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Post by MadStepDad on Jul 2, 2012 12:39:17 GMT -5
** XXXCLUSIVE PTB FORWARD **Written by Justin Rozzero (aka Bigelow34) and Scott Criscuolo (aka Man of Steel) of the Place to Be.JUSTIN: Ok, PTB Nation, this is no doubt the show we fans have all been waiting for. We all love the Territory Wars and the hard work put in up and down the board by all the promoters, but there is no doubt in my mind that the hottest promotion going is XPW, for sure. It is original, hard hitting, hardcore and straight fucked up. The detail, the development, the consistency, the satiation of blood, guts and glory all make it stand out amongst its competition for sure. So, check this show out and relive some of the greatest XPW moments and matches and be sure to check out the show each and every week...show some love nation...show hella love. J-Rozz out. SCOTT: XPW is history...it's violence...it's retribution. We here at the Place to Be are honored to be a part of what has been the most chaotic, insane, ridiculously entertaining promotion in years. Sit back, head to the Territory Wars...and see the bloodshed as it happened. Man of Steel out....XPW...now and forever. [end transmission]
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Post by MadStepDad on Jul 2, 2012 13:07:06 GMT -5
Cut to the in-studio announce team for the evening: Gordon Solie & Matt Striker Welcome to a very special episode of XPW TV… the “Best of Scott & Justin Review XPW Remixed”! This is the Place to Be, and here - Scott & Justin will always be the main event… so join us on a very special retrospective look-back at the “Top Ten Seminal Matches in XPW Remixed” as seen through the eyes of PtB godfathers... Scott & Justin, take it away! EDITORS NOTE: All excerpts used without permission... Transcriptions are exact, except where bolded... ** CUT ** ____________________________________________________You never forget your first time... and when XPW Remixed dropped for the first time in January 2011 all eyes turned towards the outlaw organization that had the audacity to straight-up jack other writers for their work... but Scott & Justin didn't complain... they silently applauded... for true genius is never recognized in it's own time...** CUT TO RING ** #10 ** XPW Remixed Championship **Kevin Sullivan (w/ Black Army) versus Terry Funk versus Bruno Sammartino versus versus Scott: The “ BRUUUNNNOOOO!!!” chants started almost immediately, as everyone in XPW Arena clearly wanted Sammartino to take this one. Many were a little nervous seeing Funk in the match, because maybe Funk and Sullivan wanted to take him out and continue their blood feud. Sammartino did speed the pace up of the match more than if we saw Sullivan and Funk alone, and that’s fine with me. This match went by a perfect moment-by-moment title match pace. Each pairing went at it for a while, especially Sammartino and Funk, which was a great thing to see since they really never worked in the ring as singles wrestlers, but they have wrestled against each other in tags. Funk, whose love/hate relationship with the Garden was on love, went back to hate as he broke up a couple of Sammartino winning scenarios. Lizzy Borden had a cool moment when she grabbed Sullivan's hand as "The Prince of Darkness" was about to tap out. Speaking of the Queen of Xtreme, what was with the white Lex Luger boots? Quite odd there. I wish she would have come out with a cool color since she was on that red/purple kick in 2003. Sammartino ends up getting taken out for a while when Sullivan and Damien Demento double suplexed him on a broadcast table. Sammartino would end up returning and slap the Sharpshooter on Terry Funk and the Garden crowd goes nuts. Sullivan breaks it up with a Superkick, and the blood from Funk and Sullivan is all over the ring. Sammartino takes Sullivan out with a backdrop, then with Sammartinos back turned, Terry Funk gets up. Everyone in our section went “OH SHIT” because with "My Bloody Valentine" the next month in Pittsburg, some thought Terry Funk would win here and Sammartinos big win would wait a month. However Sammartino reverses out of the spinning toe hold and ratchets up the over-the-shoulder backbreaker. Terry Funk would fight for what seemed like forever, before finally tapping out and Sammartino finally won the brass ring. It finishes with former Undisputed Champ Lou Thesz getting in the ring and celebrating with his best friend, while a vindictive Buddy Rogers watched on jealously from the entrance ramp. Two men who were always told they couldn’t get to the top, the glass ceiling was too thick for them. Here on this night in XPW Arena, Lou Thesz & Bruno Sammartino proved to everyone that busting your ass and earning your keep gets you what you deserve. Oh and incidentally, the match was freakin awesome. Grade: 5 Justin: Well, here we are. Sammartino was the overwhelming favorite here and Kevin Sullivan's Black Army had the most heat on him, with Terry Funk falling in between the two. Sullivan is in much better shape here in 1982. That allowed him to keep up the pace with two true workhorses that never slowed down. The match got off to a hot start and told a good story with Sammartino and Funk begrudgingly teaming up to take out the Prince of Darkness. Sammartino was crisp and vicious as always and all of the spots in this one were just well worked. The crowd was begging for Sammartino to win and the bookers knew it as they had many teases of Sammartino winning and losing. Terry Funk did his usual five-alarm blade job and Sammartino took advantage, locking Sullivan in rear naked choke. Sullivan hung on but was about to tap to give Sammartino his crowning moment. Before he could do so, Lizzy Borden reached in and grabbed Sullivan's hand, preventing him from giving up. They would reunite to eliminate Sammartino with the double suplex on the table and for a few minutes, it seemed like da Brune would be left in the cold. Back in the ring, Sullivan would drop Terry Funk with a spike DDT and all hope was lost…until Sammartino barely made a desperate save to keep the dream alive. It was around this time that the crowd really started to get antsy, wondering if they would see history or the same old ending. Then came the epic finish. Terry Funk stalked Sammartino, lining up a shot from his branding iron as the crowd groaned. Things turned as Sammartino slipped free and hooked the over-the-shoulder backbreaker!. The crowd was ready to explode…but that changed