Photo credit: @JWasherBeyond
It’s that time of the week again. The thing I look forward to every week. It’s time for the sixth installment of Match Exchange Monday. If you don’t know by now, every week Andrew Semkow and I exchange five matches from various independent wrestling promotions, give our thoughts and rate them. For those who didn’t read the first four articles, you can check them out HERE.
We suggest everyone go ahead and add these matches to your watchlist. Let us know what you think by responding to the PWPonderings Twitter and Facebook posts, or send us a tweet at @zerepwrestling or @andrewsemkow. You can also share your own match recommendations with us. Give us some feedback, we would love to hear from you. With all that said, thanks to everyone that has read or shared any of our exchanges in the past. Be safe everyone.
Andrew’s Recommended Match #1
Daniel Garcia vs. Trent Gibson – Greektown Wrestling
December 15, 2019
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Andrew:
A more technical contest from Greektown Wrestling. In this match we see Trent Gibson and Daniel Garcia in a contest of wills. These two are solid performers and give us a match that sees them going to their limits against one another.
Luis:
I discovered Daniel Garcia through my favorite promotion, Beyond Wrestling. I’ve been a fan of his since then. As for Trent Gibson, I had never heard of him before. This was a decent match between the two but nothing really to go on about.
***¼
Andrew’s Recommended Match #2
Mike Bailey vs. Jason Kincaid vs. Evil Uno vs. Tyson Dux – Smash Wrestling
June 2, 2019
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Andrew:
A solid contest for most of the match with some unique double and triple moves from the competitors. But where this match really starts to shine and get good is in the last couple of minutes when we get a shortened version of a dream match with “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Jason Kincaid.
Luis:
Here’s a four way elimination match from Smash Wrestling. Fast paced action right from the start with this contest. There’s a nasty fall to the hardwood floor, along with some other pretty crazy spots. The whole match is great but there’s some pretty amazing stuff between the final two competitors. Andrew spoiled who they were.
***¾
Andrew’s Recommended Match #3
Shayna Baszler vs. Nicole Matthews – ECCW
January 16, 2016
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Andrew:
Nicole Matthews steals the show with her athletic abilities and a suicide dive. This match is from a company way out in British Columbia and they were they shoot their shows almost looks like anything could enter that ring. I also like this match cause it’s always fun to take a look and see what proto-Baszler looks like.
Luis:
ECCW has been a discovery of mine during this quarantine. I watched a few shows from them after they joined the IWTV family. I instantly became a fan and ended up messaging Andrew and asking if he had heard of this promotion based out of his home country. He said he had never heard of them but he would check them out. It looks like he has become a fan also. As for the match, this is a pretty good match put on in front of such a hot crowd. Stay tuned for the shocking ending.
***½
Andrew’s Recommended Match #4
Gaytanic Panic vs. Team Pazuzu – Beyond Wrestling
October 31, 2019
Worcester, Massachusetts
Andrew:
A little bit of comedy to get you through the week. Danhausen and Effy team up against Chris Dickinson and Sanchez in a match with some solid wrestling and a few chuckles. If you’ve never seen Danhausen wrestle before this would be a good match to start with. Be warned though they mute the audio during the “Tequila” segment.
Luis:
Andrew didn’t know this but I had attended this show. You can see me in the front row cosplaying Darby Allin. This was a fun match and altogether fun show from Beyond Wrestling. The backstage segments with Gaytanic Panic were hilarious. If you haven’t watched this show or Uncharted Territory yet, be sure to sign up for IWTV to do so. You can use promo code PWP for 5 days FREE. You can watch the version that has the unmuted “Tequila.”
***½
Andrew’s Recommended Match #5
SHLAK vs. Abdullah Kobayashi – Game Changer Wrestling
February 5, 2020
Tokyo, Japan
Andrew:
More gore. This time we had to Japan and watch as Shlak mixes it up with Abdullah Kobiyashi. These men are straight-up masochists smashing lights on their heads for the sake of blood. A few shock spots including a fork, and a lot of blood and glass. Not as hardcore as last weeks match but still not for the faint of heart. I won’t be surprised if Shlak one day ends a match looking like Sam Neil in Event Horizon.
