IWA-MS King of the Deathmatches 2020

Oh, how I loathe you, Pool of Rubbing Alcohol

It's a 2 day event, with 8 first round matches on day 1, so I'll be here for a while. I'll try my best to make this readable because boy, is this long.

The show opens with an unintelligible, masked introduction, then the competitors come to the ring for the group photo. Commentary kicks in, so the muffled announcer isn't an issue.

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DAY 1

IWA-MS World Title Match: Kevin Giza vs. Jake Crist vs. Ace Perry (C)

ROUND 1

Match 1 – Barbed Wire Madness Stairway To Hell – RSP vs. JC Rotten

Match 2 – Barefoot Bad Landing – Josh Crane vs. Dale Patricks

Match 3 – Desert Storm Taipei – Eddy Only vs. Jeff King

Match 4 – Fans Bring The Weapons – Casanova Valentine vs. SHLAK

Match 5 – Death From Above – Tristen Ramsey vs. Aeroboy

Match 6 – World Series of Electrified Light Tubes – Jimmy Lloyd vs. Orin Veidt

Match 7 – Glass Galore Texas Death – Eric Ryan vs. BC Killer

Match 8 – No Ropes Barbed Wire Caribbean Spider Web Double Hell – John Wayne Murdoch vs. Shane Mercer

DAY 2

Non-Tournament Matches

ROUND 2

SEMI FINALS

Non-Tournament Match

FINAL

Recap, Final Thoughts

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DAY 1

IWA-MS World Title Match: Kevin Giza vs. Jake Crist vs. Ace Perry (C)

Although it is a non-tournament match, it's far from a throwaway opener. Fast-paced, spectacular, as is to be expected from three of IWA-MS's finest. After a three way opening, Crist leaves the ring to reigning champion Ace Perry and Kevin Giza to show off. However, Crist is the first to show color after a chair shot on the outside, after which he joins the action again. Interference from Lincoln Moseley against Ace Perry lets Crist gain the upper hand, and force a double submission from both opponents. Jake Crist thereby becomes the new IWA-MS World Champion, and we all know how that turned out in the end.

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ROUND 1

Match 1 – Barbed Wire Madness Stairway To Hell – RSP vs. JC Rotten

The barbed wire bat suspended above the ring must be retrieved before a pinfall can be made. JC Rotten replaces Devon Moore. I'm not crazy about either, so it doesn't make any difference to me. JC attacks as soon as the bell rings and keeps the upper hand until RSP floors him with an enzuguri and goes for the first weapon. The special rule is a bit weird; there are several bats, a kendo stick, and a barbed wire board, but maybe the bat above the ring is SPECIAL somehow. JC takes a suplex against the barbed wire board without breaking it. A second attempt succeeds, and Page props up a ladder in a corner. He goes into it himself shortly after, but the tide only briefly turns for Rotten.

The match slows down, with long pauses between moves. The poor ladder collapses when both try to go for the possibly special bat. A second, slightly more durable ladder becomes Rotten's demise when he goes from the top through a barbed wire table on the outside. RSP retrieves the bat – about time, because the match is beginning to drag – but Rotten kicks out of the first pin attempt. Page remains dominant, the pace remains slow. The bat is not special. A Chokebreaker onto 2 light tubes finally brings the match to an end, with RSP advancing to round 2.

A wild Ian Rotten appears with a microphone and – presumably – praises his son for stepping up. Clearly, there is an advantage to the muffled ring mic. All I can really understand is 'Fuck you, Devon Moore'. Ok. Whatever. Shut up, Ian.

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Match 2 – Barefoot Bad Landing – Josh Crane vs. Dale Patricks

Plastic fork board, pits of light tubes, plastic toys, thumbtacks/thumbtack bat. Pitting the Young Dragons against each other is always a reliable way to get quality, so this should be good. Crane gets started with the thumbtack bat, but Patricks get hold of it, then swaps it out for the thumbtack pit. Patricks gains the upper hand after a balanced back and forth, and Crane ends up going onto the fork board. The thumbtack pit and a light tube gets set up between chairs by Patricks, but it's – technically – Crane who puts them both through the contraption with a leg sweep off the ropes. Thumbtacks – both seem to prefer them over other weapons – and the plastic army men get poured out, and a chop fest ensues over the pile. A lariat from Crane gets a first two count. In the end, Patricks advances after a piledriver into the light tube pit.

