Death by Midwest: IWA Mid-South Ted Petty Invitational 2004, Discs 1 and 2

IWA Mid-South is a promotion based in Louisville run by former ECW wrestler Ian Rotten. After splitting from ECW in 1995, he founded IWA Mid-South in response to the disillusionment he heard from fans of the Memphis wrestling that was the mainstay of the area. Throughout it’s early history, IWA was much more deathmatch-based than it is today. In 2000 and 2001, wrestlers Chris Hero, CM Punk, Ace Steel, Colt Cabana, and others began changing IWA into a more balanced company between deathmatches and technical contests. By 2004, IWA was putting on tons of high quality shows from around Indiana and in the Chicago area.

The 2004 IWA Mid-South Ted Petty Invitational is held in very high regard among the IWC, and is referenced by many as the greatest tournament in professional wrestling history. The lineup is filled with big indy names, along with skilled trainers, NWA Wildside standouts, and only 2 or 3 IWA regulars. The event is on 6 discs over 2 nights of wrestling, and like all IWA-Mid South DVDs is available at www.smartmarkvideo.com along with DVDs from IWA East Coast, CZW, Chikara, and many other indys. The event takes place on September 17th and 18th at the Lincoln Center in Highland, IN.

IWA Mid-South Champions
IWA World Heavyweight Title: Petey Williams (1st reign, defeated B.J. Whitmer on 5/29/04)
IWA Light Heavyweight Title: Vacant after the Delirious/Jimmy Jacobs match on 8/21 ended in a double pin.
IWA Tag Team Title: Brad Bradley and Ryan Boz (1st reign, defeated Tracy Smothers and Chris Hamrick on 5/30/04.)
IWA Mid-South/NWA Midwest Women’s Title: Lacey (1st reign, won tournament for new title in 5/30/04.)

The DVD begins with an opening clip video of all the wrestlers, with some talking over the video describing what the TPI means to them and promising victory. We hear from CM Punk, who has been in 4 TPIs(it was known as the Sweet Science Sixteen tournament before 2002), Chris Hero, the 2000 winner; Matt Sydal, in his second appearance, as is Arik Cannon; Nigel McGuinness, the 2003 winner Danny Daniels, and I believe Sypder Nate Webb is in there, too. Nice video that plays up the prestige of the event.

Then comes a second clip video, this time featuring the 24 men in action. Great spots throughout, and it’s worth watching at least once.

INTERVIEWS-Mercedes Martinez and Women’s Champ Lacey. Lacey is first and she’s coming off of a torn MCL. She goes on to complain about how she is being forced to defend thanks to Ian Rotten and Dave Prazak when she’s not 100%. She beat Mercedes in the finals of the Women’s Title tournament a few months back. She does the usual heel Lacey thing to justify. Eh. Not too bad.

Mercedes says she’ll focus on Lacey’s injury. There ya go. Pyschology!

TO START OFF-Ian Rotten. He does this before every show to get the crowd going, make announcements, and maybe tell some stories. Very entertaining usually, though sometimes it drags. He jokes about the current Lita storyline in WWE, then insults himself for both 4 shows in one week(all of which I will review eventually). He announces that IWA isn’t getting a TV deal, but is doing a joint deathmatch tournament with Big Japan in a year, and offers to take along fans when IWA goes over for the tournament. He then announces a giveaway for one lucky fan to go on the trip for free. As far as I know, this never happened, and they did a King of the Deathmatch in late 2005, as opposed to its usual June date. He then insults a Yankees fan, which gets an “Ian” chant from the crowd. He describes the trip, which for the record I totally would have gone on. He then talks about the tournament’s namesake, Ted Petty, better known as Rocco Rock from Public Enemy. He says he was taken far too soon, and how the tourney exemplifies the man’s mixture of many wrestling styles. I guess most never saw that because he became known with Public Enemy, and he was nearly 40 by then. Crowd applauds and gives a moment of silence to remember not only Teddy but all the fallen wrestlers from that year. Nice touch and a fitting tribute.

