-Taped from Chicago, Illinois
-Your hosts are Lenny Leonard and a couple Chicagoans
-Chuck Taylor and Jake Manning are in the ring for more campfire fun. This time, it’s Masada who rudely interrupts the presentation. I really do want to learn about this stuff, but people keep interrupting. This makes me very sad, but it leads to the opener, which is very similar to what happened at Untouchable the night before.
-Jake Manning vs. Masada
Match in Five Words or Less: The Bully Wins
Match Highlights: Manning slaps Masada and pays for it with strikes. He recovers and hits a backbreaker which leads to a flatliner. Shoulder tackles in the corner. Chops from Masada in response. Headbutt in the corner. Masada brings Manning down by the arm. Into a triangle choke. Chuck Taylor walks away from ringside. Forearms by Masada. Knee to the midsection and a stomp to the head. Chinbreaker by Manning. Clothesline from Masada. Manning tries a clothesline but fails. Slap in the face. Poke to the eyes from Manning. Clothesline by Masada. Powerbomb. Regalplex ends the proceedings.
Match Analysis: This was literally just a squash for Masada to establish himself a second time over the weekend. I think he’s a better wrestler than people give him credit for, and I’ll be interested to see how he comes across in more competitive matches. I have enjoyed some of his longer CZW matches if nothing else.
Winner (s)/Time/ Rating: Masada/2:26/1/2*
-Zero Gravity (CJ Esparza and Bret Gakiya) vs. The Scene (Caleb Konley and Scott Reed w/Larry Dallas)
Match in Five Words or Less: Poor Zero Gravity
Match Highlights: Been a while since I’ve seen Zero Gravity after their unexpected departure from AAW. Feeling out process between Konley and Esparza. Esparaa takes control and hits a running shoot star press. Knee to the midsection and forearm by Konley. Double team as they take Esparza down and hit double elbow drops. Gakiya breaks the count. Esparza gets a roll-up for two. Whip but Esparza leaps backward. Double team from ZG. Then a dropkick from both men. Konley sent off the ropes. He catches himself. Gakiya hits an elbow. Double stomp by Esparza. Another double team. Flippy cup hit on Reed. 1-2-NO! Scene exits. Gakiya hits a dive on both men. Esparza gets caught by Konley and tosses him hard in the rail. Heat segment on Esparza. Esparza leap frogs out of the corner and hits a one footed dropkick. Gakiya hot tag. He leaps up and over to forearm Konley off the apron. Rana on Reed. Kick to the back and front. Springboard moonsault. Reed shoves him down. Esparza comes back in but exits quickly with a dive to Konley on the floor. Kick in the face by Gakiya gets two. Reed comes back with a knee to the midsection as Gakiya is coming off the ropes. Reed to the top. Esparza meets him. Rana blocked. Enziguri by Gakiya. Headbutt/acecrusher combination. Konley breaks the count. Chinbreaker by Gakiya. Konley hits a tilt a whirl flapjack. Running boot. Chop into the powerbomb. Another chop into a sitting powerbomb. Esparza breaks the count. Forearm by Esparza. Konley tosses him in the corner. Esparza goes for the DDT but gets blocked. O-Face hit on both men is good enough for the Scene to get a victory.
Match Analysis: DG USA’s insistence on continuing to push Konley and Reed is almost like a running joke at this point. They are the very definition of not over, and their generic offense looks all the worse when compared to the excitement a team like Zero Gravity brings to the table. ZG certainly isn’t perfect and can certainly can come off as contrived sometimes, but they’re a million times more exciting than their opponents. This was an okay match, but you could not pay me to be interested in anything the Scene does in a wrestling ring.
Winner (s)/Time/ Rating: The Scene/10:11/**
-Samuray Del Sol vs. Shane Hollister
Match in Five Words or Less: Squash?
Match Highlights: Some basic mat work to begin. Uppercut by Hollister. Del Sol fires off the ropes and we have a stalemate. Leapfrog. Del Sol with a headscissors. Clothesline misses. Hollister hits a knee and a dropkick to the head. Another European uppercut by Hollister. Bodyslam and the suge step. Knee drop. Del Sol fires back with right hands and forearms. Tilt a whirl backbreaker by Hollister. Hollister applies a modified bow and arrow. Del Sol quickly gets on top for a cover. Back elbow by Hollister. Uppercuts in the corner. Snapmare and a kick to the back. Del Sol fires back with kicks of his own. Hollister rips him down to the mat. Short uppercut. Del Sol hits a rana. Running knee and a dropkick to the head. Kick and a strike by Del Sol. Another chop. Kick to the head while Del Sol is upside down. Hollister hits an enizguri. Del Sol with a leaping rana. Springboard reverse rana is good enough for Del Sol to pick up the win.
Match Analysis: I’m not sure what this wanted to be. It was sort of competitive but not competitive enough to really allow Hollister to do everything he’s capable of doing. Del Sol is a really good guy for the promotion to build around, and I certainly hope Hollister can make his return to DG USA or Evolve sooner rather than later. Okay given the time but should have meant more.
