Post by Joe on Apr 27, 2020 0:36:05 GMT -5
International Pro Wrestling
presents
"PATH TO GLORY"
04/26/2020
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The show opens with a pan of the crowd before heading to the announcer's table, where we have "The Professor" Mike Tenay sitting in with special guest commentator for the evening, "Big Sexy" Kevin Nash!
These two soak in the cheers of the crowd, and the various chants, as the atmosphere is set. Tenay says that tonight we are set for a main event that is sure to remembered for the ages, as two innovators of the sport in Jushin "Thunder" Liger and Sabu do battle. Also, tonight, we have an incredible four way dance scheduled between the vicious Low Ki, the exciting lucha sensation Bandido, the wildly talented Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, and the technical wizard from the UK, Zack Sabre, Jr.!
Kevin Nash says all of that sounds pretty impressive, but these guys aren't the ones moving the needle for him. He says everybody likes to get all hot and bothered watching these guys flip and flop all over, but back in his day, size mattered and the guy that hit hardest won the match. "Big Sexy" tonight, he wants to see somebody get punched in the teeth and we are bringing that, as we also have the brawler from Belfast, Fit Finlay, taking on New Jack, who is one bad hombre, in Nash's opinion. He also says a little buddy of his, Buff Bagwell, is going to be taking on another guy who likes to throw down in Chris Hero, and he hopes they knock the Hell out of each other for his amusement.
Without much further ado, we head to the entry way, as none other than Dolph Ziggler makes his way out from behind the curtain! Dolph is getting a mixed reaction here, and he takes a microphone to make sure everybody know now is the appropriate time to boo. He runs down the city, he runs down the roster, and every fan in attendance, and the profanities start flying from the stands.
Ziggler claims there is nobody on this roster who can put on a better show than him or pin him to the mat, and that's just a fact. He seems pretty sure of this until a familiar theme hits, and out from behind the curtain comes ROB VAN DAM! "The Whole F'N Show" has this crowd eating out of the palm of his hand, as they scream as he does his double thumb point taunt, and Kevin Nash says he hopes RVD kicks a chair into that HBK wannabe's face!
Rob doesn't waste time with words, as he hits the ring and this match is underway! What a way to start off the first ever IPW supershow!
SINGLES MATCH
Dolph Ziggler vs. "The Whole F'N Show" Rob Van Dam
Ziggler tries to attack, but RVD sweeps the legs and then sends him to the outside with a kick! Van Dam follows him out and Dolph fights back with an elbow, but RVD lays on a barrage of kicks and then grabs a chair from the audience, bashing Ziggler over the head with it and knocking him silly! RVD grabs Ziggler and hangs him over the guardrail before getting on the apron and crashing down onto him with a Spinning Legdrop, sending Dolph into the crowd! This crowd is eating this up as RVD plays to them, taunting and knowing Dolph has been knocked for a loop. RVD pulls the rail closer to the ring and then heads to the top turnbuckle...
... and Ziggler is crushed! Both men take time to get back to their feet, but this crowd is on fire, chanting "WHOLE F'N SHOW!"
Kevin Nash says he's glad he doesn't have to do things like that anymore, though when he did, it looked even better than that. Tenay scoffs at that, and we see RVD send Dolph back over the railing to ringside. Ziggler manages to rake the eyes of RVD and then hoist him up and drop him chest first onto the guardrail! The crowd is booing and Ziggler is smiling, goading them to keep it up. Ziggler then grabs RVD by the legs as he is down on the floor and then catapults him right into the guardrail with a sickening thud! RVD is looking to be in a bad way, as Ziggler steps on his back and grabs the railing, yelling at the crowd that he's the SHOW STEALER NOW!
Ziggler sends RVD back into the ring and then gets in the corner, as he begins tuning up the band, much to the chagrin of Nash, who is booing loudly on commentary. RVD gets up and Ziggler attempts the Superkick, but RVD catches it and steps over it, delivering a Spin Kick in the process and the crowd pops big! RVD then comes off the ropes...
... and delivers Rolling Thunder! First pin attempt of the night, but it's only a two! RVD gives the ref a bit of a hard time on that one, and as he does, Ziggler is able to deliver a low blow! Dolph then stalks the wobbling Van Dam and has him in his sights...
