NWA Championship Wrestling From Hollywood: August (Episode 47/48/49/50)

In a very eventful month in NWA Hollywood, some hair was cut, some high profile names were lost, and a brand new television champion was crowned. Come on in to read about all of it!

Again, I know I apologized in my previous review for getting slightly off schedule with my recaps of this show. Getting moved up and situated for college has been my priority over the last month or so. The good news is, I am now all situated and there is plenty of material to discuss over the course of the last month. I decided to do an article on the full month instead of the one episode recap. I will return to the previous format for episode 51. I hope you all understand!

NWA Hollywood Episode 47 8.6.11
We start off with a promo from Famous B & Ryan Taylor talking about the main event tonight. This is an issue that has been building for months. Unfortunately, there is some music in the background that takes away from the promo entirely as Famous B and Ryan Taylor both display a significant amount of passion. They introduced Jarek Matthews as their partner for the main event.
Match #1: Los Luchas defeat Sindarin & Lucha Machine in about five and a half minutes via a surfboard into a reverse angle slam across the knees combination.
This was an alright match. A bit slow at times for what lucha libre is typically presented to be, but both teams delivered some enjoyable combinations. The ending especially was rather unique.
Match #2: Nick Madrid defeats Phoenix (of the Disorder) in slightly over 3 minutes via Running of the Bulls.
This was another match meant to push Madrid’s conquest to take out the Disorder from NWA Hollywood. I don’t think it was as enjoyable as the match with Madrid’s, but it has to serve as a slow burn for Madrid’s journey, so it’s fine.
Candice LaRae cut an aggressive promo about Buggy and how they have a rematch next week. He says the blood is on NWA Hollywood’s hands
Match #3: Ryan Taylor, Jarek Matthews, & Famous B defeated Peter Avalon, Ray Rosas, & Rico Dynamite in an elimination match in about 22 minutes. (Stipulation being if Taylor’s team won, Avalon lost his hair, if Avalon’s team won, Taylor lost his hair.)
This match got a tremendous amount of time, with the action starting around the 17:30 mark of the episode. It was very fast paced, as you’d expect, including have a top rope Russian leg sweep onto all of the competitors to the outside before the bell even rang! Jarek Matthews was isolated rather quickly towards the first several minutes of the match, getting worn down by Avalon/Rosas/Dynamite, including being the first one eliminated by Dynamite via a german suplex. The match steadily improved from here as Famous B & Ryan Taylor brought a lot more sizzle to the match, including Famous B eliminating Dynamite via his Flashing Lights Superkick, much to the dismay of Dynamite after he got back to his feet. B was now the one to get taken advantage of by Avalon/Rosas, but he looked quite impressive throughout. He especially got one very impressive superkick on Rosas before succumbing to a double team Lethal Combination by Rosas/Avalon to eliminate him, leaving Ryan Taylor by himself. Taylor got some redemption by taking advantage of the referee’s distraction to take out Rosas, making it come down to the two who had everything to lose in this match to begin with in Taylor and Avalon. Their bit helped turn what was a good match into a great match, although I wish they had gotten more time to go at it. Taylor finally eliminated Avalon with the Gojira Driver in a great ending to a particularly great performance all around by Ryan Taylor. Probably one of the best, if not the best I have seen from him. Great match all around that felt like a big deal throughout. ****
Afterwards, Avalon refused to allow his hair to be cut, but Famous B and Jarek Matthews came out and helped make it happen. It was not much of a haircut, as they just cut off his locks, making Avalon gain more of a bowlcut.
OVERALL: An entertaining episode that was largely given a very good recommendation based on the main event, which occupies more than half of the episode. All six guys performed very well, especially Famous B & Ryan Taylor who both gave performances that were likely the best I have seen from either guy. That is not to take away from the opposition of Avalon/Rico/Rosas who all did very well. The rest of the show, for what is left of it, is certainly OK, but the main event helped push this one into a very good recommendation status.
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NWA Hollywood Episode 48 8.13.11
This show opened with a promo with Percy Pringle & Shaun Ricker signifying the end of Natural Selection after they lost the tag titles on Episode 46 and is now the start of the Pringle Dynasty.