Winner (s)/Time/ Rating: Samuray Del Sol/5:04/**
-Super Smash Brothers (Player Uno and Player Dos) vs. D.U.F (Arik Cannon and Pinkie Sanchez)
Match in Five Words or Less: Interesting
Match Highlights: Immediate headlock by Uno. Shoulder tackle off the ropes. Sanchez tries a chop and fails. Uno hits one of his own and sends Sanchez down. Another chop. Boot and chop from Sanchez. Shoulder tackle by Uno. Double chops. Sanchez sends Uno into the corner. Cannon with a chop. Snapmare and a dropkick to the back of the head. Chinbreaker by Uno. Into Dos’s boot. Bodyslam by Uno. They pose. Cannon applies the Indian deathlock and of course requests beers. He gives Uno one but spits the beer in his face. Vertical suplex by Cannon. Dos hits a rana on Sanchez. Double back elbows. Fist drop/standing moonsault combination. Uno hits a vertical suplex on Sanchez. Firemen’s carry slam. Dos hits a springboard splash. Series of forearms. Enziguri blocked but Sanchez hits a dragon screw legwhip. He continues working the left leg before tagging in Cannon. KneeDT. Snapmare by Cannon. Right hand in the face. Slingshot into Sanchez’s butt. Cannon uses Sanchez to DVD Dos. Back elbows by Dos. Sanchez knocks him down and hits a knee drop. Cannon hits a right hand and clubbering blow. Dos out of a double back suplex. He goes under Matrix style and dropkicks both men. Hot tag to Uno. Clotheslines for everyone! Uno catches Sanchez in a flatliner. Springboard elbow drop by Dos as Uno holds Sanchez in the side position. Into Cannon’s elbow. Spinebuster and superkick. Cannon covers for two. Clubbering blow to the back. Chop. Sanchez grabs nipples. Another series of chops. DDT by Dos and another hot tag to Uno. Sanchez into the buckle head first. Chops by Uno. Sanchez leaps and sends Uno’s face into his butt. Double stomp to the back of the head by Sanchez. Into a swinging DDT. Uno sends Sanchez into the corner. Dos hits a leaping enziguri. Double team backcracker. 1-2-NO! Cannon shoves Dos off hard. Gutbuster. Sanchez with a running knee strike. Glimmering warlock by Cannon. 1-2-NO! Dos whipped in the corner. Sanchez sent up and over. Running forearm by Cannon. Uno catches Cannon with a punch. Headbutt by Sanchez. Superkick by Dos on Sanchez. Cannon with a right hand and all four men are down. Uno hits a running knee on Cannon but gets caught with a leg lariat. Cannon hits a back drop driver, but Uno hits a frog splash on Cannon. All four men are down. Series of charging forearms by SSB. Chop misses. Knee strike by Dos. Overhead throw by Dos sends Sanchez into Cannon in the corner. Cover for two. Uno sends Cannon out of the ring. Dos gets crotched on the top rope. Cannon punches Uno in the face. Double stomp by Sanchez. Wheelbarrow German suplex by Cannon. Flying hip attack by Sanchez. Right hand and Total Anarchy. Uno breaks the count. Sanchez hits a double axehandle. Dos caught in the corner. Reverse rana puts Cannon on top of his head. Dos with forearms. Knee strike. Off the ropes and Dos dives on Cannon. Uno hits a powerbomb before tossing him up and curb stomping him. FATALITY!
Match Analysis: A bit sloppy at times but still some very solid wrestling between these two teams. Uno and Dos probably should have been sent right up the ladder considering their standing in indy wrestling and the complete lack of depth contained within DG USA’s teag team division, but as long as it ends with SSB winning the United Gate titles in the very near future, I’ll be a happy camper. Not sure where Cannon and Sanchez go from here, but at least they had a better contest than the Scene with SSB.
Winner (s)/Time/ Rating: Super Smash Brothers/15:25/**3/4
-Player Uno talks about them being 2-0 this weekend. They say they want a title shot against the winners of the main event. Uno’s comments make it clear the next DG USA shows will be taking place in November. SSB say they will be the new champions. Chuck Taylor wanders out with Swamp Monster and talks about the Gentlemen’s Club also wanting the tag team titles. Ricochet is just angry about having to win the titles a third time despite having never lost a United Gate title match. Larry Dallas also walks out, but Arik Cannon thankfully points out no one wants to hear what Dallas has to say. There isn’t anyone in the ring or in Japan that likes him. No one in Chicago does either. He makes rather lude comments about Konley and Reed. Arik Cannon is my new hero.
-I Quit Match: Johnny Gargano (Open the Freedom Gate Champion) vs. Chuck Taylor
Match in Five Words or Less: Johnny Gargano…Dead
Match Highlights: So Chucky T is taking his shirt off and awaits the arrival of his opponent when Swamp Monster takes off his costume and reveals himself to be Johnny Gargano. Immediate stomps. Gargano organizes his gear and hits a series of left hands. Leaping knee strike. Taylor with a knee to the midsection. Sitdown powerbomb by Gargano. Taylor heads outside. He catches Gargano with a forearm. Knee to the midsection. They take a tour of the Congress Theater. No word if they found the g-g-g-g-ghosts. Chairs become involved. Gargano suplexes Taylor on a stack of chairs. Back toward ringside they come. They head to the stage. Taylor bodyslams Gargano on the speaker. Taylor uses the microphone to his advantage and then rams Gargano’s head into the side of the ring.Gargano sends Taylor in the ring and goes for a ladder. Ladder to the midsection. Taylor then sent into the perched ladder. Series of left hands. Gargano tosses Taylor in the ring and looks under the ring for more plunder. Gargano finds a chair. Taylor catches the champion with a boot. Roll through and kick to the side of the head. Dive by Gargano goes nowhere. Taylor catches Gargano in the spear attempt and drops him with a DDT on the chair. More left hands by Gargano. Taylor hits a uranagi to get the advantage back. Taylor brings the ladder inside. Lawn dart countered. Gargano back drops Taylor into the ladder. Taylor is in the tree of woe. Running dropkick by Gargano. Gargano goes searching under the ring for yet more plunder. He finds barb wire. Gargano ties the wire around the middle turnbuckle. Lawn dart countered. Taylor headscissors Gargano into the chair placed between the top and middle turnbuckle. Battle around ringside. Gargano nearly kicks Angelus Layne in the face. Taylor shows no such sympathy. Layne gets kicked right in the face. Gargano tries using a chair. Taylor catches himself on the stage. Superkick by Gargano. Chair shot to the hand. Gargano tosses the second chair in the ring. Taylor favors his injured hand. Back in the ring. Gargano hits a series of chair shots into the midsection of Taylor. Gargano climbs to the top. Taylor tosses the chair back in his face, and Gargano collapses THROUGH THE RINGSIDE TABLE! SWEET AMERICAN JESUS! Gargano refuses to give. Taylor places a guard rail from the under the ring between the medal rail in front of the fans and the ring apron. Taylor takes the referee’s belt off. Taylor whips Gargano with the belt. Boot out of the corner by Gargano. Taylor send outside. Tope suicida into the rail. Boot by Taylor. Spear back in the ring by Gargano. Now Gargano uses the belt on Taylor. Taylor sends Gargano up and over. Shoulder block by Gargano. DDT blocked. Overhead throw sends GARGANO THROUGH THE GUARDRAIL PERCHED BETWEEN THE OTHER RAIL AND THE APRON! Taylor grabs the half crab. Gargano tosses the microphone away. Gargano grabs the bottom rope, but there are no disqualifications. Choking by Taylor. Taylor goes for a bag of something. He releases the contents of the bag onto the mat. Thumbtacks. Abyss would love this match. Splash mountain countered. Hurts Doughnut countered. Back drop by Gargano ONTO THE TACKS! Gargano puts some of them in Taylor’s mouth. SUPERKICK! Taylor won’t give. Gargano goes back to the barb wire. Taylor tries to beg off. Gargano tosses the wire off. Mic shot misses. Superkick and Hurts Doughnut. Gargano grabs the wire again and uses it to help with the GargaNo Escape.
