Match Listings
Dan Dynasty vs Jimmy Hustler
CJ O'Doyle vs Keenan Quinn
EC Negro vs Deranged
Kevin Matthews w/Talia vs Danny Demanto
Projekt 13 vs New Reality
Unlucky 13 Match w/Bison Bravado as Special Ref: Low Life Louie/Danny Yamz vs ESK
TDS vs Archadia vs Envy vs Bandido Jr. vs Neeno Capone
Alicia vs Tara Charisma
Reefer vs Javi-Air vs Newblood
Dan Maff vs Pinkie Sanchez
The Hitsquad vs Corvis Fear/Rush Margera

IEW or as insiders called it, PAP Smear Wrestling
2/12
From the AWA Arena in Union City, NJ
Referees: Ref Hanson, Zack & Bennett
Ring Announcer: El Shoes
Commentators: Eric Cooper, Chris Idol and Peter Van Orton, effectively killing their angle in AWA where they are feuding in the same building
Attendance: A Standing Room 130

Dan Dynasty d. Jimmy Hustler
This match kicked off the show, and is better known as the "friends of the promoter" match. This match nearly hit Guapadon levels, and it was so long and made no sense whatsoever, but hey, they worked hard. Jimmy Hustler was dressed up wearing pool balls on his chest, which the crowd eagerly let him know that he had balls on his chest. How nice. Quite honestly, I thought this match was flat out awful and an example of what is wrong on the indies. You got two guys doing every move they can think of in the book, in the first match of the show, pretty much making the guys later on in the card have to do that much more to get over. Then it goes 15 minutes or so, and it makes the matches following it have to do more in less amount of time. Both guys look winded as well. Obviously this match was booked for the promoter and not for the fans, so why not cut the time down to make it at least watchable? Dynasty eventually ended this match, which felt like a ticket seller match out of USA Pro with a sunset flip.
For what it's worth, the crowd was hot and loud during this match, but the crowd was hot and loud for every match during the show.

CJ O'Doyle d. Keenan Quinn
Just like the crowd was loud in the first match, the crowd was very loud here and clearly 100% behind CJ O'Doyle. To be honest, it felt like half the 3PW crowd came down to this show and cheered their asses off for CJ O'Doyle. Keenan Quinn has always been a wrestler I've found a hard time taking seriously, but he is improving and this was the best match I've ever seen him wrestle. It probably also helped him out that CJ was his opponent. Quinn also has real wrestling gear, which gives him advantage over 50% of the guys working indy shows today. This was a nice back and forth match-up, and both wrestlers did a good job of playing to the crowd and working off of the crowd heat. CJ eventually won this match with a diamond cutter, for the clean 3 count.
This match wasn't 5 star or anything, but it was a decent bout which both guys were able to show off their stuff.

EC Negro w/KC Blade d. Deranged
Before the match, Deranged, who is the unofficial third scoundrel, did the DRS pose with EC Negro. KC Blade looked like a hispanic Paul Bearer in his black suit outside of the ring. All he needed was an urn and a shave, and the resemblence would've been dead on.
This match was pretty good and both guys went all out here. One good spot in this match saw Deranged get Negro down in a victim kick position. Deranged then ran the ropes for what seemed like 45 seconds to set up a huge move with lots of impact. When Deranged finally stopped, he dropped to his knees, and gave Negro a rear naked chokelock, making the crowd pop for outsmarting them. After this spot, and some solid ring-work, Negro was able to put Deranged on his shoulders for three seconds, with an exploder.
POSTMATCH: Both guys celebrated with each other, and all was well in Dirty Rotten Scoundrel land.

Danny Demanto, the promoter, (Wow that feels weird to type) came out for a promo next. He thanked the crowd for coming out. He said that he didn't have a match for tonight, so he'd be sitting this show out. Danny thanked the fans once again, and went towards the back.

As Danny went towards the back, his real-life friend and partner in crime, Kevin Matthews, came out with Talia. Talia, who just had a makeover, had some male fans and bookers excited. Kevin was furious at Danny for not booking him on this show because they are good friends. Kevin calls Danny a fat piece of shit and slaps him in the face. Kevin then asks for a spot on the show. Well those were good tactics by Kevin, to get on the show, because I believe Dan Maff did the same thing to Danny at a JAPW show a few months ago, and he was booked here tonight. Even Deranged did the same thing Kevin did here, at a USA Pro show several years ago, and he even had a spot on this show. In fact one of the jokes about this show was that if you've ever slapped Danny in the past, you were booked. All we needed was Boogalou on this show, and the roster would've been complete.