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Match 3 – Desert Storm Taipei – Eddy Only vs. Jeff King

Hot coals, barbed wire boards, broken glass. What a waste of Jeff King, but I suppose somebody had to draw the clown stick. Oh well. Unlike Only, who only thinks he does, King has comedic talent, so it could have been worse. The first barbed wire board doesn't quite break when King is thrown against it, but he breaks the second one with Only at first try. It's not terrible, but this is a slow match with many submissions and holds, and weirdly, Only dominates for a long time. He finally taps out when King tries to push his face into the hot coals. The best explanation for this match I can think of is that Jeff King lost a bet.

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Match 4 – Fans Bring The Weapons – Casanova Valentine vs. SHLAK

The ring is so loaded with weapons that it is reduced to half size. I expect nothing but pure chaos from this. SHLAK disagrees and invites Valentine to trade punches instead. The chaotic brawl ensues shortly after though, with SHLAK breaking a chair with Valentine. Several light tube contraptions meet a similar fate, and the brawl moves outside the ring. The pace notably slows down on the outside, and SHLAK remains in charge for quite a while. Valentine turns it around with a thumbtack bat, then puts SHLAK through one of the larger light tube contraptions. His offense doesn't last, and SHLAK takes things back into the ring where a light tube ironing board and a gusset plate find use.

Once back in charge, Valentine uses a light tube blow-up doll, various other light tube contraptions, and his cultivator on SHLAK. Somewhat impressively, Valentine has barbed wire wrapped around his head and neck for most of the match. Only when both are down after a double clothesline, the ref steps in with wire cutters. SHLAK's elbow drop from the top rope gets a first two count. His second attempt is cut off by a superplex from Valentine, but he also only gets a two count after breaking more light tube contraptions. SHLAK finally pulls out a plastic bag to choke Valentine out for the victory.

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Intermission

It's the halfway point of round 1 and the first official intermission. There were a few shorter ones to prepare the ring, but Dave Prazak and Nick Maniwa reminisce about the old days of IWA on commentary which is generally more interesting than not, so the breaks don't bother me much.

The first tournament match was too long for what it was, simple as that. RSP was dominant to a point where he left the ring without a scratch. The elaborate stipulation felt pointless and only artifically dragged out what was already a slow match. If it hadn't been for the special rule that a specific bat had to be retrieved before pinfalls would count, there wouldn't have been any reason to use the ladders since there were several other weapons on the ground. This stipulation seemed tailored to Devon Moore, and with him not being present, it would have been a better idea to either move the card around to put another lightweight in this match, or change it to a Homerun Derby and leave the ladders to someone else.

The second match, as usual, delivered. Patricks vs. Crane is a classic frenemy pairing; they have probably fought each other as much as they have teamed. It's a safe bet for a good match and almost a given to happen on any show that have both on the card.

The third match, well, it was a match, I give them that. There was a lot 'hype' from both sides; Only vowing to 'set King on fire', King preparing for the match by picking up hot coals with his bare hands. At its core, it was still a weird comedy deathmatch that could have been better if it had settled for one or the other.

Not least because of its plethora of weapons, SHLAK vs. Valentine was the standout so far – although not as chaotic as the flea market in the ring suggested. Both worked in slams and suplexes instead of just smashing weapons, and once again, I must credit SHLAK for keeping much of the match in the ring. Might he be secretly the nemesis of Casanova 'King of No-Ring Deathmatches' Valentine?

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ROUND 1 continued

Match 5 – Death From Above – Tristen Ramsey vs. Aeroboy

Each corner has a wood pole with a trap door pit on top, with light tube Tokyo towers holding the pits up. Breaking the tubes will release the light tube shards from the pits. A very limiting stipulation since the construction is so flimsy that Ramsey and Aeroboy have to avoid the ropes altogether at first. Understandably, they quickly knock over two of the Tokyo towers on purpose. I say 'knock over' because the light tubes seem more stable than the wooden towers and don't break right away in two out of three corners. Aeroboy throws darts into Ramsey's back, then both fight to stab each other's head with one dart each, before Ramsey hits Aeroboy's back. They return to the light tubes and finally break one of the sturdy towers, also release the last trap door light tubes, and Aeroboy gets a quick, clean pinfall right after and advances. Seemingly annoyed by the tubes, he takes a back bump onto the unbroken last tower before leaving the ring.