NWA MIDWEST/IWA MID-SOUTH WOMEN’s TITLE-Lacey (c) vs. Mercedes Martinez

Mercedes is looking for revenge after Lacey used shady tactics to win the belt in the Women’s Title tournament. Lacey has been injured for several months and is not at 100%. Hosts are Dave Prazak with his goofy but extremely informative commentary, joined by random wrestlers throughout the night. Purple belt leather on the title. Nice. Prazak plugs the tourney. Lock up and Lacey sells the knee. Mercedes goes for the leg again but Lacey goes into the ropes. Arm wringer by Lacey. Reverses and goes after knee again, but gets up into headlock by Lacey. Near fall and Lacey torques the headlock. Shoulderblock, dropdown, back into headlock into a series of near falls which are a tad too slow and sloppy. Cue the stalemate. Lacey takes her into the corner with forearms, then sends Mercedes’s shoulder into the post, then goes outside and works over the arm repeatedly with a cross arm breaker with ring post assistance. All right, weakness for both women now with the knee of Lacey and arm of Mercedes. Lacey works the arm on the rope. Cover gets 2. Mercedes revereses a whip and snasps back Lacey’s knee. Lacey is caught leaving on the apron but gives a hot shot to the injured arm of Mercedes. Pounds into the knee. Very slow paced so far, but the pyschology has been sound. Mercedes grabs a half crab, but can’t get it well enough due to the arm. Oh, I like that. To the outside for a moment. Cover on Lacey gets 2. FOREARM by Lacey, with authority. More strikes by Lacey, all much less impressive. Divorce Court gets 2. Lacey whipped into the buckle, into Sunset Flip, then Mercedes reverses into a slingshot into a half crab, but AGAIN the arm is too weak and Lacey makes the ropes. Cross arm breaker by Lacey, Mercedes gets ropes. Drags her back into the ring and reapplies it, but Mercedes slams her down. Fisherman’s Buster reversed….Implant DDT by Lacey for 2! Lacey screams in frustration. Roll-up by Mercedes gets 2. Mercedes then hits the Fisherman’s Buster for 2! Then applies a variation on the Indian Deathlock on the injured knee. Lacey sells it with shrieking. Lacey eventually gives up and lays her shoulders down for the 3 count at 11:07. Mercedes is the new champ. ***. Slow-paced opener focusing on the injuries of both women. Lacey found a weakness early in the arm of Mercedes, but her knee was just too much of a bullseye for her to keep it protected.

PICTURE TIME!-Dave Prazak introduces the 24 wrestlers in the TPI this year:
-Austin Aires
-Todd Sexton(trainer at NWA Wildside)
-Claudio Castagnoli
-Arik Cannon
-Nigel McGuinness
-Mike Quackenbush
-Roderick Strong
-Hallowicked (top Chikara student)
-Sal Rinauro
-Spyder Nate Webb(former Light Heavyweight Champ in IWA)
-Rainman
-Jimmy Rave
-Super Dragon
-Alex Shelley
-Matt Sydal
-Chris Sabin
-Bryan Danielson
-A.J. Styles
-Samoa Joe
-C.M. Punk
-Petey Williams (Current IWA Champ and will defend the belt in the tournament)
-Chris Hero
-B.J. Whitmer(2002 TPI winner)
-Danny Daniels (2003 TPI winner)

And they all take a picture. 24 men, 3 brackets, 1 tournament. Prazak says there will no interference in TPI matches or will be suspended from IWA for a year.

TPI FIRST ROUND-Sal Rinauro vs. Matt Sydal

Rinauro is pre-ROH, and gets nearly no pop. Eddie Kingston yells on commentary. For the record, Matt Sydal’s music rules because I love me some Alkaline Trio. These two have wrestled in NWA Wildside recently. Sal is from Sal-ifornia. He promptly gets “faggot” chants. Sigh, it is Indiana folks. Both guys are not as big of names as they are in 2006. Lock up and they go to their mat work. Sydal grabs a leg but Sal makes the ropes and takes a podwer. Headlock takeover by Sal, shot off the ropes by Sydal. They screw up a clothesline duck but they recover, and Sydal hits a pretty spinning heel kick that sends Sal to the floor. Armdrags by Sydal. BIG DIVE from Sydal provokes a “IWA” chant. IWA is notorious for action going very close to the fans. Chops in the corner by Sydal, who misses a corner splash and gets hit with a springboard lariat. Sal stomps on his face for 2, then drapes Sydal on the ropes and hits a Superplex off the ropes for 2. That was good. Backdrop on Sydal for 2. Combination chickenwing/camel clutch that’s also good. Matt gets up with punches but gets cut off by a chinbreaker and then a neckbreaker. Back suplex gets 2 on Sydal. Vertical suplex spun around into a Rock Bottom for 2. Also very cool. Sydal knocks him off the top rope, but Sal takes back the advantage with chops. Both hit forearms and go tumbling off the turnbuckle. Back up and Sydal hits a big forearm followed by a gutwrench. STANDING MOONSAULT OFF THE BACK OF RINAURO…gets 2! He hit that perfectly, and the crowd came alive for the near fall. Sal to the top and basically plants his feet on Sydal’s back….for 2. Sydal gets a boot and Sal’s back on the top rope. SPINNING HEEL KICK to the TOP. MOONSAULT BELLY TO BELLY on Sal and Sydal wins it at 9:35. ***1/4. Good action packed opening match to the tournament. Sydal has gotten much better than this, but Sal I’m not fond of. They made 1 or 2 mistakes but they covered them pretty well. Sydal moves on to Night 2.

