Friday, June 29, 2007

Xtreme Overload Preview

XTREME OVERLOAD
Sunday 15th July 2007
SECC, Glasgow

UNIFIED WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE:

Matt Morgan Vs Triple H
Three-time champion Matt Morgan must face his toughest challenge yet as the stern form of Triple H, the man who has the longest title reign in IWF history, stands in his way. Morgan, hot off a memorable series of matches with Finlay, has the momentum, but Triple H says that he has the history and will be the man to end Morgan's third reign as Unified World Champion. It's a championship match for the ages and is sure to be a cracker; but which man will walk away with the belt?

NO HOLDS BARRED:

Finlay Vs Tito Ortiz
UFC Superstar Tito Ortiz was seen as the only man tough enough to referee the final match of the brutal and violent Finlay/Matt Morgan series, but despite most impartial observers believing he did a Grade A job, Finlay insists that it was Ortiz who indeed cost him the match at Heat Wave, and he is desperate for revenge. Never one to takes things quietly, Finlay challenged Ortiz to a match. Never one to back down from a challenge, Ortiz was quick to accept and the scene was set for one of Xtreme Overload's most intriguing matches. Ortiz has scant experience of the squared circle, but will his power and strength be enough to overcome the guile and experience of the tough Irish Bastard Finlay? What is sure is that this will no be a match for the faint-hearted.

THE RETURN OF MERCY!

Matthew Mercy Vs Elijah Burke
Elijah Burke may well have bit off more than he can chew when he issued a challenge to "anyone and everyone in the IWF"; it's unlikely that he ever imagined that the man to take up the challenge would be the Hollywood superstar Matthew Mercy, who IWF Commissioner Dean Roberts announced to a shocked Burke would be taking up his challenge at Xtreme Overload. Although initially shocked, Burke regained his natural composure and stated to the world that he would take down the "part-time, washed-up B-movie star" although even with Mercy being absent from the IWF since MuscleMania, most onlookers would make him the favourite for this fascinating tussle.

EUROPEAN & UNITED KINGDOM TITLES:

CM Punk Vs Jay Reso
Since winning the Gold Rush match at Super Schiznit Sunday II, CM Punk has been on quite the proverbial roll, adding the European title to his UK title and successfully defending his Gold Rush privileges against Paul Wardle at Heat Wave. As Reso reminded Punk though, he has tasted one one-on-one pinfall loss in 2007, and that was to Reso at Shoot Out in February. Punk puts both his European and United Kingdom titles on the line in this fascinating match-up.

Murdoch & Cade Vs Sherlock Burchill & Dr. Lewington
The recent kidnapping of Xavier has been the talk of the professional wrestling world over the past few weeks, and it was only down to the superior sleuthing of Paul "Sherlock" Burchill and Steve "Dr." Lewington that the mystery was unravelled. Their efforts found Xavier and revealed that it was the dastardly duo of Murdoch & Cade who were the kidnappers, although not even their investigation has yet been able to ascertain who was behind the dastardly plot (although Burchill & Lewington have cleared the previous number one suspect Elijah Burke of any involvement and have had their suspicions about Xavier's former X-Rated buddy Jay Reso). In this special Xtreme Overload encounter, the detectives meet the kidnappers and the result is bound to be carnage.

Mohammed Fakjir Vs Babarbus Lashley
With Justice Porter Caged At Ringside!!!
Fakjir and Lashley had a close fought match at Heat Wave, which was only decided by the interference of the Head Of Security for Fakjir Enterprises, Justice Porter. Lashley and his fans were outraged and IWF Commissioner Dean Roberts listened to the views and signed this re-match...with one very important difference. Justice Porter will be locked inside a cage at ringside, rendering him unable to interfere in the match. Could the caging of Porter give Lashley the level playing field he needs for victory, or will Fakjir find a way to continue the impressive start to his IWF career?

WORLD WOMEN'S TITLE:
TWO OUT OF THREE FALLS


Rebecca Knox Vs Alexis Laree
Despite Knox's claims of favouritism with Alexis Laree, a friend of IWF Commissioner Dean Roberts, being named number one contender to the women's title, it's clear that Laree's great displays over the past few months have more than warranted her the spot. Mind you, the one woman Laree hasn't beaten recently is Rebecca Knox herself, with Knox taking the, controversial, pinfall victory at June's Prime Time event. Recent television outings have shown little difference between the two and so they will clash in this two out of three falls match at Xtreme Overload, with the Women's title on the line.

