Gordo, the wizard of id, reviews

PWA – Brantford Brawl 2

28 May 06 J’s Place, Brantford Ontario

No Holds Barred PWA/GLCW Heavyweight Championship Title Unification Match

Ruffy Silverstein w/Mike Flash vs “Big Ticket’ Reggie Marley w/Yuan Ortiz

Buck 10 vs Hornet

Asylum vs Rip Impact

PWA Pure Violence Championship

Geza Kalman (C) vs PD Flex w/Warhed

PWA Internet Championship

Hayden Avery vs Elian Habanaro w/Jessy Jones (C)

PWA/GLCW Bikini Contest

Nicki vs Erine vs Jacqui Jones vs 21^st Century Fox

‘Impact’ Eddie Osbourne vs ‘Suicide’ Sean Ball

Quinson Valentino w/Mike Flash vs Pantalone

Joe E Legend vs Ruffy Silverstein

Pre-Show: Mrs Id and I arrived early as usual to discover PWA had utilized the same cool set-up for wrestler’s entrances and the stage housing the sound system, camera and DVD commentating team of Joe Dawg and Paul Wright. Daryl the Doorman and Indy star Brett Scholl worked the merchandise table while visiting Indy standout Darth Cutthroatus was there to visit and take in the action. Warhed and Mr Floppy roamed the building with a video camera interviewing fans. I spent a few minutes talking with Joe E Legend and he’s quite a guy. His thoughts on Police, Fireman and Paramedics as the people who really work for a living were truly moving. Not to ‘humanize’ Joe’s heel character or anything but he is as humble and grounded an international star as any I’ve met. (He didn’t hold any grudges about the “Joe Eats Burgers” shit I laid on him at the IAW show either.) Attendance at the show was under a 100 but that didn’t stop the stars of PWA from delivering a kick-ass show. The referees were AJ Parr and JC. Ring Announcer Gentleman Geoff kicked off the show by reading a letter from the Southside Stranglers explaining that they were not appearing on the card because PWA couldn’t find worthy opponents for them. PWA Brantford Commissioner Yuan Ortiz and Reggie Marley came to the ring and Ortiz related the circumstances surrounding his decision to strip Ruffy Silverstein of the unified PWA/GLCW title and return the belt to Marley. It seems at the conclusion of their last match in Brantford, Marley had his foot on the ropes during the final pin and Yuan ruled Silverstein’s victory invalid and demanded he enter the ring and surrender the title back to Reggie. Silverstein came to the ring with GLCW Commissioner Mike Flash and said he’d seen the footage of the match and was willing to surrender the belt. He and Marley got into a brief argument over whose “house” Brantford was but eventually Silverstein handed Reggie the belt. Marley immediately slugged Ruffy in the head with the strap and Yuan called for a referee saying the rematch would take place right then and there.