TPI FIRST ROUND-Hallowicked vs. Spyder Nate Webb

Hallowicked is a Chikara grad, and Bryan Danielson puts him over on commentary. Webb dances around the crowd as usual. Why? Because “Teenage Dirtbag” is the best song ever. Whatever happened to Wheatus anyway? Hallowicked hangs upside down as he is introduced. Nate is very popular here. Apparently he will also kill Hallowicked. Prazak and Danielson discuss the benefits of wearing a mask. Hallowicked will now be known as HW. It’s just easier. They go to mat work, and Nate grabs the leggy full nelson. HW gets in the ropes. Danielson is doing an awesome job of putting both guys over here. Forearms by both men, gaining in intensity each time. Webb suckers him in and hits the dreaded ASS CHOP! Headscissors and an armdrag by Webb, then hits a Japanese armdrag and grabs an armbar. Nebraskan Tumbleweed by Webb, the 2nd one misses and HW takes over. Big kick to the head by HW for 2. HW plants him on the top rope and snap mares him to the mat. Webb lands some strikes but gets a knee from HW. Suplex gets 2. Danielson still shocking me with awesome commentary. Chop from HW. Hammerlock STO from Webb and both men go down. Big dropkick from Webb followed by a big lariat with the spinning sell. Flurry of kicks gets 2. Headscissors by HW followed by a Michinoku Driver for 2. RELEASE GERMAN SUPLEX, but Webb gets back up for a big ARACHNID KICK. Both men down. Back up and Webb hits Soylent Green 2 for the win at 8:42.**1/4. Nothing wrong with it besides the selling. They seemed very rushed and the bigger moves that Sal and Sydal sold longer they got right back up for. Webb moves on, and I hope Danielson stays on the mic because he was rocking it.

TPI FIRST ROUND-Chris Sabin vs. Rainman

Rainman I don’t know so well. He was mainly a Wildside guy besides a few IWA and ROH appearances. Sabin gets a “HAIL SABIN” chant despite using AFI as his entrance music. Rainman is from Dark City. Is it like the Dark Overworld from Link to the Past? Cuz I’d live there. Sabin grabs an arm but Rainman reverses. He escapes the arm wringer and counters to a near fall. Knucklelock into a headscissors roll up for 2. Rainman gets pissed. SHOVES! CHOPS! Rainman goes for a powerbomb, Sabin counters into an uppercut. Rainman blocks a backslide but then gets dropkicked in the face in the corner. Apparently this is their first meeting according to Prazak. Sabin goes for a Tornado Bulldog but gets reversed in a BIG SIDE SLAM for 2. Rainman hits a dropkick then an uppercut, and a big clothesline. He goes for a choke while Danielson is still being awesome on putting both over. Forearms in the corner on Sabin, then hits a butterfly suplex for 2. Sabin dives to the floor but lands to the left of Rainman. Back in the ring and forearms from Sabin. Rainman hits a sit out powerslam for 2. Sit out spinebuster gets 2. Sabin recovers and hits a step up enzuigiri followed by a JUMPING enzuigiri. Both men down. CHOP! Springboard dropkick to the back on Sabin. Tiger Suplex gets 2. Leg lariat gets 2 from Rainman. That didn’t look quite right. Cobra Clutch is reversed by Sabin into a SMALL PACKAGE DRIVER…for 2. Cobra Clutch Bomb for 2. Hillside Strangler locked in but Sabin fights out and drives him to the buckle. SIT OUT PUMPHANDLE POWER BOMB gets the win for Rainman at 10:16. UPSET! **1/2. Decent, especially for two guys who had never wrestled before. Selling was too shabby from both. Rainman gets a small chant showing he proved himself to this crowd.