Match Analysis: I’m not sure what I was expecting out of this match, but man did it ever reach levels I never thought capable with these two men. Just simply amazing work from these two. So many jaw dropping moments that I will never forget. These two absolutely put a period at the end of their long sentence. I have to believe this is the best singles match of Taylor’s career and yet another chance for Gargano to show why he’s one of the very best in the world. Props to both guys.
Winner (s)/Time/ Rating: Johnny Gargano/24:08/****1/4
-Jon Davis vs. Yamato
Match in Five Words or Less: Davis Retains His Career
Match Highlights: Davis controls a test of strength to start. Waistlock by Yamato. Yamato controls the arm. Headlock by Yamato. Shoulder tackle by Yamato goes nowhere. Davis hits one and knocks Yamato down. Hip toss blocked. Davis misses a clothesline. Dropkick by Yamato. Boot by Yamato. Davis hits a tilt a whirl powerslam. Yamato clotheslined over the top rope. Davis goes for a dive, but Yamato has disappeared. Yamato comes from behind and dropkicks Davis in the arm. Yamato focuses the arm for a bit. Chop battle turns into a forearm battle. Yamato kicks the right arm and comes off the ropes. Davis hits a spinebuster. Shining wizard gets two. Yamato catches Davis with a boot out of the corner. Back suplex by Davis straight into a cover for two. Yamato counters a suplex and grabs a guillotine choke. Davis powers out. Sleep by Yamato. Davis with a leaping enziguri. Forearms from Davis. Superman jackhammer leads to a two count. Yamato blocks a clothesline and sends him shoulder first into the corner. Running dropkick and Davis falls down. Forearm off the ropes. Yamato hits another one and Davis tells him to bring it. Duck and a lariat by Davis. Yamato works his way into a sleeper. Sleeper suplex. Kick to the head. Brainbuster. 1-2-NO! Into the cross armbreaker. Next into a triangle choke. Davis powerbombs out of the hold. 1-2-NO! Bucklebomb. Running kick. Three Seconds Around the World. 1-2-3!
Davis talks about being more forceful for an Evolve title at the next show, which takes place September. I’m not even going to bother complaining at this point. The facts are staring everyone in the face, and the booking continues to insult one title while trying to get another one that doesn’t even exist over. Oh, and Davis yelling at the fan… real classy.
Match Analysis: This was a good but not great match. Davis looked solid, but the Chicago crowd didn’t seem into Davis at all. Yamato was a heel but got the lion’s share of the cheers. I liked the arm work by Yamato, and if nothing else this served its purpose of getting Davis another important victory.
Winner (s)/Time/ Rating: Jon Davis/13:47/***
-El Generico vs. Akira Tozawa (w/Christina Von Eerie)
Match in Five Words or Less: This Referee Sucks
Match Highlights: These two had a surprisingly disappointing match back in PWG’s 2010 Battle of Los Angeles. Von Eerie yells at Generico to start. Slap attempt but Tozawa prevents her from doing such. They hug it out. Quick lock-up and Generico covers Tozawa’s mouth in the corner. OLE! Feeling out process continues as Tozawa hits an armdrag. Some arm work and Generico hits an armdrag of his own. Test of strength. Chop sends Tozawa down. Another chop but a kick from Tozawa. Generico hits his trio of armdrags. Forearm and a chop from Generico. Tozawa with one of his own. Tozawa sent face first into the turnbuckle. Generico with ten punches in the corner. Snapmare into a cover for two. Powerslam. Off the ropes but Von Eerie trips him. The referee warns her. Keep that in mind. Tozawa hits back-to-back dives. Cannonball senton off the apron. Generico sent face first into the turnbuckle. Series of boots and choking in the corner. Von Eerie playfully slaps him. Bodyslam and cannonball senton by Tozawa. Generico send outside. Von Eerie boots and slaps him. She tosses him back in the ring. Referee clearly saw some of this and warns her again. Forearms from Tozawa. He rakes Generico’s eyes. Von Eerie grabs Generico’s tights. More mask raking. Tozawa tosses Generico. Guess who’s interfering. Headbutt RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE REFEREE! Back to the mask raking. Choking along the middle rope. Von Eerie slaps Generico. He goes after her. Bicycle kick blocked. Generico clotheslines Tozawa over the top rope. Tope con helo. Open hand slap leads to the swinging DDT. 1-2-NO! Series of counters. Michinoku driver by Generico leads to a two count. Yakuza kick blocked. Back drop driver by Tozawa. Elbows by Generico prevent another suplex. Generico sent into the corner. Running bicycle kick gets two for Tozawa. Generico sits down and gets booted twice. Shining wizard gets two for Tozawa. Forearm by Tozawa. Headbutt and more forearms. Generico begins firing back. Right hand by Tozawa. Boot from Generico. Tozawa responds. Exploder in the corner by Generico. Tozawa comes out of the corner with a kick. Forearms by Generico. Rana rolled through into another shining wizard by Tozawa. Both men are down. both men each connect on forearms. Elbows by Tozawa. Generico hits a blue thunder powerbomb for two. Right hands by Tozawa. Generico goes for a brainbuster but gets blocked. Tozawa sends him in the corner. Running boot misses. Another counter of the brainbuster. Von Eerie now comes in with a chair! This is f’ing ridiculous. Boot by Tozawa. Generico comes back with a yakuza kick. Brainbuster. 1-2-NO! Generico places Tozawa on the top rope. Tozawa fires back. Forearm by Generico. Top rope brainbuster blocked once again. Tozawa goes for a German suplex. Kick to the midsection. Enzuguri misses. Release German suplex. Avalanche suplex. 1-2-NO! Straight jacket German suplex finally gets Tozawa the victory.