quickly when Funk refused to tap and then rolled out of the hold. The audible gasp from the crowd was just great stuff and two of the all time greats had us eating out of their hands. Sammartino quickly rolled back through and Funk was trapped. He milked it and then finally tapped. And then it was mayhem. The crowd just lost it in a sea of insanity. It had finally happened and Bruno Sammartino was on top of the XPW world. And even better, it came in a bloody war and an instant classic in the main event of "New Years Revolution" inside XPW Arena. It was an unbelievable finish and moment that was made even more special when his long time friend Lou Thesz showed up in the ring to celebrate with him. It was just an epic moment and I still remember it like it was yesterday. I remember screaming “Tap” at Terry Funk as he wriggled in Sammartinos iron grip and just losing it when he finally did. It was a tremendous match to cap off a great show and a historic night in Los Angeles. Grade: 5 Winner (and NEW XPW Champion): BRUNO SAMMARTINO** XPW presents "New Years Revolution" **
** SCOTT & JUSTIN: Wrestlemania XX *********************** Final Analysis:Scott : Just like last one, this show is fantastic from top to bottom. Sure there was some more storylines and East Coast influence as compared to last time. However with XPW becoming a third brand in Mash-Up Wrestling, the show needed to be in tune with the WWF product and storylines. I thought that may take the energy and fun out of the show, but it certainly did not. From all the bloodshed to the energetic and vulgar crowd, XPW once again knew how to placate the crowd and give them one night where the underground came above ground. However now with XPW being a full-time brand, the specialness and nostalgia is still not gone from this show. As for Sammartino and the Black Army, well their war continues. Rockstar KAOS is on top of the world and took the greatest prize in the business. ”Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers overall has really turned his character and career to a whole new level. Vic Grimes and Terry Funk cemented themselves as two of the craziest bastards in wrestling history. We also now have a third brand to contend with, and it’s not WCW (Ha ha! Take THAT, PerfectlyStraightEdge!!!!). This is another one of the greatest nights in wrestling history. This show is maybe a notch below last month’s show, but it’s still close to perfect. Final Grade: AJustin: For the second straight month, our XPW show delivers big time. This show is a little different from last month, however. Since the beginning of its relaunch, the show was strictly West Coast. This time around, there was less nostalgia and focused more on setting up the new XPW East Coast brand. And in its own way, this show was just as great as that one. The crowd was tremendous for the second straight month and the feel of the event again felt fresh and exciting. This show also had more build behind it and worked to get certain guys over and it was successful there. I enjoyed Solie & Striker on commentary as well, as they mixed in their bitter emotions with great chemistry. The two major matches more than delivered and the show was capped off with a hot main event and historical title match. The excitement surrounding the rebirth of XPW on the East Coast also fueled this show and now it will be interesting to see if the brand can carry on the heat and excitement developed here. Regardless of that outcome, XPW Remixed has been reborn and owned Pittsburgh PA and the wrestling world as a whole. Final Grade: A+** XPW presents "Night of Champions" (outro) **
SCOTT & JUSTIN: One Night Stand 2005** CUT ** _____________________________________________________________________#9"SICK" NICK MONDO & THE MESSIAH versus SAMI CALLIHAN & THUMBTACK JACK ("No Rules, No Mercy" Match) versus Fun Fact: On XPW Online #12, Thumbtack Jack officially turned heel, smacking ”Sick” Nick Mondo with a light tube and aligning with Sami Callihan as his new business manager. Scott: This crowd, which has been energetic all night, really gets excited watching these two teams pummel each other all over the arena and find inventive ways to brutalize each other. Mondo hits a Hurricanrana off the stage set. Sami Callihan holds Messiah up and slams him into the hockey boards. Thumbtack Jack also hits off a railing onto Mondo, and then finishes the deal with a Cross Body off of a stairwell to finish the job. Sami Callihan is one of XPW Remixed’s most annoying, yet highly entertaining characters. As much as the storyline is incredible and these guys beaten to death, this was a fun crazy match with a lot of stiff strikes and inventive moves with the scenery, particularly by ”Sick” Nick Mondo. We weren’t sure if the storyline was going to continue or not but the match was maybe the best of the night. Grade: 3.5Justin:The heated war rages on another month. Here, ”Sick” Nick Mondo was a man possessed looking for revenge on the two backstabbers. Messiah was still looking jacked up here, stunningly big really. The pace was fast as expected and they wasted no time in brawling up to the staging area. The basic brawl was mixed with each man mixing in big blows and battling back and forth, including Callihan hitting a cool Gory Bomb, sending Mondo crashing into the safety barricade. The crowd was pretty hot here, mainly because the two were brawling right by them the whole time. In another innovative spot, Messiah grabbed Thumbtack Jack by his legs and alternated swinging him into the barricade and some chairs. As I mentioned, the majority of this match would take place in the crowd and that added to the heated feel of it. Solie and Striker spent a lot of match arguing over ”Sick” Nick Mondo’s motives throughout this whole ordeal, which also added to realistic feel. Finally, Mondo was able to knock Thumbtack Jack down, ascend a stairwell and hit a Assault Driver on Jack through a stack of tables to win the match. This was a good, stiff brawl but you could tell they weren’t quite done with this feud just yet. Regardless Mondo & Messiah win the battle and we will see how the war between two different eras of CZW continues to rage on. Grade: 3Winners: "SICK" NICK MONDO & MESSIAH (2002)Mondo & Messiah win the match, but their wildly divurging paths have begun to cause friction...** CUT ** ** "Fallout Festival (Night 2) **
