I waited a little bit before doing this write-up because Battleground Pro Wrestling had not updated their youtubes. I was expected it later in the day, but maybe next week. Let’s get to the shows that we are able to watch.
American Wrestling Federation Sunday Shockwave
Josh Price starts the show talking about the Extreme Match in Elk River. “No matter who my opponent is gonna be, the winner is gonna be me.”
Josh Price vs. Tony Denucci
I like that right as the match starts, we get a graphic telling us the date, location and wrestlers involved in the match. This one is from the 10th Anniversary Show.
We do not have DJ Draper again.. I wonder what happened. The commentators point out that Benny Stacks is at ringside. They say it will help Josh Price. Based on previous shows, I would say Benny Stacks is not a help to his wrestlers. When Orin was wrestling Jacob Savage, Benny was involved. It was a TLC match and Benny had his goons help Orin for a bit but sent them to the back just as Orin was getting pinned. He also was trying to help Jeff Jennings when Stacks only got in the way. He might be a distraction to DeNucci but he is not effective.
Tony jumps from the apron to the outside and Price falls down in front of a kid with a “Rules are for Fools” T-Shirt. That fits this match perfect!
These two are already wrestling in the crowd. As typical with AWF matches, when they are in the crowd, the camera man struggles to catch all the action. The camera is able to catch a few chair shots. Price tries to pin DeNucci but it took the ref a good few seconds to get into position. Commentators say DeNucci has a bad back and hip.
Price was Irish whipped over the barricade and front flipped onto the gym floor. Price is able to fight back by throwing Tony into the railing. The crowd is reacting to everything.
Josh Price embraces his inner ring crew and loosens the bottom rope. Benny chokes Tony and the commentators are sure to point out it is legal. Even though they just said that Benny lets go and walks around. Stacks slaps DeNucci a few times, and Tony has had enough. He goes outside and takes care of Stacks.
Josh takes the turnbuckle off the rope and starts choking and beating DeNucci with the turnbuckle. Price covers Tony with his foot looking very confident. DeNucci is able to kick out. Price takes the loose rope and chokes Tony out.
I am not sure what the storyline going into this match is. I don’t know what the story of the match is other than “this is a fight.” Tony does take a pizza pan shot right to the head unprotected and my brain instantly cringes. We have learned so much about brain trauma in the past 10 years, I can’t really enjoy the unprotected head shots. Even though he is the owner and in the main event, I still don’t think it is worth it. Price takes a trash can and does headshots also. The commentators even bring up getting the NFL in here to check for concussions.
Tony starts to fire up and is able to stun price with two or three chest slaps. Then Price takes an unprotected trash can shot to the head. Tony then lays the trash can on Price and dives off the top rope for the win.
And I’m Like… They did some dangerous spots in this match. They are in charge of their own lives and can do what they like but… It was a little unnerving for me to watch. There wasn’t much emotion storyline wise, but these two were able to get the crowd involved. Let’s hope Tony’s back and hip aren’t too bad.
Apostle 13 has a chance to speak. He speaks in Spanish though.. I don’t know Spanish, there aren’t any subtitles… He starts speaking in English but I can’t understand him still.
Antonio Marquez vs. Apostle 13
This too is from the Elk River show. I only know Apostle from the Spanish commercials where Apostle beats up a lawyer or something.
There was a great sequence that the commentators call “the lucha’s” Marquez is crazy, he does a nice hurricanrana and then a few seconds later does a swan flip to the outside onto Apostle.
The camera work is very nice. There are three camera angles and the editing between the shots flows better than it has before. The commercial breaks are timed well also.
We come back with Apostle playing to the cro.d and getting some near falls. Marquez channels his inner Strongbow and tries to go “on a warpath”. Apostle tries for a moonsault but Marquez is able to get out of the way.
Antonio hits a running shooting star press for two. Marquez keeps the momentum on his side for another pin attempt. Once Apostle kicks out both men stagger to their feet. Commentators say “Lucha has a history where they go and go and then they need a break” lol.
Two kids in the front row are doing the Kalisto “Lucha” taunt at Apostle 13. Antonio hits a Codebreaker and tries for a Swanton Bomb and misses.
Apostle sets up Marquez in between his legs and takes his shirt off. Antonio then gets hit with Angels Wings by Apostle 13.
