What's up everyone and welcome to another McReview here on the DOI. If you haven't seen it already, I already posted quick results & news on the show at this link.

This will be quick:

NHPW
12/2
Boonton, NJ
Refs: Zack, John & A VPW Ref whose name escapes me
Ring Announcer: Bobby Vitko, who for some reason was heeling out the crowd.
Commentators for DVD: Bobby Vitko & Chris Sokol

Bobby Vitko, the ring announcer, heeled out the crowd to start the show. What a great way to kick things off! Vitko also stole er... bit off um... borrowed alot from Jesse Ventura from boas to sunglasses. A ring announcer doesn't really need a gimmick but I guess ring announcers having gimmicks is new on this horizon.

Jake Bishop d. Crowbar
This match itself wasn't bad and I enjoyed it. The biggest problem with this match is that it shouldn't have been an opener. I'm guessing Crowbar had somewhere else to go on this night, hence him curtain jerking the show. The match itself was nearly 15+ minutes and had more of a 6th or 7th match type feel to it rather than an opener.

Aside from bad placement on the card, the match itself was fun if you can enjoy indy wrestling. Jake Bishop does a JYD gimmick, which will never get him signed in WWE since they already had the original, but if you're looking for something fun & corny on the indies, Jake Bishop brings it.

Bishop did all the JYD spots in this match, from the running headbutts, to the jumping headbutts to the woofing. Crowbar hit all his trademark moves and midway into this match, the chairs were busted out, as both guys hit each others with chairs in front of the referee. I wasn't aware this was a no-dq match. The finish of this match saw Bishop put Crowbar away cleanly with a powerslam.
POSTMATCH: Havok, for whatever reason, ran out and attacked both guys. Bishop & Crowbar fought Havok off and showed mutual appreciation to each other.
Like I said above this match was a bad match to open with. The match was long and featured chair shots, and this was just the first match of the show. It set a hard precedent to top, although the next match managed just fine, although I think the wrestlers in that match were forced to do more to compensate. I don't get the Havok run-in. Whatever happened to just having straight-up clean matches without all the kabukiness?

Notorious Inc/Grim Reefer w/The Strangler d. AMIL & Dizzie
AMIL came out to the Nation of Domination music. I popped for that.
I haven't seen AMIL in a while, and they seem to be getting bigger. K-Pusha definitely has improved his look. It's been a tough career for AMIL as they were written off to be small by some people. Now that they got size, you have Cryme Tyme on TV doing a gimmick similiar to what AMIL has been doing for years. Regardless, AMIL continues to be a tag team that is fun to watch.
For 6 guys who never really wrestle against each other much, this was a fun match. You had tons of fast spots and lots of boom-boom-boom action. Everyone really went all out here. The one flaw I would say was in this match was that everything was moving so fucking fast that nothing was registering, because by the time someone get frogsplashed, 2 other guys are diving over the top rope to the floor. If you like fast paced stuff, this was for you.
Moore hit an impressive running clothesline into the corner in this match, as the force of the clothesline literally sent Moore through the ropes. Dizzie hit two big frogsplashes in this match. However, after hitting his second splash on Blood, Reefer did a frogsplash on his own on Dizzie, to pick up the clean 1-2-3.
Fun match here, although I'd liken it to a video game, where you do a bunch of big time moves and you bounce right back up after taking them. This was one of the better matches of the show, and somehow was able to top the match before them which featured alot.

Ghanda Rhea Akbar w/Prince Charles d. CZW Champion Eddie Kingston via countout
Kingston has improved alot over the last few years. The crowd was really into him, as you had alot of smart marks there who are big CZW fans. Akbar took a beating in this match, and at times would roll out of the ring to look at his book of religious worship, for inspiration & strength, which Charles held for him. When on offense, Akbar was able to ground Kingston, even pulling off the magic carpet ride from the top. Charles made himself known in this match, which angered Kingstons BLKOUT partner Ruckus. Ruckus came out and dragged Charles to the back. While this was happening Kingston left the ring to watch all this. The ref then counted Kingston out, giving Akbar the cheap win.
I understand why the finish of this match happened, but to me, it looked like the ref blew it. The ref kind of made Kingston look stupid, because instead of counting loud and quicker than normal, the ref dragged his count out while Kingston was left to sit outside with his thumb up his ass waiting for the ref to get to 10. Aside from the finish, a decent showing here from both guys, although did this match really need a fuck finish?