... ZIG ZAG! The fans deflate here, and Dolph thinks he has it! One, two, th- NO! RVD kicks out and the crowd comes back to life! Ziggler is beside himself, and he shoves the referee down in frustration! Ziggler heads to the outside and he grabs a chair. He's looking to hurt RVD bad here. Ziggler measures up RVD, taunting him and goading him to get up. Van Dam stumbles and sees Ziggler's chair shot coming and ducks, and Ziggler's chair catches nothing but ropes! Ziggler is slightly stunned and turns, and he catches a VAN DAMINATOR! RVD has crushed his face, and Kevin Nash is rejoicing on commentary!
RVD is showboating now, asking the crowd is they are ready. He pulls Ziggler into position and leaps to the top rope...
... FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH! ZIGGLER'S BEEN CRUSHED!
The whole crowd counts it down as the referee makes it official and RVD has won the first match in IPW history!
Winner by Pinfall: Rob Van Dam
TAG TEAM MATCH
2 Cold Scorpio & Jason Jett vs. The Pitbulls: Jamie Noble & Kid Kash
The Pitbulls were the more experienced team here and it showed. Scorpio and Jett definitely have something that could blossom, but tonight this team felt growing pains, and just pain in general, as Noble delivered a Fireman's Carry Gutbuster to Jett, followed by a Moonsault from Kash to get them the win.
Winners by Pinfall: The Pitbulls
SINGLES MATCH
Buff Bagwell vs. Chris Hero
Buff started the match off with a mic making fun of Hero's physique and look in general, laughing obnoxiously at him. Kevin Nash agreed he could probably use a few more hours in the gym and maybe even go outside and see the sun once in awhile, but Mike Tenay was quick to point out that what Hero might lack in aesthetics he makes up for with talent and tenacity. Buff would deliver a couple of Armdrags early, laughing and mocking Hero to the camera, but he found out quickly that he shouldn't take "The Knockout Artist" lightly. Hero started laying in the heavy hits and the crowd rejoiced, yelling some very nasty slurs at Buff! Buff would take a little break on the outside and talk to the camera a bit, asking if Hero messed up his beautiful face, but this allowed Hero to show his amazing agility as the big man flew to the outside and wiped out "Buff Daddy"! Hero sent Buff back into the ring and tossed him against the ropes, trying for a Roaring Elbow to the back of his head, but Buff ducked it and kicked Hero low from behind! Buff would deliver a Spinning Neckbreaker before heading to the middle turnbuckle. And just like that...
... Buff Blockbuster! Hero is down and the fans are booing, as Buff lays over him, flexing and smiling as the ref counts to three! Buff is up, prancing and flexing, and he won't even let the ref hold up his hand, as he needs all of the spotlight to himself.
Winner by Pinfall: Buff Bagwell
TAG TEAM MATCH
The Hurricane & Nova vs. Mortis & Tempest
Mortis and Tempest came to the ring claiming they would spread darkness across IPW, but out came the Super Alliance of The Hurricane and Nova to put a stop to that! Yeah, it's a cheesy set up, but the action in the ring completely made up for it. These guys gave it all for seven minutes, as we saw a great spotfest for what it was, with Mortis and Tempest seeming to really menace and antagonize their opponents. In what was the spot of the match, Tempest was looking to dive from the top turnbuckle onto Nova on the outside when The Hurricane grabbed him by the throat and Chokeslammed him to the floor, leaving him incapacitated. The big Mortis would try to give Hurricane and Nova a fight, but Hurricane would eventually grab him by the throat and pull him up for a Chokeslam as Nova caught him with a Lungblower, and it was all over! Hurricane gets the pinfall for the team.
Winners by Pinfall: The Hurricane & Nova
After the match, Tempest enters the ring with a large pipe and smashes both Hurricane and Nova with it, leaving them laid out cold as he and Mortis stand over them, having the last laught as these blood thirsty Philly fans give them a mixed reaction for the carnage.
SINGLES MATCH
Matt Sydal vs. Rush
This match would get Sydal over as an exciting spot machine, while establishing Rush as one of the best heels in the business who also has a great workrate. The match was clearly more about getting Rush over, but Sydal was able to hit a memorable Shooting Star Dive to the outside to give the fans something to hold on to for him. Rush just oozes charisma, tenacity, and is so fast and hard hitting with everything he does, that the fans were cringing hard as he put an end to things with Bull's Horn for the pinfall.
