Nightmare Report…

Alias Storm & Haas Vs JBL & Edge ( * * )
Oh, Edge & JBL were such a dynamic team when the Man Of Steel invitational threw them together that they’ve rode a wave of positive excitement towards their big chance at the World Tag Team Titles. Ok, so they haven’t. They’ve actually been as dull as you might expect in the ring (no matter how entertaining JBL can be as a character), and as such, they were only ever here to take the fall for the champions, which came when Haas pinned Edge.
Sean O’Haire Vs Batista ( * )
Man you’ve been on the edge of your seat during the bitter and episodic break up between this former World Tag Team championship team haven’t you?…what’s that?…you haven’t? Ah well. This was as plodding as you might expect; both men are more than capable of having good matches with good wrestlers, but neither can have good matches with bad wrestlers, and so this was power-based “wrestling” all the way, with little in the way of interest until O’Haire unveiled his ever impressive Seanton Bomb to get the 1-2-3.
Carlito Vs Paul Birchill ( * * ¾ )
As this was held in Puerto Rico, Carlito was one of the most over wrestlers on the card. Thankfully the IWF booking squad went with the flow and reversed roles for these two, enabling Birchill to play quite the intense heel. (Mark our words, he’ll turn heel for real before too long). But Carlito used some of his cheating tactics to get the win, much to the delight of his home crowd.
MNM, Wardle & Gibson Vs Saints, Jackson & Reso ( * * ½ )
A bit of a mess, as 8 man tags are wont to be, but this was decent enough and threw in enough hot moves to get the crowd interested. Wardle again looked like he was on a mission to steal the show, but it wasn’t enough to get his team the win, as it was Reso who finished Joey Mercury off with the Unprettier for the 1-2-3.
Shawn Michaels Vs The Big Gee ( * * * ½ )
What a pleasant surprise this was. Michaels kept up his sterling form as of late and Gee looked more focussed and interested than he has in a while. The result was a classic old school “David Vs Goliath” battle that really worked well. In the end, Michaels wrapped it up with a small package in what was a very competitive and entertaining affair.
Randy Orton Vs Xavier ( * * * ¼ )
Well it certainly looks like after his stellar 2005, Orton is being tested as the year draws towards a close. Hot on the heels of his loss to Triple H at Neon Blue, he went down here in an entertaining battle with Xavier, which Xav wrapped up with the Xav-attack. Still, Orton’s time will come, and this result should hopefully help to put Xav back on track too.
Matt Hardy Vs Triple H ( * * * )
A decent enough battle, albeit one that really didn’t do Matt Hardy’s quest to be a genuine top-liner any good. He just didn’t show the fire one would have expected him to do, and it came as little surprise in the end to see HHH go over via the Pedigree. Still, Hardy will get more chances, and a loss to HHH is nothing to be ashamed of.
Matt Morgan Vs Chris Kanyon ( * * * ¼ )
Can Morgan cut it as a champion? Well on this showing the suggestion is that he could. Whilst Kanyon carried the match (much like Angle did at Neon Blue), Morgan again more than held his own, and his psychotic heel personae is very effective indeed. Kanyon controlled the early going but Morgan gradually wore his opponent down. A flurry though by Kanyon looked like it might swing things his way, but the untimely re-appearance of Abyss tore the match away from Kanyon, as his return to IWF TV was enough to distract Kanyon for long enough for Morgan to hit the Morgasm for the 1-2-3, and his first PPV title defence was wrapped up successfully.

An average under-card was propped up by an entertaining final quartet of matches which, if not outstanding, where more than enough to keep the viewer entertained. As the stop-over between Neon Blue and Breaking Point, it did its job adequately enough.

NIGHTMARE 2005 - CARD

Nightmare 2005
Sunday 20th November 2005

Unified Triple Crown:
Matt Morgan Vs Chris Kanyon

Randy Orton Vs Xavier

Matt Hardy Vs Triple H

Shawn Michaels Vs The Big Gee

World Tag Team Titles;
Alias Storm & Haas Vs JBL & Edge

Sean O’Haire Vs Batista

United Kingdom Title;
Carlito Vs Paul Birchill

MNM, Paul Wardle & James Gibson
Vs
Second City Saints, Phil Jackson & Jay Reso