Pro Wrestling Chronicle

-5.6.06 NWA-VA Sean Denny vs Damian Wayne

This match was on a best of 2006 collection I’ve had sitting around. It may be the only truly indy – indy match on the set, so I thought I’d take a look. You may remember I’d done some writing on Damian and Denny before they debuted in ROH in May.

Lots of amateur, chain, and pro wrestling exchanges and reversals early. Good stuff and I can’t necessarily tell who is better or who is leading, so I’ll say they both deserve credit. It’s a fine line in the argument between good work and simulating it (the idea that you can memorize and create a weak emotionless facsimile of moves, so that move 1,2,3 to 1000 mean the same or nothing but look like you know what you are doing). I think these guys gave me enough to feel like they understand the essence of what they are doing.

It’s played as though they are evenly matched here; Wayne being the champion and Denny the challenger. Denny ends up having the edge after the hold exchanges. Wayne answers by rolling out to consult a manager, than heeling on Denny with some sucker kicks/punches. Wayne’s heel manager gets involved. Denny is resourceful enough to comeback with a highspot on the outside, but when he tries another he gets a powerbomb into the ring apron. Here’s where they show me they aren’t WWE style influenced. Denny doesn’t sell the back. In fact, it begins to feel like big move-move-move-big move here. Damian Wayne’s strikes are stiff as hell, but they aren’t sold as such. Denny’s injured back meant nothing off that reversal of a high spot. Why?

Wayne gains control again, so at least the heel-face formula makes sense here still. Um…nevermind. This is indy guys doing ROH, but if BJ Whitmer was doing his NOAH match attempt.

Suplex on the outside. Wayne’s back now should be sold. Here’s another test for them. He’s staying with it for the first few seconds. Back in the ring at nine minutes into the match. They set it up here for a role reversal because Wayne got the run the ropes hope spot. Okay, so why did his manager get involved earlier then?

Wayne’s first offensive move after the hope spot/comeback: Top rope elbow ala HBK! Looks nice. To bad he didn’t sell his back. He does get a two count, and already Sean Denny is taking the two and foot on the ropes! We’re only ten minutes in. This must be one epic 10 minutes to some Virginia fans. My God, they seem very talented but this internal logic is crazy. Joe and Punk had Steamboat. These guys must have Jack Evans and RVD.

Back and forth with well executed moves and meandering logic that comes and goes. So does the selling, but the big moves stay. Impressive delayed second rope brain buster by Wayne. Thankfully they milk a count. Wayne still can’t pin Denny. That storyline is cool.

Denny comes back with a top rope belly-to-belly. On one hand it’s crazy. On the other, they sell now, so it’s a tit for tat big move. They get back up and they’re all fine now. Ugh.

I’ve given up 14 minutes caring about moves, story, and essentially the outcome. They execute moves well, so I’ll just watch them each as isolated demos. If you get pissed at the Briscoes please watch this match and you’ll cut them some slack.

Wayne retains with some pedestrian-by-comparison move in 19 minutes. I’ll be generous and say it was a wear down story and that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Man, that’s a lot of finisher death moves just to get to that though. Recommendation to avoid this match, but try out these guys in other matches. No idea how to find footage of these two so Google their names.