What's up everyone and welcome to another McReview, here on the DOI. This is going to be a short one, as I'm pressed for time.

JAPW made their Carteret, NJ debut, which wasn't that much of a big deal, because their home base in Rahway is only 3 minutes away by car. However, it does open up a new venue for JAPW, so like in this event's case, if the Rahway Rec center is booked, JAPW has another building close by on standby.

This venue was also the home to Corvis Fear's DWI shows. DWI ran three shows in that building, as Monsta Mack brokered the deal between the venue and Corvis. When JAPW was told by the Rahway Rec Center that they had no May date open, Mack was able to get JAPW the building. Unfortunately, due to his knee injury, Mack wasn't able to wrestle on the show, where he would've been one of the top babyfaces. Going back to Corvis, this is Corvis's last show for the time being, as he takes a break from the wrestling business due to events in his personal & professional career. We here at the DOI wish both Mack & Corvis speedy returns to the ring.

Going into this show, I felt there wasn't much hype. In my opinion, which I'll further discuss in a future "McPinions" column, I think ROH is really affecting the indy scene & indy promoters in a negative way. It is not intentional at all, it is just that ROH's growth & success has led indy fans to save their money just to go to ROH shows & buy ROH DVDs. The typical indy fan is not a millionaire, and needs to choose wisely where to spend their money. Promotions like NWS & ECPW will always exist since they both get sold shows that don't draw smart marks. The non-smart mark sold shows will always be profitable. When you're an indy fed competing for the smart mark dollar, especially in the northeast where ROH is based, you have to go leaps and bounds to have a profitable night. Fans aren't stupid and it's easy to tell that neither WSU in Queens nor JAPW here made money hand over fist. While both shows may have been profitable, all the work and hassle isn't shown once you count your gate. Again, this is a long topic for another day, but with ROH's schedule increasing, fans in my opinion are saving up their money to go to ROH to see all their favorite smart marks, rather than the local guy who uses some smart marks and tries to create their own roster.

JAPW
5/19
Carteret, NJ
Refs: Paul Turner, John & Matt Bennett (For fans who asked, Hanson couldn't make the show due to a family committment. As I write this, Hanson is driving to Texas to help a family member move. At least Hanson Von Erich will get to visit a couple of Dallas wrestling sites on his trip.)
DVD Commentators: Mark Clemson & Monsta Mack
Attendance: The building was 90% packed. JAPW claims 400-450, but I'd peg it at 350+.

DVD announcers/commentators/faces of JAPW, Mark Clemson & Monsta Mack came out. The two ran down the card. The crowd gave a vocal "JAP" chant for the cameras. This was a good tactic to get the crowd hyped, in this old school way.

Danny Demanto & Corvis Fear d. Ecstasy Express (Gavin Quest & Travis Blake)
To me, this was JAPW's "DWI Dark Match". I still don't get the pairing of Demanto & Fear, maybe it was explained on the DVDs so I missed it, because for a few shows they were killing each other, and then the next, they are a thrown together tag team. I think Danny is better suited in JAPW as a singles wrestler as well.

This was a solid opener, and both teams had chemistry together. The crowd wasn't really as maniac and crazy as they are in other venues, such as Rahway. This is most likely due to the building was a church building, and held in a CYO gym. This match got heat just because it was the first match of the show. As the show progressed, the crowd got quiet, which is the complete opposite of the Rahway venue. Note for fans: JAPW just found out there is a bus stop in front of the venue from NYC's Port Authority. Whereas Rahway has a train station next to it, JAPW didn't know about the bus top until the event began. Perhaps that is why JAP had a lower draw than usual.

Demanto & Corvis did a double B-Boy spot in this match, where both members of the Express were placed in a tree of woe. Danny & Corvis then dropkicked both guys in the face simutaneously. For some reason, the match then degenerated into indy-central, with Blake hitting a Burning Hammer on Danny and Corvis hitting a Burning Hammer on Quest. These guys would be wise to let that move die just like the guy's career who used the move previously in JAP. It makes no sense for opening match guys, who are considered cruiserweights, with the exception of Danny, for hitting killer neck damaging moves, especially in front of a crowd who could've cared less.

Danny hit his Hogsplash, with Corvis assisting for the ensuing pinfall, for the clean victory. This match was kinda long, but nothing terrible.
The Ecstasy Express tag team has potential. Gavin, who actually started in JAPW, deserves a spot on these shows, and if given a 2004-2005 Archadia push, it might catch on. The crowd seemed super hot to see Danny back.