Match #1: Buggy vs. Candice LaRae never got started
Buggy immediately charged the ring and she and Candice brawled all around ringside, including Buggy dropping Candice quite hard face first across the guardrail. It took every referee to break up these two, much to the fans disappointment as they loudly chanted LET THEM FIGHT. As Candice was taken to the back, Buggy took a mic and said that if Candice wants her blood, then the two of them can face off in a First Blood Match. Candice makes her way back to the ring and tries to attack again before referees stop her. This is a great move for what has been the best feud involving women wrestlers that I can remember in a long time.
Match #2: Adam Pearce defeats. Mikey O’Shea via lariat in about three minutes.
It’s rather amazing that if Pearce had worked other independents like he did this match, he may have been better received by most fans. He showed a lot of fire, including busting out a headscissors takedown. He traded in the singlet for MMA-esque tights and finished the match with a lariat, which is debuted as his new finisher. The Family Stone surrounded the ring after until RockNES Monsters came to the ring for the save to cause an impromptu match.
Match #3: Joey Ryan & Eric Watts defeat the RockNES Monsters in about ten minutes via Eric Watt’s Murder Bomb (Border Toss). ***
Sadly, this stands as Joey Ryan’s official last match in NWA Hollywood due to him leaving the company entirely around the time that this aired. A bigger shame is that he and Watts worked relatively well together and both also meshed very well with the Monsters. It helps that Watts completely outsizes the two of them.
The Tribe cut a promo, basically saying what you’d expect in that they will take on all comers for their NWA Heritage Titles. They did not mention RockNES Monsters at all, who still stand as #1 contenders for those titles. A match between those two teams seems like something that could be doom for the Monsters.
We get a promo from Adam Pearce about what “One Last Ride” means to him. This was taped in Colombus, OH shortly after Adam Pearce won the NWA Title for the fourth time. Truly, this is a promo that anyone should seek out. While CM Punk has certainly been the focal point in terms of promo work in the world of wrestling throughout 2011, but to me, this may have been the best non-CM Punk promo that I have seen all year. I really can’t say anything else besides that. Just wow.
Match #4: “Be The Star” TV Title Tournament finals: Scorpio Sky defeats SoCal Crazy in about 11 and a half minutes via the Ace of Spades ****
This match had a whole lot of hype going into it, after several weeks all building to this one match. Both competitors were very even throughout, both gaining a fair share of offense. It had a bit of something for everyone in terms of technical wrestling, great counters, great high flying, and just an all-around great conclusion to a very enjoyable tournament as history was made. When everything was all said and done, Scorpio Sky was the man standing tall after laying waste to SoCal with his TKO.
OVERALL: As is tradition for NWA Hollywood, they once again delivered a consistent and enjoyable episode with a great conclusion to end it on. Scorpio Sky vs. SoCal Crazy was a great finals to what has overall been a very good tournament that has produced a lot of enjoyable wrestling. They also gave more to look forward to in the way that they built Candice/Buggy. It will be interesting to see how the promotion progresses, since going forward, Joey Ryan will no longer be the booker. If they keep up the trend that they have for the past several months that I have been an active viewer, I am sure that they will continue to churn out one of the best weekly products in professional wrestling today.
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NWA Hollywood Episode 49 8.20.11
In unusual fashion, we open the show with Jeff Resnick & Todd Keneley at ringside with the NWA Hollywood roster all coming to the ringside area. David Marquez comes into the ring to introduce who is coming out and it is none other than Percy Pringle. He comes out to say that he has done it all in the wrestling business, from bottom to top. However, he is not done yet and is here to establish a new Pringle Dynasty. He calls the NWA Hollywood roster one of the best in the business today and asks the roster to show him their best tonight. Marquez asks if he considers himself a “Czar of pro-wrestling,” to which Percy thinks that is a good term. He once again implores to the roster to do their best due to the importance that it would be to be a part of the Pringle Dynasty.
Match #1: Timothy Thatcher defeats. El Hijo de Misterioso via Thatcher Stretch in about four minutes.