** SCOTT & JUSTIN: No Mercy 2006 **____________________________________________________________Scott & Justin have offered analysis on some of the most important, ground-breaking events in wrestling history... their foray into XPW Remixed has been no different, as they cover the big-time break-up of one of the greatest tag teams in fantasy wrestling history, the (Real) KoW...#8AUSTIN IDOL (w/ Jessica Darlin) versus [/div] PHIL “GUNNER” SHATTER(Last Man Standing Match) w/ versus Scott: I liked the storyline leading into this match, as Austin Idol really showed a good babyface side we hadn’t seen before. It was very different than his goofy WCWish side. Gunner was playing his usual smarmy role, and for me this feud really showed that Gunner could be an upper mid-card/borderline main event contender. None of the creative people ever thought so, but almost all of the fans did. The match is very good as both guys were ready for the big stage and were on top of their game. The crowd, who really never lost a beat all night really helped carry them also. I know I’ll keep mentioning the crowd because Justin and I were there, but really the crowd on this night made this show even more special. Austin Idol looked like a much more experienced veteran than he ever had been. As much as the Jessica Darlin interference was needed to continue the storyline, it sort of ruined the ending and takes the match down a notch, but with the grade as high as it was it doesn’t take away from it. I wouldn’t say the swerve was totally unexpected but after Gunner beat the hell out of Jessica Darlin in a match a few weeks before this show I don’t understand the logic of the turn. Maybe it was to eventually turn Jessica Darlin heel for herself and this was just an easy way to do it. Then Jessica Darlin whiffing on the first slap to Austin Idol was bad, and the redo afterwards. Come on Jessica Darlin, you know the rules. Regardless it was a great match. Grade: 3.5
Justin: After spending over two years as a heel, Austin Idol is a beloved face once again and he gets a warm reaction from the fans. This was a very in depth storyline that had a few twists and turns along the way. As we headed into the show, Austin Idol had seemingly finally won Jessica Darlin over, but lost his conniving friends along the way. The match had a basic start but kept a nice pace and both men broke out some good, hard hitting bumps. They really did a good job with this angle because you could feel the tension between the two men as the match wore on. The battle over the Walls was a good one and the highlight spot was a sick Impaler by Gunner. The match built nicely to the finish, which saw a well-done swerve and heel turn by Jessica Darlin. It was rumored that she was going heel, but it seemed unlikely because nobody knew if she could pull it off. Well, she proved us wrong immediately because as soon as she smacked Austin Idol and made out with Gunner, she had that heel sneer down beautifully. Austin Idol had been deceived by his best pal and his girl, and Gunner picks up the biggest singles win of his young career. The whole angle was very well done, the match as solid and well booked and the payoff was fitting for the depth of the feud. Grade: 3 Great match between the two former partners that could not be rivaled in terms of intensity and hard-nosed action... stiff ringside brawling and power man offense from both... but Jessica Darlin swerves everybody at the end by assisting Gunner and slapping Austin Idol! Gunner finished with an F5 off the ring apron to the concret floor, and Idol could not answer the count of 10... Gunner celebrated by grabbing Darlin's hair (which they shared a sick smile over) and treating her like a piece of meat... like the piece of shit bitch ho she is... and she likes it. Gunner finishes with another piledriver - this one to Idol on the cement floor and he's stretchered out of XPW Remixed... and a new heel duo is born...Winner: GUNNER** CUT ** ** XPW Remixed presents: "BiB2" **
** SCOTT & JUSTIN: Wrestlemania XX **______________________________________________________Ladder matches, casket matches, inferno matches... and now through the help of XPW Remixed - fish hooks, cinder blocks, burning scaffold and other assorted Xtreme death matches... here, Scott & Justin offer thier insight on one of fantasy wrestling's most dangerous spectacles... WAR GAMES!! #7** WAR GAMES **SHANE DOUGLAS ©, CHYNA, AD SANTEL, HAKUSHI KURO & JON MOXLEY Versus MIZ ©, HUMAN TORNADO, MILDRED BURKE, SHEAMUS & WILLIAM MULDOON Versus Scott: Decent enough with a lot of guys, albeit unknown guys. This match was laid out to get Sheamus over as a babyface and to continue Shane Douglas’ path to his ultimate goal. Shane’s team was full of pretty jacked up guys, but unfortunately Chyna like dead weight out there in terms of the crowd. Muldoon hadn’t been seen since his face run earlier in the year and Human Tornado was completely new. So the crowd really didn’t give them much heat. Miz is the transitional Champion for Douglas, thus the reason Shane gets the final pin in the match against him. Mildred Burke looked pretty good as always, even getting the Judo Champion Ad Santel to tap. I wonder if the original plan was for Hakushi Kuro to eventually face Thesz for the XPW Title and not what did end up happening. Regardless it gave the crowd something to cheer about. I wonder if Moxley was being pushed down a bit, as he did get two pins but ended up eating a Brogue Kick and wasn’t a factor in the final decision. Shane Douglas, who was starting to gain a following based on the myriad of signs in the crowd, gets the final pin as he and Lizzy Borden stand tall. Either way starts off inspiring. Grade: 4Justin: The Miz/Douglas war rages on here as both men enlisted some interesting partners to back them up. William Muldoon had been on the shelf for over a year and was simply looking for revenge on Hakushi Kuro for putting him there. ”The Solid Man” William Muldoon would snap immediately, just like the old days. Despite being ejected from the cage, Human Tornado was far from done. Chyna would also go down meekly and it is clear that his push was starting to evaporate as the year winds down. As usual with these matches, we got some quick moves that get into a good flow. The fans were really into Human Tornado here and you can see why they turned him into a main eventer He also projected a good image and was believable hanging with the big boys in the match. He seemed more in line than with the lower tier guys. Sheamus was crisp and aggressive as always, shredding through his opponents and looking like a star. Jon Moxley had