Magnus Books The Midwest 11.16.07: Week 1 Results and More

I was disappointed to receive absolutely no feedback last week. This is simply not good enough and I expect some feedback this week if you read, even if it’s just a simple “Hey, great column” or “Hey, terrible column”. Then again, last week was just a summary of what this column will be about so I didn’t expect much.
Anyway, if you read, click that button at the bottom to contact me and let me know how I’ve done.

Anyway, enough with the rambling, let’s move on to the very first show. The card if you read last week went as follows-

Arik Cannon vs Tyler Black
El Generico vs Low-Ki vs Azrieal vs Matt Sydal
Sterling James Keenan vs Ricochet
Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli vs Eddie Kingston and B-Boy vs Josh Abercrombie and Marek Brave vs Mike Quackenbush and Jigsaw
Plus Shiima Xion has an open challenge

But before the show, some news-

Sterling James Keenan Warns Ricochet
Sterling James Keenan has issued a late statement warning Ricochet not to wrestle him tonight. He said the following

“Tonight Ricochet, I have a plan. But not just any plan, a ‘monstrous’ plan. Let’s just say that I have someone that really wants to meet you Ricochet, someone who will make you incapable of walking ever again. Who is he? Believe me Ricochet, when you can’t leave the ring under your own power tonight, you’ll know exactly who he is. Tonight Ricochet, you will be the first victim of a new era: The Sterling James Keenan era.”

Strong words. Who is this ‘monster’ that Sterling James Keenan is talking about. Will he end Ricochet’s career. You will find out tonight.

Title Tournament Forthcoming
Today we are pleased to announce that a new, unique title belt will be introduced, with a champion being crowned at our first big event, which will be titled “The Final Four”. It has received this title because, the tournament will have 16 competitors that will be whittled down to 4. The remaining four men will be in a No DQ, Four Way Elimination match, which will crowd our first champion.

We have the first round matches for you now. More information on the first four first round matches can be read after the show in next week’s preview, and the other four first round matches will be announced next week.

To take place Next Week
Takeshi Morishima vs Jigsaw
Josh Abercrombie vs Eddie Kingston
Matt Sydal vs Chuck Taylor
B-Boy vs Delirious
To Take Place Two Weeks From Now
Low-Ki vs Larry Sweeney
Azrieal vs Kevin Steen
Mike Quackenbush vs El Generico
Claudio Castagnoli vs Gran Akuma

All of these matches will take place on the next episode of Pro Wrestling Midwest TV next week, where details regarding this title belt will be announced. The rules will be completely unique, and you will find out next week why that is.

And now that the main news headlines for this have been covered, we move on to the show itself-

Ricochet is backstage to cut a promo

“Hi, Ricochet here. Tonight I have a match with Sterling James Keenan, where he’s apparently said that he’s going to reveal some kind of ‘monster’ that’s under his control that he’s using to take over this company. Well, I’m still going to go out there and give 110 percent whether…..”

Sterling James Keenan walks in

“Ricochet, Ricochet, Ricochet, buddy, are you sure you want to go through with this tonight. I mean, I wouldn’t want to see you get hurt. After all, if you do go out there tonight, someone might come out and injure you, and we wouldn’t want that. So I’ll give you one chance Ricochet. One chance to simply not go to the ring tonight for our match. If you do as I say, and value your career, then my monster won’t destroy you. But if you set foot out there tonight, your going to die.”

Sterling walks off, and Ricochet looks un-phased by what Sterling James Keenan has just said to him.