Match Analysis: This was a case where interference damn near ruined a match. The referee looked utterly incompetent after the numerous Von Eerie interference attempts.It made no sense and was very frustrating to watch, especially considering the level of competitors here. This should have been a MOTYC, and I firmly believe one of the things that held it back was Von Eerie. The actual quality of wrestling was very high, and I loved many of the exchanges regardless of some of the miscellaneous problems. This promotion barely has storylines as it is, so why are we pretending they exist in a match of this importance?
Winner (s)/Time/ Rating: Akira Tozawa/20:19/***3/4
-Open the United Gate Championship: Cima and AR Fox vs. Ricochet and Rich Swann
Match in Five Words or Less: New Best High Flyer
Match Highlights: Swann and Fox start basic. Pace picks up. Swann fakes a dive but Cima dropkicks Swann. Ricochet enters the ring. Code of honor followed. Boot to the midsection by Ricochet. Series of rolls. Headscissors out of the corner. Fox comes in but get dropkicked. Ricochet hits a corkscrew dive on Cima and Fox. Kick and Fox sent back in the ring. Kick to the back and an uppercut. Bodyslam on Fox. Springboard something misses. Cima hits a double stomp. Snap double stomp across the face. Stomps into the corner. Abdominal stretch. Russian legsweep into a submission. Double team work from Cima and Fox. Double vertical suplex. Snapmare into a chinlock by Fox. Hip toss into the ropes and then a flapjack. Double dropkick. Cima yells at Ricochet. Ricochet comes from behind and hits a leaping acecrusher. Tag to Swann. Series of blows to the back. Fox attacks from behind. Swann sends Fox into Cima. Accidental right hand. Swinging kick by Swann. Back elbow by Swann off the ropes. European uppercuts by Swann. Another boot to the back. Ricochet hits a snap double stomp. Series of kicks in the back. Ricochet locks Fox up and rams his head into the middle turnbuckle. Slam by Ricochet. Elbow off the middle rope by Swann. Snapmare by Ricochet. Slams by each member of World-1 International. Ricochet places his foot right in the neck of Fox. Chickenwing. Double hip toss followed by a kip up and dropkicks. Charging forearm by Ricochet. Boot by Fox blocked. Sliced bread on Swann. Twisting brainbuster on Ricochet. Cima tags. He avoids a charge and hits a missile dropkick off the middle rope. Drop toehold. Grapevine of the legs. Suplex on Swann as Fox hits a dropkick on Ricochet. Lo Mein Rain by Fox. Back in the ring. Ricochet catches a running Fox with a boot. Regalplex blocked. Exploder sends Fox in the corner. Ricochet goes for the backslide driver, but that is blocked. death valley driver by Fox. Swanton hits. 1-2-NO! Series of strikes by Swann in the corner. It’s a violence party in the corner. Swann sent in the corner. Up and over. Ricochet hits a running dropkick. Series of double teams. Ricochet hits a standing corkscrew press for two. Slam by Swann. Cima grabs Ricochet’s leg. Venus. Swann hits a dropkick under a leapfrogging Ricochet. Standing shooting star press by Ricochet on Cima. Jesus. Fox whipped in the corner. Elbow by Ricochet. Another assisted elbow. Swann misses a charge. Cima hits double knees. Fox hits a double stomp. Knees by Cima. Cannonball senton in the corner by Fox. Flatliner by Fox. Meteora. Ricochet hits a shooting star press on Cima. 1-2-NO! All four men are down. the crowd is on its feet. Kicks from Ricochet on Fox. Forearm exchange. Elbow by Ricochet. Spinning enziguri by Ricochet. Superkick and 2K1 bomb by Cima gets two. 450 by Fox on Ricochet. Swann breaks the count. Swann counters out of a suplex and hits a superkick. Superkick by Swann out of the corner. Boot and enziguri by Fox. Lo Mein Pain! 1-2-3!
Match Analysis: When Lenny Leonard calls this state of the art professional wrestling, it’s easy to believe him after a match like this. Great athleticism by all four men as this kind of contest plays to the strengths of all four men. Giving Fox the chance to not hold the belts, but hold them with Cima, makes a lot of sense. The titles can gain some credibility, and Fox has something to do that isn’t being beaten up by Sami Calihan.Spectacular way to end the show of course.
Winner (s)/Time/ Rating: NEW Open the United Gate Champions-Cima and AR Fox/21:04/***3/4
-Cima puts over Fox as the new best high flyer. Ricochet resents this and lays down a challenge for Evolve 8. Although they’ve met in other companies, Ricochet and Fox are finally going to meet in a main event level match as part of the DG USA/Evolve brand.
The Verdict: Not a perfect show but certainly worth 15 dollars on WWN or 20 for the DVD. The action was good for the most part, but some of the storylines continue to drive me crazy. Gargano and Taylor really should have been the main event as that would been a tremendous cap off despite everything that happened in the United Gate title match. I’d say this was the better of the two shows on the weekend.