a good look to him but I think he was in over his head here as he looked lost for most the match. Miz gets a strong spurt but I think he was banged up again at this point and they were trying to protect him. In a way it felt like Miz was being pushed back a level so Douglas and Sheamus could shine as the fresh stars. Burke’s big feat would be forcing Ad Santel to tap out cleanly (but it was before everyone entered the ring, so it didn’t count). You could tell Shane Douglas was being primed for a big push. Sheamus was equally pushed hard as he dropped Moxley with an epic Brogue Kick and was left standing with Douglas taking out Miz The match was good and it truly felt like a changing of the guard on the top of the card. Grade: 4.5Winner: TEAM DOUGLAS** CUT ** ** XPW Remixed presents "Scene of the Crime" **
** SCOTT & JUSTIN: Survivor Series 2003 **_______________________________________________________________#6TERRY FUNK (1997) versus THE MIZ (2011)(Street Fight) versus Fun Fact: There was a long buildup for this match, most of which featured Terry Funk on the sidelines, as he was trying his best to get into better condition to prove he could still hang with the big boys. Ever since the newly christened Diamond Dynasty Era began, Funk was one of the locker room leaders that was vociferously against the whole idea, and he made sure to tell The Commission every chance he had. So, the stage was officially set: a Street Fight at "RAPTURE.Scott: Throughout the second half of XPW Remixed Season One, The MIZ was trying to prove to everyone he was the next top heel in professional wrestling. His matches weren't bad, but many thought he wasn't at the level of Steve Austin, Mick Foley, or the Rock. This match was the Miz's coming-out party. The perfect guy to put Miz over is Terry Funk. However, he needed to be in the nastiest, craziest of his personas. Now, both men are even more experienced and this one was balls to the wall. A sick spot in this match worth noting: Miz suplexing Terry Funk three consecutive times on wooden palates, a garbage can, and the stairs. Holy shit, that was stiff. Funkin fact gets a piece of his leg ripped out on the wooden palate. On the DVD extras, they show him getting stitches from it. Ouch. They also toss around a 2X4 with barbed wire. They even re-enact the 1999 WWF title match for a moment, as Miz handcuffs Funk and starts whacking him with a chair. Not as severe as Rock hit Mankind, but close. This was a perfect, sick brawl for the XPW faithful. Funk does a nasty, man-size blade job, with the blood soaking his hair. Funk even kicks out of a Skull Crushing Finale, but then gets hit with a second one, on a pile of fucking thumbtacks, and Miz finally finishes him off. An insane brawl that proves Miz belongs with the main eventers, and cements Terry Funks legacy. Grade: 5Justin: Just an awesome, sick, unbelievable brawl that sets the standard for all future brawls that will ever occur. These two just let loose and beat the absolute shit out of each other. The crowd is absolutely off the hook, especially when Funk gets un-handcuffed and starts making his comeback, and again after he kicks out of the first Skull Crushing Finale. Terry Funk had one job in this match: make the Miz a top of the line, undeniable top mega heel, and he accomplishes that goal without a shadow of a doubt. Funk proves once again that he is a true professional, and he makes the Miz's career with this one match and Miz would definitely capitalize on the opportunity. This was a tremendous job by everyone and one of the true classics in wrestling history. Grade: 5Winner: THE MIZ ** XPW presents: "RAPTURE" **
** SCOTT & JUSTIN: Royal Rumble 2000 **_____________________________________________________The "past" in fantasy wrestling is forever subjective - and malleable like a giant ball of clay... through their reviews, Scott & Justin use 20/20 hindsight to paint a very accurate account of historical events in wrestling from a big-picture perspective... here the ultraviolence of years past graces the big stage of the future... and Scott & Justin were there the entire time telling you how it is...#56) ROCKSTAR KAOS ( w/ Missy Hyatt)
versus
"VICIOUS" VIC GRIMES(King of the Death Match championship) versus Fun Fact: The two would continue to due verbally over the next two weeks, really building up some nice heat for this ensuing war.Scott: A little background here. The night before this show I was in Rhode Island at a party. I got fairly trashed and passed out, which of course isn’t really sleeping. The next day I come home and head to my friends’ house for the show, and honestly? I fell asleep during this match. So when I threw this match in recently it’s in essence the first time I’m watching it. My first great vision is Vic Grimes having the barbed wire wrapped around his torso as KAOS spears right into it and rips his shoulder open. Vic Grimes gets hip-tossed hard into the steps and KAOS is relentless in taking out the Hardcore Legend. Both men then start bashing each other with chairs, signs and steel pans. KAOS grabs Barbie, which Vic Grimes grabbed earlier and starts whacking Grimes with it. KAOS is really keeping his end in this match, but we haven’t seen that signature moment for KAOS. The Miz had his signature moment in his "Liberty or Death" classic with MESSIAH, which was getting backdropped on the thumbtacks. We’ll get there. Vic Grimes kicks out of a couple of barbed bat attacks, but is busted wide open. KAOS then finds the aforementioned bag of thumbtacks and dumps them in the ring. However Grimes reverses a punch and back suplexes KAOS right on the pile of tacks. There’s KAOS’s moment. Grimes then goes real hardcore and wraps his black murder glove in barbed wire and he attacks both KAOS and Missy Hyatt with it. Missy’s mouth is actually cut open by it. Vic Grimes then attacks KAOS back, strewn with thumbtacks, with Barbie. Eventually KAOS is busted open and the crowd is eating this up. Both men are bleeding all over the place and this is the match of the night so far. KAOS has matched Orton from that April night in Edmonton by taking all of Vic Grimes’s moves. Then, the moment that will forever be remembered. Vic Grimes starts drizzling lighter fluid on an open table outside. Missy Hyatt crotches Grimes with Barbie, then continues drenching the table. She then lights it, and the table is on fire. Grimes counters a KAOSTROPHE. With KAOS on the apron, Vic Grimes spears Grimes through the ropes and through the fully engorged in fire table. That’s enough to get the three count in what was an incredible match. Kudos to KAOS for putting another guy over, and to Vic Grimes for going that extra mile to give this match that extra something. I know I have my opinions of Grimes for being a little greedy but when it comes to being in the ring and putting someone over he’s second to none. Grade: 4Missy Hyatt cheers on her man
