Re: Project Rewatch: PWG - the good shit
Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 1:11 pm
Holy Diver Down – February 24, 2007
Taped from Los Angeles, CA
Chris Bosh & Scott Lost vs. Motor City Machine Guns
Mentioned on commentary is that Quicksilver is still out due to a concussion, but no status is provided for the Tag Titles.
Very good tag match that was brought down by tag legality issues and going a bit too long. MCMG were the obvious stars as the match, as if there would be any other expectation. They were crisp, brought the pain, worked on limbs, dropped bombs, locked on submissions, and honestly dominated this.
If there was a missed universal storytelling continuity, it’d be Chris Sabin playing the Ricky Morton role once Arrogance got the heat. As Jade Chung used a piece of clothing to choke Sabin, it’d have been a nice nod for Alex Shelley to be in that spot instead, with Chung still pissed about what happened during their time in the Embassy. Now sure, Sabin comes across in the ring as much kinder than Shelley, so that’s probably the reason for him selling.
Once Shelley hit an assisted standing Shiraniu, the result wasn’t in doubt. So once they got double small packages for Arrogance, it came as no surprise. MCMG were simply on top of the world at this time, and it’s a shame it won’t being showcased in a feud against Paul London & Brian Kendrick at the time.
Rating: ***3/4
PAC vs. Kevin Steen
Excellent match here with Steen dominating early. PAC took 2 scary head drops early, one a lariat and then an immediate trip to Suplex City courtesy of Steen. There were numerous other bombs PAC took, including the pop-up powerbomb and a draping DDT off the top rope. Had PAC sold his neck a bit more after that DDT, this would’ve taken this into potential MOTYC territory. Doing so would’ve fit into Steen’s package piledriver finisher, which would’ve been a great story to tell.
This was no squash match though, as PAC got in his bombs as well, spectacular ones at that. A reverse hurricanrana, a Quebrada that turned into a tornado DDT, even a Sky Twister to the outside. No matter how much punishment he took, he took advantage at every opportunity to use his incredibly acrobatics to damage Steen. Not even Steen countering a Super Hurricanrana into a Super Powerbomb was enough to keep PAC down.
The finish couldn’t have been any better. In something I’d never seen, PAC had a shooting star SENTON for a near-fall. He then wasted no time and finished off the former PWG Champion with a standard Sky Twister, pulling off a huge upset in one of the defining matches of his career. This was sensational.
Post-match, Steen puts PAC over heavily, revealing how much respect he had for him throughout 2006 and lobbying for months to get him into PWG. Steen says that when PAC becomes a big star one day and makes money, remember the guy that got him an opportunity. I wonder if either one of these guys ever made money and became stars.
Rating: ****
PWG Title Match
Human Tornado vs. El Generico
Very good main event that was kept at about a dozen minutes which I appreciated, allowing both to just go for bombs on each other. Tornado was noticeably cockier than usual, a higher level of arrogance than he had shown before. This seemed strange considering that the two were occasional tag partners. He was totally fine with giving Generico the shuck and jive low blow early to hammer this home.
Generico wouldn’t be denied though. Perhaps due to Quicksilver’s uncertain status, the Generic Luchador wanted to ensure he left this evening knowing he’d have a title reign to continue. Nothing would stop Generico, who pulled one bomb after another including a somersault plancha, half and half suplex, a Dat Nigga Dead of his own, and two Yakuza kicks before upsetting Tornado with a top rope brainbuster for a shocking title change.
In contrast to Steen earlier on the card, Tornado opts not to show respect, declining to congratulate his friend and just leaving a sore loser. I’ll certainly take Tornado as the top heel over Joey Ryan without any hesitation whatsoever. Perhaps there should’ve been a Generico vs. Tornado feud in hindsight.
Rating: ***1/2
PAC vs. Kevin Steen gets all the love, but the other two matches are worth seeing, including a shockingly historic main event. Recommended.