Tag Team Scramble- Josh Abercrombie and Marek Brave vs The Kings Of Wrestling (Chris Hero and ‘Double C’ Claudio Castagnoli) vs The New Blackout (B-Boy and Eddie Kingston) vs The Chikarmy (Jigsaw and ‘Lightning’ Mike Quackenbush)
An enjoyable and fast opening match, a good way to settle the crowd as well as get them into the show. The match went at quite a pace, and all wrestlers in the bout got to showcase both their teamwork and high flying abilities. It was the Kings Of Wrestling and The Chikarmy which looked the most cohesive due to their team’s experience teaming together in the past, and I wouldn’t mind seeing a series between those two teams. Meanwhile, there were seemingly issues not only with teams, but with other members of teams bearing grudges from the past. Chris Hero and Eddie Kingston seemed to be having real, visible problems with one another, and strangely enough so did Marek Brave and B-Boy. In fact, Brave and B-Boy ended up brawling all the way back to the locker room near the end. Josh got left all alone and was hat with the KRS-1 by Hero and Castagnoli, which lead to the three count. A confusing ending, but a good enough match- **3/4

The Kings celebrated their win in the ring after the match, but Eddie Kingston seemed far from impressed. He got right up in Hero’s face, then shoved him, and this lead to the two brawling. Jigsaw and Mike Quackenbush tried to break it up, only causing Castagnoli to start getting involved and soon a 3 on 2 brawl was breaking out. The KOW escaped as quickly as they could when they realised they were at a disadvantage, but a clear message was sent.
What do these issues mean. Will we see a Kingston vs Hero feud again? How does Eddie Kingston feel about his partner walking out to brawl with Marek Brave for no apparent reason? And how does Josh Abercrombie feel about this? Will he start getting involved as well? He was certainly quick to run to the back when he saw the brawl breaking out. I guess we will find out sooner rather than later.

Azrieal is now backstage ready for a promo

“Hi. Now for those of you who don’t know me, my name’s Azrieal, and I’m The Good Guy. I always do what’s right, what these people want me to do, and that is what’s good, pure and truthful. But it seems like these fan’s don’t appreciate it. Why? Because they boo me. There not supposed to boo me, I’m the Good Guy. Maybe these fans are too stupid to realise it, but I am what they want to be. I’m their hero, fighting for justice in a sport full of evils. Evils like Low-Ki, like Matt Sydal and like El Generico. And tonight, just like always, The Good Guy will prevail over The Bad Guys.”

Shiima Xion’s Open Challenge
Shiima Xion heads down to the ring, looking confident ahead of his open challenge. He get in the ring, and sprayed himself with some hairspray to prepare himself to boo’s from the crowd. What happened next would soon change Shiima’s attitude completely.

Some very ominous sounding music hit, and out walks TAKESHI MORISHIMA. The fans cheer and Shiima looks like he’s seen a ghost. Good luck, you’ll need it.

Shiima Xion vs Takeshi Morishima
Massacre anyone? Morishima dominated the bulk of this match, which for roughly 90% of the match was Morishima tossing Shiima Xion around the ring, and gets all of his signature spots in. Shiima looks out of it, but as Morishima goes for the Backdrop Driver to finish it, Shiima Low Blows him. Shiima uses the time to recover, and gets up a few seconds before Morishima does, who looks winded by the blow. Shiima pulls out some brass knuckles, but the referee spots them and takes them away. This was actually a smart if dirty distraction as Shiima sprays Morishima in the eyes with his hairspray. COVER FOR THE UPSET. 1-2-NO Morishima throws him off.
Shiima runs off the ropes as Morishima reaches his feet. LARIAT takes Shiima’s head off. BACKDROP DRIVER. 1-2-3. It’s over, and while Morishima pretty much won this as an extended squash, Shiima looks excellent for lasting as long as he did, and showing some in-ring smarts- **

After the match, Morishima offers Shiima a respectful handshake, but Shiima flips him off and leaves to boo’s. Morishima celebrates his win before leaving.

We now head to a sunny, outdoor area where Larry Sweeney is in street clothes, ready to cut a promo.