No Holds Barred PWA/GLCW Heavyweight Championship Title Unification Match: Ruffy Silverstein w/Mike Flash vs “Big Ticket’ Reggie Marley w/Yuan Ortiz – The match officially started when the ref hit the ring and with Ruffy still reeling from the shot to the head, Marley took it right to him, driving big knee strikes into his noggin. Marley dumped Silverstein to the outside and continued to punch and club away at him before bodyslamming him to the floor. Ignoring the chants of “Ruffy” from the fans, Reggie sat Silverstein in a chair and delivered a big running boot to his face. Marley then tossed Ruffy into the seats. Silverstein fought back though and gained the advantage by smashing Marley’s face into the apron and various ringside seats before whipping ‘Big Ticket’ into the ringpost. After pounding Marley’s skull into the apron some more, Ruffy rolled him into the ring and pinned him up against the ropes where he unleashed the dreaded Machine Gun – a rapid pulling of the ears. Marley countered with a back-kick to the nuts followed by a bodyslam for a 2 count. Silverstein surprised Marley with an inside package for a near fall of his own but Reggie punched him in the gut and tossed him back outside. Yuan Ortiz began stomping on Ruffy at ringside but Flash, brandishing a chair, chased him off. Siverstein re-entered the ring with a sunset flip that got only a 1 count. Reggie came back, powering Ruffy into the corner where he delivered his own version of the Machine Gun. Marley slipped out of the ring and grabbed Silverstein’s legs dragging him crotch first into the ringpost. Ruffy countered the second attempt by pulling Reggie into the post instead. Ruffy continued to pound on Marley concentrating his attack on the legs. Reggie fought back with a choke on the ropes. The advantage switched back and forth as they alternated punches and eye gouges to punish each other. Ruffy managed to overpower his larger opponent and stomped him in the corner before dragging him to the center of the ring and punishing his abused ears with yet another Machine Gun. Silverstein went back to work on the leg with a kneebreaker before locking on a figure-4. Suddenly Eddie Osbourne and Jessy Jones slid into the ring and attacked Ruffy as fans went wild with outrage. Jones held Silverstein as Osbourne pulled out a chain. Before they could do any damage Joe E Legend hit the ring armed with a chair and the heels all bailed to the outside. Silverstein grabbed the mic and praised Legend for making the save. He said that since it was ‘no holds barred’ why not continue the match as a handicap tag – him and Legend against Marley, Osbourne and Jones. While the fans cheered for that, Legend suddenly turned and pasted Ruffy in the head with the chair! Marley quickly jumped in the ring and covered Silverstein for the victory. Reggie grabbed the title belt and left with his group of evil friends as Ruffy stood in the ring screaming at a laughing Joe E Legend. Ruffy called Legend “a punk and a puke” and challenged him to a fight later on the card. Wow. As an opening match this was a main event! The history between Silverstein, Marley and the PWA/GLCW titles led to the explosive start to this bout and kept the action intense throughout. Fans were into it the whole way and the ending just heated things up more. When Joe E Legend hit the ring and the heels bailed, everyone in the place thought he was there to assist Silverstein. When he blasted Ruffy with the chair and left with Jones, Osbourne and Marley he instantly became the most hated man in Brantford.

Buck 10 vs Hornet – This looked to be a fast paced encounter because Buck and Hornet are both speedsters in the ring. Hornet, recently returned from a Mexican tour received the bulk of the cheers as the fans chose to taunt Buck 10, chanting “pencil dick” during his entrance. At the bell the two locked up quickly with Hornet coming out on top of an exchange of armbars. He worked through a few variations of armlocks before throwing a big elbow and hitting a legdrop off the ropes for a 2. Buck came back with a poke to the eye and started working his own attack; alternately dropping knees and working submissions on Hornet’s arm. Hornet managed to mount a brief rally by dropping Buck on his face after avoiding a clothesline but Buck came right back, continuing to work the arm and shoulder. A quick Russian leg sweep earned him a 2 count. The fans were all over Buck as he argued with the ref but could do little but watch as Buck kept up the attack on Hornet. Buck took repeated advantage of the 5 count to work Hornet’s arm in the ropes. A snap suplex, another 2 count and Buck was right back on the arm. With the fans cheering him on, Hornet managed to escape by throwing some big elbows and nailing Buck with an enzeguri. Building some speed off the ropes Hornet hit a lariat, an elbow and finally a dropkick that put Buck on the mat for a near fall. Hornet missed a moonsault off the second rope and Buck quickly scooped him up and delivered a running powerslam with Hornet’s arm twisted behind him. That looked to be it but Hornet kicked out, much to the delight of the fans. Buck nailed a wicked looking shoulder-breaker but again only got a 2 count. As he was pulling Hornet up Buck found himself grabbed, suplexed and held in a bridged pin costing him the match. He didn’t appear too happy about it but the PWA faithful certainly liked it. This was a very fast paced encounter between two of Ontario’s premier cruiserweights. Buck seems to be developing a harder edge with each appearance and the fans are responding by getting on his case with more enthusiasm. Of course, going up against the popular Hornet is never an easy way to earn favor.

