Rassle Tribune #5: A New Year, A Same Old Shit Program

New Year's Resolutions are bullshit. Anytime I've ever heard someone in passing mention some kind of ridiculous standard that they've set on themselves for a calendar year, I tended to roll my eyes in disgust. To me, the numerical value that a year represents has nothing to do with changing your life in any considerable way. If you can't tangibly reason to yourself why you should do or be something that you honestly aren't. The reason all these resolutions fail is because people put unreasonable and unrealistic guidelines on their lives in hopes that for one year they'll change themselves and pull themselves out of whatever gutter they've landed in this particular time. So that's mainly why I never bought into the hype BUT! Here I sit, in my bedroom in a weary haze on the first day of the first month of the new year thinking to myself: you should use this resolution bullshit to write more. Now usually I at least attempt to lie to myself about my ulterior motives, but I can't possibly do that to you or myself on this one. It's so painfully obvious that I'm a flaky fool when it comes to transcribing my thoughts and reviews on this damned white screen that mocks me all too often with its vengeful arrogance in the face of complete static nothingness. In that nothingness I finally realized why resolutions CAN work. If you do make your said New Year's Resolution something that does align with yourself as a being, and in a way something you know you've been avoiding for far too long. I love writing. I love the feeling writing gives me when I finally sit my keyboard down and sigh in relief from the barrage of words and errors that stream through my head when this whole writing thing happens. However I always want to make excuses for putting it off. Why? Maybe I'll never truly know. Maybe it is the years of depression that I've been lying to myself about since the age of 13 and masked it all with substances and bullshit rhetoric about macho stuff I'll never have the guts to do. That's really who we are and what we are after all, the charred remains of all the horrible forest fires one goes through as they grow up in various forms and fashions. In that vain, I've decided to not to write in the hopes that I'll fulfill some ridiculous resolution, but to complete myself for once. Perhaps writing about this sport(SPORT!) that I've loved since I can recall anything can help me along this trek we all are burdened with towards finding peace and purpose.

WWE Survivor Series 2016

The build towards this big event was totally ridiculous all too often. I may be in the minority on this belief but for me, the idea that a brand extension just three months old would be compromised with a big inter promotional card that would expose the weaknesses of both brands. Just as I expected, this was mostly the case. This was very clear in both the women's and tag elimination matches in my view, really showcasing that RAW has the absolute upper hand when it comes to those divisions at this moment in time. I loved the “singles” elimination match because it told a story. It was as if WWE took a page out of the doldrums 2007-onward TNA playbook with the odd couple teams. Granted, such an inter promotional theme forces that kind of thing and WWE did well in making that a big angle in all matches especially in the marquee elimination match.

WWE TLC 2016

This is such a bizarre show for many reasons. It, much like the Clash of Champions show, is the victim of way too many shows in way too short of a time span. Luckily for Team Blue, they've got a whole lot more going for it creatively than RAW does for the most part. Granted, I don't really see any potential in an ongoing issue between James Ellsworth and Styles but when you see the RAW Champion being Chris Jericho's second-fiddler it isn't that hard to figure out that SmackDown has a lot more going for it. Becky Lynch and Alexa Bliss have been phenomenal in making their tables match feel important. Randy Orton as a vessel of The Wyatt Family has also been quite great to watch. Having four announcers is a mess for the product on Tuesdays but that's the usual WWE “against-the-grain” thinking that consistently paints them in corners.

Heath Slater and Rhyno(c) vs Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship

To think that I'd be excited for the alliance of Wyatt and Orton when this year started is just absurd. These two guys are such stark contrasts of each other, yet together along with Luke Harper it feels interesting and different. Of course, Orton will surely go rouge but hey, maybe it'll lead to Bray truly getting a shove. Slater and Rhyno have definitely jumped the shark as an act and it was super clear when the fans seemed to completely give no fucks about them going to the ring.

Rhyno and Bray start the match with an odd visual. Bray overwhelms the old timer and in comes Orton to stomp the shit out of him for good measure. Orton is so awesome. Slater is pretty damn awesome also, especially as the plucky underdog. Slater gets the dogshit beat out of him by both opponents, is cut off from Rhyno like SMART TAG LOGIC DICTATES, and Slater is forced into desperation. Slater gets a glimmer of hope but as is the case these days, The Wyatt Family snuffed it out like a cruel tyrant. This was your standard, good tag match with strong logic in the outline of the match. Harper played sacrificial lamb which led right into the finish and we have new champs! This is notable as Bray Wyatt's first ever WWE main title. Big stuff. ***

There was a stupid Ambrose promo about Ellsworth “keeping his chin up” and selling it poorly. How did WWE manage to take a great promo guy and make him this fucking bad? This is like WCW with Lance Storm level ineptitude. I appreciate Ambrose as a worker and dude but Christ, this writing for him is murder. What is WWE's obsession with making all their new top guys look like total goofs?

This is followed by….ANOTHER PROMO WOW. It's AJ this time and it is a much better promo early on. AJ puts over Dean as resilient but that tonight, resilience isn't going to be a factor because he'll wreck him with the plunder! Could WWE finally get it with AJ as a serious champion? Probably not.