Anyway, after all the namecalling and bickering, which even included Danny Demanto mentioning a match that he had with Kevin "for a promoter who hasn't seen the sun in a few years", Danny accepts Kevin's challenge, and makes it an anything-goes match.
All jokes aside, I really liked this promo. It was short, and done effectively. It also told a quick story, setting up this match. Good job by both guys here.

Kevin Matthews w/Talia d. Danny Demanto
This was a great match that was fun to watch, even if Danny took a little too much offense. I guess the "it's my show and I'll die if I want to" theory applies here. Danny took a fucking beating in this match. Talia was Kevin's D-Von Dudley in this match, assisting Kevin by getting him weapons such as chairs. There were many chair spots in this match. Danny went for a suicide dive early in this match and ate chair. It's been written before and it has to be written again- it's a miracle that Danny Demanto does not have any injuries. The guy takes some of the wicked bumps ever. Later on in the match, after connecting with a Pork Grind Line for 2, Danny administered more pain to Kevin. Kevin eventually shook it off, and gorilla pressed Danny Demanto over the top rope into two waiting chairs by Section A, illicting a huge Holy Shit chant. After that, both guys would eventually get back in the ring, where Kevin Matthews hit his finisher twice, called the Ego Driver, for a pair of 2 counts. Kevin Matthews, frustrated, Ego Drivered Demanto again, but this time on a steel chair for the decisive 3 count.
POSTMATCH: Kevin and Talia go to the back, and Demanto sits in the ring by himself. Once Danny got up, the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
This match was incredible to watch and had the crowd going nuts. I've seen this match several times before, but I thought this was the best bout between the two. It certainly was the loudest. Give Danny props for not putting himself over on his own show, even though he did make himself look like Superman by kicking out of Kevins finisher twice, and not being dead during the first two chair spots. Regardless of that, this was a great match to watch live and I was very entertained.

Projekt 13 (Jai Kronik/Damian Dragon) d. The New Reality (Corvis Fear/Rush Margera)
This match had the unfortunate task of following a crazy hardcore match. Corvis Fear and Rush Margera went a combined 0-6 and took the beatings of their lives on Saturday. These two couldn't buy a break. One of the reasons I respect New Reality is that they never complain, and have no problem losing, as they worry about having good matches first. I can't say I have seen a horrible New Reality match in a while, as they have been coming through with a solid string of matches. Projekt 13 was over with the IEW crowd here, as they defeated the former AWA tag team champions. It was funny watching Corvis and Rush team in this building, after Corvis kind of cut a heel promo on Rush, just the week before at AWA. The finish actually benefitted the AWA however, as Corvis Fear accidentally superkicked Rush, when aiming for Damian Dragon. Damian Dragon, the ring veteran, capitalized on New Reality's mistake by planting a DDT and collecting the three count and win for his team.
Da Hit Squad's post match promo later on in this show, really summed up this match- indy tag team wrestling is not that great anymore. It's not that the wrestlers are awful or anything, it's just that no tag team lights up or creates a buzz a tag division or tag match, like Da Hit Squad did.
POSTMATCH: Corvis Fear and Rush had a squabble. They looked like they were going to come to blows, until the AWA Heavyweight Champion, Jay Lethal came out. Lethal told Rush/Corvis to stop the fighting, and that they could do something bigger tonight later on in the show. This was kind of like Bret Hart breaking up the British Bulldog and Owen Hart from fighting at a RAW back in 1997. Anyway, these new three amigos go to the back, to plot their evil schemes.

Unlucky 13 Match
The Elm Street Kids (Pyscho/Rayza) d. Low Life Louie/Danny Yamz w/Penny Dreadful
Special Hardcore Guest Referee: Bison Bravado
This match was a bloody brawl, a great fight and so much more. These four guys really killed themselves here in the name of the sport they love. Bison Bravado was a good choice as a referee, due to his skill in the hardcore field. Bison took a heckling here in the early stages of this match, but that quickly stopped as these four brutalized each other. Yamz's forehad was treated like grated cheese, as he had a huge gash across his forehead. Yamz's whole face was covered in blood. The only way Yamz's face was recoginizable was by his two huge eyes. As a matter of fact, after the match, Yamz's cut was so bad he needed to krazy glue it shut to prevent further blood flow.