Asylum vs Rip Impact – Asylum’s entrance ignited the resident Brantford Chant Monkeys who immediately got on his case with “Rhino rip off” and “Gore” choruses. Never very happy to start with, Asylum grew more and more pissed and hurled insults back at the fans. Impact entered to huge cheers and didn’t appear too concerned that his opponent looked angry enough to snort fire. He should have been because Asylum attacked him as soon as he entered the ring, tossing him around like a rag doll. Impact’s speed quickly turned things in his favor as he laid in a barrage of drop kicks, flying strikes and a headscissor takedown that fired Asylum through the ropes to the floor. Impact’s flying press over the top rope got a huge cheer from the fans but Rhino fought back and powered him into the ring post. A big bodyslam to the floor had Impact reeling and he was easily rolled back inside. Asylum kept jawing at the fans as he scooped Rip up and planted him with a sidewalk slam for a 2 count. When the “Rhino rip off” chant started again, Asylum took his anger out on his opponent with a blatant choke. Hoisting Impact in a delayed vertical suplex Asylum actually lifted him higher so that Rip’s feet went through the ceiling tiles before dropping him to the canvas for another near fall. His yelling at the fans nearly cost him though as Impact countered the next slam attempt by rolling him up for a 2. It was a last hurrah for Rip as Asylum came right back with a huge elbow and a double underhook pick-up into a vicious slam and the winning pinfall. The ref helped Impact to the back as Asylum got into it with ringside fans. After a lot of yelling and some pushing and shoving, Asylum finally exited the arena. Even though he won the match, he didn’t look any happier when he left than when he arrived. Wow. These two guys really packed a lot of action and drama into a short bout and many fans are calling for a rematch at the next show. The only downside was the interaction between Asylum and some of the rowdier fans after the bout; something that continued throughout the show.

PWA Pure Violence Championship: Geza Kalman (C) vs PD Flex w/Warhed – Billed as a no time limit, one fall to a finish match, this encounter had been predicted by some to be the match that either ended Geza Kalman’s title reign or PD Flex’s life. Kalman won the title at the last Brantford show by destroying Warhed in a bloodbath of epic proportions and Flex was looking to avenge the beating his friend had suffered at the hands of ‘Canada’s Meanest Wrestler.’ With former champ Warhed in his corner, some felt that he just might do it. Flex does have experience in Pure Violence contests, having fought for the title against Warhed in the legendary Ten Thousand Thumbtacks Match but he is more renowned for his comedic exploits than any actual wrestling ability.  Geza on the other hand, has a storied history of full-contact fighting experience in UFC and Brazil and demonstrated in his match against Warhed that he is not averse to beating the shit out of someone far more than necessary to gain a victory. Accompanied by Warhed (and Mr Floppy, who also suffered at the feet of Kalman) PD Flex was all business on his way to the ring. Carrying a plastic garbage can, he was unsmiling and serious. Of course, being Flex, he tripped over the ropes and fell on his face climbing into the ring. Geza’s arrival brought the usual boos and jeers but his focus was entirely on his opponent. When the bell rang Geza grabbed Flex in a headlock, cranking on the pressure before blasting him with a punch to the head. Flex locked on a headlock of his own but Geza just pushed him off. Warhed momentarily distracted Geza which gave Flex the opportunity to lay his garbage can in the ring and when the champ turned around a drop toe planted him face first on the can. The look on Geza’s face was priceless! “That’s a plastic can you dipshit” he yelled at Flex who was grandstanding to the fans over his move. Geza tossed the garbage can from the ring and Flex soon followed. Kalman pounded on the challenger at ringside for a while then tossed him back into the ring. Flex ducked out of the way of Geza’s charge into the corner and started firing punches at the champ but one big punch to his gut from Geza doubled him over. Crawling to the apron, Flex came up swinging an object and Geza braced himself for the blow, only to discover that it was a stack of plastic cups that bounced harmlessly off his skull. That was pretty much it for offense from Flex as Kalman drove him to the mat and began a ground and pound attack. As Flex flailed and squirmed beneath the barrage of elbows and forearms it became apparent to Warhed, and everyone else in the building, that things were going to get ugly very fast so, rather than see his friend beaten to a pulp, Warhed tossed in the towel giving the victory to Geza. Short and violent, this encounter helped to elevate Geza’s status as PWA’s most dangerous man. His no nonsense approach and brutal ground and pound offense proves that not everyone needs weapons to destroy their opponent. Flex was overwhelmed from start to finish and only Warhed throwing in the towel saved his ass.