Justin: From the get-go I was torn on this one. I was looking forward to a brutal, bloody war between these two, but I was sad to see KAOS dropped from the main event title scene after how hot he had been to start the year. Missy Hyatt was red-hot here and she would play an active role in the match. KAOS and Grimes would battle back and forth early, cracking each other with stiff cookie sheet and pan shots. In a great spot, KAOS would spear Grimes, but begin writhing in pain, his shoulder bloodied. Vic Grimes then revealed that he had barbed wire wrapped around his abdomen. He would then cut the wire off and whip KAOS with it for a few nasty moments. Grimes would get a huge pop for unleashing Barbie, and another one for a crazy Cactus clothesline with Missy Hyatt on his back, knocking all three of the participants to the floor in the process. On the floor, KAOS unleashed more violence with a stiff hip toss into the ring steps and a brutal head spike to the metal grating. After eating a Barbie shot, Grimes was busted open pretty good and it was clear that this match was going to be a Mania classic, just as KAOS had desired. After KAOS took a sick back bump into some thumbtacks, Grimes wrapped some barbed wire around his black murder glove and fed it to both KAOS and Hyatt, leaving the latter with a bloodied mouth. The gruesomeness continued as Grimes lit up KAOSs stomach with more barbed wire. Hyatt would get involved again, this time dousing a table with lighter fluid and setting it afire. As Rockstar KAOS stumbled along the ring apron, Grimes charged and speared KAOS off the apron and through the flaming table. It was a shocking spot to see and both men writhed on the floor as Grimes barely crawled over to cover KAOS for the win. This was an awesome, bloody, brutal war and a big time win for "Vicious" Vic Grimes. He may have been out of the main event picture for the moment, but he and his longtime buddy steal the show and deliver that long awaited "Death Match" classic. Grade: 4.5Winner (and STILL KotDM Champion): "VICIOUS" VIC GRIMES ** XPW presents "DAMAGE INC" **
** SCOTT & JUSTIN: Wrestlemania 25 **______________________________________________________#4** XPW Remixed Tag Team Championship **HEADHUNTERZ © versus BLKOut(Gang Fight) versus Scott: One thing I will say about the XPW Remixed PPVs, they always pick the right combo to start things off. The Headhunterz have been on fire since winning the Tag Titles and the best thing that the bookers have done is find some great complements to these guys. So take two mid-card cruiserweights and put them together. I like these guys, including their swank matching chains and pitbulls. The pacing is solid as even with small quick guys, the spots are stiff and loud. I can’t believe it’s been ten years since the last time Indianapolis hosted a PPV. It’s a solid Midwest city with an updated arena, yet this is the first PPV since 1996. Anyway this match is getting better by the second, as Ruckus & Sabian counter the pounding, grinding work of the Headhunterz with their aerial strikes in and out of the ring. The Headhunterz dictated the pace for the most part with big time strikes and chops. They almost are wrestling like ECW of the 90s, plus about seventy pounds per guy. Sabians been the face in peril for most of the match until he finally gets the tag to Ruckus who goes crazy. One match into his PPV career and I’m already loving Ian Rotten on commentary. He’s fair, leaning to the heels, but fair and knowledgeable. Ruckus carries this match for a while and I’m really enjoying it. BLKOut win it with the drop kick/sunset flip combo to earn the titles. That was a great finish to fire things up. Annie Social may be banned from competing for 30 days, but she sure made her presence felt here tonight. Grade: 3.5Justin: In a refreshing concept that could have really vaulted the tag division, it looked like the creative team was starting to filter their overabundance of cruiserweights into teams to pad the division. And one of those teams that really gelled nicely was BLKOut. This was an even match, filled with fluid offense and great teamwork by all four teams, leading to a hot start. The champs were really great here, breaking out a sweet double plancha through the ropes into the challengers. The action continued non-stop, with crisp offense that included a stiff powerbomb and well-worked near falls that fed into the classic tag style they were going for. BLKOut would eventually pick up the win in a nice finish. I really don’t have much to say here besides gushing superlatives, because the action was balls out and really got the crowd going. The Headhunterzwere proving to be great champs that could deliver tremendous PPV matches each month, and Annie Social proved why she's so crucial to the BLKOut squad when her key interference turned the tide of the match. Grade: 3.5Winners (and NEW XPW Remixed Tag Team champions): BLKOUT** XPW Remixed presents "Retribution" **
** SCOTT & JUSTIN: Great American Bash 2006 **______________________________________________________________With all the twists and turns, ebb and flow of the Fantasy Wrestling time spectrum - one can gaze toward the future just as easily the past - something Scott & Justin's XPW Remixed recaps have managed to do... here they discuss a year that has yet to unfold for Angel & Douglas, while simultaneously looking back at a very memorable moment in wrestling history... #3** (Unofficial) XPW Championship Match **SHANE DOUGLAS © & LIZZY BORDEN versus FRENCH ANGEL & SAMMI LANE versus SCOTT: This is the apex for one wrestler’s career, and the lowest of lows for the other. Since Shane Douglas made his return, after almost 13 years, he was living large. He won his matches and put on a good showing. The French Angel, on the other hand, is a mess. After losing and getting locked up his character became delusional and somewhat nuts. Shane Douglas ditches Triple Threat and picks up Lizzy Borden. Her character is just as delusional as he is. He still looks good in the ring, but his promos were reaching Jimmy Snuka levels of incoherence. This