This match had it all, as the match turned from an Unlucky 13 match into a hardcore melee. The basic premise of an Unlucky 13 match is to staple 13 One dollar bills on your opponents body. That is how you normally declare the winner. Instead, the ref Bison wanted a clear cut winner, and let this match be decided by pinfall.

The one thing I must get into is the punishment Louie took. Louie had his pants pulled down and his gargantuan ass was barrelled out of his pants and was exposed to the crowd. Watching people walk out of the building in disgust, after viewing Louie's ass put a smile to my face, because it means Louie still has it. Hearing classic Louie stories of his past ring wars, where fans stomach's couldn't take it no more, made me really appreciate this match. Louie's ass became friends with a staple gun in this match, as after the ESK exposed Louie's ass, they stapled dollar bills to it. Louie's ass would be bleeding and exposed for the rest of the match. The sickest spot with Louie's ass saw some fans scream at Louie to cover himself. So instead of complying with the fans, Louie opened up his butt cheeks with his hands for all to see. Call it gay, sick, freakish or disgusting, but I was fucking entertained and laughing watching Louie be Louie. Now that's how you do a a family show!

Everyone took a thrashing in this match, including manager Penny Dreadful, who is more than a rah-rah girl at ringside. The Elm Street Kids double teamed her (not like that) as they stapled and kicked her around. Thank god the PTC didn't see this match.

After lots of blood, staples and bills, The Elm Street Kids put a chair on either side of Danny Yamz's head. The ESK then hit the ropes and dropkicked the chairs, caving in the skull of Danny Yamz. Rayza then covered Yamz, as Pyscho hit Louie, who was trying to break up the pin, with a barbed wire baseball bat, for the 3.
These are matches I love, as you don't see hardcore wrestling that much anymore due to commissions and politicians. This was a wild mess with all four guys and Penny showing their desire and love for the sport. This was a perfect match to put on before intermission.

INTERMISSION-
Quick run to the liquor store for some replinshment, and I returned just in time for...

Five Way Elimination Match
The Dynamic Sensation d. Neeno Capone, Archadia, Envy & Bandido Jr.

Order of Elimination
1. Archadia (Pinned by Neeno)
2. Bandido Jr. (Pinned by Envy)
3. Neeno Capone (Pinned by Envy)
4. Envy (Pinned by TDS)

This match had alot of spots as well as some unexpected mat wrestling. It was good seeing Bandido Jr back in the AWA arena. It was also nice seeing TDS branch out and get some work here. This match was very similiar to the 6 way match at AWA last week. TDS eventually won this match with a corkscrew on Envy for the clean victory.

Alicia d. Tara Charisma
This match was a battle of the posteriors, as these two women duked it out here. Like I said earlier on this site, Tara's ass is kind of getting out of control. I thought Louie's ass was in better shape, upon unexpected viewing. At one point in this match, Alicia hit two violent drop kicks to Tara's back. The finish of this short match saw Alicia put Tara away with a Michinoku Driver, despite Alicia struggling to get Tara off the ground.
This was an ok's woman match, but there have been alot better women matches in the AWA arena.

Jav-Air d. James Newblood and Grim Reefer in a Triple Threat Match
Like I predicted in my review, Jav-Air pinned Newblood. What I didn't expect this match to do was use a finish straight out of the old SSCW playbook. After a very exciting match, which saw many innovative moves, Reefer powerbombed Jav-Air on Newblood, while Newblood was on his back. Reefer held onto the powerbomb and turned it into a Boston Crab. As Jav-Air was about to tap out, the ref saw that Jav-Air was on top of Newblood and counted three before Jav-Air could tap out in front of the referees eyes.
This was another good match on this show, and whoever thought of that finish saw it somewhere else first, haha. It was good seeing Jav-Air and Newblood actually wrestle, instead of flipping all over the place like monkeys.