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Match 6 – World Series of Electrified Light Tubes – Jimmy Lloyd vs. Orin Veidt

It takes quite a while to set up the match. For some reason, two pools of rubbing alcohol are needed for this electrified light tubes match. I can see how that led to a miscommunication. An interesting meeting. On one side: Veidt, probably among the most skilled entrants, with a gimmick I simply don't understand. On the other side: botch machine Jimmy Lloyd with a gimmick that mainly consists of 'F'N' between first and last name. They start out with chain wrestling, try to go toward the only light tube bundle that is actually plugged in after the long prep phase, but it takes a few more reversals until Lloyd breaks it over Veidt's head. It's unclear what rules apply, but the second bundle is plugged in now.

Veidt calls for tape early on and there's a pause to patch up a cut in his arm. The match continues, Veidt breaks an un-plugged bundle over Lloyd, and commentary says it's 2:1. Maybe World Series rules do apply, but it doesn't matter if the tubes are plugged in? Apparently so. 3:1 after Lloyd is thrown through a third, also un-plugged, bundle. Lloyd gets to 3:2, then misses the plugged light tube bundle with a jumping DDT and simply smashes it over Veidt's head. Now a pool of rubbing alcohol enters the ring, and Veidt puts Lloyd into it with an Assault Driver to win. Weird match, but hey, at least I don't have to endure Lloyd anymore. The second pool of rubbing alcohol was not used nor even visible during this match.

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Match 7 – Glass Galore Texas Death – Eric Ryan vs. BC Killer

Light tubes and panes of glass are brought to the ring; a light tube log cabin is assembled in a corner. Thankfully, it doesn't take as long as the last not-intermission. Texas Death rules apply, pinfall followed by a ten count. Ryan brought his fork-chain, and opens the match by trying to stab BC Killer, but quickly switches to light tubes from the half-assembled log cabin. I'm honestly not expecting miracles here, and Killer doesn't give me any by getting a fork of his own, then resuming the light tube smashing and forehead carving.

After BC Killer not only disassembled the log cabin, but also rearranged a pane of glass, it's Ryan who makes a small miracle happen with a Missile Dropkick from the top rope. He's trying, and I appreciate that, but the pace goes back to glacial with fork stabbings to the forehead shortly after. After a bodyslam, Killer gets a 4 count out of Ryan which serves as a painful reminder that this is Texas Death and far from over. A Vader Bomb (and I'm using the term lightly here) gets only a 2 count. Ryan wakes up and brings some life to the match with a cannonball through light tubes. He gets a pinfall, and thankfully BC Killer stays down to 10 after that. Eric Ryan advances.

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Intermission

Again, an official intermission for an elaborate setup. So far, one thing is obvious: the stipulations were not thought through to the end. At times, Prazak and Maniwa are begging for more helpers to step in instead of trying to fill the breaks with banter. The 1st and 5th match especially stand out as being more hindered than helped by the stipulations. Ramsey and Aeroboy had a better match than RSP and JC Rotten, but I'm pretty sure both matches would have been vastly improved by swapping the stipulations. The flimsy ladder stood no chance with two big guys, but could have been used far better by the lightweights. And in turn, RSP and Rotten didn't really need the ropes and wouldn't have been gimped as much as Aeroboy and Tristen Ramsey by avoiding them. Match 6 had the longest setup for no good reason. It is still a mystery to me why a pool of rubbing alcohol was apparently essential for a light tubes-based match. Faced with the long setup required for the upcoming no ropes barbed wire match, Prazak and Maniwa sound outright desperate.

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ROUND 1 continued

Match 8 – No Ropes Barbed Wire Caribbean Spider Web Double Hell – John Wayne Murdoch vs. Shane Mercer

The earlier replacement was whatever. This one is the best case scenario and I couldn't be more delighted. No Nick Gage! That alone would be a plus in my book, even if he were to be replaced with a literal crash test dummy. While I'm confident Mercer could get a watchable match out of that, I'm still glad he got a human opponent – one who could also make a crash test dummy look good at that. The chemistry is obvious from the start, and the first big bang comes when Mercer suplexes Murdoch through a pane of glass, then Military Presses him through a board with lit candles and the Caribbean spider web. He gets an early 2 count, then Murdoch takes the brawl to the outside.