Randy Orton Vs Lance Hoyt
Orton took the challenge of Lance Hoyt lightly on a recent episode of Warfare and it led to what Orton himself called an "embarassing" loss by pinfall to Hoyt, who until recently had limited himself to tag team action alongside his friend Brian Kendrick. Orton was desperate for revenge and so challenged Hoyt to a pay-per-view match...a challenge that Hoyt was only too willing to accept. Orton says that Hoyt's luck is out and that the "natural order" will be resumed at Xtreme Overload; Hoyt says he has the ability to defeat Orton again. Which man will be proved right?


PLUS;

The return of Xavier

After the hellacious time Xavier has had of it in recent weeks, the IWF throws a "Welcome Home" party for Xavier. Having spent two weeks in captivity after being kidnapped by Murdoch & Cade, Xavier conducted a sit-down interview from home with Leticia Cline on a recent episode of Impact. Xtreme Overload represents the first time since the kidnapping that Xavier has set foot in an IWF arena.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Heat Wave REVIEW

1) Four Way Cruiserweight Title ( * * * )
What a way to kick off Heat Wave 2007. Whilst some people have questioned the fact that it featured three challengers who have only debuted for the IWF within the past four weeks or so that did give the match and exciting feel as few knew what to expect from it. Thanks to the fact there were 10 matches on the 3 hour card this probably didn't get the time it quite deserved but the quartet did make sure that all their big moves were brought out for the occasion. In the end it was Milano Collection AT who took the pinfall victory, much to the disgust of the crowd who had picked Mistico as their favourite, when he pinned Eric Young to lift the World Cruiserweight Title.

2) Mohammed Fakjir Vs Barabus Lashley ( * 3/4 )
As entertaining as the "Egyptian Playa" is and has been since his debut in the IWF it was perhaps a mistake to put him in the ring here with the limited and still very green Barabus Lashley. Still, Fakjir and his bodyguard Justice Porter are so hot at this moment in time that the fans were still hugely into this match and this contributed to a great atmosphere. Fakjir won after Lashely had been smashed by Justice Porter. Lashley was very upset afterwards, but it mattered little.

3) Burke & Jericho Vs Wilson & Smith ( * * 1/4 )
Semi-final one of the World Tag Team Title Tournament was little more than an ehxibition match for Burke & Jericho. The dynamic duo tried their best to make the Hart Foundation's TJ Wilson and Harry Smith look like credible challengers with a hope of beating them but no-one was really fooled. It came as little surprise then when Burke finished off Wilson with the Elijah Experience.

4) Xavier & Benoit Vs America's Most Wanted ( * * * 1/2)
Semi-Final two and if we hadn't already suspected all along that we were heading for a Burke & Jericho / Xav & Benoit final, the prematch confrontation where those two teams met backstage (as Burke & Jericho returned from their victory) pretty much confirmed it. But that didn't mean that this was a nothing match; indeed both teams were superb in this one and were holding nothing back for a potential final. After an immense back and forth encounter, Benoit made James Storm tap out to the crippler-crossface, and everyone had the final that they had wanted all along.

5) Edge Vs Samoa Joe ( * * )
This wasn't a bad match, but the two just did not click at all, which wasn't all that much of a surprise given Joe's apparent reluctance to adapt his style in any way to the IWF's way of doing things. That's not to say that he needs to become a clone, but that his stiff shoot style posturings are not enough on their own (witness how Finaly has adapted well to life in the IWF without unduly compromising his style). Plus Joe looked for the world as if he didn't think he should be losing this match, which he did when Edge finished him off with the Spear for the 1-2-3.

6) Jay Reso Vs Rhino ( * * * 1/4 )
These two at least had a better, more-heated match. Indeed the crowd welcomed this one after they'd been bored by the previous encounter. This was a tight, fast-paced back and forth encounter between two men who know each other well and whilst the build up has hardly been Oscar winning, the simple storyline of two former best friends falling out has been handled superbly. Of course Reso won, after an Unprettier, but even in defeat Rhino looked good. A good match all-round then.