Dr. Spider/Jasin Karloff d. Justin Corino/Joey Image
This was not a good match. The Spider/Karloff team looked terrible to me, and I'm trying to be nicer than usual here. Both wrestlers looked very cheesy and looked like they belonged in that WACK Nickolodeon thing. At least there they'd be scary. Corino had the best look in this match, and the southpaw looked to carry this thing. Still needs a name change unless he's gonna do something with the real Corino.

Joey Image has since written a column on this match saying it was a mess too, but I didn't really see anything too stiff. Nothing against Joey, but I don't know if I'd be writing a column using the words "stiff" or "work" then talking about going to the back to clear things up with your opponent. As a guy who runs a site, it's great for me & my business, but I can see why I got some emails from other indy wrestlers asking why Joey was exposing the business on my site. However to Image's credit, he was very over in this match and was trying to do the right thing for the people popping for him.

The finish of this match saw Corino tap out to Spider's camel clutch. At least this match was one of the rare matches on the show that wasn't a triple threat nor had a fuck finish.
This is a match I'm hoping to forget by Tuesday.

Ariel d. Cindy Rogers
Special Ref: Alere Little Feather
This was a decent womens match, although I've felt like I've seen it many times before. Cindy heeled it up here, and Ariel was able to play off her nicely. After about 9 minutes or so, Ariel rolled up Cindy for the quick 3 count.
POSTMATCH: Cindy attacked Alere. I guess this will lead to a match in the future. Something simple as this at least puts heat on their match for the next show, and it wasn't as random as people just running out attacking people.

Eric Andretti w/Nikki Roxx d. Mana & The Blue Meanie in a Triple Threat Match
This was my first NHPW show, and I'm still trying to figure out how this match was all put together. Unlike everything else you see in wrestling, and this is a good thing and not meant to be negative, a mens match set up the main event womens match. Gotta give credit to NHPW here. What happened was that Mercedes Martinez & Melissa Stripes came out to attack Nikki. All three brawled to the back, leaving the men to do their thing, while putting heat on the ladies match later on. Unlike the Kingston/Akbar match, the wrestlers didn't stand outside the ring waiting to get counted out.

As the match progressed, Meanie started to emerge as the clear favorite. However, Havok ran out again for seemingly no reason and attacked Meanie. After what felt like hours but was merely long minutes, Havok ran in and gored Mana. Nikki Roxx also ran back out to crack a chair over Mana's head. Mana has taken alot of unprotected head shots this year, which could explain alot of the booking/storylines on this show. With Mana getting it from all sides, Andretti picked up the pin, while Meanie nursed his injuries on the outside.
POSTMATCH: Bishop runs out for the save before Havok can inflict anymore damage. Mana/Meanie/Bishop then do the Meanie dance, getting the biggest pop of the night at this point.
The match itself was decent and it furthered several angles. The only thing I didn't get is why Havok was running around in every match. I guess this is something they explained on their DVD's.

INTERMISSION-
Went to the Boonton Bar. Since I heard intermission was going to be long I stayed for a bit and wound up missing the popcorn match. However sacrificing one match on a show for 3 beers seems like a good trade.

Papadon d. Javi-Air & Judas Young after a piledriver on Javi-Air
Like I said above, I missed this match so I can't comment. The only thing I can say is that I don't know why you follow a triple threat match with a triple threat match, then have another triple threat match as your main event. I guess it would make sense if you were 3PW, but for NHPW, it seemed odd.

Cannon/Cremator d. Gavin Quest/Mike Donovan
Cremator looked like Kevin Matthews/Jason Voorhies, but didn't have the same charisma. Quest/Donovan were tagging under the Extasy Express name, as Donovan seems to be the 4th alternate in that team. The Cremator/Cannon would've probably been better off paired against Spider/Karloff. I think you also would've gotten a better match with Donovan/Quest vs Corino/Image too. The finish of this match saw the double C's hit synchronized powerslams for the win.
This match just seemed out there for no reason but to give the wrestlers ringtime.