Nikki Bella vs Carmella, No DQ

This feud is drawn out and terrible. I don't understand how WWE expects anyone to give two shits about these two? We get the video package outlining why we should care, and it just proves that this is indeed drawn out for three fucking MONTHS. Try to imagine two blow-up dolls having a fake fight and it will be close to how this thing went. 0

The Miz(c) vs Dolph Ziggler in a Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship

While this feud has gone on for wayyyy too long, these two have great chemistry so their matches are always fun to watch. Miz has been on a whole different level this year, and mostly it has been in the last 6 months or so. Dolph has been on and off, much like he's been his whole career. The real story here is between Miz and Daniel Bryan, who has served as the perfect foil for the cocky Miz as the do-gooder authority figure.

It is so intriguing when WWE takes something that has little life in it for various reasons and manages to squeeze something special out of it. This felt very important at the start, with Miz and Dolph both gazing up at the belt before going into violent fury. Lots of your standard back and forth spots were the beginnings of this one, but the aura of danger helped things. Miz gets tossed into ladders all around the place and things look like they're totally in Dolph's favor. Miz takes advantage of Dolph's stupidity and stalling to drive a ladder deep into his torso, but even Miz himself falls victim to over zealousness. Miz nearly gets his brains splattered between the rungs of a ladder, yet Dolph is cut off and takes a drop toe hold into the ladder face first. Awesome. That word describes this match fairly well I'd say. These guys didn't try to innovate how ladder matches are done or anything, they used timeless tropes from the past involving this stipulation and played on them in a good way. This is proof that sometimes doing the obvious stuff is best, not everyone should be trying the kind of shit that The Young Bucks do and there's reason: they have that market cornered. These guys were entertaining, believable enough, and simply GOOD. I really loved the title attempts and they had good drama to them. Dolph is so great at making you believe he is going to get that belt after all and Miz is happy to toss him far to the canvas. Miz does his taunting dropkick into the corner that is only meant for Bryan but I must say Miz's dropkick is pretty strong these days. It's amazing how Dolph's knee seems to get caught in a trap every time he wrestles Miz. It's like this shit is rigged. Miz kills his knee using a ladder because why not. FIGURE FOUR USING A LADDER. Perhaps they DID do some innovation after all. Dolph tries to persevere but he eats a ladder thanks to a Skull Crushing Finale. Miz gets his hands on the structure holding his title and Dolph moves the ladder, leaving Miz hanging free! He finally takes quite a nasty bump and rolls to the floor as if he took a bullet. From there on out it is simply a sprint to the finish and both men were on their game. ***3/4

Kalisto vs Baron Corbin in a Chairs Match

Total shit build. The crowd couldn't have cared any less for either guy going into this one but I have to say they did the best they could with quite a weak gimmick match to use. Kalisto did his usual, awesome spots and Baron played King Kong so it wasn't awful. If Kalisto were on the indies, he'd be having barnburners with Ospreay somewhere but alas we get him in a fucking stupid feud with Corbin. Such is the wrestling business. Corbin did one of the god awful worst hanging spots with Kalisto wherein he just gently tossed him around, ending the sequence with an uninspired toss into a row of chairs. Believe me it was much less dangerous than it sounds. Kalisto did a really awesome hurricanrana press ala Rey Mysterio and it wasn't the finish and at this point I was done with this shit. ** merely because of Kalisto being so great.

Becky Lynch(c) vs Alexa Bliss in a Tables Match for the SmackDown Women's Championship

These two ladies can GO! They show highlights of their match in Glasgow, complete with the controversial finish. Wow, you give someone an out and suddenly the rematch means something. Sounds like the old days. They show the contract signing and I won't lie I marked out. I really love these two ladies and I'm hoping this will deliver the way that I think it could.

These women just get to fighting like hell. That's what I like in 'rasslin. They fight around until finally Becky gets a table set up after way too long in a very funny moment. They tease a suplex to the floor but Alexa cuts Becky off and they work Becky falling into the table but she escapes danger! Great work. Becky continues to get caught in traps that Alexa sets, getting frustrated and countered easily by the cool-headed and nefarious Bliss. When it comes to setting up tables, the ladies seem to have issues but then again this isn't exactly common knowledge on how to seamlessly do table spots. We get a Queen of the Mountain spot up on the top with Becky teasing for the superplex finish but Alexa is too scrappy! Becky falls and dishevels the table as we start back from the beginning. Alexa's flipping knees combo is so awesome. More table awkwardness as Alexa tries to get the win but Becky takes advantage of the time waste. Alexa wisely flips the table away once she was in danger and then drove Becky head first into the back of the table with a DDT! That looks really nasty landing on the undercarriage of the table. The crowd really came up for that one naturally. Becky manages to lock on the Dis Arm Her submission THROUGH ONE OF THE TABLE LEGS! Awesome but the ref can't call a submission! Beautiful work and a bit of a call back to the Glasgow match. Becky hits a really sloppy uranage slam and damn these ladies look worn down. Alexa is set up on the bottom rope on a table but she fights her way up to her feet and throws Becky to the canvas with an Iconoclasm! Awesome stuff and Becky is all kinds of fucked up now. Alexa isn't done with her though and it nearly costs her dearly when she's given a drop toe hold face first into the table but it luckily doesn't break. The battle spills out to the apron and both women fight like hell. Alexa drops to the floor, Becky tries for a kick to the face and is caught with a powerbomb through the table on the floor for the win! Really good match and I'm excited about this division again! ***3/4

After the match, Becky is extremely mad about everything and we get the hint of an attitude change.