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-Taped from Chicago, Illinois
-Your hosts are Lenny Leonard and a couple Chicagoans
-Chuck Taylor and Jake Manning are in the ring for more campfire fun. This time, it’s Masada who rudely interrupts the presentation. I really do want to learn about this stuff, but people keep interrupting. This makes me very sad, but it leads to the opener, which is very similar to what happened at Untouchable the night before.
-Jake Manning vs. Masada
Match in Five Words or Less: The Bully Wins
Match Highlights: Manning slaps Masada and pays for it with strikes. He recovers and hits a backbreaker which leads to a flatliner. Shoulder tackles in the corner. Chops from Masada in response. Headbutt in the corner. Masada brings Manning down by the arm. Into a triangle choke. Chuck Taylor walks away from ringside. Forearms by Masada. Knee to the midsection and a stomp to the head. Chinbreaker by Manning. Clothesline from Masada. Manning tries a clothesline but fails. Slap in the face. Poke to the eyes from Manning. Clothesline by Masada. Powerbomb. Regalplex ends the proceedings.
Match Analysis: This was literally just a squash for Masada to establish himself a second time over the weekend. I think he’s a better wrestler than people give him credit for, and I’ll be interested to see how he comes across in more competitive matches. I have enjoyed some of his longer CZW matches if nothing else.
Winner (s)/Time/ Rating: Masada/2:26/1/2*
-Zero Gravity (CJ Esparza and Bret Gakiya) vs. The Scene (Caleb Konley and Scott Reed w/Larry Dallas)
Match in Five Words or Less: Poor Zero Gravity
Match Highlights: Been a while since I’ve seen Zero Gravity after their unexpected departure from AAW. Feeling out process between Konley and Esparza. Esparaa takes control and hits a running shoot star press. Knee to the midsection and forearm by Konley. Double team as they take Esparza down and hit double elbow drops. Gakiya breaks the count. Esparza gets a roll-up for two. Whip but Esparza leaps backward. Double team from ZG. Then a dropkick from both men. Konley sent off the ropes. He catches himself. Gakiya hits an elbow. Double stomp by Esparza. Another double team. Flippy cup hit on Reed. 1-2-NO! Scene exits. Gakiya hits a dive on both men. Esparza gets caught by Konley and tosses him hard in the rail. Heat segment on Esparza. Esparza leap frogs out of the corner and hits a one footed dropkick. Gakiya hot tag. He leaps up and over to forearm Konley off the apron. Rana on Reed. Kick to the back and front. Springboard moonsault. Reed shoves him down. Esparza comes back in but exits quickly with a dive to Konley on the floor. Kick in the face by Gakiya gets two. Reed comes back with a knee to the midsection as Gakiya is coming off the ropes. Reed to the top. Esparza meets him. Rana blocked. Enziguri by Gakiya. Headbutt/acecrusher combination. Konley breaks the count. Chinbreaker by Gakiya. Konley hits a tilt a whirl flapjack. Running boot. Chop into the powerbomb. Another chop into a sitting powerbomb. Esparza breaks the count. Forearm by Esparza. Konley tosses him in the corner. Esparza goes for the DDT but gets blocked. O-Face hit on both men is good enough for the Scene to get a victory.
Match Analysis: DG USA’s insistence on continuing to push Konley and Reed is almost like a running joke at this point. They are the very definition of not over, and their generic offense looks all the worse when compared to the excitement a team like Zero Gravity brings to the table. ZG certainly isn’t perfect and can certainly can come off as contrived sometimes, but they’re a million times more exciting than their opponents. This was an okay match, but you could not pay me to be interested in anything the Scene does in a wrestling ring.
Winner (s)/Time/ Rating: The Scene/10:11/**
-Samuray Del Sol vs. Shane Hollister
Match in Five Words or Less: Squash?
Match Highlights: Some basic mat work to begin. Uppercut by Hollister. Del Sol fires off the ropes and we have a stalemate. Leapfrog. Del Sol with a headscissors. Clothesline misses. Hollister hits a knee and a dropkick to the head. Another European uppercut by Hollister. Bodyslam and the suge step. Knee drop. Del Sol fires back with right hands and forearms. Tilt a whirl backbreaker by Hollister. Hollister applies a modified bow and arrow. Del Sol quickly gets on top for a cover. Back elbow by Hollister. Uppercuts in the corner. Snapmare and a kick to the back. Del Sol fires back with kicks of his own. Hollister rips him down to the mat. Short uppercut. Del Sol hits a rana. Running knee and a dropkick to the head. Kick and a strike by Del Sol. Another chop. Kick to the head while Del Sol is upside down. Hollister hits an enizguri. Del Sol with a leaping rana. Springboard reverse rana is good enough for Del Sol to pick up the win.
Match Analysis: I’m not sure what this wanted to be. It was sort of competitive but not competitive enough to really allow Hollister to do everything he’s capable of doing. Del Sol is a really good guy for the promotion to build around, and I certainly hope Hollister can make his return to DG USA or Evolve sooner rather than later. Okay given the time but should have meant more.