For the NYWC Hi-Fi title
(c) Plazma d. Ruckus w/Kingston
I thought it was cool for NHPW, despite being in its infancy, to acknowledge that they aren't the only indy fed in the world. NHPW does need to crown its own champions, but while waiting to do that, why not build a working relationship with other places. The only thing I didn't get is if they were going to have an NYWC title defended, why not have Kingston defend his CZW title?
I thought this was a decent match for two guys who've never wrestled each other before. The finish left more to be desired, as Plazma roll throughed a pin attempt by Ruckus and hooked the tights for the win. This match deserved a better clear cut finish rather than the quick 3 out of nowhere.

The Natural Born Sinners (Homicide & Boogalou) d. BLKOUT Members Sabian & Joker
This was arguably the best mens match on the show. If Low Ryda wasn't planned to show up as advertised, and Homicide was always the original plan, I don't get why NHPW didn't announce the one-night return of the Sinners. Could've drawn some extra fans that way.

This match had the most credibility and action in it. These two teams clicked and put on a solid fight. Like the match before, this match had a roll-through finish, with Homicide pinning Sabian.
POSTMATCH: Ruckus & Kingston jumped Homicide & Boogalou. Azraiel ran out to make the save. There was then a whole long postmatch war of words, with the teams wanting to take it to the parking lot. If they went out side and brawled a bit, it would've been cool. Instead, nothing happened and you're left to say, "well that's that then."

MATCH OF THE NIGHT
In a Womens TLC Match To Crown an Indy Gurlz Champion
Nikki Roxx d. Mercedes Martinez & Melissa Stripes in a 20+ minute match after tons of weapon shots & creative spots.
Can't believe I'm saying it, but this was the best match of the show. It was treated that way too, as it was built up earlier in the show and given the most time.

This match had a ton of crazy spots. Stripes was diving off ladders, and at one point looked to knock herself out. Martinez took a page out of Bam Bam Bigelow's book and chucked Nikki Roxx into the crowd. Stripes hit her 450. Chairs, ladders & tables were swung and thrown all over the fucking place. All three girls ate tons of wood in this match, and not in that way.

Toward the end, Mercedes cracked a chair over Melissa. Melissa then went through a table, ending her participation in the match. Mercedes then set up a table with two chairs supporting the table. Mercedes went for a superplex on Roxx, but Mercedes took the brunt of it. After both girls laid motionless for a minute, Roxx regrouped and covered Mercedes for the victory.
Best womens match I've seen all year, and I've actually watched a shit load of womens wrestling this year. (While scouting for this year's J-Cup I watched alot of womens wrestling, and I've checked out the SHIMMER shows on DVD too.) This match, while it did have the benefit of a gimmick, really delivered. All three girls really put it all out there and gave NHPW a solid match. When I heard this match was the main event of the show I was leery of how it would do on top, but it certainly closed the show wth a bang. These girls worked harder than most of the guys on the show.

Final McWord
There was alot of good stuff here mixed in with some bad. The last two matches really delivered, and I thought you had the best womens match all year on this show. I think the matches here for the most part were decent, but the finishes & storyline development left alot to be desired.

Alot of matches seemed thrown on to the show with no rhyme or reason. There were tons of quick pins and not too many people looked strong in victory. There was also alot of run-ins and I think the first half of the show suffered from match placement. The second half was pretty fun, and the last two matches of the show pretty much saved the event.

From my earlier report:
Mana, who was promoting this show claimed an attendance of 148, although, if there were 148 fans there, then the ABC show from 2003 must've had 400. Regardless of the crowd size, which I'd estimate at 100 or so, they were pretty loud all night.

The return of the Natural Born Sinners was a big surprise. Putting them against BLKOUT was a good idea.

There were tons of wrestlers/wrestling personalities checking out this show. Jay Lethal, Joe Hardway, Azraiel, Alicia, Cha- Cha, Jana, John Curse, Wayne, Bon Jovi, Jack of Hearts, Bison Bravado, Dave Levy, Derek Gordon & Rob Vegas were just a handful of people not booked on the show but checking it out live.

For those who care, NHPW used VPW's ring/set-up. VPW definitely has a nice ring and films well.

NHPW has plans for another show, which will most likely take place in late January.

Overall
Not a bad show, but alot of shit didn't make sense. However, the main event made this show very enjoyable & put it over the top.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com