AJ Styles(c) vs Dean Ambrose in a TLC Match for the WWE World Championship

I've been one of the more vocal people about this latest James Ellsworth tie-in with this feud but they've made it work. Ellsworth has gone from a total goon to a really good pawn in the game between Ambrose and Styles. There's nothing better in 2016 than seeing AJ whip Ellsworth's ass like crazy and Ellsworth selling like a goof. Ambrose has kind of lost his luster though and his wacky bullshit promos aren't helping. This match has to be the kind of match that makes people remember how great Ambrose as a WRESTLER is. If not, I wonder where his future lies as a big time player.

I'm so happy that AJ has gotten as over as he is. His entrance brought Dallas UP! It was a great thing. These guys do have a very good chemistry and their matches are generally fantastic. Now they have all the plunder imaginable so THIS SHOULD BE FUUUUN! The match begins with wild brawling, Ambrose going nuts on AJ more than the reverse. Then we get a battle to climb the ladder for a spell to put over what this is supposed to be about, and then Ambrose shows us that he's about hurtin' AJ badly by tossing a ladder at his face. AJ proceeds to get murdered until Ambrose looks to climb a massive ladder and crush him through a table but AJ wisely walks away. Ambrose chases and resumes the beating. Things move back to ringside and Ambrose tries for a move off the barricade but is caught in mid air with a dropkick on the floor! Beautiful stuff. This leads to AJ running the show in this match for a while. As always however, the cocky heel gets caught being over-zealous and Ambrose nuts him on the barricade and slams a chair into the face of AJ! This is quite the pinball match; it is a back and forth spot war and you have little time to register what has happened last. It is much like a wild, final boss fight in some video game where it doesn't matter how you beat them, JUST BEAT THEM! In other words, it was great to watch but lacked a ton of psychology per se. Ambrose throws a ladder from the ring at AJ's face and I lose my mind! These men hate themselves but I love watching their hatred! AJ responds with a chair shot to the back like a total dick. Eye for an eye. Backbreaker onto a chair by AJ now. Ambrose now begins to slowly fight up from underneath, first by simply grimacing and trying to psyche up and it crescendos from there. AJ then sets up chairs facing each other and is given a suplex slam through the chairs by Ambrose! AJ recovers and throws Ambrose into the corner and throw a table with a suplex! Ambrose gets to his feet and puts together a strong comeback complete with a rebound clothesline! Ambrose teases a superplex to the floor but is thwarted with counters. We get back and forth countering until AJ is shit canned over the top to the floor with a back body drop. Ambrose unleashes a GREAT elbow suicida and AJ goes face first into an announce table. Ambrose wants to kill the announce tables and starts throwing shit around. AJ is down prone on a table while Ambrose sets a ladder up ONTO ANOTHER ANNOUNCE TABLE and goes for broke with an elbow drop! Awesome stuff here. Ambrose uses this chance to go for the title and takes enough time to allow AJ to recover and hit a Phenomenal Forearm to bring him down! After this, we get anther race to the belt with both men on a ladder fighting for the gold. The fight falls down to the canvas and both men tease their finishers until Ambrose blocks a Styles Clash with a wild, spinning throw that sends AJ careening into the ladder sickeningly! What a fucking bump. Ambrose slowly crawls up to the gold and AJ grasps his leg desperately until he has him in a powerbomb but finds himself taken over the top with a hurricanrana. Ambrose looks like he tries to skin the cat and fails which was so funny. AJ responds by beating him up and going to the ropes himself. ASAI MOONSAULT REVERSE DDT BY AJ ON THE FLOOR! This man is unparalleled. AJ drags a table into the fray and things seem to be ugly for Ambrose. AJ gets him on the table prone and seems to get a rush of energy, rushing into the ring and hitting a PSYCHOTIC springboard 450 through the table to the floor! Jesus Christ. AJ rolls back into the ring to try for his title belt but we see Ellsworth making his way to the ring. AJ gets distracted and seems to be waiting to murder this little goof. AJ takes no chances and beats the everloving fuck out of him before setting him up for something sinister on the steps. Ambrose levels him with a clothesline and Dirty Deeds on the steps! Ambrose sells his opportunity and makes his slow ascent up to the title. The fans begin to buzz and we see that AJ is on the other side of the ladder making his way up to the title himself. Yet again we have a dog fight on the top and AJ is sent all the way to the floor with a right hand! Ambrose has the title won...AND ELLSWORTH SENDS HIM CRASHING TO THE FLOOR THROUGH TWO TABLES! Dallas loses their shit and Ellsworth signals for AJ to get the win! This is how you progress a storyline, great job SmackDown and more important AJ and Dean. Great match! ****