PWA Internet Championship: Hayden Avery vs Elian Habanaro w/Jessy Jones (C) – This match was advertised as Hayden against Jones for the Internet title but the ‘History Maker’ had other plans. Having already lost the title to Avery once and only winning it back through nefarious means at the last show (Eddie Osbourne laid down to let Jones pin him in a wild multi-man match that saw defending champ Avery handcuffed to the post.) Jones had no desire to give Hayden a chance at winning it again. He came to ringside dressed in a suit and accompanied by Elian Habanaro and announced first that Brantford was “a stinking pile of crap” and second “there is no Internet title match tonight.” The Chant Monkeys were loudly screaming “Mr Sub” and “Eat my foot long” so it took a moment for PWA owner Joe Hallem to get Jones’ attention. When he did, he announced that there would be a title fight or he would strip Jones of the belt and award it to Avery. At this point Avery showed up and he and Elian high-fived each other much to Jones’ disgust. Jessy grabbed Habanaro; told him he was to fight Avery and warned him he’d be sent back to Cuba if he lost. Elian responded by saying “I’ll handle this – you go get sub” which got a big cheer from the fans. Avery and Habanaro shook hands at the bell then Avery took it right to the mat with two quick roll-ups getting a 2 count each time. Jones was furious at ringside as Avery dominated on the mat with grinding headlocks. Every time Elian managed to break free, Avery’s body tackles or armdrags put him right back on the canvas. Finally Habanaro was able to fight back with chops but Avery was on fire and came right back with his own series of chops followed by a bodyslam and big elbow drop for another near fall. Elian hit a flipping neckbreaker and flying heel kick in his first real offense of the match and a big exchange off the ropes saw Avery flipped over the top where he landed right on top of Jones. Hayden pounded away on Jones at ringside before trapping Elian in the ropes and hitting a big legdrop off the top for yet another 2. Fans were screaming and taunting Jones at ringside as Elian fell victim to a vertical suplex and was then snared in a nifty submission move that started as a piledriver set-up but turned into a vertical figure-4 type hold. Elian eventually managed to flip Avery and Jones quickly dragged the challenger outside the ring. As DVD commentator Paul Wright left his table to try and control fans crowding the action, Habanaro came off the corner with a neckbreaker that seemed to damage him as much or more than it did Avery. It was a crazy scene at ringside as fans were actually standing over the fallen wrestlers and screaming at them while Wright did his best to steer them back to their seats. Elian and Avery took it back inside and struggled in the corner, each blocking the other’s moves. With both up top, Hayden suddenly grabbed Habanaro and powerbombed him into the ring. Jones, seeing his ‘slave’ was in danger of losing the match and thus costing him his title, grabbed the belt and clobbered Avery in the head. Habanaro, who never saw the cheap shot, grabbed a stunned Avery, dropped him on his head and covered him for the victory. In a surreal twist, a video of Jessy Jones’ Sports Corner show started playing on the small stage and the footage was of Jessy interviewing then Internet champ Hayden Avery. This continued to play as the wrestlers made their way to the back and it wasn’t until ring announcer Gentleman Geoff got on the mic and demanded someone “shut that crap off” that the video was silenced. It certainly served to subdue the rowdy fans as Hayden’s rambling monologue on the footage was anything but uplifting.