Timothy Thatcher reminds me of a slightly lankier Damien Sandow (from FCW), minus the whole teeth ordeal. This was a pretty decent match that was designed to make Thatcher look rather intimidating, which it accomplished.
Johnny Yuma is in the back without Johnny Goodtime who says that he doesn’t know where Goodtime is but he can take care of himself just like how Yuma can. He promotes his main event contest against Shawn Spears, who he says can be recognized around the world but after Yuma is done with him, he may not be able to be recognized.
Match #2: Ray Rosas defeats Disco Machine via rollup with the tights in about five minutes.
This was more even than the previous match at least. Disco did his usual antics and kept them enjoyable, while Rosas showed off some great mannerisms such as at one point trying to get a pinfall by just using one finger to cover Disco. Stuff like that will always earn someone bonus points. I liked Ray’s promo after where when Loquasto questioned his tactics, Rosas mentioned how his tactics show to Percy that Rosas will do whatever it takes to get a win, which is what Percy should be looking for.
We had another backstage interview with David Marquez who was on the phone with NWA Champion Adam Pearce. David asked him his opinion on Shawn Spears, to which Pearce responds with saying that he knows Spears is a very formidable competitor. David asks Pearce if he wants to be under the wing of the “Czar of Professional Wrestling” Percy Pringle. Pearce says he has enough on his plate to worry about as NWA Champion. David asks him about winning the NWA title and Pearce mentions how he is trying to amend his own ways. Pearce says if not for NWA Hollywood and their fanbase, he may not have come back from his injury and puts over his “One Last Ride.” As closing comments, he says to anyone wanting a shot at the NWA Title, he says that the Adam Pearce of the past is long gone, he is in the best shape of his life and he is planning on giving back to professional wrestling on this last ride, no matter how long it is.
Match #3: Shawn Spears defeated Johnny Yuma in about six minutes via running Death Valley Driver. ***
Shawn Spear’s pre-match promo was great. He said how he was said to have been destined to be NWA Champion, but he says destiny is for losers. It is a lame excuse that people use to allow things to happen to themselves instead of making things happen. He says he wants the championship and he will make it happen.
The match itself had a great dynamic with Spears essentially being twice the size of Yuma, and the match made sense with the way it was worked, providing a very competitive match in the process. Spears already looked like a star prior to the match, but after this with the way that he just destroyed Yuma managed to make him look even more impressive.
OVERALL: Considering the switch, this served largely as a transitional episode for the promotion in beginning a build towards the new big stable in the company as well as putting forth some names that seem to be focal points in the future of the company. They did a great job with that, especially in the case of Shawn Spears who is someone that has gone unnoticed since being let go from WWE for far too long and I am quite happy that he has finally gotten a regular place to show off his ability to wrestling fans. The wrestling on the show, while not up to the standard put forth by past episodes due to great main events is once again fine for being the first in what seems to be a new chapter in the book of NWA Hollywood.
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NWA Hollywood Episode 50 8.27.11
They showed a very good video package highlighting Episode 49.
Match #1: Oliver John defeats Sergio Vega via brainbuster in about three minutes.
Oliver John was hyped up as being a former instructor at Ken Shamrock’s Lion’s Den. This was the definition of an squash, the kind that are lacking from WWE and TNA today. John showed some great offense, including a fantastic brainbuster that annihilated Sergio at the end.
Post-match, Oliver John had an interview and he made a big habit of calling out the Mexicans in the audience to kiss the boots of “El Patron” Oliver John. He is here for titles, whether it is a 6 or 10 or 30 man title, he will beat everyone himself.
Match #2: Mikey O’Shea defeats Jarek Matthews via Sidewinder Slam in slightly over five minutes.
Percy Pringle was at ringside to personally scout this match. Unfortunately, out of the “squashes” on the last two episodes, it wasn’t as effective as others. Jarek got in a bit more offense than I’d like and O’Shea just didn’t look as intimidating as he should have despite some well executed moves, particularly the ending. With that said, Jarek Matthews did get a fantastic armbar set up out of a powerbomb position, which was countered in better fashion with a chokeslam by Mikey.