Dan Maff vs Pinkie Sanchez was a No Contest as...
Soon as Pinkie Sanchez came out, he was attacked by the Three Musketeers of Jay Lethal, Corvis Fear and Rush. As these three pounded away, and it looked like the in-ring career of Pinkie Sanchez would be over, an old, yet familiar sound hit the speakers.
PUMP! PUMP!
All of a sudden Da Hit Squad, Monsta Mack and Mafia, in full Hit Squad gear came out. The crowd went fucking nuts. Dan Maff might not like to hear it but no Dan Maff entrance this year got the same pop or reaction that the DHS entrance got here.
As soon as Da Hit Squad came out, Jay Lethal and Pinkie took their match to the back. Da Hit Squad then went to work and just destroyed poor Corvis Fear and Rush. Da Hit Squad brought the intensity to the ring and you could feel it in the air watching it go down. DHS went to town on Corvis and Rush with rough lariats. The biggest punishment in this match saw Corvis and Rush get tossed like lawn darts in the direction of AWA's roll, in a remembrance spot to the Charity Hall. Unfortunately for Corvis and Rush (And Demanto, the promoter) the wall gave in to Da Hit Squad. Corvis was thrown into the wall, and the wall cracked and broke. Rush was thrown in next and collided head first into an air conditioner. The impact of the spot knocked down the clock that hangs on the same wall. After taking these moves, in addition to breaking numerous chairs after chair shots, Corvis Fear was left in the ring by himself. Da Hit Squad pummeled Corvis. Da Hit Squad then set up Corvis for their finisher, as Mafia put Corvis in a figure four leglock and Monsta Mack leaped off the top rope and connected with a perfect frogsplash, caving in Corvis's chest for the easy 1-2-3.
POSTMATCH: Da Hit Squad got the mic. Monsta Mack said this match was for everyone on the internet who wanted to see the best tag team take over again. Mack even referenced a column that I wrote which you can read here:
Da Hit Squad & Indy Tag Team Wrestling
Mack said that indy tag team wrestling sucks today. Can't really debate with him there. He said they proved they can still be number 1 any time they want to. Before handing the mic to Mafia, Mack asked Mafia when is he going to stop calling himself the corny Dan Maff and go back to being Mafia? Mafia laughed and said it was great to be back. Mafia played to the crowd and let him know how good it was to have the team together, even if it was for this one time. DHS then brought Pinkie back out and celebrated the victory together.
Now that's a way to close a show off. Even if the DHS don't come back full-time it was still great to see them for one night only, and show that they can reignite tag team wrestling at any given time.

Final McWord
Color me impressed. I thought Danny Demanto and promoter are two words I'd never type in the same sentence, outside of this promoter fired Demanto, but Danny pulled it off. You had 4 really kick ass matches on this show, plus another match reuniting one of the best tag teams of all time. This show had something for everyone. There was hardcore wrestling. There were cruisers. There was a ladies match. There was a blood feud. There was mat wrestling. And of course there was a tag team that hasn't teamed up since the beginning of 2003.

There was alot of people at this show, and I believe the most people in the AWA arena at once. There were many luminaries checking out the show such as The Solution, Ray Sager, Johnny D., Modtrom Video, Doc Daniels, Cherri Delicious, Harry Slash and others. The atmosphere was very cool as so many fans were into the show and were loud all night. DHS coming back in the AWA arena was a great fit, because the people who go to shows at the AWA arena are loyal wrestling fans and always loud.

I really enjoyed the Triple Threat Match, The Unlucky 13 Match, Demanto/Matthews, The Five Way, and of course the DHS reuniting matches the most.

I was interested to see how this show would conflict or help promote the AWA when it was all said and done. I thought IEW did a good job of using the AWA guys without damaging them. The only thing that looked dumb was the commentating team, since Idol vs PVO/Cooper is one of AWA's main feuds. It was explained on the commentary however, that Demanto forced the three to sit together. Demanto told the DOI later on that Chris Idol was never booked to do commentary for the show and PVO brought Chris along anyway. So much for trying to bring some realism to the sport. I guess that whole PVO/Idol angle was doomed from the get-go anyway.

The building was damaged during the DHS match. Demanto has offered to pay for the damages/repair. It should be interesting to see if that will affect his employment with AWA.

IEW had an excellent debut show. Not too many promotions can claim such a high attendance and superior matches in their debut show. IEW has plans on running again and doesn't want to be known as a "spot" promotion. This will be IEW's last show at the AWA arena however. IEW is currently looking for new buildings.

The tape of this show should be released in 2-3 weeks. Once it is, we'll have information about it here on the DOI. I'd definitely check it out, especially for the Unlucky 13 match, and of course the reuniting of Da Hit Squad.

Overall
A great show that had me entertained, even during the bad matches.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com

Price: $10