TPI FIRST ROUND-C.M. Punk vs. Austin Aires

Damn, this is a hell of a first round matchup. Both men are very over with the Midwest crowd from which they came from. Kingston back on commentary and he speculates on Punk’s chance of winning it all in his 4th appearance in TPI. Arm work to start. Punk goes to the headlock takedown. Aires trips him on the dropdown but Punk goes to the hammerlock. Headlocks into leg scissors sequence until Punk gets the advantage. Aires headstands out but Punk ducks the dropkick. Near fall then back to the leg scissors. They wrestled earlier this week at an ROH show. Aires STOMPS on Punk’s face, followed by forearms. Chops by Punk. TOP ROPE RANA by Aires. It gets 2. Sunset flip is rolled through and Aires hits a pair of dropkicks. The third is ducked, but the 4th connects and sends him to the floor. Aires misses the pescado, but Punk hits the first TOPE of the evening. The first row is gone, ladies and gents. Gutwrench Backbreaker, but Pepsi Twist is ducked. LARIAT to Punk and then CORKSCREW BODY PRESS by Aires to the floor. Oh, that was nice. Chops by Aires on Punk. The 4th misses and his hand hits the ringpost. Suplexes blocked and then Punk hits his leg on the post on the Shining Wizard. They did that spot the week before at ROH, but this one was much better. Luckily they vary it by Aires hitting the knee onto a chair. SENTON onto the knee gets 2. Punk tries to protect his knee. Punk gets a roll up for 2 but Aires nails the knee with a vicious kick. Forearm battle now. Kicks by Punk but then a KNEE-DT on the bad leg. Aires then grabs a Standing Figure Four. Punk reverses to a roll up. Grabs the boot attempt from Punk and STUNS the KNEE. POWER DRIVE ELBOW TO THE KNEE into a Boston Crab, but Punk makes the ropes. Kicks to the knee again. FLAPJACK by Punk and then SHINING WIZARD but with the BAD KNEE. Oh, yes, yes, YES! Chops by Punk, then Flying Forearm but he hurt the knee. Aires hits a shinbreaker on the knee. Cross body rolled through for 2. Backslide gets 2. GERMAN by Punk gets 2 because Punk can’t hold the bridge enough with the bad knee. Awesome selling there. Punk plants Aires on top but Aires fights out. 450 MISSES. PEPSI TWIST…gets 2. Crowd is on their feet now. Sets up Aires on the top for Plunge, but Aires hits the knee. SUPER BRAINBUSTER….for 2!!!! Aires back up for the 450 again, but Punk gets back up. Aires going for the Plunge but Punk fights out. CHOPS by Punk. PEPSI PLUNGE on Aires, he hurt his knee on impact, but he still gets 3! Punk wins at 16:44. ****1/4. Oh that was awesome. I mark out for working the body part. Ek, that sounded wrong. Yes, yes, they repeated a spot from an earlier match. But it was a different match besides that, and in my opinion, superior. Great selling by Punk and this match got the crowd on their feet and chanting “IWA”.

End of Disc One. 5 more to go. 5. We’re a 1/3 of the way through the FIRST ROUND. I’ll stop to get myself some Wendy’s. All this wrestling makes a man hungry, ya know. Triple Cheeseburger ahoy!

All right, I’m back and now thoroughly stuffed with meat. Sweet, sweet meat. ONTO DISC TWO!

