----The show opened with them talking about the US JR Title Tournament. The idea for the matches for the night was that you needed to win to even be considered in the tournament. The first four guys to get three wins will then be entered into a one night double elimination tournament. So if you lose, then you fall behind in the standings.
----Dustin Ring interview talking about winning 100 tournaments. Thought that was funny. Eric Wayne interview then aired on the big screen. Real good interview. Best effort so far. Eric Wayne beat Dustin Ring in the first match. Good solid stiff bout. Hard kicks. Hard chops. Hold for hold. Snug stiff holds. Eric did his german suplex finisher in the middle of the match with Dustin kicking out. [note: you got to do a little “something extra” to win the bout against Dustin – good psychology]. Eric was using some running dropkicks low to Dustin’s head. He also worked Ring’s leg to the point of thinking that Dustin was going to have to lose his leg to lose the bout. The finish was a bit sloopy, but looked awesome when Eric slapped it on. Dustin was trying to superplex with Eric slipping off the turnbuckle and catching Dustin [who had his feet on the second turnbuckle] with a german suplex for the win. [remember – “something extra” to beat him] [***]
----“The Golden Boy” Greg Anthony interview on the big screen. They call him “The Golden Boy”, because no matter where he wrestles he wins the gold. [Dustin Starr take note – TGB is putting over his gimmick]. TGB finished his interview with his catch phrase “Good as Gold” as the crowd chanted it right with him.
----Kid Nikels [pictured above] was interviewed in the ring by Brian Thompson. Thompson put over the fact that Nikels was not in the tournament because he was too big for the JR Title. Nikels was dressed in street clothes and they said he would not be competing this week. But…it was announced that since Matt Justyce had not come to training for the week that Nikels would take his place vs Greg King JR tonight. Justyce came out and was upset, but Ken Wayne told him he could not work tonight.
----Shawn Reed beat Justin Smart. Good interview from Reed before the match. This was solid, but nothing great. Smart seem to be a step behind on some stuff. They had a real good segment with them trading forearms with Smart getting the best of it with about 4 really good stiff ones. Smart did a pretty blockbuster jumping from the top turnbuckle. Two count. Smart went to the top again with Reed ducking and Smart trying for a sunset flip. Reed held him and used a reverse piledriver variation [I know there has to be a name for this??] with Smart taking the move making it look like he killed him for the pin and win. Smart/Downtown Bruno did a good job selling Smart being hurt. [**1/2]
----Kid Nikels beat Greg King Jr. A really good bout with building of the finish out of nowhere. Story being that Nikels is bigger and King needs to win because he needs three wins to be in the tourney. Nice armbar work from King on Nikels. Flying elbow from top rope from King. Both guys looked real good here. Nikels potatoes King during some point and King’s head is open, but not too much blood to stop the bout. King seems to be improving week by week. Any flying move he does is so fluent from his flying body press to leap frogs. Kid with belly to belly. King monkey flips Kid and then a Stinger splash into corner. King with a Booker T kick. King with frog splash and two count on Nikels. Greg hits a flying press with Nikels catching him in mid-air and turning it into a chokeslam for the pin and win. Best bout I have seen this year. Stiff, hardway blood, crowd was into it and finish was good. [***3/4]
NOTES
----25 to 30 in the building. This was officially stamped by Loaded boot and Loaded boot Jr, who were at ringside. LOL…I have said this before, but Smart has tons of potential, but is just not there yet…Something I noticed in these matches. The kicks to the back, leg and other parts are really stiff, but when they kick each other in the stomach it is soft. I know, it would not be smart to start kicking someone hard in the stomach, but after hard kicks to other parts, it looked weak…I liked the start of Justyce angle where he can’t wrestle because he does not train and believe in longer storylines, but it seems to be stuck on the same skit week after week…My only criticism of the Nikels/King bout was that when King did start bleeding – Nikels should have been on that cut like a dog and never let up. It would have changed the total finish of the bout, but it would have also put the realism in it. Ken Wayne did come to ringside to check on King…Chuck Poe [pictured below with Bobby Eaton] refereed the second bout and did a good job. As I have said in the past, a good referee is usually not SEEN during the bout. Downtown Bruno is actually SEEN more in the bouts than most refs, but if you didn’t see him, then something would be wrong – he is Downtown Bruno dammit!! LOL…It seems that Shawn Reed will not be making the trip to the Chikara Trios Tournament this year. Apparently it was going to be him/Kid/Eric…TGB was helping with the booking…Anita Paige and Bobby Eaton were in attendance…Thanks to everyone that bought Yearbook 2008!! Thanks to Vikki for helping out!! Thanks to cast and crew at NEW. Fun time was had by all.
Photos by Donna Partee