feud started and was intensified in a confrontation between the four on the XPW Online set. The match is OK, but is carried by the excellent commentary of Gordon Solie & Matt Striker. His total ripping of Douglas and Borden's constant cheating almost put him over the edge. Borden didn’t have to do much, and I applaud Sammi, a much more capable wrestler, for lying down. Shane Douglas still looks good in the ring, but this type of character was disturbing. As for Angel, things wouldn’t get better from here on out. Grade: 4
JUSTIN: I am a huge Bobby Heenan fan, but Gordon Solie had an uncanny ability to actually CARRY a match with his commentary, and this an example. Everything out of his mouth is pure gold. Before the match, surprise “crown jewel,” Sunny is special ring announcer. The match itself is OK, and is actually not the first ever mixed tag team match in history. The bout is carried by Striker and Angel’s enthusiasm and the unreal crowd heat for Douglas and Borden. Matt Striker steals the show again at the end when goes apocalyptic over Shane Douglas and Lizzy Borden cheating to win. This was just a great moment for one of the best play-by-play guys in the business. As for the competitors, Shane Douglas is riding high right now, but things fall apart over the summer, and his final months in XPW Remixed are not very good ones. French Angel, on the other hand, would finally get things together by our next PPV and would regain his Main Event status by the end of the year. It has been a trying year for Angel, but he hung in there and made the best out of some sub-par storylines and bizarre antics. Grade: 3.5Winner (and STILL Unofficial Champion): SHANE DOUGLASShane Douglas convinces himself he's the REAL THING!** CUT ** ** XPW presents: "Night of Champions II" **
** SCOTT & JUSTIN: Wrestlemania 6 **______________________________________________________#2** XPW BOSTON CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH **JOHN CENA © versus GREAT GAMA (w/ Jinder Mahal) versus w/ Scott: After a really fun match at New Year’s Revolution that saw Cena wrestle a psychological masterpiece against the Punjabi Bulldozer, we have our obligatory rematch with a stipulation. Over time the Last Man Standing becomes one of the most overused gimmicks in my opinion. However in this instance I think it makes perfect sense since Great Gama clearly pummeled Cena at NYR and saw his chance to be XPW Boston Champion stolen on a roll-up. However in the few weeks leading up to this match Great Gama continued to bludgeon the champ and injured his spleen. Both men go at it full bore here and we have some pretty sweet spots. First, with Jinder Mahal lingering on the outside, Cena lifts the ring steps over his head and just hurls them from the ring at Mahal outside. Then with Cena leaning against the steps in the corner. Great Gama goes for the butt splash but Cena misses and Great Gama butt splashes the steps. Cena, who had a tough end of Perfectly Straight Edge’s WCW and an even tougher time in OzzMania’s TNA in terms of gaining respect from all the fantasy wrestling Universe really worked hard in these two matches with Great Gama to try and get some street cred from the workrate junkies. Cena goes for an FU on the steps and scrapes his face on them. So he’s hideously busted wide open. Both men continue to destroy each other. Then, the moment that makes this match memorable. Great Gama lays a prone Cena over the announce table. He goes all the way, then goes for a running splash across two tables before missing the splash on the final table. Back in the ring, Great Gama rips a turnbuckle off the post. He goes to crush Cena with it, but Cena ducks it and then the champ tries to choke Great Gama out with the ring rope. After doing it the first time and Great Gama getting up, Cena tries it again. Finally Great Gama is out and the champion retains the title with blood all over his face. Maybe the best two matches of Cena’s career here, except maybe for his ”MBVII” match with William Muldoon and his Wrestlemania XXII match with Triple H. I didn’t think I’d grade this match as high as I am. But it certainly deserves it. Grade: 4.5Justin: Less than a month after their first title showdown, Great Gama gets a rematch here in a Last Man Standing war. For the second straight show, these two face off in the ring in what feels like a big time matchup. Great Gama had been built up so well and the flash loss to Cena didn’t hurt him at all. Cena came out aggressive but Great Gama quickly outbrawled him and started focusing on Cena’s ribs. The crowd was fairly pro-Cena here, which really helped the drama and heat of the match. They busted out some good weapons shots, including Great Gama missing a running bulldozer into the steel steps. The weapon shots led to some hot and exciting counting segments on each man. I really dug the selling and bumping by both men as they were busting their asses to put on a classic. Calling back to their previous match, Cena still couldn’t hit the FU on Great Gama and this time it led to major damage as Cena collapses forward and smashes his head on the steel steps that were in the ring. And that bump led to a nasty gusher by Cena as he fought to his feet with blood streaming down his face. Things degenerated into a stiff slugfest and Cena started a Rocky-esque comeback as he tried to gut his way back against the monster. Just when it looked like Cena was going to retain, Great Gama cut him off cold with a sick Samoan Drop, slamming Cena onto the mat shoulder-first. It was pretty scary to watch and I thought Cena might have been pretty hurt. By this point, Cena’s blood was really sick and added to the desperation of the match. Another plus to this bout was that there was no wasted move, everything made sense and mattered as these guys beat the crap out of each other. The bumps were kicked up a notch when Cena grabbed a TV monitor and smashed it across the top of Great Gama’s head, leading to a sickening thud. As both men were recovering in the ring, Jinder Mahal hopped on the apron with a wrench and proceeded to unhook the top rope. He would hand Great Gama the huge metal turnbuckle rod, but Mil Mascaras made the run- in and save! He took Jinder Mahal out of the equation, before letting the match continue unabated. Cena was able to wrestle it away and use it to his advantage. He would then finally hit the elusive FU, but it wasn’t enough. So, in an innovative, smart and awesome finish, Cena grabbed the broken top rope, wrapped