Although it’s technically only the middle of the month, I thought it was a good chance to review some recent women’s shows with a particular emphasis on those that took place during October’s fight season. I went with the mini-review format since both AIW and WSU have had mixed results with their shows. If nothing else, I walked away with a certain degree of confidence that those brands were headed in the right direction. Plus, I actually say nice things about Veda Scott. That alone makes this a must read.
AIW Girls’ Night Out 9 (10.6.2013)- I haven’t ever been wowed by an AIW Girls’ Night Out despite the fact that I see value in giving the women a chance on their own. There’s a clear means of differentiating the two branches of AIW, and I think running these two shows in one day and finding the right mix is a great step moving forward. There were a ton of debuts on this show featuring wrestlers from all over the globe. Thanks to Fight Season, AIW was able to incorporate Austrailia’s Savannah Summers and Scotland’s Nikki Storm. In their respective matches against Sassy Stephie, someone underrated in her own right, and Kimber Lee, who might be the biggest female star on the indies before too long, they made a huge difference. Santana Garrett and Jenny Rose had a very fun little undercard match. Leah Von Dutch made her long coming debut against Mickie Knuckles in a match with a rather silly ending. The Duke introduced LVD as a member of #Nixon and hung around ringside. Knuckles dominated LVD for most of the match, including a cute spot featuring both women under the ring, and lost because Duke punched her in the face. Mickie Knuckles, who’s competed in death matches before, loses after a man punches her in the face. On the plus side, Taeler Hendrix showcased herself quite well against Marti Belle. The main event saw Allysin Kay choose Mia Yim as her partner to wrestle Veda Scott and Shanna. Yim pinned Shanna in a match that saw only a tease of the GNO 10 main event between Scott and Kay. That’s how it should be. What was odd was seeing Scott play such a small role in the match and not really look all that stellar going into a show where she’s already being built as an underdog. Overall, this felt like a better show for the brand top to bottom even without a must see match. (C+)
AIW Girls’ Night Out 10 (10.6.2013)- I can’t say I’ve been a huge fan of the GNO brand, but this show realized the full potential of this concept. Thanks to the improvement of long time talents and incorporating some intertnational names, this turned out to be a very strong solid show with a main event that took me by surprise as to how good the storytelling was within the context of the match. Sassy Stephie does not get the credit she deserves, but I continue to be impressed with her work in every company she wrestles in. The one positive about taping back-to-back Girls’ Night Outs was the continuity from one show to the next. After losing a tag match on the first show, Jody D’Milo lost to Jasmin in a decent match made more relevant by the storytelling. After Angel Dust stole a roll-up win over Melanise Cruise at GNO 9, Melanie Cruise won her singles match. Both of these matches featured the dynamic of a bigger heel woman dominating over the smaller babyface. Shanna and Savannah Summers were supposed to have a singles match, but the storytelling reared its ugly head and took away from what could have been a fine showcase match. Adding Leah Von Dutch by itself isn’t a bad choice. The insistence on having random three way matches is infuriating, and AIW is far from being the most guilty in this. The Duke again helped Von Dutch pick up the victory. Can’t say I’m a big fan of having Von Dutch win both of her matches because of interference, particularly because it’s a bit odd to have men helping women win on all female shows. I just don’t think that’s how any product should book because of perceptions and the fact that women have so few opportunities to showcase themselves as is. I’m not a big fan of say Sammy Geodono interfering either, but I’m much less bothered by her presence on the show.