7) Randy Orton Vs Triple H ( * * 3/4 )
Fighting merely because there wasn't anything set up for either man seperately, the crowd were a bit nonplussed at this one; they didn't know who they wanted to cheer but neither had they been given much indication by either the bookers or the wrestlers themselves as to whom they should be behind. The apathy seemed to spread to the wrestlers themselves as it was only in the closing stages that they really cranked it up. Still, that last section was one of the hottest portions of the match as the two traded attempts at their respective finishing moves before HHH finally hit the Pedigree for the 1-2-3...and no doubt marched a step closer to challenging whomever ended the evening World Champion.


8) Burke & Jericho Vs Xavier & Chris Benoit ( * * )
Well it was suposed to be Xavier AND Chris Benoit, but it ended up being just Benoit. Prior to the match Leticia Cline had done interviews with both teams, but as she did the one with Xavier & Benoit, somewhere in the rear of the buildling, a van screamed into the area, and two hooded men stepped out, clonked Xavier and Benoit and then dragged Xavier into the van before storming off as George Minister shilled it ("Good God almighty, this wasn't supposed to happen. Who were those bastards? Good god, did someone get the licence plate number...") as if his life depended on it. Benoit was as shocked as anyone and was going to follow the Van but IWF Commissioner Dean Roberts came rushing over with a troupe of security guards who were about to give chase. Benoit then decided to go it alone in the tournament final, which was another bad move. Despite his best efforts he finally fell pray to the Elijah Experience and Chris Jericho and Elijah Burke were crowned the new World Tag Team Champions.

9) CM Punk Vs Paul Wardle ( * * * 1/2 )
The fans have been really getting behind CM Punk in 2007 and as a result I doubt that either man has been in a more heated match in their IWF careers. The crowd were white-hot at the start...and the wrestlers did such a good job that the crowd remained at fever pitch pretty much throughout the entire match. The prize was a big one as well, with Punk's Gold Rush contract on the line, and that added an extra layer of intrigue. It looked as if Wardle was going to do it, but as he looked to finish Punk off with a variation on a super-plex, Punk blocked it and then hit his Pepsi Plunge off the top-rope for the hard fought 1-2-3. The Gold Rush contract remained his and the crowd well and truly improved.

10) Matt Morgan Vs Finlay (Tito Ortiz as Referee, * * * )
Main event time and initial trepidation over Finlay being involved in a top-line feud has evaporated. The Morgan/Finlay feud has been a good one and has been packed full of twist and turns. Indeed, what would be instore tonight with UFC Superstar Tito Ortiz as the referee? In the end it was Finlay who was rueing his participation. In the hot closing moments, Finlay went for his Shelaighly but Ortiz saw him and made his move to stop the Irishman. Finlay decided he wasn't having any of this but Ortiz knocked him cold with a superb punch and a Morgasm later, Morgan had retained his title.

A strange PPV event in many senses; Punk/Wardle and Xav & Benoit/AMW aside nothing really shined, but nothing well and truly stunk either. All in all it was an entertaining enough event, which never left itself time to be boring. Who knows what has happened to Xavier though....

Monday, June 11, 2007

IWF Prime Time - BUXTON BEACH BASH

International Wrestling Federation presents...


IWF PRIME TIME - Buxton Beach Bash
Monday 11th June 2007
Opera House, Buxton


Matt Morgan & CM Punk Vs Finlay & Paul Wardle


EIGHT MAN TAG TEAM MATCH;
Elijah Burke, Chris Jericho & America's Most Wanted
Vs
Xavier, Chris Benoit, Harry Smith & TJ Wilson


Triple H Vs Shelton Benjamin


WORLD WOMENS TITLE:
Rebecca Knox Vs Alexis Laree


EUROPEAN TAG TEAM TITLES:
Brian Kendrick & Lance Hoyt Vs Flavio Love & Loco Delgado


