September 4th, 2017
PWG World Champion - Chuck Taylor (since 7/7/17)
PWG World Tag Team Champions - Fenix & Penta El Zero M (since 3/18/17)
Commentators - Excalibur & Chuck Taylor
1) Ricochet vs. Dezmond Xavier
This was a fun opener with Ricochet playing the veteran like almost always these days. Xavier is super similar to a young Ricochet so it was cool to see them mixing it up in Xavier's first ever BOLA. Rico has really become a gatekeeper and it's wild especially when you think back to his matches with Generico that are almost seven years old. But none the less, Ricochet and Dez trade flippy shit. Rico advances with a flat liner.
Match rating - ***
2) Marty Scurll vs. Travis Banks
I'm mad burnt out on Scurll at this point and new talents in PWG normally take a minute to get over so this could've easily been a big flop. Banks managed to keep me pretty interested though and this wasn't bad at all. He gets the shocking victory with a roll up and this totally doesn't overstay it's welcome so I can't complain.
Match rating - **3/4
3) Keith Lee vs. Donovan Dijak
"These two are doing their damnest to break this ring." -Chuck Taylor
Okay holy fuck, who allowed this to be so insane? Best match of this whole tournament by a long shot that gave me flashbacks to peak PWG. Just two hungry, fresh talents out with something to prove and a fire hot crowd behind them eating it all up. So much crazy stuff here from a chokeslam to the apron to Keith Lee landing on his feet off a sunset flip, and everything in between. They also upped the aggression with loads of shit talking throughout the match. They also played off the fact that they teamed together on Night One very well by bringing out the gear they wore and Dijak establishing himself as a shitbag by using it to distract Keith. This was stiff, this was high impact, this ruled. Lee advances and he is quickly becoming THE GUY in Reseda.
Match rating - ****1/4
4) Zack Sabre Jr vs. Rey Fenix
Ahhh I really enjoyed this. Zack Sabre Jr can do no wrong for me at this point and Fenix always holds up on his end. Especially after a barnburner like Lee/Dijak we needed something a little less wild and these two delivered. Lots of grappling and fiesty exchanges early on. This was a pure wrestling match that moved at a quick pace with crisp counters and trading of moves. Fenix snagged a victory out of nowhere with a bridging pin combination for a huge pop. No one expected him to knock off the former PWG World Champion. Badass.
Match rating - ***1/2
5) Jeff Cobb vs. Sammy Guevara
A squash match, but the fun kind. Sammy goes ballistic. Cobb takes it all and still whoops his ass.
Match rating - **3/4
6) Penta El Zero M vs. Matthew Riddle
I LOVED this even though I didn't expect to. They trade submissions to start off in almost what seemed to be a dick measuring contest, then this broke down and the MOVEZ started. Penta hit a piledriver on the apron for christ sake. This built very well and didn't feel like overkill, but also had the sense of urgency some PWG stuff this circa lacks. Riddle taps Penta out with the bromission after a good match.
Match rating - ***3/4
7) Ricochet vs. Travis Banks
"This is my show right here. I've been here seven fucking years, what you gonna do?" -Ricochet
Ricochet is gate keepin' again here. Banks made a Scurll match tolerable so fuck yeah. Him and Ricochet totally kill it here. Given more time this could have gotten well over four stars, but I'm sure they didn't wanna tire Rico out further since he moves to the finals. BUT yeah. This ruled, all I can really say. Ricochet continues to tease heel stuff with a lot of cockiness and trash talk. He wins with the flatliner once again, but Banks comes out of this looking awesome, and in my opinion, solidified in Reseda.
Match rating - ***3/4
8) Keith Lee vs. Rey Fenix
This was quick and to the point. A movezfest. Lee caught Fenix in mid air in powerbomb position at one point and I almost shid my pants. Action packed little 10 minute semi-final. Lee wins with the powerslam to advance to the finals with Ricochet.
Match rating - ***
9) Jeff Cobb vs. Matthew Riddle
Battle of the tag team partners here. Respect is shown from the jump and these two wrestled a great match. Once again, like with Penta/Riddle, I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did, but they killed it and made me want to see them lock up again with more time and story. Cobb picks up the win and advances to the finals. Good stuff!
Match rating - ***1/2
10) Chuck Taylor, Flamita, Mark Haskins, Joey Janela, & Flash Morgan Webster vs. Sami Callihan, Trevor Lee, Brian Cage, WALTER, & Jonah Rock
This was your standard BOLA ten man clusterfuck and it was awesome per usual. Lots of shenanigans. Before the match, Trevor Lee says he just got off the phone with Jeff Jarrett and if his team wins, they all get TNA/Impact Wrestling contracts. Insanity. The team led by Chuck wasn't going to be initially but they were missing a member so he came down from the commentary booth to join them then realized he was in street clothes and had to go get dressed. This built up for the arrival of the PWG Champion for a hot tag and more chaos. The injured TK Cooper was still in attendance despite not being able to work the weekend and they did a cool spot with him. Flash Morgan Webster also had a fun moment in this with Chuck giving him a hard hat to wear before a dive. All around great break in the tournament and fun from start to finish.
Match rating - ***3/4
11) Ricochet vs. Keith Lee vs. Jeff Cobb - FINALS
SO, aside from Lee/Dijak, this was the best match of the tournament. It's no MOTY candidate but it was the perfect final and definitely worth a look. Would the torch get passed to Lee or Cobb? Are they ready for that? Will Ricochet's cockiness lead him to being the first ever two time BOLA winner? What is his motive in that? All these stories layered in with balls to the wall action from three of the best going today made this really good. All three men are super different, but they meshed together well. I think the crowd was torn between Lee & Ricochet as the favorite, but after Rico won and he went on a spill against Chuckie T, I think they regretted any support shown to him. So, yeah. Ricochet wins a badass match. Cobb got eliminated first then Ricochet & Lee went at it and Ricochet rolled out of Lee's powerslam into a pinning combo to win.
Match rating - ****
"You've helped me a lot, but I've surpassed you." -Ricochet
Post match, Ricochet sounds like he's about to put over Lee & Cobb only to essentially run them in the ground. Lots of bragging on being the only two time BOLA winner and says the night is all about him. Chuckie T comes out and it gets personal. Ricochet's quest to win BOLA was so he could win the one thing that has alluded him before he leaves for WWE - the PWG World Championship. THIS IS THE PERFECT SET UP. Ricochet and Chuckie T haven't wrestled in PWG (or anywhere I don't think) in like six years at this point. And considering they came into the business together, this is the perfect final storyline for Ricochet before he signs. Everything about this ruled. From the finals match to the post match verbal exchanges.
Final thoughts: I leave this show stoked to get into the All Star Weekend shows that follow. All thanks to Ricochet, Chuck Taylor, Keith Lee, & Jeff Cobb. The Rico/Chuckie T storyline is very personal and exciting. Keith Lee and Jeff Cobb are becoming the new faces of the promotion. Not to mention guys like Travis Banks and Morgan Webster on the come up as well. This year's BOLA wasn't an all time great like many years prior, but by the end of it, it definitely can be said that it was a great tournament regardless. Lee/Dijak is must see and I'd recommend the finals & aftermath as well. Everything else is technically skippable, but this was a super easy show to sit through so take your pick as to which route you take!
No comments:
Post a Comment