TPI FIRST ROUND-Danny Daniels vs. Todd Sexton

Sexton comes out first. It’s his 2nd appearance in TPI and he’s the head trainer at NWA Wildside. Danny Daniels is the defending TPI winner. He now runs the burgeoning Chicago indy AAW, which is IWA’s sworn enemy. Daniels’ music gets screwed up, Kingston says it’s an omen. Tommy Thompson gets no pop. Lock up with pushing each other around. Then they shove. Sexton is trained by Shawn Michaels and TWA. Nice. Headlock from Daniels. Three straight shoulder tackles from Daniels gets a 1 count and reverses a Oklahoma Roll back into the headlock. Sexton grabs a wristlock, but Daniels reverses into one of his one. Sexton tries to roll out but Daniels does the roll with him in a cool sequence. Mat work ahoy here. Dropkick by Sexton. He goes for a clothesline but Daniels reverses into a cross arm reverse jawbreaker type move. They roll into a waistlock and Sexton blocks a German attempt. Sexton then rushes forward sending Daniels to the outside. Sexton goes for a tope but Daniels trips him first. He has recently turned face in IWA but retains a cocky heel swagger. Daniels gets on the apron, and they screw something up and Sexton kicks Danny in the face. Hanging over the 2nd rope, Sexton hits a screwy neckbreaker on Danny back in the ring. That gets 2. Sexton storms forward but gets met with a big boot. This is having a hard time following Punk-Aires. Dropkick to the knee by Sexton, followed by another. One of Sexton’s finishers is the sharpshooter, so this is setting up for that now. Dragon Screw on Daniels. They mess up another dragon screw, then Sexton goes into a Spinning Toe Hold. Dragon Screw reversed into a backslide by Daniels for 2. Sexton gets up and hits another dropkick to the knee. Sexton up top and hits another dropkick to the knee from the top. Then he goes into the Sharpshooter. Crowd is really dead here. Daniels gets to the ropes. Daniels reverses a whip and trips up Sexton and hits the DOUBLE STOMP and SENTON combo. Daniels dodges another knee dropkick and clubs Sexton down. German Suplex by Daniels…for 2. He heads up top but gets punched by Sexton. Top Rope Rana by Sexton, but Daniels rolls through into a sunset flip, but Sexton rolls out into another pin….for 2. That was cool, but they’ve lost the crowd completely here. Sexton goes for the knee again, but Daniels reverses into a piledriver attempt but Sexton kicks him in the head while upside down. Anklelock by Sexton, and why work the ankle if you’ve been going after the knee? Daniels fights out, and we have a forearm battle, laced with profanity! EYE POKE by Daniels! That got the biggest pop of the match so far. Not a good sign. TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER…for 2. Daniels sets him up for a second rope piledriver but Sexton reverses into another dragon screw, which again looks messy. Sharpshooter yet again, and now the crowd comes alive a bit. Daniels rolls out by grabbing a leg, then into the LION TAMER. He wrenches back, but when Sexton gets close to the ropes, Sexton rolls into a sitdown pin….for 2. Ref was slow there. Chops from both men. Sexton gets whipped into the corner, tries to go over but Daniels catches him….RUBIX CUBE!!!! That’s it at 10:54. **. The last few minutes were good, but this match had a few problems. Sexton got no crowd reaction whatsoever, and Daniels isn’t over enough to compensate. They screwed up a few times, but it was on the same moves (dragon screws and knee dropkicks). Yet, the psychology was solid and it had a good finish. Daniels moves on to the 2nd round. After the match, BJ Whitmer attacks Daniels from behind on the outside. These guys are former partners from the Fannin Family which Daniels had recently departed from. Whitmer sets Daniels up….EXPLODER INTO THE CHAIRS. OWWWWWW. That gets a better reaction than the entire match.

BACKSTAGE-Delirious stands next to a ladder. The camera zooms in to show him drooling. I love this guy.

BACKSTAGE-Jacobs next to the ladder now. Except he actually talks. The title was vacated last month at the IWA Fairytale show after a double pin, and both guys gave up their TPI spots to earn it back. Jacobs says that people think Delirious is crazier than him. Jacobs takes exception to this. “Delirious, you put on one pant leg at a time. Me? I just put on one pant leg.” It should be noted Jacobs has stopped doing the Huss in IWA, and is kind of a tweener at this point.

IWA Light Heavyweight Title-LADDER MATCH-Jimmy Jacobs vs. Delirious

Delirious isn’t as ripped as he is nowadays. Both guys are now big ROH stars, but they’re IWA veterans. Nate Webb interrupts Prazak’s intro to sing Jacobs’ theme music. Nice. “BAH” chants for Delirious. Jimmy Jacobs is from Parts Unknown. I wonder if he, Ultimate Warrior, and the Dungeon of Doom hang out. Where the air SMELLS OF COMBAT!!! Sorry. Onto the match. Both men outside to fight over the ladder. Headbutt from Jacobs and he sends Delirious in the ring and he retrieves the ladder. Delirious comes back and snatches it. Baseball slide into the ladder is ducked, but Jacobs hit a CHOP. Delirious sends him into the post and goes for the belt but Jacobs pulls him down. Ladder now set up into the corner, and Delirious bites Jacobs. Delirious gets backdropped onto the ladder, then takes a powder. Jacobs sets up the ladder as if he’s going to use it to dive over the top rope, but then stops and just HURLS IT at Delirious. OUCH is the word of the day! Both men on the outside, ladder is propped up on the apron. FLAPJACK on the ladder for Jacobs. Back in and Jacobs gets a ladder to the gut and then gets slammed on it. Prazak mentions Delirious is going to Japan later this week, and Nate Webb replies “Maybe over there he makes sense.” Oh, how I love Nate Webb. Delirious sends Jacobs into the corner with the repeated clotheslines. Jacobs stops him from getting the belt, and gets a faceful of ladder for his efforts. Jacobs is stuck inside the ladder. LADDERMAN! Battering ram with the ladder from Jacobs. Both men pull spikes from their boots! That is wacky. Delirious hits the ladder headfirst, then Jacobs pulls out a second spike. That’s 2 spikes to 1 advantage Jacobs, folks. Jacobs nails Delirious with the spike. Jimmy rips away at Delirious’s mask and DIGS IN THE SPIKE. Well, masked men can bleed. Go figure. Jacobs pounds away at the bloody head. Jacobs tries for the belt but Delirious knocks him off and stands up on the top step. SHADOWS OVER HELL FROM THE TOP OF THE LADDER! Delirious heads to the merch stand and grabs a table. Both men on the apron and the table is one the floor. Delirious goes for a powerbomb, provoking a “Please Don’t Die” chant. Jacobs fights out. YAKUZA KICK by Jacobs on the apron. Spinebuster on the ladder by Delirious, not so pretty looking. Both men up the ladder for the slugfest. Delirious goes down. Back outside now. Delirious gets set up on the table as Jacobs goes to the top rope. Delirious gets off the table before Jimmy goes, however. Jimmy’s out after him. BACKDROP INTO THE SECOND ROW by Delirious. Delirious goes under the ring and gets duck tape. He then tapes Jacobs to the 2nd rope. He gets out with the spike and knocks Delirious out with a Cactus Clothesline. Delirious is back on the table now. He sets up the ladder in the ring, maybe for a Super Back Senton to the floor. But the ladder slips and he tumbles back first onto the ropes. OWWWWW. That looked like it could have been bad but Jacobs seems ok. Jacobs puts Delirious on the table and goes to the top rope. SENTON THROUGH THE TABLE! Jacobs looks shaken from the fall still. Back in Jimmy climbs the ladder and gets the belt, but Delirious kicks the ladder out from under him, leaving Jimmy hanging. He comes down with belt to win it at 16:56. ***1/4. Good ladder match that showed off their feud without relying on highspots. Delirious getting his masked ripped open and bleeding was a great part of the match. The Senton screw-up hurt the score, but they recovered.