---------------------------------------------------------------


1) Eight Man Tag Match ( * * * 3/4 ) - Well the IWF Prime Time specials have returned...and what a way to kick them off with what was an absolutely superb eight man match involving the four teams that will contest the semi-finals of the World Tag Team Title Tournament at Heat Wave on Sunday. Shameless promotion for the PPV yes, but when the match is this good who can really complain. The end came when Elijah Burke pinned Hart Foundation 2.0 member TJ Wilson, after some chicanery from his buddy Chris Jericho. The fans loved this, we loved this...a great start to life back on terrestrial television.
2) Rebecca Knox Vs Alexis Laree ( * * * ) - How were the women supposed to follow that? Well, actually they followed it quite well. Yes, the fans were a little flat to start with but as the women cranked it up the fans really got into the match. It was proof positive that the women (well, some of them at least) of the IWF can actually go out there and work good matches. It looked as if Laree would pull it out of the bag, but as she went for the Laree-D-T Knox countered it with a roll-up, and a handful of tights ensured that she got the 3 count to retain her title.
3) Kendrick & Hoyt Vs Flavio & Loco ( * * 1/4 ) - Second title match in a row, but although we had relatively high hopes for this one, the end result was a trifle disappointing. All four men tried but something just didn't click for them, which was a shame. Still it wasn't a dreadful match by any means and did involve some breathtaking moves, especially for Kendrick. It wasn't enough to save his team's title though as Love hit a brutal Love Machine on him and got the pinfall, and the titles for him and his Bang Gang compadré. And to be honest, the match was worth the victor's celebration alone as the whole Bang Gang came out and danced to some crazy music like absolute buffoon's.
4) Triple H Vs Shelton Benjamin ( * * * ) - Triple H has been killing anyone he can get his hands on in the ring recently, and this was no exception. It was a good little tidy match though, which didn't go out of it's way to bury Shelton and kept HHH looking strong. All the more strong for winning such a competitve back and forth match. In the end, Tripper won with The Pedigree, which came as no real surprise to anyone.
5) Morgan & Punk Vs Finlay & Wardle ( * * 3/4 ) - Main event time, and more shameless shilling for the Heat Wave ppv. Still whilst technically this may not have been a great main event match, the crowd were into it and it was a hell of a lot of fun. Intriguingly, the fans seemed to be into Punk/Wardle as much as they were Morgan/Finlay, which made for a great atmosphere as well. In the end however, it was the bad guys who won it as Wardle pinned Punk following the Phenom-Press, which really sets up an interesting Gold Rush contract match at Heat Wave. As the show ended, Wardle & Finlay were celebrating...Morgan and Punk were commiserating.


A welcome return to terrestrial tv for the IWF and a good show to come back with too. Sure it all went downhill, match quality wise, after the fantastic opener but there was still enough high-octane action to keep everyone entertained. Here's to the next one!

Saturday, June 02, 2007

Li-Lo IS a Crack Whore after all

It is with regret that IWF films today announce that Lindsay Lohan has been removed from the cast of the upcoming film The Birds.

"We have reached a mutual agreement that Miss Lohan will cease filming immediately" was the comment from the division today.

However it has been revealed that Jessica Biel has struck a deal with IWF films to star in the film. Our sources stated "it's going to be hard work but it is feasible to reshoot the scenes starring Jessica. The really big high-tech scenes were still in the works."

It is thought Lohan has agreed for her fee for the movie to be drastically cut, as you would expect, in order to avoid any litigation.


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Latest picture from the set as Biel plays frisbee with Dean Roberts

Friday, June 01, 2007

US Tour Schedule announced

The International Wrestling Federation are pleased to announce that the dates for the North American Tour in October/November 2007 are now finalised. Tickets are available from all the usual outlets from tomorrow morning.

IWF North American Tour 2007

October

Friday 26th - Air Canada Centre, Toronto ON
Saturday 27th - Key Arena, Seattle WA
Sunday 28th - Rose Garden, Portland OR
Monday 29th - MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV WARFARE TAPING
Wednesday 31st - American West Arena, Phoenix IMPACT TAPING

November

Thursday 1st - Frank Erwin Centre, Austin TX
Friday 2nd - AT & T Centre, San Antonio TX
Saturday 3rd - All-State Arena, Chicago IL PRIME TIME
Sunday 4th - American Airlines Arena, Miami FL WARFARE TAPING
Tuesday 6th - Fed Ex Forum, Memphis TN
Wednesday 7th - Phillips Arena, Atlanta GA IMPACT TAPING
Thursday 8th - Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne IN
Friday 9th - Kemper Arena, Kansas City MI
Saturday 10th - Kansas Coliseum, Wichita KS
Sunday 11th - Target Centre, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Tuesday 13th - Alerus Centre, Grand Forks ND WARFARE TAPING
Wednesday 14th - Resch Centre, Green Bay WI IMPACT TAPING
Friday 16th - Florence Civic Centre, Florence SC
Saturday 17th - Richmond Coliseum, Richmond VA
Sunday 18th - US Bank Arena, Cincinnati OH NO REMORSE PPV
Tuesday 19th - Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh PA WARFARE TAPING
Wednesday 20th - Madison Sq Gardens, New York, NY IMPACT TAPING