IWL 09/21/14
Sept 21, 2014 14:51:06 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2014 14:51:06 GMT -7
CHIBA, JAPAN
Yesterday in Tokyo, the IWL debuted with the start of their Heavyweight title tournament. Today in Chiba we continue that tournament while beginning the tournament to crown a Tag Team champion. Much like the Heavyweight title tournament, invitations had been sent to small independent promotions around the world, and they found their own ways to determine who they would send to compete and bring their region glory.
Tonight, one tournament continues while another begins, and the lights go out to signify the start of the show!
Rob Cavallo & Alex Michaels vs. Troy Knight & Travis King
The team known as "The Perfect Future" of "Perfection" Alex Michaels and "The Future" Rob Cavallo would take on the British team of "Sexy Royalty" in a short, formulaic opener that saw the "Royalty" try to cut off the ring early, working over Cavallo, but after a hot tag to Michaels, the tide shifted. Knight and King were doing some pretty good selling throughout and made "The Perfect Future" out of Pennsylvania look like a million bucks, and the match came to an end with a Double Flux Capacitor on King, leading Cavallo to pin and get the three, advancing his team in the tournament.
Drake Vinaldi & Will Bauer vs. Victor Scott & Bryan Murkin
This match had a bit more fire and spunk than the last one, and a Hell of a lot more character, as the team of "Murderous Intent", Vinaldi & Bauer, took on the rogue bikers "The Unforgiven", Scott and Murkin. These two teams were all about smash mouth action, and they fought up and down the aisles here in Chiba. Scott would think he had the match won after hitting a Victinmizer (Cradle Tombstone Piledriver) on Bauer, but Vinaldi would come off the top with the Lunatic High (Diving Double Stomp) to the back of his head to knock him out and get the win for "Murderous Intent"!
Chris Sublime & Matt Vapor vs. Chris Powers & Michael Magnum
Sublime and Vapor go by the name of "Colorado's Most Wanted", even though they hail from the Tennessee area. Powers and Magnum are known as the "The Over Achievers" and definitely had a smug air about them, and didn't seem to like or respect the "burn outs" across the ring from them. Both teams showed some impressive double team skills, but there just didn't seem to be much story here, as this seemed to be more about hitting flashy moves as opposed to drawing the crowd in. Magnum would end up getting Vapor up on his shoulders in the Electric Chair position, leading Powers to fly off the top turnbuckle to deliver a Rocker Dropper, leading Magnum to get the cover and the "Over Achievers" advance!
Naoki Konaka & Koji Yamada vs. Kendal Carter & Quincy James
Konaka & Yamada have been tag team champions in multiple indie promotions around the island of Japan, while Carter & James have been long time friends and recent partners from the New York area who managed to win a tough qualifying match over the more experienced team of Rob Campbell & Brett Conwell to end up here in Chiba. Carter and James would stun Yamada early with quick tags and tried hype up the typically more subdued Japanese crowd with their antics and high energy offense, but that wouldn't be enough to get them the win tonight. Despite a strong effort, Konaka would manage to surprise James from behind as he prepared to dive out onto Carter, leading him to hit a Reverse Superplex, and that would be enough to keep the Queens, New York, native down for the three! Konaka & Yamada advance in this tournament and the fans approved.
Ryu Malik vs. Damon Black
"The Chemical Burn" Malik had an impressive showing against Daniel Shine yesterday in Tokyo, while Black barely escaped the wrath of Andor "The Scourge" Farago, and tonight was no easier for "Big Daddy Cocoa". The Singapore-born Malik would manage to take the opening barrage from Black in stride and use his ring presence and skills to counter him and make him pay. Malik would ultimately wear down Black with a vicious ground and pound approach, but Black would make his way back into the match and tried for something high risk to pay him some dividends. This approach would fail, as Malik would hit the ropes, crotching Black and pulling him off onto his shoulders and into his "Earthquake Generator", leading to a three count and advancement to the semi-finals!
Jack Colville vs. Komodo
"The Ripper" Jack Colville would survive a hardcore beating from Shawn Walsh in the opener, while Komodo had to deal with a Hell of a brawl from his brother, Malice, in order to get here tonight. Colville and Komodo are very similar in style when you get right down to it, both having a high impact, martial arts laden style and excellent ground game, making for an interesting, if somewhat sterile showing, as neither man seemed to show much passion here. This seemed more like an exhibition as opposed to a battle to the death, which it probably should have been given the title hanging in the balance, but after working so hard the day before and taking such a pounding, it just seemed like neither man wanted to take this match out of second gear completely. It was still a decent contest over all, and Komodo managed to snag the win, escaping "The Impaler" and locking on a Dragon's Wrath (Dragon Sleeper with Body Scissors) to get the submission win.
Sean Walker vs. Rohan Malhotra
Malhotra was able to overcome "H Double" Hunter Hendricks in a spirited battle yesterday, while Sean Walker barely survived a war with Sakichi Sato, and now they found themselves here, ready for yet another war. While some of the earlier matches on this show may not have delivered to full affect, when you put these two in the ring, it's guaranteed fireworks, and they did not disappoint. Much like Hendricks, Walker is the type of persona Malhotra doesn't have much taste for: a well to do white guy who, as Malhotra perceives it, tries to hold others down, especially minorities. Despite what the "Minority Militant" thinks, Sean "Thunder" Walker is a man of the people, and there is a reason: he delivers and overcomes, and the fans can't help but get behind him. Walker found himself once again in a situation where he opponent was quicker and more agile, and Malhotra tried his damnedest to use that to keep the California native down, locking on his Sun Setter at one point, looking for the choke out, but Walker would get to the ropes and escape. Walker would end up avoiding the Che Viva La Revolucion from Malhotra, and delivered a big Spear, followed by a move he calls the Thundercrash (Wrist-Clutch transitioned to Short-Arm Lariat) to knock Malhotra out cold for the three count!
Kenzo Katana vs. Alex Berlot
Kenzo Katana very barely survived his match with the bigger and very aggressive Irishman, Roderick Brookes, in the opening round of this tournament. Berlot would have a difficult time putting away AJ Cross, but he was able to control a good portion of that match and looked like the favorite going into this one. Berlot calls himself "Mr. Canada" and "The Best. Wrestler. Ever." and while both of those nicknames are up for question, it is true he is an impressive talent and one to be watched and not taken lightly. Katana, though, would have a better time facing Berlot than he did Brookes, due to Berlot being closer to him in size, as that created a big problem for the smallish Katana, facing a man of 6'03" and 263 lbs. At 5'11", 220, Berlot was more the speed of the 5'09", 215 lbs. Katana, and they were able to tell a great story here tonight. Berlot would lose favor with the crowd in this match, which he had gained the night before Tokyo, by showing Katana no respect and mocking him as he worked over his left leg relentlessly. Berlot would lock on his Canadian Mapleleaf (Elevated Half Crab) time and time again, just trying to wear down Katana to the point of tapping, but Katana would not stay down. Berlot would also show his technical skills by escaping the move Katana used to beat Brookes in the previous round, the Katana Clutch, but in the end, would get caught with a flurry of kicks and open hand strikes, followed by a Running Single Leg High Knee to knock him out and get Katana the victory! Katana advances, but he's had a very hard road to travel to do so. He doesn't look like much of a winner at the end of this one.
