Round 1
Saturday 8th May, Walthamstow Assembly Halls
Rob Van Dam Vs Simon Starshot ( * * * ¼ ) – An exciting match that featured plenty of high risk and high flying moves from both competitors, with the fans being quite partial to both men. In the end though RVD’s more spectacular move-set won him the day and he polished off Double S with a picture perfect Five Star Frog Splash.
Bradshaw Vs Xavier ( ½ * ) – If we did not know quite what to expect from this match, it still didn’t come as that much of a surprise to see that the end result was bloody awful. Xav tried, he really did, but he was pissing in the wind here. The only plus point, and it wasn’t really much of a plus point considering that Xavier was supposed to be the heel , was that there was serious rejoicing from the fans as Xavier well and truly kicked John Layfield’s sorry ass. Xav took the win following a Xav-Attack.
John Cena Vs Ashten Drake ( * * ) – In complete contrast to Bradshaw, John Cena was a PWF guy who everyone knew would bag an IWF contract, and the IWF fans have also been quick to acknowledge him as a serious player. This was a tidy little match up, without ever threatening to explode, but it was entertaining enough. Cena took the win with an F-U.
Charles Haas Vs Billy Kidman ( * * ½ ) – Haas showed considerable presence here in this one, presence that Billy Kidman seems unable to replicate these days which is quite a shame for a once prominent member of the IWF mid-card roster. This was decent stuff, although it was Haas all the way. It came as no surprise when Charles finished off Billy with the Haas Attack.
Kevin Nash Vs Lance Storm ( Sq ) – Oh dear. With Nash having a ppv date with Xavier upcoming at Into The Darkness, the bookers elected to keep him strong and poor Lance Storm drew the short straw. Nash made his way into the ring, laughed off Storm’s initial flurry of offence, kicked him in the gut and then finished him off with the Jack-Knife for an easy pinfall victory inside an insulting twenty seconds. Still as an exercise in keeping Nash strong for ITD it did it’s trick, especially considering that the crowd seemed to love it.
Matt Morgan Vs Jamie Knoble ( Sq ) – Another squash match here, and whilst there was nothing much to it, it was an exciting blast of power wrestling from Morgan, who won easily with his Moriginator finisher. Another one the fans loved.
Edge Vs Matt Hardy ( * * * ½ ) – Finally there was more solid technical action, as these two put on quite a show. As this was the only match on this night to have any real kind of storyline background to it (the two being on opposing sides in a tag match at MuscleMania XIII) there was also a great deal of heat during this one too. The two had a back and forth battle and they matched each other every step of the way, but in the end it was Edge who prevailed as he avoided a Twist Of Fate attempt to hit back with an Edgecution of his own for the pinfall victory.
Chris Kanyon Vs Mark Jindrak ( * * ¾ ) – This was a very entertaining match indeed, with the crowd really into it throughout. Granted it wasn’t a great technical match in most respects but this was great stuff from an entertainment point of view, and at times it was very funny too. Kanyon did just enough to get Jindrak over as a threat without ever truly looking like he was going to get beaten, and in the end he won the match with the Kanyon Kutter and sent the fans home happy.
Sunday 9th May, JJB Arena - Wigan
Chris Jericho Vs Brian Kendrick ( * * * ½ ) – This was a very good match indeed. Although it featured the Cruiserweight champion Kendrick, Jericho treated him pretty much as an equal which made the match. Kendrick was superb as the heel and Jericho looked like his inevitable “official” baby-face push will work. In the end Jericho won a close run call when he made the valiant Kendrick submit to the Lion-Tamer.
Jay Reso Vs Acid ( * * * ) – With two heels in there (and unlike the previous match, no inclination to really cheer anyone) the crowd were a bit dead for this match. Which was a great shame, as this was very decent stuff indeed. In the end, interference from Ashten Drake was nullified by retaliation by Matt Hardy and Jay hit the Unprettier for the pinfall victory.
Ron Simmons Vs Kurt Angle ( * ) – Why oh why. That’s the question every time we see one of the APA in an IWF ring. Still, they’re here now so what use is complaining? Angle made a decent effort, but Simmons was washed up four years ago, and there was really no saving this one. Angle won via the angle slam, a match result which left the fans deliriously happy.
The Big Gee Vs Phil “The Graduate” Jackson ( * * ½ ) – This clash of two stars who call Wigan their hometown certainly got the hometown fans on their feet. It’s doubtful that Jackson has ever been so well received in an IWF ring, and although the old-school IWA fans in attendance helped swell the reaction, its clear that his big win at MuscleMania XIII has given him some credibility with the IWF faithful. And his credibility soared in this one too as he got a huge pinfall victory over the Big Gee, following a roll-up when the Gee was distracted by arguing with the referee. Gee was livid afterwards but Jackson was smart enough to get out of the way and so it was the ref who felt the force of a devastating Gee-Bomb.
Rick Shaw Vs Eddy Guerrero ( * * * * ) – Another home town boy got a great reception here, with Shaw being very over with the crowd. Eddy, subtly playing the heel role to perfection here, helped matters too with a wonderful display which really did get Shaw over as a super-star. Alas in the end Shaw couldn’t pick up the victory, falling prey to the Frog Splash, but the two shook hands at the conclusion of the bout, to a rousing ovation from the fans.
Rhino Vs Raven ( * * * ¼ ) – This was old ICW style hardcore wrestling at its most reckless. The two battered each other with all manner of objects (which the referee let pass for some reason or another) as the crowd bayed for blood. In the end Rhino got the win following the Gore, in a match which will no doubt be highly edited when Channel 5 show the highlights!
Jeff Jarrett Vs Sean O’Haire ( * * ½ ) – Of all the recent PWF signings by the IWF, Jeff Jarrett was the one with the biggest IWF history behind him, having been World Champion back in 1996 and been given a main event chance again in 2000, and whilst no one seriously expects him to scale those heights again in this tenure he has settled in nicely and he showed here why he can be considered a dependable act. O’Haire on the other hand seems to be stuck in a rut so it was no surprise when Jarrett made him tap out to the Figure-Four leglock. Decent enough match too.
Bill De Mott Vs Randy Orton ( * * ¾ ) – This was a decent enough affair, with the former Hugh Morrus putting in one of his usual inconsistent displays, noticeably missing a couple of spots. But Orton looked his usual cool self and picked up the pinfall victory after De Mott had missed a moonsault attempt (this being an intentional miss if you get my drift).