Luis:
I gotta be completely honest with this one, this match was not for me. While I really enjoyed the SHLAK vs. Nick Gage match that Andrew shared last week, SHLAK is currently my least favorite wrestler on the indies. But opinions always differentiate, so watch this one and form your own opinion on it. Also, yikes at commentary joking about Corona. Who would’ve thought that the virus would be as serious as it was.
**
Luis’ Recommended Match #1
Jessicka Havok vs. Nick Gage – Battle Club Pro
January 4, 2020
Ridgefield Park, New Jersey
Luis:
This is the hard hitting contest you would expect from these two. The match goes around the venue and gets pretty hardcore. Nick Gage is great in either deathmatches or brawls. Check this one out.
Andrew:
Nick Gage switches gears from his usual blood-soaked matches on the list to brawl with Jessicka Havok. These two fight everywhere and we get some good crowd spots along with a nice door spot. A solid match that may be enjoyed by people who aren’t fans of Gage’s bloodier work.
***½
Luis’ Recommended Match #2
Joey Janela vs. Dan Maff – Wrestle Pro
September 14, 2019
Rahway, New Jersey
Luis:
This match doesn’t get talked about enough. It’s a hidden gem from last year. Janela’s final match in Rahway, New Jersey and he went all out. Meanwhile Maff has been wrestling for over 20 years and is still putting on awesome matches. The lengths that these two men have to go through to put their opponent away is just insane.
Andrew:
Joey Janela’s final match in Rahway before he heads off to AEW. Maff is a powerhouse giving Joey a lot of impressive moves when he’s able to lift him up. Maff is now on my watchlist thanks to this match. He’s more than just a big guy, he’s also got some impressive moves in his repertoire.
****
Luis’ Recommended Match #3
Sammy Guevara vs. Keith Lee – Black Label Pro
September 23, 2017
Crown Point, Indiana
Luis:
This is a great contrast of styles (even thought Keith Lee can do some crazy high flying lucha stuff). Both men now play big roles on Wednesday nights for their respective companies. A number of days after sharing this video with Andrew, I found out that Sammy Guevara is in his top 3 favorite wrestlers right now. That’s pretty amazing.
Andrew:
Sammy Guevara is money. He’s athletic, high-flying and knows social media. In his match against Keith Lee we get a bout of speed versus power. While we get more of Sammy’s lucha-libre style he also picks up Lee at one point. Watching Lee is fun cause it’s like watching someone try to defeat an immovable object.
****½
Luis’ Recommended Match #4
Jon Davis vs. Johnny Gargano – Dragon Gate USA
January 26, 2013
Huntington Park, California
Luis:
Dragon Gate USA played a big role in my love for independent wrestling. A big rivalry in the promotion was Jon Davis vs. Johnny Gargano. This match is the blowoff to that feud. No ropes matches are used in Japan to settle scores and this was replicated in the United States. The match had a ton of brutal spots. I don’t know how either man survived this match.
Andrew:
This is why he’s called Johnny Wrestling! No ropes? No Problem! If you’ve ever liked any match by Gargano this is on your watchlist now. Of course Davis being a powerhouse only makes it better as he slams Gargano around putting him in a bad way. This is my match of the week
*****
Luis’ Recommended Match #5
Kevin Steen and El Generico vs. Super Dragon and Excalibur – CZW
December 11, 2004
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Luis:
This is a throwback from CZW’s Cage of Death 6 in 2004. This is a match that I wanted to share with Andrew since we first started the exchange. I was considering not using this match due to the recent issues with CZW but decided to showcase a great match from when it was under a different ownership. Enjoy this awesome match. Fuck DJ Hyde.
Andrew:
Kevin Steen and El Generico are modern legends. If you haven’t heard of them then maybe move above ground. A great match showing off some amazing maneuvers from the would-be Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. The thing that makes me sad about this match is that Super Dragon was one of the most entertaining parts of it, but he never ended up going far.
****