Xtreme Overload Card

“The Graduate” Phil Jackson Vs Carlito Caribbean Cool ( * * * )
Xtreme Overload kicked off with this battle for the UK title, which certainly had the crowd interested from the start. Jackson may well be the most popular “mid-carder” on the roster, and Carlito has been catching on fire recently. This was a quality opener which had just the right amount of big moves to get the crowd going, even if it didn’t quite have the ending that the fans wanted. Carlito grabbed a handful of tights, got the pinfall and lifted the UK title. Jackson was furious, but there was nothing he could do.
Randy Orton Vs Rob Van Dam ( * * ½ )
So this month it was RVD who was chosen to be Orton’s victim. You only have to hope that Orton’s victory here continues his upwards climb because it is clear that the IWF is in dire need of fresh blood at main event standard (Orton may have been in Heat Wave’s main event but he’s not quite a full-time headline act just yet). As you might have guessed Orton wrapped this up with an RKO.
Sean O’Haire & Batista Vs Eddy Guerrero & Chavo Guerrero ( * * )
One day they might find opponents the same size as the mammoth tag team champions, but for now, The Guerrero’s had to do. As you might expect a bit of their old Lie, Cheat and Steal ethos kept them in the hunt for the belts in this one, but it was never going to be quite enough. Eddy went for a Frog Splash but was hurled off the turnbuckle by Batista and then O’Haire hit his stunning Seanton-Bomb to get the 1-2-3 and retain the belts for his team.
Chris Kanyon Vs Abyss ( * * * ¼ )
Management obviously see big things in Abyss’ future, evidenced by him targeting Chris Kanyon on his very first night on Warfare. He certainly looked the part here; he’s not the lumbering big guy you might thing…Abyss can certainly move around in there. This was a very entertaining high-impact collision which certainly did suggest that management may be onto something with Abyss. And in a complete shocker he got the win here, although he did get help from his manager James Mitchell who threw him a chain which Abyss wrapped around his arm and then knocked Kanyon cold out with a beautiful punch. This feud is certainly far from over, but what a promising start it was for Abyss.
Annalise Roberts Vs Melina ( * * ¾ )
New girl in town Melina hasn’t made many friends in her short time here in the IWF, but she certainly looked the part in the ring as she took apart Annalise in the early going. However Annalise used all her experience to get back into contention and it looked as if it could go either way…at least until two men hopped over the guard rail. Whilst one of them distracted the referee, the other nipped into the ring and smashed Annalise with a DDT, allowing Melina to get the pinfall victory and lift the World Women’s title. In a post match interview, the men introduced themselves as Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro and said that along with Melina, they were to be known as MNM!
Kane & The Big Gee Vs The Undertaker & Xavier ( * * * )
The partner lottery match saw all four men’s names go into a draw to decide what teams would meet, which was all due to the massive four man brawl these men had on Impact recently. Or you could just say it was a novel way of getting a meaningful match out of it. Whatever, the results was actually pretty damn good. No-one was really getting along with anyone, but Kane & Gee seemed more willing to work together for the greater good, and in the end that’s what helped them to get the job done. Xavier had enough of teaming with ‘Taker and attempted to attack his own partner. Sadly ‘Taker didn’t go down and Xav felt the Tombstone from his own partner before Gee hit the Geesus Christ on Xavier to seal the win for his team.
Dean Roberts Vs Shawn Michaels ( * * * ½ )
These two have tore at each other verbally on TV leading up to this match, in some of the best promo segments in some while, and the two delivered in the ring as well. A masterclass in psychology, although Dean’s timing was out on a few moves, the two had the fans on the edge of their seats before they’d even really done any big moves, and once those big moves came out, the fans went wild. It was real back and forth stuff which looked like either man would grab it, but in the end it was HBK who took the spoils when he wrapped Dean in a small package for the 1-2-3. Dean was far from pleased with the result and seemed to suggest that this wasn’t over yet as he left the ring.
Kurt Angle Vs Triple H ( * * * * )
A MuscleMania rematch, although thankfully for once it didn’t headline Into The Darkness! A three month gap since their last meeting had heightened the tension for this one and many thought going in that this was to be the night when HHH reclaimed the World Title. But alas it was not to be. Although HHH hit a pedigree he was already wiped out himself and by the time he went for the pin, Angle just about had the wherewithal to kick out. As HHH looked on in disbelief he went to grab Angle but Angle reversed this into an Angle Lock and HHH tapped out in the centre of the ring, AGAIN! The crowd went wild as Angle celebrated.

A great show with a lot to recommend about it. It seems like the IWF are finally getting serious about getting new acts over, and couple this with some fantastic displays from the old guard and you had one of the best PPV’s of the year so far.

Xtreme Overload 2005 Card

Xtreme Overload 2005 Card
Sunday 17th July 2005

WORLD UNIFIED TRIPLE CROWN:
Kurt Angle Vs Triple H

THE ICON Vs THE SHOWSTOPPER
Dean Roberts Vs Shawn Michaels

WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES:
Sean O’Haire & Batista Vs Eddy Guerrero & Chavo Guerrero

WORLD WOMENS TITLE:
Annalise Roberts Vs Melina

Chris Kanyon Vs Abyss

PARTNER LOTTERY MATCH;
Kane & The Big Gee Vs The Undertaker & Xavier

Randy Orton Vs Rob Van Dam

UNITED KINGDOM TITLE:
“The Graduate” Phil Jackson Vs Carlito Caribbean Cool