BACKSTAGE-Jacobs looks at his bloody hands and his spikes and rambles on in Latin, I think. Then he goes on about the power of the spike. Wow. He says the only thing he’s afraid of since he lost the furry boots is losing. Delirious is shown lying on the floor with a blank stare.

TPI FIRST ROUND-Chris Hero vs. Mike Quackenbush

The Chikara trainers EXPLODE! Hero is the middle of the Highland Curse, where he repeatedly lost in the Highland building, a slow burning storyline that eventually led to his heel turn a year later. Chikara students surround the ring for this match: Hallowicked, Jigsaw, the Wild Cards, and Larry Sweeney are among them. Arik Cannon is on commentary. Hero does his signature long as hell entrance. Hero won the first TPI (then called Sweet Science) in 2000. Dueling chants to start. Wristlock by Hero into an armbar, and they bust out mat work that I won’t even try to describe. But it’s pretty as hell. They trade waistlocks and wristlocks over and over. No strikes whatsoever yet. Hero tries to get out of a full nelson and works back into a wristlock. Quack tries to lock in the arm but Hero goes back to the wrist. They trade pins then go to lucha flips! This is so hard to follow but very, very pretty. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker by Hero….for 2. Side headlock by Hero but Quack fights up. Quack goes for the leg but Hero fights out into a facelock. Despite the slow pace, the crowd is into this, a stark contrast to how dead they were during the Sexton/Daniels match. Quack on the mat now with a STF with a full nelson on Hero. The submissions that they are pulling out are just beautiful. Quack locks in another stretch. I’m sure some of these have names. Quack sidesteps the missile dropkick by Hero. STRETCH PLUM by Quack. Hero tries to work his head out of Quack’s arm. Now a standing abdominal stretch with a chinlock by Quack. Hero goes for the HANGMAN’S CLUTCH, but Quack escapes. Cravat by Hero! Quack escapes, heads up top, Hero goes for a slam off the top, Quack rolls through and rushes at Hero from the corner, Hero twists Quack around….HAMMERLOCK SUPLEX! Has that been done before? Hero nows goes after the arm with Quack, hitting a Wristlock suplex for 2. He then traps the knee as well as his arm in a submission hold. This is possibly the hardest match I’ve ever called because these two are inventing so much. Quack wiggles out enough to reach the ropes. Quack gets thrown over the ropes and hits a beautiful swinging DDT back into the ring and holds onto it! God that was pretty. He sells the arm on that, too. SNAP DDT, and then into a butterfly arm hold. If anyone wants to clue me into any names on these holds go ahead. Hero works up again and grabs a CRAVAT WITH QUACK’S OWN ARM WRAPPED AROUND! Yes, this rules. HEAD DROP CRAVAT SUPLEX WITH THE ARM!!!! Oh, that was nice and Quack does the dead sell. Hero picks him off the mat, locks in another cravat with the arm of Quack around Hero’s knee. Hero goes for a Hero’s Welcome..BLOCKED. Quack goes for a TIGER BOMB…BLOCKED. Hero hits an ALABAMA SLAM, rolls Quack up and goes for a powerbomb…but Quack rolls out, does a lucha-style wristlock escape on the ropes, but Hero catches his legs. Quack then headscissors him over, goes for a pin, but Quack rolls through, folding press pin gets 3! Quack moves on at 16:34. ****. What a match and adds a lot of variety to the tournament. Beautiful matwork by both guys. I was going to complain about psychology but then Hero started working over Quack’s arm. Everything was very innovative. Fans chant CHIKARA at the end of the match. The Wildcards and Larry Sweeney taunt Hero a bit after the match. Hero almost teases a heel turn but shakes Quack’s hand eventually.