PWA/GLCW Bikini Contest: Nicki vs Erine vs Jacqui Jones vs 21^st Century Fox – Paul Wright entered the ring and, doing his best overly excited Jerry Lawler impression, introduced the contestants in the bikini contest. First into the ring were PWA ring girls Nicki & Erine followed by Jacqui Jones. PWA Women’s Elite Champion 21^st Century Fox was last to arrive and unlike the others, she was wearing a long terrycloth robe. One thing led to another as bikini contests do and it came down to Fox’s turn to show her ‘stuff.’ Fox dropped the robe to reveal she was dressed in her ring gear and as Nicki and Erine fled the ring, she stretched the shit out of Jacqui. Declaring herself a “professional wrestler” and calling Jacqui a “professional whore,” Fox looked at the fans and said she had too much respect for wrestling to take part in “crap like this” for “stupid idiots like you.”  

Intermission: As usual at a PWA show, business was brisk at the merchandise tables. Warhed wandered around outside the venue with a video camera interviewing fans and I spent time talking with Jacqui and Rip Impact when I should have been getting Mrs Id a beverage. Actually, I was talking to Jacqui; but Rip happened along at just the right time to offer me a slight chance of staying off the shit list so I immediately grabbed it. Thankfully, it worked and the ride home after the show was peaceful. (I owe you one Rip.)

‘Suicide’ Sean Ball vs ‘Impact’ Eddie Osbourne w/Jessy Jones – This match was to determine the #1 contender to the PWA Championship. Fans were unanimously behind Ball as Osbourne is perhaps the most miserable wrestler in Ontario and having Jones at his side did nothing to bolster his popularity. At the bell they entered into a trade-off of holds and moves that ended with Ball doing a beautiful float-over of Eddie’s intended knee strike and rolling him up for the first 2 count. They quickly exchanged more near falls in a mat-based sequence as Jones yelled encouragement from the apron. Osbourne hoisted Ball up on his shoulders and looked to be planning something but Ball grabbed the ceiling girder and lifted himself off. When Osbourne turned around Ball dropped from the girder with a headscissor takedown that had fans cheering and Jones frantic. Osbourne slowly gained an edge with a barrage of pinches and elbows but Ball fought back with elbows of his own and a series of chops to his throat had Eddie in trouble. Jones tried to distract Ball but he continued to meet Osbourne head on so the bad guy bailed to the outside to confer with Jones. Ball nailed them both with a baseball slide kick under the ropes but Jones grabbed him. Osbourne missed Ball and nailed Jones with a punch and while the two sorted that out Ball re-entered the ring and launched himself over the top onto both of them. Rolling Osbourne into the ring Ball continued his aerial assault by dropping from the ceiling girder with a legdrop and it was only Jones’ interference that saved Eddie from being pinned. Ball began an enthusiastic corner punch countdown but Jones climbing up onto the apron distracted him and Osbourne was able to hit a sit-out powerbomb and a falling headbutt to regain the advantage. Ball powered out of a surfboard but his attempted move off the ropes saw him spilled to the outside when Jones pulled down the top strand. Osbourne quickly distracted the official as Jones laid into Ball with stomps and kicks. Ball re-entered the ring and after some quick off the ropes exchanges, Eddie nailed him with a lungblower followed by elbow strikes and a slam for a 2 count. With Ball down on the mat, Osbourne elected to try coming off the ceiling girder as Jones pleaded with him not to attempt it. Osbourne couldn’t shinny out on the girder and Ball knocked him to the mat with a dropkick for another 2. Another dropkick knocked Osbourne into the official dropping him to the mat. Ball’s pin attempt was abandoned as he leveled Jones who had entered the ring. Osbourne blasted Ball from behind, knocking him through the ropes, and followed to deliver a suplex out on the floor. With the fans chanting their support of “Suicide” Osbourne covered him in the ring while Jones revived the official. Ball escaped the pin attempt and countered Osbourne’s suplex with a slam of his own. Jones tripped over the bottom rope trying to enter the ring to break up the pin and fans erupted when the ref counted 3 giving Ball the victory. After the match, Ball hugged his baby girl at ring side and chugged a beer before leaving to the cheers of the fans. This was a great match! Fans were hot throughout as Sean Ball is one of PWA’s most popular performers while Eddie & Jessy are the men fan’s love to hate. All three guys provided a match that had fans guessing about the outcome and there was a hell of a lot more action than I was able to relate. The second of three matches that made picking the match of the night almost impossible.