And I’m Like… That match was fun. I liked how the two matches contrasted in styles. The commentators need some work, because that “Lucha has a history” line was hilariously ill prepared. On Raw you see Byron, JBL, and Cole have papers upon papers for reference points. Maybe that should be done here. I like this episode, it went by faster than normal.
Here are the upcoming shows for AWF.
If you wanna be a WRESTER, you can check this out.
The commentators were Sholly Blustin and Jay Soltis. I don’t know who was who, but that’s who they are.
Steel Domain Wrestling’s Championship Wrestling from the Twin Cities
HOLY CRAP!! The first time AWF has the graphic on the bottom to tell us who is in the match SDW does it too!! Sweet! Now all we need is to get introduced to the commentators like how Bill Mercer and Gordon Solie were introduced.
Brick McCarthy vs. Ricky Love
Ricky Love comes out as Mick Karch tells us he is a great talent and the fans love him. The only time I have seen Ricky is when he was champion of AWF. He was a bad guy in AWF but seems to be a good guy here.
“Ricky Love” chant from the crowd. Brick goes to the outside of the ring and yells at the crowd for chanting for Ricky Love. The commentators point out that there is one McCarthy fan in attendance and they are shocked.
We get the test of strength tease but Brick will switch hands when Ricky goes to lock up. Ricky and Brick have a pose down that the commentators say “is Jesse The Body and The Crusher posedown circa 1981.
Ricky caught a kick of Bricks and was able to initiate the test of strength. Once they went to the outside, Brick tried to slap Love but hit the turnbuckle post. Ricky takes McCarthy’s injured hand and high fives the crowd. Ricky is dominating.
Ricky is having his way with this match and keeping the fans entertained throughout. Love went for a pin after a body slam but got two. Brick hit a YUGE clothesline and it flipped Ricky inside out.
It’s weird how Jay Soltis is the referee on SDW and the commentator on AWF. I wonder if he commentates the match in his head.
The match slows down when Brick puts a chinlock on Ricky Love and once Love loses his energy so does the crowd. Mick was putting over how the fans are Love’s 12 man if you will. Taking them out of the match would do wonders for Brick.
Ricky takes a fantastic back body drop. After some back and forth wrestling Ricky rolls out of a corner, rolls through, Brick chases Ricky to the corner but Love is able to springboard elbow Brick in a wonderful sequence.
Brick was able to kick out of a flatliner near fall. Soltis sells it tremendously.
Ricky Love goes for a victory roll and Brick counters into a pin attempt of his own. McCarthy uses the ropes for leverage and gets the win.
We get an interview with Brick McCarthy who is Chadwick Wentworth III’s caddy. Brick delivers very pro wrestling, pro wrestling promos.
Ricky Love gets in the ring to talk. “Ricky Love” chants from the crowd. Ricky says it fels good to be back in Minnesota. Announcer asks what Ricky has planned after losing his first match back. Ricky says he has his sights set on the “North States Heavyweight South Steel Domain Championship.” I think he misspoke there.
And I’m Like… That match was fun and entertaining. The first part of the match had a story about Brick’s hand, but it kinda fell apart at the end. Ricky is kind of a treasure, he was good as a heel in AWF, and knew how to suck up to the crowd here. I can’t wait to see Ricky challenging for the North States Heavyweight South Steel Domain Championship.
Mangler vs. Craven Knyte
lol the name Craven Knyte. Craven looks like the best wrestler in Minnesota, his name is just so ridiculous. The Mangler is from Russia… That is awesome. He is like two of the greatest 80’s gimmicks rolled into one.
The announcers don’t know a lot about the Mangler! There is a good sequence of collar and elbow wrestling. The commentators are telling us that the ref looks like Marty Miller and they keep telling the viewer to just look at the referee. That doesn’t help the match much.
Mangler wrestles like he watched a video called “great heel tricks from the 1980’s” Mick is shocked that have the crowd is chanting “let’s go Mangler”. Mangler taunts a bit after a big move and that cost him the three.
Craven pulls himself into the ring and does a blockbuster on Mangler. The commentators are talking about their favorite masked men. I think they are as bored with this math as I am.
Craven hits his five moves of doom and tries to knee Mangler directly in the face. Mangler has the match well in hand and is doing better no all fronts.
Except when I type that. Knyte was able to hit some very innovative offense and ended up getting a three count.
And I’m Like… That match almost put me to sleep. It was hard payng attention when the commentators were telling me to look at different things. Hopfully there is some more matches like the first one next week. I was a big fan of Ricky Love!
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Have a good one
-Jake