it around Great Gama’s neck and locked in the STFU. He would finally relent, but Great Gama somehow stayed alive and began to fight to his feet. Before he could, Cena beat him back down and hooked the STFU choke on again, this time forcing Great Gama to pass out. Great Gama stayed strong in losing once again, surviving the first STFU and then passing out cold to finally be defeated (in an “unsanctioned match”, so technically his hallowed Undefeated Streak is still in tact). This was an all out war in front of a red-hot crowd and this is easily one of Cena’s greatest matches. This crazed brawl is a hidden gem and kicks off the Match of the Year campaign with a bang. Grade: 4.5Winner (and STILL XPW Boston Champion): JOHN CENA** XPW TV Episode # 38 **
** SCOTT & JUSTIN: Royal Rumble 2007 **____________________________________________________#1XPW Remixed Championship (East Coast)BRUNO SAMMARTINO © versus NICK FN GAGE(Street Fight) versus Scott: A very fun and highly entertaining match as both men give and take some big moves all over the arena. I like this match for a couple of reasons. First, Gage didn’t have to do a ludicrous ninety foot elbow drop or crash through a million light tubes to make a mark. Gage did a great job just going with the flow and getting Bruno so infuriated that he couldn’t just beat the crap out of him that it made for great drama as the match progressed. Bruno, who rarely gets busted open, was cut early and the frustrated look on his face with the blood trickling down was a great shot. Gage did do a cool spot where he was standing on the barricade behind the announce table, and then planchas over Solie and Striker right onto Sammartino. He also does a frog splash right onto a garbage can. So he does do some crazy spots, but nothing like he did against Ian Rotten two months earlier (see "RETRIBUTION"). The other reason I really like this match is that Bruno had already wrestled against Gage (see "RAPTURE"), and didn’t take this match off. He went all out to make this a bloody, legit street fight. Obviously the most memorable spots are the ones near the back set where Gage went through the two glass walls. The first one Bruno can’t suplex him through and Gage smacks his head on the cement. The second time it works, then he tries twice to suplex him through the other glass pane, and eventually Bruno just throws him through it. Then there’s the finale, where Bruno lays a board over the corner and he powerbombs Gage off it for the three count. A great night for both men, and an A+ effort for Bruno, who matched Gage in one night and coming out even better than before. Grade: 4
Justin: Despite having wrestled already, Bruno came out of the gate aggressively here as he was looking to quickly destroy Gage to end the night on a good note. He would dominate Gage early with wrestling, especially wearing him out with suplexes, but Gage would get back into the match by brawling. Bruno was resilient, but Gage started wearing him out with weapons and basic submission holds. The missed frog splash by Gage was a sick spot as he just crushes the trash can with full force from the top. Of course, that wasn’t nearly as sick as the glass ridden battle in the aisle. The image of an exhausted Sammartino just tossing Gage time after time into the glass wall, trying to break it, is a scary one and bumps this match up from being pretty good to being legendary. The shots of Gage being covered in blood and glass shards were nasty and I think the match should have just ended right there in the aisle as the finish ended up being anticlimactic and feeling a bit tacked on. Bruno would wheel Gage to the ring on a utility cart, where he would end up making a brief comeback before Bruno would finally put him down with the tope rope powerbomb. The match was really stiff and nasty but just a bit too long and I think it could have been a lot better if it was tighter in the beginning and if they lopped off the end. Still, it was a great outing and Sammartino comes out looking like Superman and capping it off with a sick brawl. Grade: 4Winner (and STILL XPW Remixed champion): BRUNO SAMMARTINO** CUT ** ** XPW Remixed presents "GENOCIDE" **
** SCOTT & JUSTIN: King of the Ring 2001 **** FADE OUT ** _________________________________________________________
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Post by MadStepDad on Jul 30, 2012 17:54:02 GMT -5
** XPW TV title **THE MIZ (w/ Alex Riley) versus "ROCKSTAR" JOEY KAOS (w/ Missy Hyatt) versus Fun Fact: Since jumping to XPW Remixed, the MIZ has been part of the coalition to battle Hot Stuff Inc. With a pair of wins over B-Boy and a PPV victory over Eddie Gilbert under his belt, Rockstar KAOS turned his attention to the former WWE Champion. On XPW TV Episode #14, Rockstar KAOS defeated Alex Riley in a title match to earn his place here.Scott: I must say I did like Rockstar KAOS's "Legend Killer Tour" t-shirt. This match apparently was slated for later on in the card, but Miz interrupts the interview and they decide to start it up now. On paper, this should be a pretty good match. KAOS is officially part of the "in" group after his "Night of Champions" performance against Eddie Gilbert. KAOS' solo push is going well, and he gets another singles title defense here. Missy Hyatt would cheer h er charge on, as Striker would mention that Hyatt is a budding author. Great book incidentally, I suggest you go out and get it. The match does have a good pacing. Alex Riley takes his usual bumps and the momentum made you feel like KAOS was going to keep the title, including slapping Alex Riley in the Figure Four and roll Miz up on a small package at the same time. Finally the crowd wakes up towards the end but just as KAOS was about to take it he goes for a high cross body and the momentum rolls MIZ on top and with a handful of tights steals the match and takes the title. This was a really good match and one that woke the crowd up. Grade: 4.5Justin: Miz's strong push continues here as he earns his first XPW PPV singles title match. He has really benefited from the switch to XPW Remixed and was holding his own against Hot Stuff Inc each week. This match started with a fast pace and Kaos was hot out of the gate. You could see the chemistry these two had right from the bell, as they worked free and smooth and with each other. Alex Riley would help encourage his mentor, and his presence would add to the heat of some great near falls. Kaos really looked great here and proved that he had the goods to hang