Up next – Album of the Year
Matches will include:
Rocky Romero vs. Claudio Castagnoli
El Generico vs. Davey Richards
Taped from Los Angeles, CA
Chris Bosh & Scott Lost vs. Motor City Machine Guns
Mentioned on commentary is that Quicksilver is still out due to a concussion, but no status is provided for the Tag Titles.
Very good tag match that was brought down by tag legality issues and going a bit too long. MCMG were the obvious stars as the match, as if there would be any other expectation. They were crisp, brought the pain, worked on limbs, dropped bombs, locked on submissions, and honestly dominated this.
If there was a missed universal storytelling continuity, it’d be Chris Sabin playing the Ricky Morton role once Arrogance got the heat. As Jade Chung used a piece of clothing to choke Sabin, it’d have been a nice nod for Alex Shelley to be in that spot instead, with Chung still pissed about what happened during their time in the Embassy. Now sure, Sabin comes across in the ring as much kinder than Shelley, so that’s probably the reason for him selling.
Once Shelley hit an assisted standing Shiraniu, the result wasn’t in doubt. So once they got double small packages for Arrogance, it came as no surprise. MCMG were simply on top of the world at this time, and it’s a shame it won’t being showcased in a feud against Paul London & Brian Kendrick at the time.
Rating: ***3/4
PAC vs. Kevin Steen
Excellent match here with Steen dominating early. PAC took 2 scary head drops early, one a lariat and then an immediate trip to Suplex City courtesy of Steen. There were numerous other bombs PAC took, including the pop-up powerbomb and a draping DDT off the top rope. Had PAC sold his neck a bit more after that DDT, this would’ve taken this into potential MOTYC territory. Doing so would’ve fit into Steen’s package piledriver finisher, which would’ve been a great story to tell.
This was no squash match though, as PAC got in his bombs as well, spectacular ones at that. A reverse hurricanrana, a Quebrada that turned into a tornado DDT, even a Sky Twister to the outside. No matter how much punishment he took, he took advantage at every opportunity to use his incredibly acrobatics to damage Steen. Not even Steen countering a Super Hurricanrana into a Super Powerbomb was enough to keep PAC down.
The finish couldn’t have been any better. In something I’d never seen, PAC had a shooting star SENTON for a near-fall. He then wasted no time and finished off the former PWG Champion with a standard Sky Twister, pulling off a huge upset in one of the defining matches of his career. This was sensational.
Post-match, Steen puts PAC over heavily, revealing how much respect he had for him throughout 2006 and lobbying for months to get him into PWG. Steen says that when PAC becomes a big star one day and makes money, remember the guy that got him an opportunity. I wonder if either one of these guys ever made money and became stars.
Rating: ****
PWG Title Match
Human Tornado vs. El Generico
Very good main event that was kept at about a dozen minutes which I appreciated, allowing both to just go for bombs on each other. Tornado was noticeably cockier than usual, a higher level of arrogance than he had shown before. This seemed strange considering that the two were occasional tag partners. He was totally fine with giving Generico the shuck and jive low blow early to hammer this home.
Generico wouldn’t be denied though. Perhaps due to Quicksilver’s uncertain status, the Generic Luchador wanted to ensure he left this evening knowing he’d have a title reign to continue. Nothing would stop Generico, who pulled one bomb after another including a somersault plancha, half and half suplex, a Dat Nigga Dead of his own, and two Yakuza kicks before upsetting Tornado with a top rope brainbuster for a shocking title change.
In contrast to Steen earlier on the card, Tornado opts not to show respect, declining to congratulate his friend and just leaving a sore loser. I’ll certainly take Tornado as the top heel over Joey Ryan without any hesitation whatsoever. Perhaps there should’ve been a Generico vs. Tornado feud in hindsight.
Rating: ***1/2
PAC vs. Kevin Steen gets all the love, but the other two matches are worth seeing, including a shockingly historic main event. Recommended.
Up next – Album of the Year
Matches will include:
Rocky Romero vs. Claudio Castagnoli
El Generico vs. Davey Richards