They continue with headbutts, chops, and chair shots, and Mercer goes through the second spider web board before Murdoch pours hot wax onto him. Mercer briefly leaves through the curtain to return with a morning star and smash the light tube bundle Murdoch carries. He actually uses his trademark weapon full force, not that prissy 'hurr hurr I have a scary weedwhacker and will briefly hold it in your general direction' bullshit.

Mercer's dominant phase ends when he tries to carry a pane of glass to the middle of the ring, and Murdoch instead dropkicks him, along with his cargo, to the outside. A thumbtack bat comes into play, and according to commentary, the goddamn pool of rubbing alcohol is also waiting somewhere. While Murdoch is down, Mercer begins to cut down the barbed wire facing the huge light tube spider web pillow fort on the outside. When he tries to Military Press Murdoch through it, Murdoch counters with a Deep South Destroyer that only gets a 2 count.

An exchange of punches and headbutts follows and leaves both momentarily floored. Murdoch gets up first and attacks with the wire cutter, then takes Mercer back to the pillow fort – and through it with a second Deep South Destroyer. This time, he gets a 3 count and advances. A worthy main event and clearly the high point of day 1.

I need to point out that the pool of rubbing alcohol was not used in this match either, and I hate the thing now because it causes excessive intermissions for absolutely no reason.

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DAY 2

This one has several non-tournament matches, so I'll keep it short for those.

Non-Tournament Match – Gary Jay vs. Shane Mercer

The former partners don't waste any time; fast and furious opening with early outside dives. It's clear they know each other inside out, and that makes the match more intense than the average opener. Mercer wins after a Moonsault'n'Battery.

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Non-Tournament Match – Slade Porter vs. Josh Crane

Commentary is as mystified as I am as to who Slade Porter is. Probably someone's trainee. He's got a private eye comedy gimmick going on. It's a short, decent match, which Crane wins. I'd call this an easy payday for him, but getting his money from Ian was probably more of an effort than this match.

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Non-Tournament Match – IWA World Title Match – Lincoln Moseley vs. Jake Crist (C)

A day after winning the title, Crist puts it on the line against Moseley who starts talking and is met with 'SHUT THE FUCK UP' and 'WE WANT BLOOD' chants. Commentary doesn't care to translate what he wants either. A challenge, that's all I gather. Crist's brand-new manager JT Davidson, the only man in the building who can speak clearly using the ring mic, talks and talks, but I'm not listening anymore. Eventually, Moseley and Crist start the match. The fans chant for Crist to make Moseley bleed which doesn't bode well for fact that there's a 4th non-tournament match after this. It's a good match; Crist consistently delivers quality, but that can't change the fact that it is weirdly placed. A world title match as the 3rd of 4 non-tournament matches on a deathmatch tournament just doesn't fit, and although I'm usually in favor of non-tournament matches, I prefer them spaced out, not piled up on the bottom of the card. The match isn't long, but feels long due to the long buildup. In the end, Crist retains after submitting Moseley.

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Non-Tournament Match – No Holds Barred – Aaron Williams vs. Chris Dickinson

Honestly, it's just enough now. Nothing against Aaron Williams, I usually enjoy his matches, but I do not enjoy Chris Dickinson or a 4th non-tournament match in a row before the tournament even started. I skip and Williams wins.

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ROUND 2

Match 1 – Construction Deathmatch – RSP vs. SHLAK

Gusset plate boards, light tubes, drywall; Eddy Only at ringside. Believe it or not, there's an actual deathmatch after all. Once more, I take note that RSP leaves the ring and SHLAK does not. The plot in my anti-no-ring-king narrative around him thickens. The first big spot is SHLAK's suplex against Page onto a chair. The match is surprisingly fast-paced by RSP standards, but mostly consists of brawling and weapon-smashing, with SHLAK providing the occasional suplex. After a brief outside brawl, SHLAK uses a handsaw on RSP. The match has slowed down to a crawl by now. Page's Swanton gets a first two count, after which he sets up a board between chairs and puts nailgun nails onto it. SHLAK fights off a superplex and counters with a chokebomb, then Eddy Only breaks up his pin. SHLAK fights him off, gets the 3 count this time, and advances.