“For those of you who don’t know who I am, let me introduce myself. My name is Sweet and Sour Larry Sweeney, and I’m the future of the pro wrestling business. Now in the big tournament coming up, I’ve been drawn against a complete bum from New York, Low-Ki. Listen loser, I don’t care if you’ve wrestled around the world, or your some guy who wrestled chickens in his backyard, your going down at the hands of the Sweet and Sour one. When I beat you, and beat all the other bums in this tournament, I will be the champion, and then, we’re doing things on Sweet and Sour’s terms baby. And one things for sure, if and when I become champion, I’ll make sure we never come back to Illinois ever again to wrestle in front of a bunch of unappreciative morons who’ve never had a women in their lives before. Yes, my stipulation will be that this belt can’t be defended in this state ever again. Your looking at not only the ICW-ICWA Tex Arcana Television Champion, but the future Pro Wrestling Midwest, Sweet and Sour Larry Sweeney. Haha, I love it…”

You can here him rambling on about himself off camera as we leave.

We then head backstage, where we see Marek Brave lying on the ground, beaten up by B-Boy. B-Boy delivers a final kick to the face before walking off. As he heads around the corner, we see him talking to someone, and shaking their hand before walking away. Who was that?

Azrieal vs Low-Ki vs El Generico vs Matt Sydal
An interesting, very good and entertaining four corners match, the overall best on this show and one you shouldn’t miss. All four men looked impressive. Generico was his usual self, bringing the high flying and high impact moves he’s known for. Low-Ki basically chopped and double stomped the hell out of anything that moved, at one point Double Stomping Azrieal and El Generico at the same time while they were tied up in the ropes. Sydal was good but seemed a bit more full of himself than he usually does, although the crowd didn’t seem to catch on to it much, but there’s definitely a clear attitude change apparent in the way he wrestled. Azrieal was really entertaining if not the best wrestler in the bout, his ‘Good Guy’ character really caught on with the crowd and they were booing him. He would say “Don’t boo me, I’m the good guy”, then they would boo him and chant “Your the bad guy” to his anger. Low-Ki would pick up the win in this bout, pinning Generico after a sick Top Rope Double Stomp right onto his chest- ***1/4

We cut backstage to Eddie Kingston.
“Is seems like tonight, Chris Hero decided to get up in my face, and disrespect me. Well, you might have won tonight, but I’m not afraid to step up to you again and take you out of this business once and for all. I’m the last of a dying breed in this business, and it’s people like you Hero that kill it. And the next time I step in the ring with you Hero, I won’t be holding back on you. You’ll better be ready…”

Just then, Josh Abercrombie walks in.

“Whoa, whoa hold on there King, I have a few questions to ask you, like what your tag partner B-Boy was doing trying to injure my partner Marek Brave tonight. Because he wasn’t there to save me getting pinned I lost that match because of him.”

Kingston is quick to reply

“What B-Boy does is his own business, I had nothing to do with it. This whole New Blackout tab we got is nothing, I’m not his groupie or his tag partner, we just teamed up for tonight. If he has his own agenda against Marek Brave then that’s his business, so go ask him yourself. Besides, if you were half a good wrestler you wouldn’t have needed a partner, I didn’t need mine.
But little things aside Josh Abercrombie, you and me are stepping into the ring together for the first round of the Pro Wrestling Midwest Title Tournament. And while I know that your going to give me a challenge, the King Of Diamonds, The Last Of A Dying Breed in this sport has his eyes on that title, and I’m going to beat you on my road to that belt.”

Josh has a reply for Kingston.

“Oh I know your going to give me a challenge Eddie Kingston, but with this moustache and my wrestling skills, there’s no way I’m losing a one on one match with you. When the match comes, me and my moustache are going to beat you and everyone else in this tournament on the way to becoming the first ever Pro Wrestling Midwest Champion. Good luck”

Kingston leaves, and Josh rubs his moustache a little for the camera while looking smug as we head back to the ring.