Winner by Pinfall: Rush
SINGLES MATCH
Fit Finlay vs. New Jack
You could hardly call this a "match", as this was just eight minutes of pure street fighting from two very rough individuals. These two were bleeding within the first minute, as New Jack busted Fit over the head with a toaster, while Finlay would tackle Jack on the outside and gauge at his forehead with a pair of scissors! This was not for the faint at heart, as these two were blasting each other with punches and kicks in the center of the ring. Finlay would headbutt Jack and grab him, slamming him onto a trashcan with weapons in it and he would try to make a cover, but Jack would kick out. Jack would grab Finlay by the face, fish hooking his mouth and then punching him further, but Finlay would knee him in the gut, only to have New Jack chop him to the throat! Jack would pick up a crutch and smack Finlay to the back with it before lifting him and Back Suplexing him onto that same trash can! New Jack would grab a Cast Iron Skillet and head to the top rope, from which he would fly and smash down onto Finlay with it, and there was no getting up from that. Jack, pouring blood from his head, would press down his middle finger to Finlay's face as he covered him for the three.
Winner by Pinfall: New Jack
Tenay asks Nash if that was violent enough for him, and Nash says he hopes those guys are getting paid a lot, but they probably aren't. New Jack gets on the microphone and says another cracker who thinks he's tough just got put down and he sees a whole cupcake soft roster just waiting to get taken out just like that punk ass bitch! He says he likes hurting people, especially white people, and he doesn't give a damn who doesn't like it, because he's just going to keep doing it, so stay tuned for more of the same!
FOUR WAY MATCH
Bandido vs. Isaiah "Swerve" Scott vs. Low Ki vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
This match was really put together to show the creative, athletic, and skilled side of IPW, and after the last match, that was maybe needed more than expected. Some of the best exchanges really came between Bandido and "Swerve", as these two guys are just so athletic, fast, and creative, and the counters and strikes they were doing left this crowd somehow speechless and roaring in equal measure. Low Ki is a killer and he's playing up that character big time tonight, wearing his suit and just trying to demolish everybody with ultra stiff strikes; he's definitely supposed to be the "bad guy", but the fans can't help but love his murdering ass. And there is the smug yet so talented Sabre Jr., who also would probably be considered a "bad guy" if it weren't for just his amazing counters and technical prowess. To Sabre's credit, he would try to stand and strike with Low Ki, but it ended up being a very bad decision in the end, as he found himself on the wrong side of a Tidal Crush and out of the ring by the end of it. Bandido would manage to catch Low Ki off guard with a Running High Kick, followed by a basically a Swinging Canadian Destroyer! Ki pops up in a daze and grabs the middle rope, and Bandido sees an opening...
... 21 PLEX! Bandido holds tight, thinking he's got it, but "Swerve" is up top and positioned...
... SWERVE STOMP ONTO BANDIDO TO BREAK UP THE PIN ON KI! Bandido and Ki are down and Scott is trying to get up when...
PENALTY KICK! Sabre is back in and sends "Swerve" rolling out of the ring after the impact of that kick! Ki is pulling himself up on the ropes, and Sabre rushes and tries to attack Ki, but Ki ducks it and tries to Back Body Drop Sabre over the ropes... oh, Sabre holds on! Oh, Jumping Gamenjiri from Ki, and Sabre is back on the outside hurting! Bandido is up and Ki runs full bore at him, blasting him with a Front Dropkick into the corner! Ki is calling for the end and heads up top...
... WARRIOR'S WAY! Bandido has been crushed again with another Double Stomp, this time from Low Ki! Ki makes the cover, and Scott is unable to break it up before the referee counts to three! Low Ki wins!
Winner by Pinfall: Low Ki
Ki isn't done, though, as he doesn't waste much time ripping away from the referee and attacking Isaiah Scott! Ki removes his tie and wraps it around "Swerve's" throat, choking the life out of him until security and staff can break it up. Ki backs up, looking on sadistically as he huffs and postures in the ring while the fans give their mixed reactions. Tenay thinks Ki may have issues with Scott's attitude and maybe his choice of moves, while Kevin Nash says he definitely thinks there is a respect issue, and these two are going to have to settle this soon.
SINGLES MATCH
Jushin "Thunder" Liger vs. Sabu
We go from what was a very athletic and exciting contest back to what ended up being a very dirty brawl, though different than the one we saw between Finlay and New Jack. Sabu knew if he had a chance to win this match he would have to push Liger into his element, but Liger surprised nearly everyone by being very game to go hardcore. Sabu would start the match off assaulting Liger and trying to beat him down with chairs in the crowd, but Liger showed his toughness and would grab a trashcan and bash Sabu with it, taunting the fans and getting a big cheer. Sabu would later take control back with his wild punches and kicks before setting up a table and smashing Liger through with an Arabian Press!