Quinson Valentino w/Mike Flash vs Pantalone – Valentino & Flash cut a venom filled promo upon arrival slamming both the Brantford fans and L’Artiste (Formerly know as Phil Latio) The fans responded with all kinds of numerous chants and taunts that only further riled Valentino. Pantalone, the big lovable goof, was roundly cheered when he arrived and greeted fans with his customary sticky high-fives. Valentino started the match with punches and kicks. Any time Pantalone countered with an eye poke of an actual hold, Valentino would bail or Flash would distract the ref so a low blow or other dirty trick would give the edge back to Quinson. Just as Valentino settled into a decided advantage and was working Pantalone over pretty good L’Artiste showed up waving a ticket. Valentino and Flash were outraged as L’Artiste took a seat in the front row to watch the action and cheer Pantalone on. (He sat beside Mrs Id, raising my confirmed count of people wearing thong underwear in my row to two.) Pantalone took advantage of the distraction to nail a quick 2 count but Valentino cane right back with a jawjacker and a brutal nose-pull/neck stretch over the top rope. Ignoring L’Artiste’s taunts, Quinson continued to punish Pantalone’s neck but missed a charge into the corner. Pantalone began a corner punch countdown but got flattened with a spinebuster for another near fall. Valentino again dominated the action with kneedrops, slams and elbow strikes; taunting the crowd all the while. Pantalone shifted the momentum in his favor by leveling Quinson with a big bodyblock. The fan favorite got a couple of 2 counts during an assault that included punches knees and atomic drops but couldn’t keep Valentino down on the mat. After a bodyslam and a huge leaping ass-press Pantalone whipped Valentino into the corner but Flash grabbed him to prevent him following up. As the ref was distracted by that, L’Artiste leapt into the ring and baring his thong-split ass cheeks, delivered a hilarious stinkface to the fallen Valentino. L’Artiste scurried back to his seat and an enraged Valentino was snagged at the ropes by Pantalone and rolled up for the pin. Pantalone and L’Artiste celebrated his victory and left the arena. Valentino and Flash left amidst a cluster of fans and once again there was pushing and shoving between spectators and wrestlers with some small children even running in to throw water on the wrestlers. The continuing saga of the former Phil Latio, L’Artiste and his feud with Valentino and Flash is probably the most popular running storyline in PWA, and it shows no sign of ending anytime soon. Pantalone remains popular with fans and gave a good accounting of himself in this match but Valentino was the standout performer. This guy continues to impress me with the crispness of his moves and his ability to work a crowd is amazing. This bout was so entertaining to watch that the execution and technical display was unnoticed by most fans, reacting more to the characters and drama than the skills of the performers. Personally, I’d like to see Quinson in straight up matches with Hayden Avery or Ruffy Silverstein because I think he’d excel beyond his current role.