Sterling James Keenan vs Ricochet
Very solid stuff, with both men impressive in the early going. Keenan tried to keep Ricochet from using his high flying style by grounding him, using whatever means necessary, and at times it felt like he was just buying some time. Ricochet fought back with high risk moves, and took the match to Keenan.
It was as expected, the ending that proved to be the most significant in this one. As Ricochet had Keenan down, going for the Double Moonsault, a huge man in a black and white Kane style bodysuit walks out to the ring. He pushes Ricochet off the top turnbuckle to the floor, and he hat the guardrail HARD. The ref obviously saw it and called for the DQ- **1/4

After the match, Sterling James Keenan calls for his ‘monster’ to finish the job. The man goes over to Ricochet and Body Presses him back into the ring. The man climbs into the ring and picks up Ricochet. HUGE CHOKESLAM. He grabs him by the throat double handed, then throws him up into the air, then CATCHES HIM IN TOMBSTONE POSITION. SITOUT TOMBSTONE, HIS HEAD BOUNCED OFF THE CANVAS, THAT WAS SICK! Sterling James Keenan is loving it, and the crowd are almost in awe of this man’s power.
Referee Todd Sinclair tries to help Ricochet, but the monster grabs him by the throat. He picks him up and Body Presses him TO THE FLOOR, THAT WAS UNNECESSARY.

Sterling James Keenan grabs a microphone.

“What did I tell you Ricochet? Didn’t I tell you that if you come out here tonight, my monster was going to come out and crush you like the insignificant bug that you are. You see Ricochet, this man is the future of this business, and you are just his first victim. His name is unimportant, it’s what he does in this ring that matters.
What happened to you tonight Ricochet, and what happened to that overweight referee is only a message. A message to show what will happen to anyone who tries to stop our reign of terror. We are going to takeover this company and rebuild it in my own image, and there’s nobody who can stop us. The Sterling James Keenan era has only just begun”

Sterling and his monster leave, as officials come out to help both Ricochet and the injured referee. While Todd Sinclair had to be carried out on a stretcher, Ricochet managed to leave under his own power, getting a large round of applause from the audience as a result.

Battle Of The Midwest- ‘The Anarchist’ Arik Cannon vs Tyler Black
This one was going well, it was a good showcase of two of the Midwest’s finest talents and made both men look great. Cannon did, like he said, anything and everything to try and get the win, cheating at every opportunity, and hitting very hard. Black wrestled fast and used high risk moves, while throwing some kicks as well that winded Cannon.
The reason is say the match WAS going well was because there was a move mid-match that ultimately changed the entire complex of this match. Cannon was in the corner, and Black came charging at him with a Dropkick, but Cannon moved and Black hat the corner Psicosis style, landing directly on the back of his head. Black looked seriously hurt and referee Bryce Remsburg checked him, and he looked out of it.
As Bryce tries to help him up and out of the ring, Cannon ATTACKS FROM BEHIND. BACKDROP DRIVER. He goes for the cover. 1-2-BLACK KICKS OUT, WOW. Cannon picks Black up, and hits a second BACKDROP DRIVER. He picks him up again. A THIRD BACKDROP DRIVER. 1-2-BLACK KICKS OUT AGAIN. The crowd is on their feet chanting “TYLER, TYLER”. Cannon picks him up again. BACKDROP DRIVER, BUT TYLER’S ON HIS FEET. Tyler goes for the Clothesline, but Cannon ducks. ENZIGURI BY CANNON. GLIMMERING WARLOCK. 1-2-3. Those last few minutes were off the charts, and Tyler’s fightback despite injury was incredible- ***1/2

Cannon celebrates his win after the match to boos from the fans. Tyler is still down looking seriously hurt, and officials run down to help him out. As they help Tyler to get out of the ring, CANNON ATTACKS AGAIN. BACKDROP DRIVER, THAT WAS SICK, HE FOLDED HIM IN HALF. Cannon looks to further beatdown Tyler, before tag partner Marek Brave, still looking very tired, runs out to make the save. Cannon runs off, but a clear message was sent here that Cannon will show no remorse to get a victory.