Mickie Knuckles, after losing to a punch in the face on GNO 9, wrestled a hardcore match against Jenny Rose and made the finish look even more absurd. This was a fairly tame but very entertaining match. This was fun to watch, and they told a good story without necessarily having to resort to the death match style. Nikki Storm continued to impress by having a fun match with Mia Yim. This was just a straight showcase and a very good wrestling match. And there’s the main event. I’ve made no secret of my borderline disdain for Veda Scott. She’s not the best in the ring wrestler and unlike so many of her contemporaries, does not seem to be showing as much improvement. I think a combination of the storytelling involved, having Scott as a huge underdog against a dominant champion, and doing what she does well in the ring, getting the bajesus beaten out of her and bumping, led to this match being almost great. I would consider the main event a miracle of a match. Kay as a tweener actually worked since she basically behaves like a heel anyway, and the crowd seemed into Scott by the end. The ability for these women to get the right reaction, at least what I think AIW was going for, is a major achievement and made me more interested in Scott’s character and her interaction with Greg Iron. Of all the GNOs this was easily the most watchable and a recommendation to purchase through Smart Mark Video. (B)
WSU Blood and Thunder (10.12.2013)- The Uncensored Rumble was a flat-out bad wrestling show. Blood and Thunder was consistently mediocre. We again had a male wrestler helping a female win in the opener as Shanna defeated Leah Von Dutch. Von Dutch’s trip to Europe has led to significant improvement, and I was actually into the match until the finish. Dickinson being involved with the Queen and King is fine, but his presence on every WSU show does nothing for me. There were a number of matches which were just there. There wasn’t anything frightingly awful but not enough to make this show stand out as a consistent wrestling show. Allysin Kay and Kimber Lee was solid for the time given. Saraya Knight and Mickie Knuckles was a fine brawl that absolutely went too long and featured a referee blowing a finish. Marti Belle and Ezavel Suena was pretty boring, and the crowd seemed to agree with me. Jenny Rose and Nikki Storm had the best match of the night with some great false finishes and execution. As far as the main event goes, I never bought for a second that Lexxus was winning, so I didn’t get much enjoyment out of Jessicka Havok winning. DJ Hyde was revealed as the new owner and immediately got into it with Havok because if there’s one thing that’s never been done in wrestling, it’s a heel authority figure feuding with the top wrestler in the company. (C)
WSU Mutiny (2.8.2014)- I was almost dreading watching this show because I have not been a fan of any of the WSU shows up to this point even though the overall presentation of the product is significantly improved under Drew Cordeiro. This seemed to get closer to what I think WSU can be as opposed to prior shows. Having major talents like Athena and LuFisto makes a difference (more on that later), but it seems like WSU finally found its sea legs with this show although the match between Midwest Mafia and Kimber Lee/Annie Social was cursed and destined to never happen. Allysin Kay was injured the night before at an AIW show, so Havok tagged with Sassy Stephie instead. Because of the tension between the two after various no shows and trash talk, Havok just turned on Stephie immediately and allowed Lee and Social to get the win. Probably best to get this out of the way even if it didn’t lead to a great match or an epic title switch. Social and Lee defended the titles successfully against Christina Von Eerie and Navaeh in an okayish match. Hania and Jenny Rose was disappointingly short, mostly because of the time given and another blown finish. Next up was Athena and LuFisto, a match so good it gets its own write-up.
Athena vs. LuFisto (WSU Mutiny, 2.8.2014)
PBP: Athena with a charging dropkick. Splash in the corner. Boot by Athena. Exchange of nearfalls. Athena roll through gets two on LuFisto. Crucifix pin by LuFisto. Shoulder block and LuFisto sweeps out. Cartwheel out of a snapmare. Cross body by Athena and we have a stalemate. They woke the normally comatose Voorhees crowd up. Test of strength. Athena grabs holds of the arm. Armdrag by LuFisto. Waistlock take over. Athena brings her over. Armbar. LuFisto applies a legbar. Athena grapevines LuFisto over and then pulls the arm back. Headbutts by LuFisto to the arm. Front facelock. Hammerlock by Athena. Waistlock. LuFisto blocks a German suplex attempt. Roll-up sends Athena into the bottom turnbuckle. Cannonball to the corner. Series of kicks to the midsection. Knees to the temple. LuFisto grabs at the ankle. KneeDT by LuFisto. Snapmare and kick to the back. A second one because why not. Shining wizard. Double boots to the arm and a dropkick by LuFisto. 1-2-NO! Neck crank. Athena sent into the top turnbuckle. Shoulder blocks. Kawada chops. Bodyslam and then a flipping senton. Big splash misses. Athena with a knee. Running kick. Neckbreaker and then immediately into the double underhook suplex. Axe kicks to the small of the back. Athena slides to the outside and gamanguris LuFisto to the face. Right hands. Athena with a chokeslam into the knees. Kick to the back. Kick to the spine. Finally a kick to the side of the head. Athena pulls the hair a bit. Kick to the midsection. Enziguri. Curb stomp. Series of kicks to the side of the head. Handspring forearm to the corner. Running knees. LuFisto kicks her away. Athena sent into the middle turnbuckle. LuFisto with strikes and kicks. Athena comes back and chops LuFistio in the chest. Suplex blocked. Athena rammed into the steel barricade head first. Athena sent side first into the rail. Chop. Athena with a SUPERKICK IN RESPONSE! Chop. Knee by LuFisto. Back and forth with leg kicks. European uppercut. LuFisto rammed head first into the steel. Athena teases using a chair, but the official puts an end to that. Suplex blocked by LuFisto. Series of strikes. Athena with a cross armbreaker. Running punt to the chest. LuFisto trips up Athena. Powerbomb into the apron. In the ring. 1-2-NO! LuFisto heads to the top rope. Athena with a dropkick. LuFisto now prone on the top rope. LuFisto crotches Athena. DOUBLE STOMP! 1-2-NOOOOOOO! Burning Hammer. Athena grabs her leg. Exploder. 1-2-NO! Bicycle kick. LuFisto with one of her own. Forearm. Face wash. Cradle DDT. 1-2-NOOOOO! LuFisto yells at the official. Athena hits a Meteora. O-Face blocked. Backfist and BURNING HAMMER! 1-2-3!
