----I needed a break from working on Yearbook 2008, so my daughter Karly and I headed to West Memphis, AR to watch some NEW. The funny thing is that we rushed to get there by 7:00 PM and guess what?? It has ALWAYS started at 8:00 PM!! I guess lack of sleep will do crazy things like that to you.
----Before the cameras started filming, Ken Wayne and RRO Columnist and Announcer of the Year: Brian Thompson got in the middle of the ring to announce all the RRO winners from NEW to the crowd. Crowd popped for each one of them. I really didn’t notice this until it was all said and done, but a lot of the NEW regulars took home awards this year. You can say what you want about the guys only drawing 40 people or whatever, but this group has a solid crew that features the best in this area.
----Matt Justyce and Greg King JR were scheduled to wrestle Justin Smart and Dustin Ring. Before the match could start, NEW promoter and head trainer, Ken Wayne stepped into the ring to make an announcement. Wayne announced that as a rule of the “Nightmare” Ken Wayne School of Professional Wrestling that a wrestler that has not graduated from the school yet must attend training every week. If he does not come to training, then he does not wrestle for the weekend. [Total shoot] And since Justyce did not attend training this week [another shoot], then he would not be permitted to wrestle. Wayne said he could stand outside the ring, but no actual wrestling. He then said that since King did not have a partner, then he had to wrestle each of the guys in single matches.
----RRO Rookie of the Year: Greg King beat Justin Smart in a good solid match. Smart surprised me and really fit into this style. Good stiff work from both guys. Beautiful armdrags from Smart. After a little heat, Smart missed a flying elbow smash. King hit a great dropkick. It ended up with King beating Smart with a backslide. [**1/2]
----RRO Gimmick of the Year: Dustin Ring [pictured above] beat Greg King by DQ. Another good solid bout. Ring and King hold for hold. Ring is very talented. King took a bit of beating and then a comeback. Figure-four from King. King looked like he was going to tear Ring’s ankle off at one point. Another King dropkick. Stinger splash from King. Nice build for finish. Ring goes against ropes and Justyce catches his foot and Ring falls. RRO Referee of the Year: Downtown Bruno catches him and DQ’s King.
----“The Golden Boy” Greg Anthony beat Shawn Reed [picture below] by DQ. Another good solid bout – just a bit better than the previous two bouts. This bout had more old school psychology in it than any bout that I have seen at NEW. Both guys working real hard and Reed surprised me a tons here. Crowd was into this and Reed was over. TGB did take most of the bout with Reed making his comeback. Comeback was cut off when TGB slapped Reed real hard and then Reed started punching TGB with his fists for the DQ. [***]
----Eric Wayne vs Kid Nikels – 20 minute time limit draw. Not a match of year, but a step above rest of the show, which is where you want your Main Event to be. They are selling the story of neither of these guys losing and also neither one of them being able to beat each other. The storyline is working as I don’t think anyone expected the match to have a winner. Back & forth stuff with both guys shining. Crowd loves both of them. Nikels went for the “Nikels Pickle II” quick, but couldn’t get it clamped on. Snapmare from Wayne into a stiff kick to the back of Nikels. Nikels hit his big boot followed by a big leg. Stiff clothesline from Wayne for a near fall. Wayne goes to the top, but Nikels cuts him off. Nikels climbs to the top after some stiff headbutts. Superplex that the whole crowd popped for. Double knockout. Nikels nose is bleeding at some point. Build for the finish was good as they brought you up – 3 of the first last 5 minutes were so fast it would have been hard to call. They then slowed it up a bit, then faster as they built for the end. Time was about to expire as Nikels clamped on the “Nikels Pickle II” and then it expired with Wayne looking as if he would have tapped. Crowd actually booed the finish a bit as I think they thought Kid had him. [***1/2]
NOTES
----Fun to see them run angles like the opening one…Smart has the look of a wrestler and fits in this style…Dustin Ring as Malkavain is the best gimmick in this area in years. I love the gimmick. But, I would rather see him work as Ring, because he so damn good at this style. ..Ring/King finish was NOT typical of wrestling. I love the way they are booking this stuff. The ref actually sees everything!!...TGB and Reed both are the best here on the mic. TGB actually may be a step above most people in this area. Remember Reed actually helped turn the Posse heel last year, so yes he is good. Someone yelled, “Get Him Chicken Nugget” when Reed came out. I am not sure what that meant, but I laughed. Their finish was all not the norm…Main Event went 10 minutes over TV time, so I am assuming if you were watching the show, you would have to “tune in next week.”…There was only about 40 people in the crowd, but they were loud…The place has really got the feel of the old Channel 5 TV studio. This is not a wrestling arena – it is set up to tape TV and seat about 100 people. ..Eric Wayne has “rabbit ears” [you know he can hear everything that the crowd says] and I gave him hell about it last time. Someone was giving him hell about his ponytail and he yanked the rubber band out and said, “ I don’t have a ponytail dumbass!” It worked this time as the whole crowd popped and helped in the whole plan to have Wayne as a heel…It was also announced at the start of the show that an Awards ceremony will be taking place on 2.06.09. I will have full details sometime later this week, because I am hoping to have Yearbook 2008 done by that night…Since I was somewhat of an ass and brought up that Shawn Reed owed me money the last time I seen him, then I do want the world to know that we are now “even Steven”. You are over in my book brother. LOL…Fun time was had by all. Thanks to the cast and crew. Great dressing room of guys.