ROTTEN AND HERO-Ian comes out and tells Hero there is no shame in losing to Quack. He puts Hero’s talent and ability over. Darn tootin. Ian says he called Madman Pondo and says Hero’s flight for Japan could be pushed back if he wanted wrestle in a non-TPI match on Night 2. Ian tells him to go over there and show how he is the best IWA has to offer. I’m not sure what backstory there is behind this. Ian then says Delirious and Hero are going on their first tours for Big Japan the next day. Ahhh, that’s it. He asks Hero to show them what IWA is all about. Hero thanks the crowd and calls IWA Mid South the best promotion in the USA.

TPI FIRST ROUND-Jimmy Rave vs. AJ Styles

Two NWA Wildside originals here. Rave is making his 3rd TPI appearance. CM Punk on commentary now. Back and forth to start with Rave pulling Styles’ hair. Punk brings up the mentor relationship between Rave and Styles, and Prazak mentions the Styles Clash/Rave Clash angle from ROH. Armdrag into armbar by Rave. Rolls through into a cross armbreaker but AJ grabs a facelock, then a wristlock with headbutts. Styles then tosses Rave out of the ring with a wristlock. Cool. Someone in the crowd calls Rave a “Sally”. Indiana, folks. Rave goes back to armbar and variants on it. Styles picks Rave up by just his arm and PLANTS him into the turnbuckles. Ouch. Styles looks pissed. He goes for a powerbomb but can’t hold him. Thankfully Rave doesn’t sell it look it looks better. Kick to the gut by Rave and he dodges the dropkick from AJ. Off the ropes again and this time Styles connects. That was pretty. That gets a 2 count. Punk thinks AJ would have been a Killer Bee if he wrestled in the 80s. Flying Knee from AJ gets 2. Punk always brings the funny on commentary. One handed swinging neckbreaker gets 2 on Rave. Punk says that once broke his nose. Rave goes for the eyes but AJ kicks him. Rave hits a lariat to the back of the head then dropkicks AJ into the gonads. Northern Lights by Rave into an armbar. STO backbreaker by Rave into the Royal Octupus Hold. Punk knows these names. Rave goes for a Crippler Crossface, but Styles blocks it. Armdrag into an armbar by Rave. AJ fights out, goes for a press slam but his arm is too weak to hold it. The arm work by Rave paid off. AJ goes to propel Rave over the ropes, but his arm is still too weak so he crotches Rave, then jumps up and KICKS HIS HEAD. Oh yeah. HAMMERLOCK INVERTED POWERSLAM on Rave…for 2. BRAINBUSTER on Rave…for 2. Punk wonders if AJ’s lack of hooking the leg on pins is due to his injured arm. Rave reverses a Tilt-a-Whirl into the Crossface. Styles rolls back to get a near fall on Rave. Series of near falls, then Rave ducks the discus clothesline into a back suplex. That was crisp. Knee Strike from Rave gets 2. Jimmy goes for the Rave Clash, but AJ stops him twice and then reverses into an ALABAMA SLAM. He then locks in an INDIAN DEATHLOCK WITH SEVERE HEAD CRANK for the submission at 12:34. ***1/4. Solid match. These two did better in ROH in 2005. Rave was still in his arm work-palooza phase, which Styles sold decently. I liked the finish where Rave trying the Clash pissed Styles off enough for that cranking deathlock hold.