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Inofficial intermission; the world's wobbliest Caribbean spider web-like contraption is suspended above the ring. A chain, a gusset plate frame of sorts, bricks, bats, and thumbtacks are added as well.

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Match 2 – Medieval Deathmatch – Jimmy Lloyd vs. John Wayne Murdoch

Orin Veidt is not allowed to wrestle due to injury. He is replaced by Jimmy Lloyd, and there goes my match of the night candidate. Guess Murdoch will have to live up to my claim that he can drag a crash test dummy to a watchable match instead. Fast opening, then Murdoch pours the thumbtacks out and prompty gets backdropped into them. Outside, Lloyd employs a bat with nails and a sawblade, Murdoch repays the favor with a barbed wire brick.

Other thumbtack and barbed wire weapons are used, then both sit down to trade punches. Channeling the spirit of SHLAK, Murdoch takes the fight back to the ring and uses the gusset plate chain (?) for a tug of war. Lloyd sticks a kenzan into Murdoch's head, a brawl follows, and the wobbly web still soars silently above them. Murdoch hits a Deep South Destroyer, then drops the barbed wire web onto Lloyd. After another Deep South Destroyer, Murdoch gets the 3 count and advances. Was that really worth the long setup?

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Match 3 – Panes of Glass – Eric Ryan vs. Jeff King

Wild prediction: the quick and easy panes of glass will add more to the match than the silly web ever could. They start off with fork-enhanced chain wrestling; King comes out better and gets rid of the fork. Ryan sends him through the first pane of glass on the outside, then attacks with forks yet again before retrieving a small block with forks from under the ring. He tries to put King onto it, but King counters and Ryan tastes his secret weapon twice in a row instead.

The match slows down considerably when King is down on the outside, and Ryan starts building a pillow fort with chairs and a glass pane in the ring. In the spot of the match, King lands a moonsault onto Ryan through the contraption, but only gets a 2 count for the effort. King misses a leg drop and lands onto chairs instead, Ryan hits a cannonball through the last pane of glass, gets the pinfall, and advances.

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INTERMISSION

The first official one; recap: So far, the Medieval match takes the cake in regards to overly complicated setups that don't really pay off. Did a match of just 7 minutes really need a one-time use contraption to fall down seconds before the finish? What was it even meant to represent in a medieval theme? A sideways portcullis? Every single bat did a better job at being vaguely medieval-looking. The first match was alright, albeit a little too long for what it offered. The third match wasn't much of a highlight either, but probably the best so far since it was relatively balanced, didn't drag too much, and made good use of a simple stipulation. Personally, I'd rather have seen King advance – he's simply far more entertaining than Eric 'my gimmick is being from the same state as the other guy' Ryan – but at least the match had a clean finish instead of 44OH meddling.

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ROUND 2 continued

Match 4 – High Impact Tables – Dale Patricks vs. Aeroboy

The ring has tables with barbed wire, light tubes, a weird vaguely ladder-like wooden pole in one corner, and a wooden platform in another. There's also a ladder on the outside, but I'm not sure if it's formally part of the match. Both start off with light tube bundles for a fast start, including a first pin attempt from Patricks. Light tubes remain the weapons of choice, along with actual wrestling moves which is a very welcome change of pace. Patricks' head gets taped up early on, and Aeroboy incorporates that into the match by going after the wound. Aeroboy goes through the barbed wire table, Patricks only gets a 2 count after that. He proceeds to set up the non-barbed wire table, but Aeroboy counters and sunset bombs Patricks through it.

Aeroboy places light tubes on Patricks, then makes a short-lived attempt to climb the ladder-like contraption, but abandons it and jumps off the turnbuckle. Two splashes get him only to a 2 count, and Patricks makes a comeback with a tombstone that results in the same. Another 2 count comes after a German Suplex from Aeroboy who then stacks tubes on Patricks and misses a Swanton Bomb from the triangular platform in the other corner. After an intense counter sequence and two more near falls, Dale Patricks wins with a package piledriver and advances.

Intermission, recap: Holy shit, that stipulation has to be the dumbest idea anyone ever had. Absolutely nobody could have made use of the huge ladder-like wooden thing (officially, it was a '5G tower', but I don't know about that). It did absolutely nothing but block off a corner. One facing the hardcam at that. This was a standout match, and it makes me angry that it was given a pointless stipulation that was also responsible for the longest intermission. The only good thing about this stipulation I can say is that it at least wasn't a pool of rubbing alcohol.