WWE Roadblock: End of the Line 2016

In the spirit of my newly turned leaf of refusing to write about every waking moment in this fucking whirlwind of a business, I'll be giving my thoughts on only a few of the matches on this card. Forget that pointless shit that Enzo and Rusev are doing, and while the huge news of New Day losing their tag titles is relevant the match wasn't, and that Cruiserweight title match was more of the same with a fantastic ending when Neville went to the darkside while leaving Perkins and champion Swann down like bitches. ALL HAIL THE NEW KING OF CRUISERWEIGHTS!

Sasha Banks(c) vs Charlotte in an Iron Man Match for the RAW Women's Title

This was a very basic match and that's not a bad thing to say. Lots of their usual fair early with back and forth escapes. Finally, as is seemingly the case in all their matches Charlotte out-muscled the smaller Sasha putting her in peril. Then Sasha decided to give Charlotte a goddamn Meteora on the floor. That will never stop making me cringe. Sasha stretches Charlotte in a modified Bank Statement but she won't give. Great crowd reactions during this hold. For the first ten minutes, it was a pretty paint-by-numbers kind of affair but a wild suicida by Sasha at around 19:55 kicked things into a new gear for me. Lots of joshi screaming, and lots of fucking horrendous bumps by Sasha. That woman is fantastic but I worry about her spinal column way too much. Charlotte is really great at playing that evil bitch role and has developed leaps and bounds. These two working together almost exclusively may not be the best thing for business in terms of the storm term vision, but for making them as great as they can be it has done exponential growth. The heat segment in this was very long and the crowd felt pretty flat for the majority of it. Charlotte slaps on a figure four headscissors and slams Sasha around like nothing, screaming about becoming a four time champion and I was loving it! Sasha tried for a flash pin but failed and this lit a spark in her to begin going for broke a bit. There's a bizarre neckbreaker from the corner that leads to a flat near-fall. Sasha fights up and we go into a comeback sequence. Meteora in the corner to a seated Charlotte! Sasha fails at a crossbody and Charlotte finds Natural Selection but it isn't enough! I like how they didn't just do a million falls for the hell of it, making this feel much more important when false finishes came into play. Awesome Diamond Dust inspired Natural Selection for the first fall! The crowd still isn't into it though and that's very disconcerting. Charlotte talks insane shit, saying things like: “iron meets iron right?” Unreal. Sasha is a fighter though and this annoys Charlotte to no end as always. Banks goes into a really odd looking roll up to even things up! Miraculously the crowd finally gets going after that. That roll up acts like the start of a hope spot that ends with one of Charlotte's big boots for a near fall. Charlotte's facials are absolutely great here, as she looks totally insane with panic over the idea of losing this rematch. It's just a shame that the crowd wasn't into this as much as they've been in the past and in my mind that has so much to do with the creative team. Big moonsault by Charlotte fails and Sasha locks in the Bank Statement! Sasha rolls her back into the middle and the crowd erupts as Charlotte taps out! 2-1 now for Sasha. At about 5:15 is finally when Pittsburgh gives a fuck about this whole thing and they are HOT. Both women trade slaps and chops, and Charlotte then clips Sasha's knee in the ropes causing a nasty bump. This of course leads to leg work by Charlotte to soften up the Figure 8. Sasha won't let that happen though and she throws a shot when need be. Sasha gets Charlotte in a cradle off of a toe hold but it can't get a fall. Charlotte then just keeps up that leg work that was started long ago as only 2 minutes remain. Charlotte puts on her dad's Figure Four and Sasha finally rolls into a reversal only for a moment and Charlotte finds herself back in control. Slaps are exchanged as Sasha fights to keep position as the time ticks down to well under one minute. Now 15 seconds and counting! Pittsburg rises as they believe that Sasha will do it...and she taps with 2 seconds remaining leaving us at a tie 2-2. That pretty well murdered the momentum they built and Charlotte starts screaming for overtime. The ref indeed tells Jojo that there will be a sudden death overtime, one fall to a finish! Pittsburgh marks out and so do I. Sasha struggles up to her feet and Charlotte dropkicks the bad knee haha! Great. Bell rings and immediately we get a battle for the Figure 8 but Sasha nearly wins with a roll up! Big suplex leaves Sasha fucked. Another small package by Sasha gets another near fall and Charlotte gets more incensed. Suddenly Sasha starts bleeding and I mean BLEEDING a lot. Her nose seems to have been busted but she fights on, locking on a Bank Statement! Charlotte begins torquing Sasha's bad knee though and somehow she reverses things into a really sloppy Figure Four. Great stuff I say! Sasha, bleeding like a stuck hog begins to reach desperately for the rope break but Charlotte drags her further away into the Figure 8 now! Sasha taps out and the crowd totally dies. Way to book something to death, WWE. Despite the really stupid hot-shoting that's gone on with this title, this was a great match. ****