Analysis: Anyone who thinks the bar should be lowered for women’s matches or that there needs to be some sort of curve needs to watch this match because this is where the bar is at. These are not only two of the best female wrestlers in the world, but they’re two of the best regardless of gender. I’m glad at least one women’s match could make it to this list because this is proof positive that great matches can happen in a place like WSU. The opening minute was incredible. The strike exchanges on the outside made this seem like a fight and brought up the intensity of why they were wrestling (chance to be the number one contender). Go out of your way to check this one out.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: LuFisto/18:44/****
I’m not sure how to feel about the Spirit title match. I’m not really into the feud at all, so the big reveal of Niya manipulating her way toward the title after losing a roster spot did nothing for me. Mickie Knuckles and Jewells Malone had a solid hardcore match that didn’t wear out its welcome but fits in with the motif of WSU. Whereas Shimmer is always going to be more “Ring of Honor” like, I think WSU can carve out its own niche with hardcore matches and a looser atmosphere. Jewells Malone, based on what I’ve seen throughout fight season, is also someone to be watching out for in the next year. With the King and Queen coming up, it does make sense to have a qualifier to help preview the tournament. Chris Dickinson made his contractually obligated WSU appearance teaming with Shanna against Candice LaRae and Joey Ryan. It was great to see LaRae on the east coast, and I hope it happens more often. Having Ryan and Dickinson in the same match no doubt tested some fans sanities, but they mostly stayed in the backound. Shanna won the match for team in a solid affair. Despite all the hype, Jessicka Havok and Alpha Female was very disappointing. The visual and similar look was interesting, but these two didn’t click nearly as well as I expected. I’d call the match just above average. After the match, DJ “Vince McMahon” Hyde came out and vowed to make “Stone Cold” Havok’s life a living hell. Sassy Stephie got some measure of revenge. For LuFisto and Athena alone, this is almost worth a purchase. The rest of the show features some solid action, and nothing was outwardly bad. Improved production values, better attendance, and quality in-ring action lead me to believe WSU is headed in the right direction. (B)
ACW Queen of Queens 2013 (6.22.2013)-I commented in my 2012 review that the production and announcing had a lot to be desired with this company. Well, things seem to have actually gotten worse. This year’s tournament ran 3.5 hours and felt like seven because of all the extra matches and promos. Because the show was held outside and the one working light pointed directly at the camera for certain shots, I pretty much got the experience of watching the show in the dark. If not for Athena and Barbi Hayden putting in a great semifinal match, I would have likely thrown in the towel and stopped watching altogether. None of the first round matches got enough time to be worth watching. I liked a lot of the talents that were booked and was happy to see some fresh faces, but without context or story (and again the piss poor production on these DVDs), I couldn’t get into the wrestling. Barbi Hayden being local makes sense as the ultimate winner given her being local to the Texas indie scene. I think she’s shown potential but still has a long way to go before being considered among names like Cheerleader Melissa and Athena. (D)
The bottom line is if you are an independent wrestling company putting out DVDs, you’ve got to meet a certain standard, particularly if Smart Mark Video is putting out your shows. I know that they’re not handling the full production, but if you can’t meet the standard of a Girls Night Out, then that is an issue which needs to be addressed. As a consumer, I have a lot of choices If I can’t see your show and your announcers are doing a poor job calling the action, I’m happy to move onto something else.
To purchase all of these shows (except Mutiny which will likely be out soon), you can check out Smart Mark Video.
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