The show ends with Tyler Black finally being helped to the back by both his tag team partner and officials, who look worried for his health after this hellacious beating.

Well, that’s the show. Clearly there are many unanswered questions here tonight. Why did Arik Cannon try to injure Tyler Black? Who was B-Boy talking to backstage after beating down Marek Brave? Will Eddie Kingston and Chris Hero be in line for yet another feud in the new promotion? Who will be the next victim of Sterling James Keenan and The Monster? Who is the monster? And will Ricochet gain revenge seeing as he was able to walk out under his own power? You will have to wait until next week to find out.

Now onto next week’s scheduled matches. Here is the preview

Main Event, Title Tournament Match- Takeshi Morishima vs Jigsaw
The writing seems on the wall from the second this match was announced. However, while Takeshi Morishima has a lot of size, power and agility, Jigsaw has a lot of heart. And while he will be overpowered, no doubt, that doesn’t mean he won’t give 100% to get the biggest win of his career. Can Jigsaw defy the odds, or will Morishima maul Jigsaw like he did Shiima Xion.

B-Boy w/Julius Smokes vs Delirious
We all know that B-Boy has an attitude and a hard hitting wrestling style, but he has now displayed a new aggression with his brutal attack on Marek Brave last week for no apparent reason. He was also seen meeting another unknown wrestler backstage. Meanwhile Delirious wants to prove that he is capable of winning the big one by winning this title tournament, and his crazy antics are sure to frustrate the newly angry B-Boy. Who will come on top in this one?

Josh Abercrombie vs Eddie Kingston
There is an issue between these two men not actually caused by either of them but their tag team partners, as B-Boy, Eddie Kingston’s tag partner last week, attacked Marek Brave, Josh Abercrombie’s partner last week. However, Eddie Kingston has denied any involvement and has completely de-associated himself from B-Boy and manager Julius Smokes. Josh Abercrombie seems to think differently, and now these two men have a grudge to settle. Will this one explode into a wild brawl or will it be straight up wrestling?

Matt Sydal vs Chuck Taylor
Here we have two of the Midwest’s finest talents. Chuck Taylor has been a star on the rise for well over a year now while Matt Sydal has been a major indy star for several years. Both men can wrestle on the mat very well, while Matt Sydal can also take to the air and Chuck Taylor has been known to resort to anything to win a match. However, with Matt Sydal seemingly beginning to become a little full of himself, he may resort to some of Chuck Taylor tactics. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top in this one.

There will also be several non-tournament matches

Eight Man Tag Team, Title Tournament Preview – Azrieal, Larry Sweeney, Kevin Steen and Claudio Castagnoli vs Mike Quackenbush, El Generico, Low-Ki and Gran Akuma
This match has been designed by Commissioner Ian Rotten as a way of showcasing all eight men who will wrestle two weeks from now in the second half of the first round of the Title Tournament. It also throws in some interesting match possibilities as to what you could see in later rounds. Not only that, Azrieal and Kevin Steen plus Mike Quackenbush and El Generico are on the same sides but will wrestle in first round competition, plus tag partners Kevin Steen and El Generico are on opposite sides of the ring. Can these teams co-exist without going at each other’s throats, or will the teams collapse and brawl ahead of the title tournament next week.

Ricochet vs ‘The Monster’ w/Sterling James Keenan
Last week, Sterling James Keenan did almost everything he set out to do. He unveiled his ‘monster’ to the world, and he destroyed Ricochet in what was an amazing spectacle. However, he failed to do one thing: Ricochet was able to walk out under his own power. And Ricochet, possibly will more heart than brains has challenged The Monster to a match. Sterling James Keenan has accepted and Ricochet will attempt to do the unthinkable and defeat what looks like a near unstoppable opponent. Will Ricochet upset the odds?

Plus Arik Cannon and Marek Brave will both be in singles action. And Tyler Black will address the fans on his attack by Arik Cannon last week. All that and more next week on Pro Wrestling Midwest TV.