Kevin Owens(c) vs Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship

Talk about shit booking this match had it. For one, this match should have had Roman as the heel and Owens as the face because Pittsburgh fucking HATED Roman and really just about any crowd does these days. Owens meanwhile is a fantastic wrestler that's been booked horribly as the top guy on RAW since winning the new Universal title. He's felt like a total second-fiddle to this resurgence that Chris Jericho is having as a lovable goof. Most of this show had segments with Owens trying to win over his jilted friend Jericho so he can help him keep the belt. A once intense and confident fighter is now looking like some scared puppy lost in the streets. That's not how a top champion should be. Hell even the World Champion over on SmackDown looks like a goof these days. What is with this new obsession Vince has with booking weak champions? Bizarre.

The match itself was very good. Owens continued his run of starting matches running away which is so great as a heel, but with the horrible booking he's had it doesn't really do him favors. The crowd at least seems to get with it as Roman finally goes out and meets him with right hands and assorted brawling. More Owens stalling and more Roman brawling. Much of the same stuff we see from them all the time. Owens uses a headlock on Roman to get things going and finds himself slammed out of it for a two count. Repeated clotheslines in the corner by Roman until Owens rolls back outside just to be slung into the barricade. Roman then begins to clear the German announce table to be sacrificed by Owens cuts him off and they find themselves back in the ring. Owens gives the heat for a bit until Roman drills him with clotheslines. Owens when all seems lost keeps rolling to the floor in a great bit of strategy, this time having it pay off when he drives Roman throat first into the barricade before slinging him into the steps. Back senton off the steps onto Roman on the floor! That looked rough. Owens can't get the win though and he's got to find increasingly more dangerous ways to put down Roman. Owens slaps on a side headlock and talks shit, even going as far as questioning Roman on why his US title wasn't part of the match. This man is great. Owens turns the headlock into a neckbreaker, and then a flipping leg drop! Shades of his CZW days there but it is only good for a near fall. Owens falls back into the headlock as the anchor of this match and for me I felt it worked well. Owens fails on another back senton though, leaving the door open for Roman's comeback. Roman's comeback isn't long until we get some back and forth striking. German suplex by Owens! That sets up for Owens' cannonball senton but Roman counters with a side kick into the samoan drop for a near fall. It's a shame that Roman isn't more over because he's a great talent. Roman misses a Superman punch and gets drilled with a DDT for a near fall! Owens finally hits the cannonball but Roman no sells and hits a Superman punch for a near fall. Fucking dumb. The crowd even died when he did it. Well if you subtract the large “Roman Sucks” chant that this engendered. Roman of course beats up Owens more, throwing him up on the top turnbuckle but Owens is wise to it, reversing it with elbow strikes but another Superman punch leaves him loopy. Owens no-sells though and nails his always-impressive fisherman's buster from the second rope for a near fall. Owens measures Roman up and goes to the top rope and goes for a swanton but Roman's knees were up. Owens rolls to the floor yet again but Roman hits the Drive-By dropkick along the apron. Owens again rolls away and Roman is suckered into trying another Drive-By which Owens avoids and he nails two superkicks in a row on him. Roman lays prone on the German announce table and Owens hits a frog splash but the table remains so what does Owens do? HIT ANOTHER ONE! SO funny. Roman narrowly misses the count out and Owens hits a frog splash in the ring now for a near fall! Owens tries for another superkick but Roman reverses with a deadlift powerbomb for another near fall. Roman measures Owens up but his spear is met with a knee and a Pop-Up Powerbomb but Roman barely gets a rope break to survive. What an odd move for a babyface you think? I swear WWE is run by Vince Russo sometimes. Then again Russo wouldn't do that, he'd have had Roman escape the pin with a blood bath or something. Owens again goes to the floor and this time he gets his title belt and looks to hit Roman with it but he's nailed with a Spear instead! Both men sell until Jericho finally hits the ring! Owens gets to his feet and eats a Codebreaker! The bells rings and it is announced that Owens wins by DQ. Lance Storm on his Killing the Town podcast with Cyrus commented that he didn't get the rationale of this and lobbied for the finish to be considered a no contest instead. I get his point but in WWE, they've done this same bullshit for so long that I feel that this argument is moot. Jericho smirks, hands Owens his title and they celebrate. ***3/4 despite the dog and pony show finish.

After the match, Rollins comes from the back to even the odds. Owens and Jericho back up to ringside and Owens eats a Spear. Rollins nails Jericho with the Pedigree. Rollins and Reigns tease for a while until they rolls out and clear the Spanish announce table for destruction, obvious shades of The Shield. Roman audible stammers “time to break furniture” into the camera before driving Jericho through the table with Rollins' assist. The focus then turns to Owens who is visibly running to the back with his title but Rollins grabs him as both “heroes” beat on the champion. The action spills over to the English announce table by the stage WCW style. Roman clears the table and now Owens is sent crashing through the table.

