk until now until January 4 and he wouldn't be able to get it all in. NJPW is going to be on access, Lucha Underground is on El Ray, TNA, God bless them, signed a new TV deal, & WWE has the WWE Network. There is a lot of healthy things going on in this business. The more needs for professional wrestling? I do think there is a void in the marketplace. WWE, how could you complain or argue about their success? They're publicly traded company, a billion dollar organization that's been around for 60 years. What they do is their style and they do it very well. Do I think that NJPW will be coming to North America or AAA coming to North America? Other forms of wrestling coming to North America? Do I think that would be successful? You're damn right, I do. Let's take that show this past Saturday night [Pro Wrestling Syndicate]. There were 1500 people in the building and I think I saw 250 Bullet Club shirts. That, to me, is a very strong indicator of how hot that product is and The Bullet Club is all American, outside of Takahashi, are all American. They're all great wrestlers. Kenny Omega and AJ Styles are two of the very best performers in the world. Gun and Gallows held the [tag] titles for a year now. They're strong. Young Bucks, who I think is the best tag team in the business today, their timing in what I call, �new age wrestling'. I think there's a lot of indicators of that indicate the potential of how successful it can be here."
On independent wrestling:
"They're independent promotions but I don't call the guys working them �indy wrestlers'. I think there's a negative connotation that goes with that, unfortunately. I'm calling them free agents and, I think the free agent market right now is as hot as its ever been. You've got guys that are working Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from anywhere 1,500 to 2,500, and these promoters… you're always going to have some bad promoters out there. But, for the most part, I'm looking around and seeing guys who are businessmen who are putting on really good shows. The business is healthy and that really excites me. My family has been in the business since the 1940s. My grandmother started. It's �put groceries on the table' for over 70 years. To see the amount of work at shows and, not just in North America, but in Europe, UK specifically, is having some really good shows and Austailia. There's a lot going on out in the world of professional wrestling that is not WWE-related."
About being the only person who is both a member of the NWO and the Bullet Club:
"Funny you ask. At that show, Kevin Nash was there and we filmed him and that video came out yesterday. To hear Kevin Nash be so complimentary of the Bullet Club. I'm still in shock. I'm lucky that I'm the only guy to be in both. When those guys approached me back in August after NJPW and GFW solidified their relationship, they said, �Hey, we want you to be part of Bullet Club.' How could you turn that down at this stage in my career? So I'm really honored and can't wait to get to the Tokyo Dome. But, when I was talking to Kevin and listening to when he was getting interviewed, and he said the Bullet Club is much more athletic than the original members of NWO– Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and Hulk Hogan. I'm like, �he's right.' He's being honest about it. I can tell you that i witnessed firsthand when the NWO first came on the scene and they powerbombed Bischoff off the stage and just the buzz and showing up at those Nitros and they were sold out 5 days in advance. Just the electricity and the buzz… I mean, they were selling out buildings just by showing up in limos and beating people up and they didn't even have their first match. If you look at the comparison and the vibe, the Bullet Club does the �Too Sweet' that's the homage to NWO and Kevin threw it back at them so it's cool. It's a special time in the business, I'll say."
On what he predicts will be "match of the night" on Wrestle Kingdom 9:
"Well, I mean, typical wrestler… I have to say my match is going to be the best [laughs] I'm kidding, I'm kidding. No disrespect to the other nine matches but there's three in my mind that I believe are going to be 5-star matches. I believe the 4-team match is going to be a match that is going to be potential to set the standard barrier. I don't want to call this a exhibition match because it's bigger and broader. It's more dynamic. The 4 corners match is going to be a showstealer. The main event is for the title so that's the second one. One of the best rivalries. AJ Styles' match is going to be off the charts. Those are the three. Sorry I couldn't nail it down to one."
On whether AJ Styles should change his finisher, The Styles Clash:
"I want to have all due respect to guys that have been injured but I've heard that and I just have to laugh. Actually, I laughed. This business, as Jim Ross says, �it ain't ballet.' But you need to learn how to protect yourself and if you can't protect yourself, either A get out of the business or B don't take it. Don't put it on AJ. Back in the asylum, Frankie Kazarian took it wrong and I know that the nature of our business is the tuck your chin to protect your neck. On this, know going in, focus and know, if AJ can be in this predicament. You know what to do. I put it on the performer, not on AJ. Not even close. It's ridiculous, in my opinion, for someone to say, �AJ, that move needs to be banned.' He's done it for 12 years and, if a guy can't protect himself, it's not AJ's fault."
On the funniest people in wrestling:
"When you look back over the years, the first name when you said funniest in the dressing room– Road Dogg and Brad Armstrong, God rest his soul. Brad was the funniest of the bunch and Brian will tell you today, Brad was the funniest but it never coorelated to the audience but Brian's did."
Wrestle Kingdom 9 will stream live from the Tokyo Dome @ 2AM EST on Sunday, January 4 and then will be available for 30 days on the Flipps app. Check your local listings to see where pay-per-view is available or The Flipps app can be downloaded for free from iTunes or Google Play for just $34.95.