Things looked bad for Liger as Sabu went up top with a chair, but Sabu missed the mark on an attempted Flying Legdrop attempt. Liger would pick up Sabu and deliver a Reverse Powerbomb onto the chair and try to get the win, but Sabu would kick out at two. Liger would go up top but spent too much time playing to the crowd and Sabu was able to get his knees up in a dangerous reversal of a Shooting Star Press! Sabu would set the chair up afterwards and run, coming off the ropes...
CHAIR ASSISTED SPRINGBOARD MOONSAULT! Liger is down and Sabu makes the cover, but "Thunder" gets out at two! Sabu begins to waylay Liger on the mat with mounted punches before grabbing the chair and Leg Dropping it onto his head again! Sabu attempts another cover, but still just a two count! Sabu threatens the referee and tosses him out of the ring! Sabu then grabs Liger and gets him in a Camel Clutch, pounding him with fists as the fans boo and Sabu yells at them to "SHUT THE FUCK UP!" before doing his patented point to the ceiling taunt and then ripping at Liger's mask!
Liger fights him off with newly sparked energy, and rams Sabu into the turnbuckles. Liger unloads with a wallop of a Palm Strike, before sending Sabu into the opposite corner and crushing him with a Rolling Kick! Liger grabs the chair and moves it closer, before putting Sabu up on the top turnbuckle. Liger taunts the crowd, getting them standing with a wave of his finger, before leaping and bringing Sabu down onto the chair with a Top Rope Hurricanrana! Sabu's neck smashes the steel with a sickening thud!
Liger mocks Sabu by squatting and pointing to the sky, and the fans are chanting "LIGER" with approval!
Liger helps the referee back into the ring and grabs Sabu, and he looks like he is maybe going for a Brainbuster now to finish the match, but Sabu floats over and delivers a REVERSE HURRICANRANA ONTO THE CHAIR, SENDING LIGER HEAD FIRST INTO THE STEEL! Sabu tries to cover now, but it is Liger who once again shows his grit and kicks out! Sabu is beside himself, and unleashes a series of punches before going back out of the ring and under the apron.
And Sabu grabs another table!
Sabu slides the table into the ring and sets it up near the corner. Sabu then grabs Liger and punches him a few more times before pulling him around the table to the buckles. Sabu sets Liger up and does his taunt once again, pointing to the sky before slapping Liger across the face! Sabu then gets up and he's trying for his OWN TOP ROPE HURRICANRANA, BUT NO! LIGER SHOWS HIS STRENGTH AND POWER, BLOCKING IT MID-MOVE! Sabu is punching, trying to stop this, but Liger perserveres! He sits up to the top rope and then flies off...
SUPER LIGER BOMB THROUGH THE TABLE!
The crowd is chanting "HOLY SHIT!" and they can't believe the fight these two men are putting on!
Liger pulls himself from the wreckage and then tries to go for the cover.
ONE... TWO... THRE- NO! WHAT!? NO! SABU KICKS OUT! SABU HAS KICKED OUT!
Kevin Nash can't believe it, and wonders what the Hell it is going to take to stop this maniac. He thinks maybe somebody should just come out and call this. Liger picks himself up, and Sabu is barely with it, pulling himself to a knee. Liger doesn't seem to want to keep beating on Sabu, but Sabu SPITS ON HIM AND TELLS HIM TO FIGHT!
Liger then BLASTS SABU WITH A PALM STRIKE, DRIVING RIGHT THROUGH IT! Liger mounts Sabu and just keeps blasting him with the Palm Strikes. At first, Sabu tries to fight it off and protect himself, but by the last one, Sabu has gone limp and Liger is smacking an unconscious opponent. The referee dives in and breaks it up, and he calls for the bell. This match is mercifully over.
Winner by Knockout: Jushin Liger
Liger gets off of Sabu and the referee tries to revitalize him. Liger takes in the chants on the middle buckle, and Sabu is back awake and trying to tackle and fight the referee, as he doesn't seem to know where he is or that the match is over. Sabu is being held down in the corner and the situation is being explained. Liger tries to go over and extend his hand, but Sabu kicks it away and rolls under the ropes and to the outside, as he can't believe he lost, and doesn't remember the finish.
Liger goes back to celebrating on the buckles as the show comes to an end.