Impact Wrestling: Total Nonstop Deletion 12-15-2016

This Broken Matt stuff that TNA has been doing this year has been equal parts bizarre and phenomenal. I think there's not nearly enough credit being given to all involved for how totally out of the box it all has been and while I understand some of the more purist fans hating it I feel that they need to remember that everything has to evolve. It isn't like we're doing the same kind of things in the ring that Strangler Lewis did, or even Hulk Hogan for that matter. For every ECW there's going to be a Global Force (sorry Jeff) or a GWF from back in the early 90's. Chances have to be taken so that evolution in an otherwise stagnant business can occur.

Things start with a “Broken Fake News” segment about a volcanic eruption in Cameron. Itchweeed is interviewed about the insanity and he says he's gotta weed eat before the shit is on. Wacky and wonderful.

Finally we get the proper introduction from Josh Mathews about this whole show emanating from “Camp Hardy” in Cameron. And indeed, we see that there's a fucking CROWD IN HIS REAL BARN with an Impact ring set up. Fucking awesome. Brother Nero and Matt come down to ringside for a promo with Senor Benjamin. The lighting for this thing is horrible but I like that. It makes it feel truly scummy. Matt talks about his usual insanity, and how Cameron is shut down for this massacre tonight. Matt says tonight will be the coming out party for the Broken Universe and that includes King Maxell's IN RING DEBUT? Oh god. Rockstar Spud interrupts the promo and he looks so freaked out by everything. Gold. We then discover that Jeremy Borash is on commentary tonight and I'm very happy. Spud is told he's worthy of deletion and Spud says no one will be deleted! Spud says he's sick of the whole Broken Universe and especially Matt's “greenhorn” son for taking his TV time. I popped huge on that. Spud then admits on national TV that he's less over that Maxell and then says he'll stretch him! This is beautiful shit. Matt then says the match is on! Spud then says he'll “carry him through it, make him look good, and like all other promoters you can push him when I'm gone”. Wow, TNA totally gives no shits about kayfabe eh? That's when Matt says this match now will be No DQ! Maxel rides a goddamn toy car to the ring and gets a HUGE CHANT! This is amazing. Maxel is in the ring and Spud is immediately tased for the Maxel win! It's incredibly edited but still hilarious. Then Disco Inferno is seen watching in the back saying: “thank god it wasn't me this time, hey anyone want to play some poker?” TNA is SLAYING.

Lashley is shown arriving to the house and looking totally disturbed. Then we see Eddie Edwards, the WORLD FUCKING CHAMPION walking out of the woods like a total jabroni. What in the fuck?

More fake news about roads being closed because of this “Tag Team Apocalypto” match tonight. Shane Helms drives up with Andrew Everett and Trevor Lee in the back of his truck. The woman says there's a natural disaster ahead, which prompts Helms to claim he's an expert at that. Oh lord.

The fucking ROCK N' ROLL EXPRESS is walking up to the front door and Matt answers. This is fucking awesome. Ricky Morton says he's here to prove he's the best tag team ever and he wants to be in the Apocalypto. Matt invites them in the house and Ricky says he'll take a beer, then says that “God loves crazy people, he made lots of us”. Bravo sir.

The show cuts to Sienna in the ring, talking about how she wants Rosemary in the ring but we are told she's permanently banned for trying to kidnap the King. Well shit. Sienna then says she'll put up her number one contender's spot against anyone. Vanguard 1 then comes out and we're told he took the challenge? What in the fuck. Finally the ref of all people says he's not even...he let alone a she so fuck off. Vanguard actually DOES and then Sienna says she wants any PERSON to come out. ODB is then shown coming out of her trailer to accept the challenge. Is this 2008? Either way here we go.

ODB vs Sienna

This isn't particularly good or even awful. It's just your standard indy women's match. ODB isn't very good at all and while Sienna is pretty good this just felt horribly flat. Vanguard tries to be the ref and the ref rolls him out as Sienna takes control and the ref counts out ODB. Dumb. *

Helms has his Dynasty in the back with Matt. Helms says he wants his men in the tag match and Matt calls for his scribe, who is actually the PWX announcer from North Carolina. He says someone will be going into the Lake of Reincarnation and it will be appaling. Lee asks what a scribe is like a dork and that's it.

Itchweeed rolls out in a riding mower and what in the fuck am I watching? I feel like all this crazy Hardy shit is all the drug hallucinations they had a few years ago.

Itchweeed vs Chet Sterling

This is a squash with Jeff acting like a crackhead. Really there's nothing more to say about this. Itchweeed manages to fall asleep while putting on a sleeper himself. This takes the cake for dumbest shit in a wrestling ring for me. A table is set up on the floor and Sterling is driven through it with an elbow from the apron. Itchweeed hits a simple elbow and wins. 0 Anythings

Eddie Edwards(c) vs Lashley for the TNA World Championship

This is a rematch from when Eddie won the title. Apparently this is the third match of theirs and both times before Eddie won clean with his finish. That doesn't bode well for the champion.