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SEMI FINALS

Match 1 – Glass Castle – Eric Ryan vs. John Wayne Murdoch

It's a House of Glass match, but there are also Tokyo towers and a large board with loose light tubes outside on the apron. Nick Maniwa calls it a 'drawbridge' and it does indeed look more medieval than the stupid web from the medieval match. They start off by smashing light tubes over each other, then Murdoch puts Ryan on a chair and just punches him in the face. More light tubes get smashed; Ryan is still seated and just takes whatever Murdoch throws at him. When Ryan finally wakes up, things don't go better for him. Murdoch punches him around the ring and onto a light tube table. Ryan finally counters with light tubes of his own when they reach the drawbridge, but Murdoch quickly regains the advantage.

Back in the ring, the brawl continues until Ryan manages to hold onto the ropes and Murdoch only Deep South Destroys himself through the drawbridge. The following pin only gets Ryan a 2 count. He puts Murdoch on a chair, but ends up eating a Brainbuster onto it himself; another 2 count for Murdoch this time. After a German Suplex, Ryan starts stomping Murdoch's head and gets a victory by ref stoppage out of it. Weird match of only 7 minutes. Weird finish, too.

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Intermission, not much to recap after only one match.

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Match 2 – Carnival Deathmatch – SHLAK vs. Dale Patricks

What took so long to set up this time? A light tube-ferris wheel and a table with electrified light bulbs. Everything else – bowling ball, mirror, bottle of lemon juice, gusset plate board, pinata, light tubes, light tube crate with darts, looks far too innocent to be the culprit. A board with shot glasses of lemon juice could be responsible though. Both Dale Patricks and SHLAK come in with bandaged heads, so they open the match with a head butt duel that quickly turns into a brawl. A double clotheline sees both floored. On the outside, the first light tube bundle breaks on SHLAK's hand.

Patricks loses the upper hand when SHLAK suplexes him through the lemon juice shot glass board. He gets a taste of it as well from the bottle shortly after. The brawl continues on the outside, but as predicted, it is SHLAK who takes the fight back to the ring. The pace picks up, and Patricks gets a first 2 count after flooring SHLAK, then they return to the outside to trash more light tubes. After a brutal chair shot, Patricks seems to be knocked out, but SHLAK throws him back into the ring and it turns out the lights are still on. SHLAK puts the electrified light bulb table into the ring – the plot now thicker than ever – but Patricks counters and prevents going through it.

Not for long though. SHLAK suplexes him onto it from the top rop shortly after, then gives up his advantage to search something under the ring. It turns out to be lighter fluid which SHLAK puts on his elbow pad and ignites before getting his 3 count after a flaming elbow drop onto Patricks. The light tube ferris wheel is barely damaged, but everything else is in ruins.

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Intermission, again not much to recap, but I'd cautiously call this the match of the night, and Dale Patricks – although eliminated - the MVP of the show. SHLAK's 'staying in the ring' game is still strong.

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Non-Tournament Match

Fans Bring The Weapons Four Way – Eddy Only vs. Tristen Ramsey vs. BC Killer vs. Casanova Valentine

I guess somebody has to eat the leftovers, so here's another (better placed) non-tournament match. Most of the leftovers are light tube contraptions and bats, but also a basketball, a watermelon, and some gusset plates. Casanova Valentine, BC Killer, and Tristen Ramsey ally up against Eddy Only who evades their attack, then the brief alliance is already over. Unfortunately for me, Eddy Only won't stay out of it, and the match turns into an outside brawl. Tristen Ramsey climbs a ladder onto the bathroom roof, Only follows, and launches Ramsey into a stack of barbed wire boards for the spot of the match. BC Killer and Eddy Only return to the ring, Casanova Valentine is near it as well.

Only chokes Killer with a chain, but Killer blocks his attempt to slam him onto a light tube board and reverses it. With Only out, Valentine gets into the ring and attacks BC Killer with a cheesegrater bat. The two duel with light tubes and light tube-contraptions, Killer goes through a light tube rack when Only evades his tackle, then Tristen Ramsey returns and with him my interest in this match. More tubes break between him and Only; Valentine and Killer chill somewhere outside the ring. Ramsey wins with a quick roll up over Eddy Only.

