Post by fifthhorseman on Apr 7, 2018 22:24:36 GMT -5
This and future house show reports will be more concise than the TV/PPV reports. For roster information, click here. Let's get started.
It is a sold-out show at the Lawlor Event Center, and GIW founder Jeff Jarrett is standing in the middle of the ring with announcer Lance Russell. He is holding the GIW World Tag-Team titles, one over each shoulder.
Jarrett: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Global Impact Wrestling! Tonight, we begin our journey to crown champions - these titles, these belts right here, represent the pinnacle of tag-team success in the MUW! Tonight, we present the quarter-final matches to get to the top, plus other action from some of the greatest wrestlers on the planet! So without further ado, I'm gonna hand the mike over to the best announcer in the business, Lance Russell.
The first-ever event in GIW history got off to a fast start as Barrett and McGuinness jumped the Canadians at the bell. The action went outside, but the referee used ample discretion, finally calming it down until Barrett and Edge were declared the legal men inside the squared circle. From here, it evolved in a fast-paced, straight-up tag match, with the Brits playing the heel role to perfection. Clocking in at close to 22 minutes, it ended with Christian taking the hot tag and nailing McGuinness with the Unprettier, and the multi-time WWE champs moved on.
For this singles bout, tag partners were barred from ringside, as per usual GIW singles rules. "Mr. Perfect" took charge at the onset, controlling his smaller foe with textbook throws and chain wrestling. Arrogant as ever, Hennig repelled every effort "Johnny Wrestling" made for the first five minutes. But Gargano played Gargano, and kept coming back for more. Eventually he hit a series of high-impact strikes, sending Hennig to the floor. Following up was his downfall, though, as the former AWA champ whipped him into the ringpost. Rolling him inside, he hit a Perfectplex that Gargano kicked out of; the second one, however, he could not, and Hennig won at 14:55, just five seconds before the time limit expired.
Though they hadn't decided on a team name yet, Drake and Orndorff worked like a well-oiled machine. To their chagrin, though, so did the faster, more flamboyant duo of Trent Baretta and Chuck Taylor, and they took the early advantage to the delight of the Reno crowd. However, "Mr. Wonderful" used his superior strength to slow things down, and after a brief hope spot by Chuckie T, Orndorff finished things off with his patented piledriver at the 12:55 mark.
Jeff Jarrett came down to ringside to watch this one, notepad in hand. This contest was fought under triple-threat rules, so the first pin or submission would be the only one required. Every wrestler had his chance to shine, alliances were formed and discarded at a moment’s notice, and it was a nine-minute sprint. The final few seconds saw Uso miss a top-rope splash on the Eliminator, who briefly locked in the Rings of Saturn until Gordy launched a basement dropkick on both men. As Saturn flew out of the ring, “Bamm Bamm” pinned Uso. At the end, Jarrett wrote something else down and nodded… mysteriously…
This wasn't a pretty match at all, but it was still fun as hell to watch. It was an ECWesque brawl, and the referee decided that the audience would rather see him put his hands in his pockets and watch with the rest of them. Despite being outweighed by more than 100 pounds by Henry or Norton, Tanaka stood in for every punch and slam they threw his way, and gave it right back. Awesome was similarly dynamic, and used big right hands, shoulderblocks, and powerbombs at will. But an attempted top-rope clothesline cost him, as Henry caught him in mid-air, and hit him with the World's Strongest Slam to win the bout at 10:34.
This match wound up being the polar opposite of the XVC / HOP brawl. Two of the premiere wrestlers in any weight class put on a clinic, though it must be said that neither man was against breaking a rule or two, especially the “Dirty Heel” Aries. They took to the air, they grappled on the mat, and they traded dazzling strikes… and they also wound up going to a 15-minute draw. After the match, Aries extended his hand to Hart, who wearily reached out; when “The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived” tried to ambush him with a clothesline, the youngest Hart ducked and dropkicked his opponent from the ring.
Standard contrast of styles in the final match-up of the night, but neither team lacked for confidence. The Dudleys were full steam ahead, and they picked on Dawkins early on. Numerous slams, suplexes, and taunts after nearly every move, but the tide turned when Ford got in, with a series of unorthodox maneuvers that would have tongue-tied Vince himself. The Profits took charge, and had several near-falls on D-Von. The crowd was eager to see the upset, but alas, it was not to be. A low blow on Ford - unseen, of course - and he was thrown outside. Less than a minute later, the decorated duo hit 3D on Dawkins to move on in the tournament, clocking out at 14:41 to end the first night of GIW action.
It is a sold-out show at the Lawlor Event Center, and GIW founder Jeff Jarrett is standing in the middle of the ring with announcer Lance Russell. He is holding the GIW World Tag-Team titles, one over each shoulder.