Lashley beats him up early. Eddie catches him sleeping though for a spell until he's driven down with a cross body of sorts. Lashley sends Eddie sailing under the ropes to the floor in a very nasty fashion but Eddie regroups enough to throw some mean chops before taking a clothesline. Lashley suddenly slings a “fans” down in the crowd and the commentators make a point to remind us that everyone in the building signed waivers. As if that would really mean shit if this was a shoot. Either way, Eddie takes control of the madness. Again however, Lashley brings him down with a clothesline and we're back to square one. Lashley takes a while beating up Eddie in the corner. Eddie then counters things with a Blue Thunder Bomb! Manhattan drop leaves Lashley hurting yet Eddie is countered into snake eyes in the corner. Lashley elects to work on Eddie's arm with an armbar but Eddie wills himself up. Eddie throws a missile dropkick on Lashley from the top! Lashley rushes Eddie and is sent to the floor before being nailed with a suicide dive by Eddie. Eddie hits a shining wizard for only a near fall. Double stomp fails and Lashley lifts him up in a Dominator for a near fall. Lashley plays Roman Reigns and measures him for the Spear but is sent into the corner. Back elbow is countered with an enzugiri on Lashley sitting up top and he spills out to the floor. Eddie goes for a hurricanrana and he's tossed into almost all the “fans” in the crowd. That was a very weird visual regardless that the commentators don't even sell like it's a big deal. Both men now fight all over the building. Lashley Spears Edwards through a wall into the woods! Sweet spot….that apparently just ends the match? Jesus christ this is some dumb shit. **

Tag Team Apocalypto for the TNA Tag Team Championship

The Broken Hardys(c) vs The Helms Dynasty vs The Rock N' Roll Express vs Decay

We get a horribly cheesy vignette about how the fans have to evacuate because of random smoke….yet the match still can go on? So what this says is that TNA gives more of a care about their fans than they do their wrestlers. Suddenly we see Eddie and Lashley fighting, and then a cut to the Hardys and Rock N' Roll shooting fireworks at the heels. The Helms boys get their truck but Matt jumps in the back with Lee and slams his head around like a bastard. Nero says to the ref they have to get up to them and amazingly there is a dirt bike there to ride. This is B-movie horror meets wrestling, so you decide if you love that or hate it. I feel rather mixed myself. Then we see the gates to the compound where tons of random “tag teams” are waiting, visible up front is John Skyler and Corey Hollis from PWX! Good on those guys for getting a cameo even if it means they got killed by Decay...literally. Basically Decay starts killing the jobbers at the gate and then we see Spud, then we see The Bravado Brothers! They're in suits talking about how they['re world famous. Man this is great. The Hardys and Helms Dynasty fight in front of an obviously fake store front. The ugly Ducklings of PWX fame come in also and get killed. A train drives by the Hardys and Helms brawling...who knows why. The Bravados finally sneak around Decay and into the compound. More death from Decay on jobbers, complete with Abyss bashing someone's head with a rock. Someone's been watching Lucha Underground. Spud says his partner is here and he's huge, and out comes fucking 'Swoggle. Hilarious. Lee and Everett look to get the win but Hardy somehow summons his BOAT to interfere for him. Helms Dynasty beats up the boat...this is real. Nero fires up and beats up both of Helms' guys leaving Matt and Shane alone. Matt then throws him into the Lake of Reincarnation. Shane comes out and the Helms Dynasty becomes 3 Count! Holy 2000! Helms says they aren't Shannon and Evan, they're better and this leads to Helms getting double superkicked by his men and falls back into the lake. Another random ring is set up by the “volcano” and we get Hardys vs Rock N' Roll! Basic 80's tag stuff ensues with double irish whips into one another and such. Good old school schtick man. For old dudes they didn't look bad either. More Lashley and Eddie brawling. Bravados keep fighting the Helms guys and they stumble upon a ref shitting in a portapotty. Standing moonsault on the ground by Everett like a moron. Lee is sent face first with a catapult into the building. Lee and Everett rush inside but the Bravados are locked out and the ref says they'll be DQ'd if they don't open. The arena is totally smoked out but the heels take control! Morton and Nero are in skylifts suddenly and we're told it is Night of the Skywalkers. They lock up IN THE AIR! Ok, now this is awesome. Morton and Nero work being immobile in skylifts greatly while Matt and Robert do normal shit in the ring. Morton bites Nero's fingers before dragging him over his lift! Matt then rolls out and sends Morton higher up and says he's stuck up there. Morton looks legit pissed, GREAT. We go back to Bravados vs Helms guys. They do good indy stuff in the empty arena. Nero does a wild Swanton off his lift but Robert moves! Matt still nails Twist of Fate and beats Robert while Morton is still high in his lift. Spud and 'Swoggle are in the empty arena and are looking to sneak up. 'Swoggle grabs a chair nails the Bravados in the backwhile Spud gets the pin. 'Swoggle quickly turns on his partner and hits a frog splash before leaving Spud to be pinned himself. More random Lashley and Eddie brawling that looks lackluster. Morton is shown again and randomly we see Road Warrior Animal laughing at him. Decay is shown again at the gates and we see DCC show up with tons of back up. Decay levels all the jabronis and Storm finally shows his face and the random guy with a truck from the first video shows up to be jobbed out. Storm gets pissed and walks out. Wow. Random fighting with random guys at the top of the “volcano” and a huge explosion happens. Hurricane Helms comes from the Lake of Reincarnation with some obvious superpowers. Jesus what is this stuff? Decay and the Helms boys finds where the Hardys are and the beatdown begins. Decay focus on Nero and Matt is cornered by Lee and Everett. Nero eats a chokeslam in the ring by Abyss, who then grabs Janice the barbed wire board. Nero comes from behind with a fireworks cannon but gets low blowed by Crazzy Steve before he can light it. He gets beat up but Abyss is shot at by Vanguard 1 with fireworks! Abyss shoots back with some of his own. Hurricane saves Matt when Lee and Everett go to to bury Matt. Matt takes the pin and a grave is made for Lee and Everett apparently. Matt then says that “even a man with triple H's in his name could appreciate how we buried this young, up-and-coming talent” FUCKING GREAT. Lashley makes 'Swoggle look useless and eats a crossbody by Eddie from a balcony. A massive Hardy symbol then lights on fire around Decay and Nero as they fight inside. This is a really wild visual to say the least. How did someone not die here? Matt joins the fray. All men involved manage to get out of the maze of fire and Abyss tries to takes out Matt in the ring with Janice. Matt takes Janice the board and drives it into Abyss' stomach. Steve and Nero fight up on the “volcano” and Steve is gives a Twist of Fate and falls into the “volcano” and is shown being shot into the ring magically uninjured. Interesting and that's it apparently as the Broken Universe goes wild! As a spectacle this is world class, as a match I couldn't begin to rate it. At the end, Reby announces she's pregnant again. Well congrats Hardy clan! You're doing some wild things.