The Family Stone of James Morgan, Stu Stone, and Lawyer Mortimer Lipschitz talking about how Stone is being forced to apologize to Chris Massie over attacking him on episode 46. Stone does not want to do it, but Lipschitz is telling him it is the wise thing to do. Stone says he only is because of his lawyer.
Shaun Ricker is on top of a hotel, with the LA Skyline behind him. He says he is not at the event right now because of Brian Cage. He says that Percy Pringle wants to give Cage one more chance, but as far as Ricker is concerned, they are done. Ricker is there to try to clear his mind. He says he was the leader of Natural Selection, from everything to trunk designs to t-shirts. He says Cage is not on the Natural Selection level despite his shoulder and nose injuries. Ricker has injuries of his own but he is not crying to anybody. He wants to move on from dealing with children. He was not in the TV title tournament because of carrying Cage on his back while defending the tag titles. He says that Scorpio Sky did not beat Ricker to get to that title and also comments on Adam Pearce. He mentioned how there is a lot of things that don’t make sense in the world, even alluding to the James Bond Jr. cartoon. What does make sense though is Shaun taking both of those belts and that both of them have to be on the lookout for him. “It’s just a fact of life.”
Nick Madrid is in the back saying he is coming for Joey Kaos, continuing to take the Disorder out one by one. He will face another one of them later tonight.
David Marquez is in the ring and brings out Chris Massie. David asks Chris if he is ready for this, and Chris just wants to be able to do his job. David then introduces The Family Stone. David asks if he is ready to give an apology to him. Lipschitz gives Stone a note to read to him. Stone hesitantly reads it. Lipschitz tries to help him, but Stone tells him to shut up and then goes with his own apology, which insults Massie in the process, but eventually they apologize and this leads into the next match.
Match #3: Famous B defeats “Main Event” James Morgan w/Stu via a hammerlock small package in slightly over three minutes.
Pretty standard match. Famous B showed good offense, like usual and delivered a unique ending that I do not think I have seen before. This gave Chris Massie some revenge on The Family Stone as when B got the small package, he hit a fast 3 count. Beyond that, not too much to say about the match.
Match #4: LA Park Jr, SoCal Crazy, & Los Luchas defeat “Mirror Image” Ricky Mandel, Hector Canales, Cedric The Hitman, & Peter Avalon via Jig N Tonic by LA Park Jr. on Hector Canales in nearly ten minutes. (with commercial break) ***
Avalon is now sporting a clean cut look, thanks to his haircut. LA Park Jr was hyped to make his debut on episode 48, and he came out with his 3 partners to Thriller, as expected. Good main event that saw lots of interactions due to the 8-man tag aspect. The action broke down after being well into the match, including seeing a quadruple victory roll by the faces, and a great corkscrew dive by Zokre onto the majority of the competitors on the outside. LA Park Jr got the win when Canales accidentally booted Mandel in the face, and LA Park Jr hit Canales with his Jig N Tonic finisher for the victory.
OVERALL: Much like the previous episode, NWA Hollywood is still in a transitional phase after essentially having to reboot due to the change in the company. We have had a pair of introduced faces on this show in LA Park Jr and Oliver John, to add onto Shawn Spears last week. If there is one thing that NWA Hollywood does especially right, they give the fans plenty of new fresh faces to see. The matches on the show did not leave a lot to talk about, but the main event was good and I am sure there will be good stuff to come. We are in the midst of the forming of a new group, Scorpio Sky will appear soon with his new TV Championship, and NWA Champion Adam Pearce will be back soon enough. There is a lot going on in the company right now and I am interested in going along with it.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Again, to the readers, thank you for bearing with me in this busy and exciting time of my life. There will be no worries going forward as I will be bringing you everything you need to know on NWA Hollywood.

If you want to check out these four episodes of NWA Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, along with every other episode of the program, head on over to www.NWAHollywood.com where they have all of their episodes uploaded to be seen. Be sure to check out their merchandise and if you live in the Los Angeles region, be sure to head on over to the Regent Showcase Theatre THIS SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11TH as they will tape upcoming episodes of their program!