Joe E Legend vs Ruffy Silverstein – This match exploded into action right before the bell as Silverstein entered from the main gate to attack Legend from behind. He pounded away at Legend with punches and flips before dumping him over the top with a huge lariat. Joe gained the edge as they brawled through the crowd with vicious eye gouges and stiff punches. Silverstein blocked a piledriver attempt and flipped Joe to the floor before pounding on him some more. When the action returned to the ring Legend once again took control by torturing Silverstein in the ropes. Dragging Ruffy from the ring Legend used his foot to crush Silverstein’s head against the ringpost. Throwing him back inside, Legend landed a big knee to the head and went for the cover five times in a row; with Silverstein kicking out each time. The crowd was all over Legend as he continued to press the attack with high impact moves and strikes. Silverstein kept fighting but Joe’s heavy kicks to the head and a devastating spinebuster led to the “Oh…my…God” elbow smash. Three consecutive 2 counts followed that move. Legend continued to stomp and pummel Silverstein, taunting the fans as he did. The action spilled in and out of the ring as the two became more and more brutal in their tactics. Silverstein was bounced off the post and tossed into the seats with his neck taking a wicked shot from the back of a chair when he landed. Legend elected to start working submissions but Ruffy kept fighting free. Both wrestlers were showing signs of fatigue when Legend clamped on a sleeper only to have Silverstein blast his way free with elbows. Joe called for a brainbuster but Ruffy countered with a suplex and finally began to mount a serious rally. It took three running clotheslines to put Legend down but Silverstein quickly followed with a powerslam and a cradled suplex on the larger man. Legend dumped Silverstein to the mat but missed his ‘Oh…my…God’ elbow smash. Ruffy responded with one of his own that connected. Silverstein came off the ropes but Legend snagged him and drove him to the mat with a Death Valley Driver for a 2 and a big slam for another. The crowd was hot as Legend went for the TKO but Silverstein’s feet smashed the official putting him to the mat instead. With the ref out of the equation, Eddie Osbourne ran in and attacked Silverstein but Ruffy hit the TKO on him and dumped him from the ring. Legend attacked Ruffy with a big stomp to the head. A running boot to the head put Silverstein down and the recovering official counted a 2. Legend attempted a slam but Silverstein turned it into a bodypress just as Reggie Marley entered the ring. His elbow drop nailed Legend by mistake but he caught Silverstein with his ‘Greetings from Jamaica’ and Legend jumped on him for another near fall. Moments later Silverstein hit Joe with a stunner but Marley pulled the official from the ring during the count. Marley entered the ring with his PWA title belt but missed Silverstein, blasting Joe in the head with it by mistake. Silverstein leaped on Legend for the cover and a different official raced to the ring to make the 3 count giving the match to Ruffy. The original ref was helped to the back as a sore and exhausted Silverstein celebrated his victory with fans. Eddie Osbourne and Reggie Marley assisted Legend to the locker room but ran a gauntlet of swarming fans and again, things came close to getting ugly between spectators and wrestlers. Another potential match of the day candidate! Legend and Silverstein rocked the house with this bout and fans were into the action all the way. (A little too into the action after the bell.) Silverstein may not hold the title but he proved without doubt that he is one of PWA’s premier wrestlers, especially when one considers this was his second big match on the card.

Final thoughts: Opinions on ‘match of the day’ will be argued among fans for some time to come. For me it came down to three possible choices. The Silverstein/Legend match was a standout but the convoluted finish and interference kind of took away from the bulk of the match which up to that point had been a fantastic one on one encounter between two great workers. Osbourne vs Ball was also an amazing match and in that case, the interaction of Jessy Jones contributed to the match rather than take anything away from it. A contender for sure but my personal pick for match of the day goes to the opening bout – Silverstein vs Marley. Granted, there was interference in that match too but the significance of the Unified Title being on the line and the history between Reggie and Ruffy, coupled with their intense performance made this match just a little better than the rest. Like every PWA show, the card was stacked from top to bottom with great action. The only downside was the involvement of fans during the Avery/Habanaro match and after many others. I think a line was crossed there and fans and PWA are lucky that no one got hurt, especially the young fans who were apparently there without their parents. I hope that this type of thing doesn’t become commonplace at the Brantford shows.

Photo Credit: Mrs. Id   

Contact the wizard of id at zapflash@sympatico.ca  

Visit the PWA website: http://www.purewrestling.cjb.net/