Alicia w/Johnny D d. Daizee Haze
The one thing that hurts Alicia's wrestling career in JAPW is the fact is that there are no storylines or built in feuds for her. Did anyone doubt that Alicia was winning this match? Alicia has just had random matches against various girls in JAPW. Maybe that's because there is no title to shoot for, as a title is a natural booking way to progress a story and wrestler. It's hard to get the fans to care about womens wrestling 9/10 times anyway, and when there's no story behind it, you kind of shoot yourself in the foot.

Haze is very impressive in the ring, as many know. Both girls are different styles, with Alicia being more grounded and about working a crowd, with Haze using her speed and high flying to get the crowd into her. Haze buried Alicia with a vicious DDT. Haze would follow it later on with an Stinger deathdrop DDT. Johnny D would show his face in the match, and interfered numerous times, pulling Haze's foot early on in the match. Alicia hit her running Yakuza in the corner, but Haze was still in it. Alicia went for the dreaded sit-out hiptoss of DOOM but Haze reversed it and got a 2 count out of it.

Eventually, Jonny D saw enough, and crotched Haze on the top rope. (I guess that hurts girls too). Alicia then hit a one-woman Quebecker bomb (sitting out while flipping Haze from the top) for the 1-2-3.
Ok match here, but like I said, the division needs work, although I don't think JAPW fans are too high on womens wrestling as much as they are into seeing them manage/valet.

Delirious d. EC Negro w/Bandido Jr. & KC Blade
I couldn't believe the crowd reaction to this one. Negro, being in JAPW for the better part of 4 years, got a mediocre reaction for his entrance, but when Delirious came out the crowd exploded. I think the crowd wants the DRS back and wants to explode for their return. JAPW's tag division could use them back too, and having Blade out there only teases it.

As far as the match, I thought it connected well. The La Familia gimmick seems dead though, with SST & BLKOUT being pushed in JAPW. It might be time to kill it off completely and let the wrestlers go their seperate ways. Bandido and OCK have already seemed to branch out, with Negro on back burner.

The finish of this match saw Delirious frogsplash Negro's back and pin him, ending a pretty long and well fought match. Delirious was very over with the crowd and it would be smart to bring him back in the future.

For the JAPW Tag Team Titles
(c) Jay Lethal & Azraiel d. The Outcast Killahz (Oman Tortuga & Diablo Santiago) via DQ
I liked the formation of the Lethal & Azraiel tag team, but I think both are better off for JAPW in singles roles. I thought the OCK would've taken this match due to Lethal's TNA committments, so I was surprised to see them win.

Lethal & Az donned matching black & blue gear. They looked like a real team. There was lots of good double teaming in this match. One spot saw both OCK throw Lethal & Az into each other from the gorilla press position. Azriael & Lethal showed off flashes of brilliance as well, hitting a sick enziguri by Az followed up by a quick superkick from Lethal on Oman.

Towards the end, OCK hit a modified East Coast Killa on Lethal. However, despite looking strong all match OCK wasn't able to get the job done, as Lethal/Azraiel pulled the Eddie Guerrero finish. The finish saw Azraiel wail Oman with one of the JAPW tag title belts. Azriael then threw the belt to Diablo. Azriael then sold it that he and Lethal got hit by the belts and the ref called for the DQ.
Not a bad finish, as Lethal/Azraiel now seem like babyfaces after starting off their tag run as heels. The match was pretty long to do a DQ finish, but the crowd popped for it. It also sets the stage for another rematch for these two teams. However, the big match next month for JAPW could be the SST, in conjunction with TNA's LAX, with rumored potential SST member Hernandez, looking to add more gold to the collection.

For the JAPW Jersey Championship
The Grim Reefer (c) d. Bandido Jr. w/KC Blade
This was a good match and both guys clicked in the ring. Does anyone else think that by other feds doing this match it hurts when JAPW puts it on for the first time? To me it just doesn't seem as special as it could've been, but that's also from someone who's seen way too many indy shows.

Reefer went for his chronic crossface alot in this match, but every time Bandido was able to break the hold, by getting a rope break. Eventually, the DRS interfered and saved Bandido from a near-loss. However, Reefer was able to fend off the former JAPW Tag Team Champions. Reefer then charged into the corner with Bandido's lifeless body into the corner. Reefer then hit his package piledriver on the rebound and got the clean 1-2-3.
POSTMATCH: Reefer had words with Negro from the aisleway. JAPW looks like they were teasing a Reefer/Negro match for next month. This could also be a reason to split La Familia as JAPW could go with the Bandido was jealous Negro cost him a title-match angle. Reefer continues to be one of the top babyfaces of the company. It's amazing following Reefer's career on the indies. No matter where he goes, whether it's debutmatch in a company or elsewhere, the guy always gets one of the biggest pops on a show.