with the big boys. He looked strong as well as he fought off both Miz and Riley at one point. Miz would get the win, but he had to use the tights to steal it, keeping Kaos strong. The match was well booked and was the highlight of the night so far. It was a hard fought match but the champion lost his beloved gold. Grade: 5Winner (and NEW XPW Television Champion): THE MIZ** XPW Remixed presents: "Cold Day In Hell" **
** SCOTT & JUSTIN: Badd Blood 2004 **__________________________________________________________** XPW Television title **THE MIZ (w/ Alex Riley) versus ROCKSTAR KAOS (w/ Missy Hyatt) versus *with* Winner (and STILL XPW TV Champion): THE MIZSCOTT: This was a good way to give this PPV a guaranteed high-star match. We’re not really sure what kind of match Buddy Rogers/Bruno Sammartino or Vic Grimes/Jun Kasai would give us, so you know that if you give these two a ladder and a title at stake it leads to good things. We haven’t seen a ladder match all year; on top of the fact that the undercard was a little light so again putting these two together again was a smart thing to do. Rockstar KAOS was red hot as a face throughout 2001 and The Miz (2011) has been a perfect foil for him. The pace of this match was different than in most ladder matches we’re used to. Whereas past ladder matches were fact paced with one crazy spot after another, these two were deliberate in their approach. They were doing some grinding restholds and then a big spot. KAOS missed a moonsault onto a ladder, and then after a few minutes MIZ was hanging over the ring in midair holding the rings around the belt before KAOS threw a ladder at him and MIZ fell. Then they’d go around for a few minutes before working another spot. It just seemed like both men took a more deliberate approach than in past ladder matches. Eventually MIZ would climb the ladder, minutes after getting the edge of a ladder jabbed into his back, and grab the XPW Television Title, his 2nd title defense to this point. A great ladder match that was different than any before it, and actually this becomes the template for future ladder matches. It featured a slower pace, with more space between big spots than before. It is the match of the night and also in a perfect spot on the card as the crowd is hot. Grade: 4
JUSTIN: One of the best feuds of the early part of XPW Remixed is renewed here as these bitter rivals go at it in a ladder match for the XPW TV strap. The crowd was quite into Kaos here as he tries to capture the gold. The match was basic to start but picked up nicely after MIZ dropped Kaos with a nice Skull-Crushing Finale on the floor. They would bust out some stiff ladder shots, including a great Irish whip into it by MIZ. These two had great chemistry, so once the stiff shots started being doled out, things picked up. The match was well built and they eventually won the crowd. I think the length of the match hurt it a bit as it led to slow spots that affected its pacing. Instead of just being a long match, it felt like a shorter match stretched out to fill a set amount of time. Towards the end, Kaos hooked the Boston Crab on top of the ladder but that just set up a nasty fall from the top to the mat by Kaos. MIZ would recover and grab the belt to win the hard fought match. The match was solid and filled with stiff bumps. Grade: 5Winner (and STILL XPW TV Champion): The MIZ** CUT ** ** XPW Remixed presents: "Baptized in Blood" **
** SCOTT & JUSTIN: Unforgiven 2004 **___________________________________________________ ** XPW Remixed Tag Team Championships ** (REAL) KINGS of WRESTLING © (w/ Jessica Darlin) Versus JUGGALO NINJAS (w/ Insane Clown Posse)(Xtreme Rulez Match) w/ versus w/ Fun Fact: Since we last saw them on PPV, the Juggalo Ninjas were given a full character makeover in order to update their image and shed their bingo hall independent federation looking regalia. The (Real) Kings of Wrestling also underwent some image changes. They kept the valet Jessica Darlin but completely ditched any semblance of class or respect they may have had. Instead, they gave them a harder image and more hardcore look. Also, XPW Remixed decided to escalate the character development that had taken years to do. Instead of just calling women "whores" and starting riots, they would start putting everyone and anyone through tables, much to the orgasmic delight of Jessica Darlin. Scott: What we are about to witness is one of the most competitive tag team years in over a decade. The XPW Remixed Tag Team Titles will be the prize, and these two teams will be two of many that will battle for the gold throughout the year. The creativity they show in beating the shit out of each other is off the charts. The Juggalo Ninjas have gone through their growing pains since their debut, but tonight they cash it in. The (Real) Kings of Wrestling have been around a little longer, but they also will make a major impact. As for this match, the spot of the match is the end. With Austin Idol lying on a table, Jessica Darlin saves him before Phil “Gunner” Shatter” hits his finisher, the F5 on MadMan Pondo, off the entranceway, through the burning pane of glass for the win. A fantastic match between four risk-takers and it just gets better from here. Grade: 4Justin: The match features an intense and insane brawl between two of the hottest tag teams in the Federation. Since receiving their makeover, the Juggalo Ninjas were on a roll, and were out to prove a point smack dab in their own backyard. And, what better opponents to have than one team that was willing to do anything to get over? These four guys light up ”MBVII” with a full ten minutes of non-stop action as they beat each other from pillar to post and everywhere in between. As passé as they are today, at this time the Xtreme Rulez gimmick was red hot. It had been done to death in ECW, but as far as XPW Remixed fans were concerned, they had seen some table action, but they knew they were missing out. XPW Remixed would cure that craving, as it was hardcore galore, mainly due to the soaring popularity of the Ninjas. The (Real) Kings of Wrestling grab the big win here, and would fire the next major shot in the Tag Division, and it is one that would really put them over the top. Grade: 4Winners (and STILL XPW Tag champs): (REAL) KINGS of WRESTLING** XPW Remixed presents: "MBVII" **
** SCOTT & JUSTIN: Royal Rumble 2000 **** Roll credits / Fade out ** _____________________________________________________
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