Jarrett: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Global Impact Wrestling! Tonight, we begin our journey to crown champions - these titles, these belts right here, represent the pinnacle of tag-team success in the MUW! Tonight, we present the quarter-final matches to get to the top, plus other action from some of the greatest wrestlers on the planet! So without further ado, I'm gonna hand the mike over to the best announcer in the business, Lance Russell.
GIW WORLD TAG-TEAM QUARTER-FINAL MATCH:
Edge and Christian vs. the Great Britons
Edge and Christian vs. the Great Britons
The first-ever event in GIW history got off to a fast start as Barrett and McGuinness jumped the Canadians at the bell. The action went outside, but the referee used ample discretion, finally calming it down until Barrett and Edge were declared the legal men inside the squared circle. From here, it evolved in a fast-paced, straight-up tag match, with the Brits playing the heel role to perfection. Clocking in at close to 22 minutes, it ended with Christian taking the hot tag and nailing McGuinness with the Unprettier, and the multi-time WWE champs moved on.
Johnny Gargano vs. Curt Hennig:
For this singles bout, tag partners were barred from ringside, as per usual GIW singles rules. "Mr. Perfect" took charge at the onset, controlling his smaller foe with textbook throws and chain wrestling. Arrogant as ever, Hennig repelled every effort "Johnny Wrestling" made for the first five minutes. But Gargano played Gargano, and kept coming back for more. Eventually he hit a series of high-impact strikes, sending Hennig to the floor. Following up was his downfall, though, as the former AWA champ whipped him into the ringpost. Rolling him inside, he hit a Perfectplex that Gargano kicked out of; the second one, however, he could not, and Hennig won at 14:55, just five seconds before the time limit expired.
GIW WORLD TAG-TEAM QUARTER-FINAL MATCH:
Best Friends vs. Eli Drake/Paul Orndorff
Best Friends vs. Eli Drake/Paul Orndorff
Though they hadn't decided on a team name yet, Drake and Orndorff worked like a well-oiled machine. To their chagrin, though, so did the faster, more flamboyant duo of Trent Baretta and Chuck Taylor, and they took the early advantage to the delight of the Reno crowd. However, "Mr. Wonderful" used his superior strength to slow things down, and after a brief hope spot by Chuckie T, Orndorff finished things off with his patented piledriver at the 12:55 mark.
Terry Gordy vs. Perry Saturn vs. Jimmy Uso:
Jeff Jarrett came down to ringside to watch this one, notepad in hand. This contest was fought under triple-threat rules, so the first pin or submission would be the only one required. Every wrestler had his chance to shine, alliances were formed and discarded at a moment’s notice, and it was a nine-minute sprint. The final few seconds saw Uso miss a top-rope splash on the Eliminator, who briefly locked in the Rings of Saturn until Gordy launched a basement dropkick on both men. As Saturn flew out of the ring, “Bamm Bamm” pinned Uso. At the end, Jarrett wrote something else down and nodded… mysteriously…
GIW WORLD TAG-TEAM QUARTER-FINAL MATCH:
The Extreme Violence Connection vs. the Hall of Pain
The Extreme Violence Connection vs. the Hall of Pain
This wasn't a pretty match at all, but it was still fun as hell to watch. It was an ECWesque brawl, and the referee decided that the audience would rather see him put his hands in his pockets and watch with the rest of them. Despite being outweighed by more than 100 pounds by Henry or Norton, Tanaka stood in for every punch and slam they threw his way, and gave it right back. Awesome was similarly dynamic, and used big right hands, shoulderblocks, and powerbombs at will. But an attempted top-rope clothesline cost him, as Henry caught him in mid-air, and hit him with the World's Strongest Slam to win the bout at 10:34.
Austin Aries vs. Owen Hart:
This match wound up being the polar opposite of the XVC / HOP brawl. Two of the premiere wrestlers in any weight class put on a clinic, though it must be said that neither man was against breaking a rule or two, especially the “Dirty Heel” Aries. They took to the air, they grappled on the mat, and they traded dazzling strikes… and they also wound up going to a 15-minute draw. After the match, Aries extended his hand to Hart, who wearily reached out; when “The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived” tried to ambush him with a clothesline, the youngest Hart ducked and dropkicked his opponent from the ring.
GIW WORLD TAG-TEAM QUARTER-FINAL MATCH:
The Dudley Boyz vs. the Street Profits
The Dudley Boyz vs. the Street Profits
Standard contrast of styles in the final match-up of the night, but neither team lacked for confidence. The Dudleys were full steam ahead, and they picked on Dawkins early on. Numerous slams, suplexes, and taunts after nearly every move, but the tide turned when Ford got in, with a series of unorthodox maneuvers that would have tongue-tied Vince himself. The Profits took charge, and had several near-falls on D-Von. The crowd was eager to see the upset, but alas, it was not to be. A low blow on Ford - unseen, of course - and he was thrown outside. Less than a minute later, the decorated duo hit 3D on Dawkins to move on in the tournament, clocking out at 14:41 to end the first night of GIW action.