Matches after intermission saw:

Archadia d. Human Tornado, M-Dogg 20 & Matt Sydal
This match was a spot fest like you'd expect, but there was also plenty of wrestling in it. It was kind of like WSU's 6-way from last night, just with 2 less guys.

The spot everyone was talking about and that stole the match was the "Apache" dance. It was great comedy, as all four guys danced the Apache and had the crowd roaring. Tornado is quickly becoming one of JAPW's more marketable guys and top babyfaces. The guy can have a record of 0-100 in JAPW and still get more of a reaction than most of the roster.

After tons of false finishes and sick spots, Archadia polished Matt Sydal off with a wicked package piledriver.
Fun match here, and a good match to put on after intermission to get the crowd hyped up.
On another note, alot of JAPW's fan base & myself included thought it was fucked up that Reefer & Archadia, the two home grown JAPW guys, were the first guys out in JAPW's 9th Annual Best of the Light Heavyweights 6-way match. Now we see that the match result didn't go against them as Reefer is now the secondary champion in JAPW and Archadia, after a brief abscence, picked up a huge win here. With ROH & TNA gobbling guys up with contracts, it's good to see the promotion build around its loyal players.

Eddie Kingston d. B-Boy
This was a good match from these two, but I was expecting something big, storyline wise. JAPW has the potential of doing a hot gang-war type of feud with SST & BLKOUT but it's not just there yet. Both guys showed off their wrestling skills after starting the match off brawling. One thing that hurt this match was the venue. You can't really go fucking apeshit in a church. That's just the business. You know if this match was in the ECW arena or in Rahway, it would've been something more memorable.

Kingston was able to stun B-Boy and defeat him via pinfall. I was expecting a huge postmatch angle afterwards, but it wasn't to be.

In the Main Event
For the JAPW Heavyweight Championship
(c) Low Ki d. Necro Butcher
There are alot of fans who follow JAPW only through DVD's and this is a match worth picking up on DVD. As far as comparing this to their IWA-MS match, I thought the IWA MS match was sicker, but this match still did the job and did many good things for the company. The most important thing is this match helps bring back prestige to a championship that sorely needs it. The last two champions, Rhino & Teddy Hart, vacated the belt, with the latter being fired from JAPW. The belt needed a legit champion, and Low Ki is doing that with his reign. I can also report that TNA & JAPW are on good working terms, which is great news for JAPW fans and for the JAPW title.

The special ring announcer for this match was the priest from the church. There are two lines of theories for promoters that you can use a building representative for either your first match (to get the crowd hyped) or the last match (to show importance for the main event). JAPW opted for the latter and it was done beautifully. The priest got a huge pop, and made the main event feel like so much more to that crowd. I wonder how many people from that crowd have never seen either guy before, as it was obvious there were alot of new JAPW fans from the church's parish at the show.

These guys hit each other pretty hard, and brought the realism in this match. The crowd seemed 50-50, as both guys are huge fan favorites. There was thumbtacks, killer strikes, fighting outside and more, which brought the intensity to the table.

The crowd were on their feet for most of this, and Low Ki was able to successfully retain the title after a huge fucking double stomp on Necro, as Necro was laying on a door that he was previously driven into.

This match sent the crowd home happy, and as the 8th match, the show had a good flow, good rise and a great ending.

Final McWord
This was a good indy show, but it didn't feel like JAPW. I felt like I was at an indy show, not at one of the top premier promotions in the country. I think the venue had alot to do with it. If anything, JAPW showed they could put on a solid sold show and gained a good sponsor/customer out of this.

The one thing to me that was missing the most was angle advancement. Nothing was really set for the next show. This felt like a JAPW B-show. This show wasn't bad at all and was very enjoyable, but it felt like a sold show JAPW was doing (which I don't think it was, as JAPW rented the place) rather than a huge JAPW monthly event. This was just a good card of matches, but there was nothing that made you say I gotta see what happens next time. You might want to go back to see the wrestlers and wrestling itself, but no story would've sold you on the show.

Obviously the main event was the match of the night, and was billed to be that way. If anyone's stock went up alot, Tornado skyrocketed. His points went up huge after tonight's performance and he's gaining a following. M-Dogg and Sydal did well too, but they don't have or didn't show off the natural charisma that Tornado has. It might be time to give Tornado single matches.

As far as actual backstage news and stuff of the like, check out the top of this report. The only other thing that was planned but didn't happen was already previously reported on the DOI, and that is about Kevin Matthews knee injury. JAPW is also tightening up their locker room in an effort to keep things more relaxed.

Overall
A quality indy show.

For more on JAPW, visit JAPW.net, as JAPW returns on 6/9 in Rahway with Low Ki vs AJ Styles, Homicide, Samoa Joe, and the regular cast of characters.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com