Winner (s)/Time/ Rating: Samuray Del Sol/5:04/**
-Super Smash Brothers (Player Uno and Player Dos) vs. D.U.F (Arik Cannon and Pinkie Sanchez)
Match in Five Words or Less: Interesting
Match Highlights: Immediate headlock by Uno. Shoulder tackle off the ropes. Sanchez tries a chop and fails. Uno hits one of his own and sends Sanchez down. Another chop. Boot and chop from Sanchez. Shoulder tackle by Uno. Double chops. Sanchez sends Uno into the corner. Cannon with a chop. Snapmare and a dropkick to the back of the head. Chinbreaker by Uno. Into Dos’s boot. Bodyslam by Uno. They pose. Cannon applies the Indian deathlock and of course requests beers. He gives Uno one but spits the beer in his face. Vertical suplex by Cannon. Dos hits a rana on Sanchez. Double back elbows. Fist drop/standing moonsault combination. Uno hits a vertical suplex on Sanchez. Firemen’s carry slam. Dos hits a springboard splash. Series of forearms. Enziguri blocked but Sanchez hits a dragon screw legwhip. He continues working the left leg before tagging in Cannon. KneeDT. Snapmare by Cannon. Right hand in the face. Slingshot into Sanchez’s butt. Cannon uses Sanchez to DVD Dos. Back elbows by Dos. Sanchez knocks him down and hits a knee drop. Cannon hits a right hand and clubbering blow. Dos out of a double back suplex. He goes under Matrix style and dropkicks both men. Hot tag to Uno. Clotheslines for everyone! Uno catches Sanchez in a flatliner. Springboard elbow drop by Dos as Uno holds Sanchez in the side position. Into Cannon’s elbow. Spinebuster and superkick. Cannon covers for two. Clubbering blow to the back. Chop. Sanchez grabs nipples. Another series of chops. DDT by Dos and another hot tag to Uno. Sanchez into the buckle head first. Chops by Uno. Sanchez leaps and sends Uno’s face into his butt. Double stomp to the back of the head by Sanchez. Into a swinging DDT. Uno sends Sanchez into the corner. Dos hits a leaping enziguri. Double team backcracker. 1-2-NO! Cannon shoves Dos off hard. Gutbuster. Sanchez with a running knee strike. Glimmering warlock by Cannon. 1-2-NO! Dos whipped in the corner. Sanchez sent up and over. Running forearm by Cannon. Uno catches Cannon with a punch. Headbutt by Sanchez. Superkick by Dos on Sanchez. Cannon with a right hand and all four men are down. Uno hits a running knee on Cannon but gets caught with a leg lariat. Cannon hits a back drop driver, but Uno hits a frog splash on Cannon. All four men are down. Series of charging forearms by SSB. Chop misses. Knee strike by Dos. Overhead throw by Dos sends Sanchez into Cannon in the corner. Cover for two. Uno sends Cannon out of the ring. Dos gets crotched on the top rope. Cannon punches Uno in the face. Double stomp by Sanchez. Wheelbarrow German suplex by Cannon. Flying hip attack by Sanchez. Right hand and Total Anarchy. Uno breaks the count. Sanchez hits a double axehandle. Dos caught in the corner. Reverse rana puts Cannon on top of his head. Dos with forearms. Knee strike. Off the ropes and Dos dives on Cannon. Uno hits a powerbomb before tossing him up and curb stomping him. FATALITY!
Match Analysis: A bit sloppy at times but still some very solid wrestling between these two teams. Uno and Dos probably should have been sent right up the ladder considering their standing in indy wrestling and the complete lack of depth contained within DG USA’s teag team division, but as long as it ends with SSB winning the United Gate titles in the very near future, I’ll be a happy camper. Not sure where Cannon and Sanchez go from here, but at least they had a better contest than the Scene with SSB.
Winner (s)/Time/ Rating: Super Smash Brothers/15:25/**3/4
-Player Uno talks about them being 2-0 this weekend. They say they want a title shot against the winners of the main event. Uno’s comments make it clear the next DG USA shows will be taking place in November. SSB say they will be the new champions. Chuck Taylor wanders out with Swamp Monster and talks about the Gentlemen’s Club also wanting the tag team titles. Ricochet is just angry about having to win the titles a third time despite having never lost a United Gate title match. Larry Dallas also walks out, but Arik Cannon thankfully points out no one wants to hear what Dallas has to say. There isn’t anyone in the ring or in Japan that likes him. No one in Chicago does either. He makes rather lude comments about Konley and Reed. Arik Cannon is my new hero.
-I Quit Match: Johnny Gargano (Open the Freedom Gate Champion) vs. Chuck Taylor
Match in Five Words or Less: Johnny Gargano…Dead
Match Highlights: So Chucky T is taking his shirt off and awaits the arrival of his opponent when Swamp Monster takes off his costume and reveals himself to be Johnny Gargano. Immediate stomps. Gargano organizes his gear and hits a series of left hands. Leaping knee strike. Taylor with a knee to the midsection. Sitdown powerbomb by Gargano. Taylor heads outside. He catches Gargano with a forearm. Knee to the midsection. They take a tour of the Congress Theater. No word if they found the g-g-g-g-ghosts. Chairs become involved. Gargano suplexes Taylor on a stack of chairs. Back toward ringside they come. They head to the stage. Taylor bodyslams Gargano on the speaker. Taylor uses the microphone to his advantage and then rams Gargano’s head into the side of the ring. Gargano sends Taylor in the ring and goes for a ladder. Ladder to the midsection. Taylor then sent into the perched ladder. Series of left hands. Gargano tosses Taylor in the ring and looks under the ring for more plunder. Gargano finds a chair. Taylor catches the champion with a boot. Roll through and kick to the side of the head. Dive by Gargano goes nowhere. Taylor catches Gargano in the spear attempt and drops him with a DDT on the chair. More left hands by Gargano. Taylor hits a uranagi to get the advantage back. Taylor brings the ladder inside. Lawn dart countered. Gargano back drops Taylor into the ladder. Taylor is in the tree of woe. Running dropkick by Gargano. Gargano goes searching under the ring for yet more plunder. He finds barb wire. Gargano ties the wire around the middle turnbuckle. Lawn dart countered. Taylor headscissors Gargano into the chair placed between the top and middle turnbuckle. Battle around ringside. Gargano nearly kicks Angelus Layne in the face. Taylor shows no such sympathy. Layne gets kicked right in the face. Gargano tries using a chair. Taylor catches himself on the stage. Superkick by Gargano. Chair shot to the hand. Gargano tosses the second chair in the ring. Taylor favors his injured hand. Back in the ring. Gargano hits a series of chair shots into the midsection of Taylor. Gargano climbs to the top. Taylor tosses the chair back in his face, and Gargano collapses THROUGH THE RINGSIDE TABLE! SWEET AMERICAN JESUS! Gargano refuses to give. Taylor places a guard rail from the under the ring between the medal rail in front of the fans and the ring apron. Taylor takes the referee’s belt off. Taylor whips Gargano with the belt. Boot out of the corner by Gargano. Taylor send outside. Tope suicida into the rail. Boot by Taylor. Spear back in the ring by Gargano. Now Gargano uses the belt on Taylor. Taylor sends Gargano up and over. Shoulder block by Gargano. DDT blocked. Overhead throw sends GARGANO THROUGH THE GUARDRAIL PERCHED BETWEEN THE OTHER RAIL AND THE APRON! Taylor grabs the half crab. Gargano tosses the microphone away. Gargano grabs the bottom rope, but there are no disqualifications. Choking by Taylor. Taylor goes for a bag of something. He releases the contents of the bag onto the mat. Thumbtacks. Abyss would love this match. Splash mountain countered. Hurts Doughnut countered. Back drop by Gargano ONTO THE TACKS! Gargano puts some of them in Taylor’s mouth. SUPERKICK! Taylor won’t give. Gargano goes back to the barb wire. Taylor tries to beg off. Gargano tosses the wire off. Mic shot misses. Superkick and Hurts Doughnut. Gargano grabs the wire again and uses it to help with the GargaNo Escape.