Chris Hero vs Dick Togo, EVOLVE 74, 12-10-2016

Togo is a god. Hero is a god. This means this was a war. Hero immediately starts us off with a claim that he's the best of all time just to let us all know he's the prick here. New York responds by popping for him of course. There's a lovely chain sequence that ends when Hero picks up Togo and simply sits him on the top turnbuckle. This leads to a stupid chant. More good grappling with Hero getting a cravat until Togo takes him down with a heel pick and starts giving him hurts with a headlock. I love the simplicity early on, it's just a simple grappling battle between two of the tops in the game in the past 30 years. Hero utilizes an inverted ankle lock like a MASTER really getting reactions from the sick angles he put Togo's foot in. Togo powers on though and just will not be stopped. Hero tries to sucker-kick Togo off a shoulder block spot but Togo is wise to it and makes him pay for a bit until he finds himself eating sole. Hero uses this opening to crush the poor, smaller man with a back senton like a REAL MEAN DUDE. Hero shakes his head in disgust at the idiots in the crowd in New York trying to be real cute. Hero and Togo take the fun to the floor and we get some SICK shots out of it. This was very much Hero playing the vicious man obsessed with beating the legend by any means necessary and it came across perfectly. Hero tried for his piledriver and Togo was smart to it early on, which lent itself down the road. Togo unleashes a GREAT dropkick in this one as well. Togo masterfully uses Hero's own momentum against him and finds himself locking on a crossface which led to a shift in the match and a NASTY baseball slide dropkick followed by a rolling senton to the floor! Togo is a mad man for his age. Togo's efforts were met with a really insane rolling elbow following other wild strikes by the guru Hero. Togo then was drilled on his head with a Hero piledriver after being weakened and broken by strikes. Beautiful storytelling there. However it wasn't enough to get the win. Togo flashes up with some pin attempts, eats another piledriver, and yet he still pops up to hit a seated missile dropkick! Hero though is too tough for Togo it seems and he's back to his feet the second Togo's up to the top. Hero teases a second-rope piledriver but Togo fights back to hit a beautiful tornado DDT from the second! Hero survives though and on we go towards the really awesome finishing stretch. Seek this out. It even has a Pedigree kick out at one spot, so why waste any more time?! ****

EVOLVE 75 12-11-2016

Jeff Cobb vs Fred Yehi

This is a beautiful mat exhibition above all else. These two start us off with a sequence right out of your latest NCAA national wrestling meet with amazing switches and reverses seeing Yehi put over like an equal to Cobb's Olympic acumen. Cobb takes his back though and rolls him on his shoulders yet a rope break keeps things alive. This was very shoot-style and fans of the BattlArts style will love this match. Yehi rides Cobb's back for some time while he tries to put some hooks in for a Rear Naked Choke or something but Cobb stands up with him and tries to pull Yehi's arm off. Innovative defense. Yehi has quite the scowl I must say. He also has a pretty swank guillotine choke but Cobb happens to have the swankiest of strength and he slings Yehi around like a bitch. A GODDAMN FLAWLESS DROPKICK BY MASSIVE COBB. Watching Cobb throw people around is a thing of beauty, like some kind of graceful Gary Albright or something. The reaction from the crowd when Cobb hits his standing moonsault is worth the watch on this alone. ***1/2