Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Review of Free Matches from the Independent Wrestling World Part 1

CM Punk vs. Colt Cabana from FWA British Uprising 2003

This was considered an international guest match…the commentators and the crowd took a real liking to Colt…Colt threw Punk into the guardrail and then hit his beautiful Asai Moonsault…Punk did some theatrics as if he was about to do something huge but instead he just put on a headlock…Punk went for a middle rope splash but Colt caught him and gave him a butterfly driver…they had a real fun finishing sequence…Colt hit this weird Celtic Cross neckbreaker, but Punk came back with a reverse hurricarana…Punk then hit a great Pepsi Plunge to get the win…this was a really fun match…crowd immediately took to both wrestlers and the match which made for a good atmosphere as well
Rating: ***3/4

Bryan Danielson vs. Super Dragon from EPIC WAR 2003

Apparently the match is for the APW Internet Title, whatever that is. Also, apparently this was the first episode of EPIC WAR.

Excalibur is on commentary (and in Super Dragon’s corner), which is awesome. Excalibur explains that Danielson was trained in Texas and that Texas is a “terrible, terrible place.” They started trading kicks and then kicked each other’s shins at the same time. Danielson went for a big forearm, but Super Dragon catches him in a cross armbreaker. That move would have been more over with the crowd if this wasn’t before the UFC explosion. Excalibur and Disco Machine attacked Danielson from the outside. Super Dragon started to work him over after that. Danielson came back with some chops and started working over Super Dragon’s arm. Super Dragon got free for a moment and got a good nearfall. Super Dragon gave Danielson some Kawada kicks, and then hit an awesome piledriver. They started trading big elbows, until Super Dragon finally knocked Danielson down. Super Dragon went to finish him, but Danielson kicked Super Dragon’s injured arm, which allowed Danielson to get the upperhand. Danielson hit a diving headbutt but Super Dragon kicked out at two. Super Dragon blocked another big discus elbow, and turned Danielson inside out with a lariat. Another big lariat! Danielson kicked out at 2! Super Dragon hit a springboard spinning leg lariat, but Dragon put his foot on the ropes to avoid the pin. Danielson hit an enzugiri, which made Excalibur and Disco Machine to attack him some more. Back in the ring, Super Dragon went for a monsault, but Danielson crotched him and hit a super back suplex. Super Dragon avoided cattle mutilation and hit a tiger suplex for a nearfall. Super Dragon followed that up with a SUPER BLUE THUNDER BOMB: 1…2…NO!!!! Super Dragon calls for the Psycho Driver, but Danielson escapes and hits a bridging Regal-Plex: 1…2…NO! CATTLE MUTILATION! THE REF CALLS FOR THE BELL!

Excalibur and Disco Machine attack Danielson after the match, but Samoa Joe and Brian Kendrick run in to make the save. Joe stares down Super Dragon, but Joe turns on KENDRICK AND DANIELSON! PSYCHO DRIVER TO DANIELSON!

This match ruled. Just watch it. Now.
Match Rating: ****

Tyler Black vs. Johnny Gargano from AIW Destroy Everything 2008

Tyler Black demands that the time limit be cut from 30 to 15. Gargano looks so minor league compared to his current look (and his current look involves a faux hawk). Tyler immediately started stalling, walking around the ring, and demand that the play-by-play guy rub his shoulders. The match featured a lot of good action, and I had a feeling that they would have an awesome match today. Match ended in a 15 minute draw after Johnny had the match won with the Hurt’s Donut. Johnny challenged Tyler Black to a 30 minute Iron Man Match for the title at the next show
Match Rating: ***1/4

Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Salvation from NWA Legends Fest 2010

Dragon was messing with Salvation including pulling out some Ultimate Warrior moves…Zalvation took offense to this and slapped Dragon; Dragon proceeded to get serious and work over Salvation…Salvation cut him off, but Dragon quickly came back with a running lariat, suicide dive, and a missile dropkick…they had a nice finishing sequence, where Salvation hit some cool moves (including a pop up RKO) but he eventually he fell victim to the LeBell Lock…Good match which had some nice basic character work of Salvation having one of the biggest matches of his career against a guy who “just wanted to be the Warrior”
Match Rating: ***1/4

Scorpio Sky vs. Joey Ryan vs. Johnny Goodtime from Mach 1 Wrestling 2010

Lots of three way spots early on…Ryan and Goodtime got sent to the outside and Sky hit a big sommersault plancha on them (unfortunately the hard camera doesn’t move so we didn’t see the landing)…Goodtime then hit a sommersault plancha of his own (which again the camera missed)…Goodtime came off the top rope but he ate a superkick by Ryan, who then ate a superkick from Sky, who pinned Goodtime for the win…FUN match
Match Rating: ***

Akira Tozawa vs. Zack Sabre Jr. from Magnum Pro Wrestling Battle Royale Cup 2011

They started out on the mat, trying to lock in a submission. Eventually, they both ended up in the ropes. They stood up and started to try to land some strikes. They ended up on the ground again, and they went for more submissions. Once again, they ended up in the ropes. They stood up again, but Zack managed to get another cross armbreaker! Tozawa made it to the ropes though. Zack tried to get another submission but Tozawa escaped and hit a saito suplex. Tozawa followed that with a pair of running forearms in the corner, but once again Zack was able to get a (not fully extended) cross armbreaker. Tozawa escaped and hit a big German. Zack tried to get the win on several rollup attempts, but Tozawa survived. Finally, Zack rolled through on a Backslide attempt and got the win.

This was really good. I wish they played to crowd a little more to get them involved, but even without that, the match still worked. I hope these two get a biggest stage one day to really let loose.
Match Rating: ***1/4

Low Ki vs. Sami Callihan from JAPW World Wide Special 2011

They show Sami confronting Ki at an autograph table…Callihan is calling him out essentially, and they get in a shoving contest…Callihan jumps Ki as he enters the ring…apparently, Callihan is a part of a stable that is trying to take out the original JAPW wrestlers…Awesome Spot: Ki hits a running suicide Warrior’s Way to a standing Callihan who was already outside the ring…Ki was in control for most of the match but he got caught during a handspring move (which he was doing for the second time in the match)…Ki hit the running kick and was going to hit the Warrior’s Way but Chris Dickinson distracted him…Monsta Mack took out Dickinson, which allowed for Ki to win with the sleeper…Jon Moxley then came out to attack Mack…Moxley and Dickinson then attacked Ki… Homicide came out to save Ki and Mack… After the match, the camera cut to a promo of Homicide and Ki challenging Jushin Liger and Tiger Mask at the NJPW East Cost Invasion Tour…Ki’s voice is crazy low…awesome promo…This was a tremendous physical encounter that would have been much better if the crowd woke up.
Match Rating: ***3/4

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