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Intermission, again nothing to recap. The finale will take place in a House of Horrors barbed wire cage, so it's a long intermission.

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FINAL

Barbed Wire Cage House of Horrors – Eric Ryan vs. SHLAK

The visibility is questionable. The cage, consisting of planks and barbed wire, also has the hanging light tubes, a ladder, a barbed wire board, a pane of glass (facing the hard cam, come on now) and a ton of light tubes. They start off by clearing the hanging light tubes and thereby shrouding the ring in dust. SHLAK comes out with the upper hand and continues to smash tubes over Ryan. Then they switch and Ryan, already looking like a slaughtered pig a few minutes in, does the same to SHLAK until he gets suplexed into the barbed wire board.

Back in charge, SHLAK gets an early 2 count. He goes for the lighter fluid again and climbs the top rope, and hits the flaming elbow, but RSP and Eddy Only show up just when the ref is about to count 3. They attack SHLAK, the crowd chants 'BULLSHIT', and I'm annoyed, too. SHLAK fights them off, then... Eric Ryan suicide dives through the pane of glass, but I'm not sure what was supposed to happen here. SHLAK takes him back into the ring/cage, Ryan wanders around gathering light tubes, then stacks them on SHLAK in the corner and goes to the top rope to hit his Coast to Coast. SHLAK only grants him a 2 count, so Ryan puts him in another corner and stacks light tubes again, then cannonballs and pins SHLAK – who kicks out at 2 again.

A wild brawl ensues, Ryan takes a chokeslam, then a chokebomb from SHLAK, then Eddy Only breaks up the cover. SHLAK chokeslams him, too, before gathering light tubes in the middle of the ring. When SHLAK tries to slam Ryan from the top rope, RSP gets involved again, slams SHLAK, but Ryan still can't get a 3 count out of him. Now all three 44OH guys are in the ring, put SHLAK on a table with some light tubes (how are there still any left?) on top, and Ryan goes to the top of the cage, assisted by RSP. He actually manages to hit a Senton Bomb onto SHLAK and through the table, and thereby wins the match under 'BULLSHIT' chants. Ryan talks, but the ring mic is still terrible.

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Recap, Final Thoughts

One more solid tournament that didn't deserve the stupid finish it got. I can only imagine how exhausting the entire show must have been live, with so many so long intermissions that more often than not actively made the matches worse than they could have been. As I said a lifetime ago above, RSP/JC Rotten and Aeroboy/Tristen Ramsey should have swapped on day 1. Mercer and Murdoch with the longest setup put on a good match, but then, these two could also put on a good match with nothing but a trout, so I'm not convinced that the elaborate weaponry was needed for a spectacular main event.

Day 2 started off with way too many non-tournament matches, including a world title match – which I think shouldn't be relegated to the sideshow of an unrelated tournament. While none of the matches were bad (except for the unfortunate fact that Chris Dickinson was involved in one), it didn't make sense to front-load the card with them. Day 2 also shone for the wrong reasons with the idiotic stipulation given to Aeroboy and Dale Patricks (who got a fantastic match out of it nonetheless), and the weird gimmick that, literally, got dumped on Jimmy Lloyd and John Wayne Murdoch.

Then there's the elephant in the room and one must ask: Who did 44OH fuck at the time to get booked the way they were? None of them looks like Ian's type, but who knows. RSP's matches were fine, as they usually are. Maybe a little long, but nothing that stands out negatively. While Eric Ryan is fairly capable in the ring, he very much depends on RSP and/or his opponent on the entertainment front. On his own, he has the charisma of a broomstick. I have met my share of insane people, but never anyone I could picture saying "I'm looking forward to the Eddy Only match" with a straight face. Why in the world did he get that much ring time? I don't even mind Ryan in the finale, or winning the whole thing. His matches have an above average chance of being solid to good, and with SHLAK, he had one of the standout performers as opponent. Why sour the match with the interferences? Also, why doesn't everyone bring 2 – 3 buddies if nobody stops them from meddling? The whole affair made nobody look good, especially not IWA-MS.

All things considered, a mediocre show with a few standout matches. Since Dale Patricks was involved in two of them and his third was also quite good, I still consider him the MVP overall.

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