Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Robert Dolezil, who does excellent live reports for this site, is back and files this report on one of IWA-Mid South’s weekend shows.

IWA-MS �Phenomenal Invasion 2�
Joliet, IL. 5-12-07
Write-up by Robert Dolezil

Jimmy Jacobs joined Ben Jordan to do live commentary for the dvd that
will eventually be released at www.smartmarkvideo.com

1) Joker defeats Gran Akuma with a roll up at 9:33. This was a solid
match that was going along quite well, but ended before it could move
into high gear. Both guys were hitting strikes, Akuma was landing his
kicks and Joker was hitting chops. Decent match.

2) The Pretty Unreals (Ash & Michael Elgin) defeated The Naptown
Dragons (Dustin Lee and OMG) in 12:18 with a power bomb and neck breaker
combo. Joey Eastman manages Ash & Elgin and is a great heel manager. He
always wears bright colored suits and is always Absolutely Tan. This was
a solid little tag match with a brutal spot where Ash landed a very
stiff super kick on Dustin Lee that busted open his nose.

3) �Hype� Jimmy Shalwin defeated Z-Barr with a moonsault at 5:24.
Before the match started I endured arguably the worst 5 minute of my
life while Z-Barr cut his promo. The promo was about how is the most hated
man in IWA. This promo was one of the rare times I was getting pissed
off at a show. However, I believe Z-Barr does this on purpose so I
guess he deserves a little credit. Hype was very over with the crowd. This
match was horrible due to Z-Barr. Shalwin would get the win with a
moonsault.

4) This match was a Light Heavyweight Title #1 Contenders Gauntlet
match. The match started out with CJ Otis vs. Jack Thriller. Ricochet came
out next. Shortly after that Zack Maguire came in. Next up was Human
Tornado who came out to a huge reaction. Tornado hit some of his
signature spots including a Michael Jackson like jumping down into splits punch
for a low blow on someone. After this Josh Abercrombie came in and he
hit a tope con hilo on someone. There was WAY too much awesome stuff
going on for me to write everything down and watch the watch, so I just
watched the match. But right after Josh Abercrombie came in, there were
about 6 consecutive dives from different people that sent the crowd into
a total frenzy. Billy Roc was the last man to join the match. There
were a few rapid fire eliminations, and the match came down to Abercrombie
vs. Human Tornado. Abercrombie won with his �backpack� move at
15:22. This was a very exciting match with great crowd heat.

5) Tiger Mask IV defeated AJ Styles with a crucifix at the 10 minute
mark. This was a good match, but I was surprised and a little let down
at how short it was. There was some good back and forth action including
AJ hitting his back flip off the ropes into the scorpion death drop.
Decent match, but I was expecting more out of this one.

6) Joey Mercury pinned Tyler Black with a double arm ddt at 10:27.
Mercury came out to the MNM music. Mercury must have recently shaved
his head as he had stubble on the top of his head. This match was very
solid, and Mercury surprised me when hit a few European Uppercuts and a
couple short arm lariats. Mercury tried hard and it showed. After the
match, Mercury cut a promo saying how he had been sober now, for x
(couldn�t hear the exact number) amount of days. He said he loves the
sport of pro wrestling and that if felt good to compete in front of real
wrestling fans. Ian Rotten walked up to him and hugged him and said any
time we have a show and you have an open date, just give me a call and
you�ll be booked.

7) Light Heavyweight title match, Brandon Thomaselli defeated Jigsaw at
17:20 with his new move called the McGuillicutty (which was like a
spinning ddt). I was pleasantly surprised at how much time this match was
given. This match was very good and athletic. Both guys exchanged lots
of chops. A funny spot on the floor came when they were chopping each
other and Jigsaw held Brandon Thomaselli so a random fan could chop him.
There was a huge pop for this.

IWA-MS Heavyweight Title match, Chuck Taylor pinned Devon Moore with
an Omega Tombstone at 10:48. This match was both very fast paced and
very good. This was the first time that I had seen the PWU World Champ,
Devon Moore and he really impressed me. The whole match contained great
back and forth fast paced action.

9) Axl Rotten pinned Tank after a hard chair shot at 6:05. This was a
grudge match after Tank turned on IWA-MS the previous night to help the
IWA-DS guys nearly lynch Mickie Knuckles in a cage (that is the
storyline for this match) Axl Rotten appeared to be in pretty good shape. The
first 30 seconds of this match saw both men hitting one another with a
spike. They would brawl thru the door, come back in, and then Axl
nailed Tank with the brutal plastic chair shot for the win.

10) Hotstuff Hernandez defeated Eddie Kingston with the Border Toss at
11:04. Hernandez is huge, I couldn�t really fathom his shear mass
until I saw him live. I really liked this match and it was probably my
favorite on the card. Hernandez would throw Kingston around most of the
match, but Kingston wouldn�t back down and would always get back up.
Hernandez would hit brutal chops on Kingston that had a huge thud sound
due to his strength and mass. Kingston would make a comeback hitting
chops of his and Kobashi style spinning back fists to the neck. Right
after this though, Hernandez hit the sickest licking Half Nelson Suplex
I have ever seen, Kingston landed right on the top of his head at a bad
angle. Kingston would kick out at 2 though. More good strong style
moves and striking ensued and Hernandez would pick up the win with the
Border Toss. This was real good match and I hope to see much more of
Hernandez in singles matches on the independent scene. After the match Eddie
Kingston received a well deserved standing ovation.

Overall, this was a very solid show.