TPI FIRST ROUND-Roderick Strong vs. Samoa Joe

Oh, this is gonna be STIFF AS HELL. Roderick is not Indy superstar as he is in 2006, but gets a decent reaction. Samoa Joe comes out to “99 Problems” and gets a big pop. He is undefeated in IWA thus far. Punk thinks Strong is gonna die. They start with some matwork, but that is not what these fans want from this match. Within seconds, Strong kicks away and goes for the Half Nelson Backbreaker, but Joe reverses into a Judo Throw. They break off and Joe begins toying with Strong and wound his confidence. Back to the mat a bit, but Strong again goes for a suplex only to get met with knees. Strong is trying to get into a striking duel with Joe, but Joe just goes back to the mat for the time being. Strong works up into a fireman’s carry on Joe, but Joe falls off and then CHOPS STRONG ON THE BACK. Owwwww. CHOP BATTLE and Strong gets the better of Joe. He goes to the ropes but Joe just SLAPS HIM DOWN. HAHAHAHA. Punk then says Strong has “freaky retard strength”. Strong clubs Joe and they go into the corner and Strong chokes Joe on the ropes. He goes for a facewash but Joe SIDE SLAMS HIM ON HIS HEAD. HE LANDED RIGHT ON THE BACK OF HIS HEAD. That was way more vicious than usual. Crowd loves this action. Strong is dead where he lays. Chops and kicks from Joe, then hits the running knee drop…for 2. Joe hits a running knee strike in the corner. Strong gets a dirty face…Facewash! Crowd is very into Joe. Uppercuts, punches, and strikes from Joe and Strong is bleeding from the mouth hardway. Strong back up with STIFF CHOPS that rock Joe back. Roddy gets thrown onto the apron and Joe sweep kicks his legs out and Strong goes to the floor. TOPE FOREARM from Joe. Strong is set up in the chair. OLE OLE OLE OLE….but Strong gets up and hits Joe with a BACKBREAKER ON THE CHAIR. Oh man that was awesome. Back in and Strong gets 2. He hits a Russian Leg Sweep and then a Savage Elbow to the back on Joe. I love all the working the body part stuff on this. It’s gorgeous. That gets 2. Joe fights back but gets hit with the HALF NELSON BACKBREAKER. That gets 2 as well. Butterfly Suplex on Joe…gets 2. Strong is going all impact on the back. Strong tries to lift Joe and fails, and then gets nailed with a LARIAT from Joe. Strong goes for the back again but gets hit with the JOE POWERSLAM. POWERBOMB gets 2, Joe goes into a boston crab, then locks in the STF. Strong is screaming as Joe cranks it back, but Strong makes it to the ropes. Low blow by Strong. PUMPHANDLE HEAD DROP BACK SUPLEX…for 2. Joe got his foot on the ropes but he looks dead. ANOTHER HEAD DROP SUPLEX…for 2. Joe blocks the boot, and goes for a sleeper, but Strong backs him into the corner. He lifts him up….DOUBLE KNEE GUTBUSTER on Joe. Wow, he is….Strong. Had to be said. He runs in and NAILS JOE IN THE FACE. Cover…ONLY 2! Crowd is going apeshit. “IWA” chants. Joe tries to fight back but Strong goes back to the upper back to weaken Joe. Strong is up top and Joe slaps him silly….MUSCLE BUSTER! That gets 3. ****1/4. Oh that was vicious. I wish the finish wouldn’t have come so sudden but that was just a stiff fucking fight from both guys. Standing ovation for both men at the end of the match. Afterwards there’s highlights of the match, with a slow motion replay of the boot to the face. Which is what that was. A BIG FUCKING BOOT TO JOE’S FACE.

TPI FIRST ROUND-Nigel McGuinness vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Both these guys got their starts in IWA long before ROH had them. Claudio’s entrance music is utter sweetness, as is his sharp suit. Claudio is WXW Champion, a large European promotion. “Nigel” chants. They go, as expected, to some European style matwork, which they are both absolute masters of. Claudio goes for a sunset flip but Nigel goes into a weird ball that traps Claudio. Nigel trips him up and works on the ankle. Nigel turned heel on Hero the night before in a tag match. Punk says the NWA rulebook is older than the bible. And apparently it states that karate strikes and non-lethal judo throws are illegal. Punk cracks me up. Nigel grabs a nerve hold, then slams his head in the mat. They are bringing the comedy Euro style in the grab. Nigel does another great reversal into a CRAVAT. Again, this matwork is so intricate it’s impossible to call while doing it justice. Nigel holds onto the CRAVAT during a bodyslam. Sweet. Claudio complains of a hair pull. You crazy Swede. Artful Dodger from Nigel. This is such a contrast from the last match. Nigel reverses Claudio’s Artful Dodger into some near falls. Standoff time. Handshake shenanigans. Punk calls the ref a douchebag and says Aires dropkicked him in the eye earlier. Nigel grabs a crossface on Claudio but gets nailed with a European Uppercut. That gets 2. 3 matches left after this match, and its about midnight now. Money’s worth, indeed. Claudio gets confused by Nigel’s headstand. He grabs Nigel off but gets DDTed…for 2. Swinging Neckbreaker from Claudio…gets 2. Divorce Court from Nigel into an elevated armbar. Then he hooks on the Rings of Saturn, and Claudio taps out at 12:45. **1/2. Decent enough but nothing that enthralling.