Match Analysis: I’m not sure what I was expecting out of this match, but man did it ever reach levels I never thought capable with these two men. Just simply amazing work from these two. So many jaw dropping moments that I will never forget. These two absolutely put a period at the end of their long sentence. I have to believe this is the best singles match of Taylor’s career and yet another chance for Gargano to show why he’s one of the very best in the world. Props to both guys.
Winner (s)/Time/ Rating: Johnny Gargano/24:08/****1/4
-Jon Davis vs. Yamato
Match in Five Words or Less: Davis Retains His Career
Match Highlights: Davis controls a test of strength to start. Waistlock by Yamato. Yamato controls the arm. Headlock by Yamato. Shoulder tackle by Yamato goes nowhere. Davis hits one and knocks Yamato down. Hip toss blocked. Davis misses a clothesline. Dropkick by Yamato. Boot by Yamato. Davis hits a tilt a whirl powerslam. Yamato clotheslined over the top rope. Davis goes for a dive, but Yamato has disappeared. Yamato comes from behind and dropkicks Davis in the arm. Yamato focuses the arm for a bit. Chop battle turns into a forearm battle. Yamato kicks the right arm and comes off the ropes. Davis hits a spinebuster. Shining wizard gets two. Yamato catches Davis with a boot out of the corner. Back suplex by Davis straight into a cover for two. Yamato counters a suplex and grabs a guillotine choke. Davis powers out. Sleep by Yamato. Davis with a leaping enziguri. Forearms from Davis. Superman jackhammer leads to a two count. Yamato blocks a clothesline and sends him shoulder first into the corner. Running dropkick and Davis falls down. Forearm off the ropes. Yamato hits another one and Davis tells him to bring it. Duck and a lariat by Davis. Yamato works his way into a sleeper. Sleeper suplex. Kick to the head. Brainbuster. 1-2-NO! Into the cross armbreaker. Next into a triangle choke. Davis powerbombs out of the hold. 1-2-NO! Bucklebomb. Running kick. Three Seconds Around the World. 1-2-3!
Davis talks about being more forceful for an Evolve title at the next show, which takes place September. I’m not even going to bother complaining at this point. The facts are staring everyone in the face, and the booking continues to insult one title while trying to get another one that doesn’t even exist over. Oh, and Davis yelling at the fan… real classy.
Match Analysis: This was a good but not great match. Davis looked solid, but the Chicago crowd didn’t seem into Davis at all. Yamato was a heel but got the lion’s share of the cheers. I liked the arm work by Yamato, and if nothing else this served its purpose of getting Davis another important victory.
Winner (s)/Time/ Rating: Jon Davis/13:47/***
-El Generico vs. Akira Tozawa (w/Christina Von Eerie)
Match in Five Words or Less: This Referee Sucks
Match Highlights: These two had a surprisingly disappointing match back in PWG’s 2010 Battle of Los Angeles. Von Eerie yells at Generico to start. Slap attempt but Tozawa prevents her from doing such. They hug it out. Quick lock-up and Generico covers Tozawa’s mouth in the corner. OLE! Feeling out process continues as Tozawa hits an armdrag. Some arm work and Generico hits an armdrag of his own. Test of strength. Chop sends Tozawa down. Another chop but a kick from Tozawa. Generico hits his trio of armdrags. Forearm and a chop from Generico. Tozawa with one of his own. Tozawa sent face first into the turnbuckle. Generico with ten punches in the corner. Snapmare into a cover for two. Powerslam. Off the ropes but Von Eerie trips him. The referee warns her. Keep that in mind. Tozawa hits back-to-back dives. Cannonball senton off the apron. Generico sent face first into the turnbuckle. Series of boots and choking in the corner. Von Eerie playfully slaps him. Bodyslam and cannonball senton by Tozawa. Generico send outside. Von Eerie boots and slaps him. She tosses him back in the ring. Referee clearly saw some of this and warns her again. Forearms from Tozawa. He rakes Generico’s eyes. Von Eerie grabs Generico’s tights. More mask raking. Tozawa tosses Generico. Guess who’s interfering. Headbutt RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE REFEREE! Back to the mask raking. Choking along the middle rope. Von Eerie slaps Generico. He goes after her. Bicycle kick blocked. Generico clotheslines Tozawa over the top rope. Tope con helo. Open hand slap leads to the swinging DDT. 1-2-NO! Series of counters. Michinoku driver by Generico leads to a two count. Yakuza kick blocked. Back drop driver by Tozawa. Elbows by Generico prevent another suplex. Generico sent into the corner. Running bicycle kick gets two for Tozawa. Generico sits down and gets booted twice. Shining wizard gets two for Tozawa. Forearm by Tozawa. Headbutt and more forearms. Generico begins firing back. Right hand by Tozawa. Boot from Generico. Tozawa responds. Exploder in the corner by Generico. Tozawa comes out of the corner with a kick. Forearms by Generico. Rana rolled through into another shining wizard by Tozawa. Both men are down. both men each connect on forearms. Elbows by Tozawa. Generico hits a blue thunder powerbomb for two. Right hands by Tozawa. Generico goes for a brainbuster but gets blocked. Tozawa sends him in the corner. Running boot misses. Another counter of the brainbuster. Von Eerie now comes in with a chair! This is f’ing ridiculous. Boot by Tozawa. Generico comes back with a yakuza kick. Brainbuster. 1-2-NO! Generico places Tozawa on the top rope. Tozawa fires back. Forearm by Generico. Top rope brainbuster blocked once again. Tozawa goes for a German suplex. Kick to the midsection. Enzuguri misses. Release German suplex. Avalanche suplex. 1-2-NO! Straight jacket German suplex finally gets Tozawa the victory.
Match Analysis: This was a case where interference damn near ruined a match. The referee looked utterly incompetent after the numerous Von Eerie interference attempts. It made no sense and was very frustrating to watch, especially considering the level of competitors here. This should have been a MOTYC, and I firmly believe one of the things that held it back was Von Eerie. The actual quality of wrestling was very high, and I loved many of the exchanges regardless of some of the miscellaneous problems. This promotion barely has storylines as it is, so why are we pretending they exist in a match of this importance?
Winner (s)/Time/ Rating: Akira Tozawa/20:19/***3/4
-Open the United Gate Championship: Cima and AR Fox vs. Ricochet and Rich Swann
Match in Five Words or Less: New Best High Flyer
Match Highlights: Swann and Fox start basic. Pace picks up. Swann fakes a dive but Cima dropkicks Swann. Ricochet enters the ring. Code of honor followed. Boot to the midsection by Ricochet. Series of rolls. Headscissors out of the corner. Fox comes in but get dropkicked. Ricochet hits a corkscrew dive on Cima and Fox. Kick and Fox sent back in the ring. Kick to the back and an uppercut. Bodyslam on Fox. Springboard something misses. Cima hits a double stomp. Snap double stomp across the face. Stomps into the corner. Abdominal stretch. Russian legsweep into a submission. Double team work from Cima and Fox. Double vertical suplex. Snapmare into a chinlock by Fox. Hip toss into the ropes and then a flapjack. Double dropkick. Cima yells at Ricochet. Ricochet comes from behind and hits a leaping acecrusher. Tag to Swann. Series of blows to the back. Fox attacks from behind. Swann sends Fox into Cima. Accidental right hand. Swinging kick by Swann. Back elbow by Swann off the ropes. European uppercuts by Swann. Another boot to the back. Ricochet hits a snap double stomp. Series of kicks in the back. Ricochet locks Fox up and rams his head into the middle turnbuckle. Slam by Ricochet. Elbow off the middle rope by Swann. Snapmare by Ricochet. Slams by each member of World-1 International. Ricochet places his foot right in the neck of Fox. Chickenwing. Double hip toss followed by a kip up and dropkicks. Charging forearm by Ricochet. Boot by Fox blocked. Sliced bread on Swann. Twisting brainbuster on Ricochet. Cima tags. He avoids a charge and hits a missile dropkick off the middle rope. Drop toehold. Grapevine of the legs. Suplex on Swann as Fox hits a dropkick on Ricochet. Lo Mein Rain by Fox. Back in the ring. Ricochet catches a running Fox with a boot. Regalplex blocked. Exploder sends Fox in the corner. Ricochet goes for the backslide driver, but that is blocked. death valley driver by Fox. Swanton hits. 1-2-NO! Series of strikes by Swann in the corner. It’s a violence party in the corner. Swann sent in the corner. Up and over. Ricochet hits a running dropkick. Series of double teams. Ricochet hits a standing corkscrew press for two. Slam by Swann. Cima grabs Ricochet’s leg. Venus. Swann hits a dropkick under a leapfrogging Ricochet. Standing shooting star press by Ricochet on Cima. Jesus. Fox whipped in the corner. Elbow by Ricochet. Another assisted elbow. Swann misses a charge. Cima hits double knees. Fox hits a double stomp. Knees by Cima. Cannonball senton in the corner by Fox. Flatliner by Fox. Meteora. Ricochet hits a shooting star press on Cima. 1-2-NO! All four men are down. the crowd is on its feet. Kicks from Ricochet on Fox. Forearm exchange. Elbow by Ricochet. Spinning enziguri by Ricochet. Superkick and 2K1 bomb by Cima gets two. 450 by Fox on Ricochet. Swann breaks the count. Swann counters out of a suplex and hits a superkick. Superkick by Swann out of the corner. Boot and enziguri by Fox. Lo Mein Pain! 1-2-3!
Match Analysis: When Lenny Leonard calls this state of the art professional wrestling, it’s easy to believe him after a match like this. Great athleticism by all four men as this kind of contest plays to the strengths of all four men. Giving Fox the chance to not hold the belts, but hold them with Cima, makes a lot of sense. The titles can gain some credibility, and Fox has something to do that isn’t being beaten up by Sami Calihan. Spectacular way to end the show of course.
Winner (s)/Time/ Rating: NEW Open the United Gate Champions-Cima and AR Fox/21:04/***3/4
-Cima puts over Fox as the new best high flyer. Ricochet resents this and lays down a challenge for Evolve 8. Although they’ve met in other companies, Ricochet and Fox are finally going to meet in a main event level match as part of the DG USA/Evolve brand.
The Verdict: Not a perfect show but certainly worth 15 dollars on WWN or 20 for the DVD. The action was good for the most part, but some of the storylines continue to drive me crazy. Gargano and Taylor really should have been the main event as that would been a tremendous cap off despite everything that happened in the United Gate title match. I’d say this was the better of the two shows on the weekend.
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