By Chris Vetter, Torch Contributor

I recently purchased a copy of “Indiana State Title Tournament,” which occurred 11 months ago, on Feb. 4, 2005. This is one of the handful of shows fans on the IWA-MS message board repeatedly give votes for as one of the best shows of the year, so I thought I’d check it out.

The tape opened with a promo by Jimmy Jacobs, who talked about his ongoing feud with Delirious, and how Delirious can’t cleanly pin him. He is upset at Ian Rotten for handing the title to Delirious, and he said that Ian Rotten wants to see the feud continue, because Ian is making money off of Jacobs’ and Delirious’ sweat & blood.

Delirious cut a promo, in his gibberish that only he, and apparently Dave Prazak, understand.

The venue is the armory in Valparaiso, Ind., and lighting is fairly good. Smart Mark Video taped the event, so there are two cameras, and this is high quality taping. Dave Prazak handles the first match alone on commentary, but he is later joined by a rotation of guest color commentators: Eric Priest, Jim Fannin, Matt Sydal and Ian Rotten. The crowd is about 80 to 100 fans, and that has to be a disappointment.

Ian Rotten spoke. I fast-forwarded. Ian kept speaking. I kept fast-forwarding. Ian seriously went on for about 10 minutes, pacing back and forth while running down the lineup for the show, and several future shows (which have already happened, of course!)

(1) Round 1: Trik Davis defeats Eric Priest at 7:41. Priest cut his cocky introduction. He is much taller and in better shape than Davis, and he shoved Davis to the mat a couple of times early on. Trik came back with an armdrag, a headscissors takedown, and a spin kick, and Priest stalled. Priest hit a powerslam and a Mafia Kick, and he made a cocky cover. Trik fired back with a missile dropkick. Trik went for a dive on Priest, but Priest caught him and slammed Trick into the ringpost at 4:00.

Priest immediately began to work Trik’s lower back, hitting a back suplex for a nearfall. Priest went for a springboard move, but he ‘slipped’ on the top rope, drawing laughter from the fans (who obviously haven’t seen Priest do that time and again!) Trik hit a neckbreaker as Priest was caught in the ropes. Suddenly heel manager Jim Fannin and heel wrestler Chandler McClure came to ringside. A chain got tossed in the ring to Priest, but Trik avoided being hit with it. Trik got a hold of the chain, nailed Priest with the chain around his fist, and he covered Priest for the surprise win. Priest was livid after the loss. Solid opener.

(2) Round 1: Ian Rotten defeats Josh Abercrombie at 10:49. Very good match. They opened with some mat wrestling, and Ian applied a single-leg crab. Abercrombie hit a headbutt. Ian hit a low blow, and Josh stalled. Ian hit some palm strikes and he began to work Josh’s left arm. They traded hard headbutts at 6:00, and the crowd popped for these blows. Ian was bleeding.

Abercrombie hit an enziguri for a nearfall. Ian hit a hard kick to the face that flattened Josh. They traded blows and more headbutts on the floor. Abercrombie went for an Asai Moonsault, but Ian moved, and Josh crashed into the chairs! Ian hit a clothesline and a senton on the floor. In the ring, Abercrombie went for a Phoenix Splash, but Ian moved. Ian then nailed a Fisherman’s Brainbuster for the pin. Good match.

After the match, Ian got on the mic and he put Josh over, and the crowd applauded. Ian talked about their barbed wire match set for the next day.

(3) Round 1: Alex Shelley defeats Petey Williams at 18:03. Wow, that was good. These two really know each other, and it shows in their work. They shook hands, both are heels here, but they have ‘vowed’ to have a clean match. They trade nice mat holds and Shelley was in control early with creative reversals, armdrags, and he tied Petey in a pretzel. Petey applied a Sharpshooter at 7:00, but Shelley reached the ropes. Suddenly, this match got heated, and the proverbial gloves came off!

Petey began throwing punches and he stomped on Shelley. Shelley came back with a nice plancha, then he applied a Border City Stretch/modified STF at 10:00, but Williams reached the ropes. The crowd is behind Shelley. Petey hit a clothesline. On commentary, Prazak and Priest are making fun of the referee, who was making his debut, and this is pretty funny. Petey did the ‘Oh Canada’ crotch spot. He hit a basement dropkick to the back, but he missed the Benoit Flying Headbutt at 13:30, and they were both down.

Shelley hit an inverted DDT and a spin heel kick, then an enziguri for a nearfall. Petey nailed a spinning neckbreaker. Shelley hit a Michinoku Driver, then a Frogsplash for a believable nearfall. The crowd is now chanting for Petey!! Petey came back with a Tornado DDT for a nearfall. Petey set up for the Canadian Destroyer/flip piledriver, but Shelley blocked it and turned it into a Shellshock/spinning faceplant for the pin. Excellent match. Shelley ripped on the crowd after the match, and the heels left together, still united.

(4) Round 1: Brandon Thomaselli defeats Matt Sydal at 19:56. Wow, this was an incredible match. They shook hands; both are faces. They traded some quick standing switches and armdrags. Sydal tied up Brandon’s legs and applied an Indian Deathlock at 7:00. Brandon reversed the hold, and he applied a Sharpshooter, but Sydal reached the ropes. Brandon hit a brainbuster, but he hurt his knee. Sydal went to work on Brandon’s injured knee, and Matt hit a standing moonsault for a nearfall.

Brandon came back with a running forearm and an Arabian Press for a nearfall at 11:00. They traded chops. Sydal took over with a nice springboard clothesline for a nearfall, a Londonsault, a dropkick on the sore knee, and a corkscrew Lionsault for a nearfall at 16:00. However, he missed a senton. Brandon fired back with a Mafia Kick, and both men were down. Sydal stood on Brandon’s back and he hit a moonsault. Brandon came back with a fisherman’s brainbuster for a nearfall. Brandon is doing a terrific job in selling his knee injury. Sydal hit his floatover Famouser for a nearfall. Brandon hit a 450 Splash, although he somewhat landed on his feet, to score the pin. Both men got a standing ovation, and it was well deserved.

(5) Delirious defeats Jimmy Jacobs at 22:02 in a cage match for the light heavyweight title. Wow. Seriously, this is the best IWA-MS match of 2005. (I had seen it before, on both Jacobs’ and Delirious’ best of DVDs). Sydal joined Prazak on commentary. Prazak mocked other promotions who allow wrestlers to win by escaping the cage; only pinfalls and submissions win a cage match here. Jacobs and Delirious traded some quick action, and Jacobs hit some punches and chops, and he pulled out a spike!

Delirious hit a missile dropkick to the back at 3:30. He hit Jacobs with the spike, and Jacobs was bleeding. He raked Jacobs’ head on the cage. Jacobs came back with a top-rope clothesline at 6:30, then a dropkick, sending Delirious’ head into the cage. The crowd started to boo Jacobs, who was acting more heelish, hitting punches and stomps. Delirious fired back with his BAM leaping lariat and a Panic Attack/running knee to the head, pushing Jacobs’ head into the cage at 11:00 for a nearfall. Delirious went to the top of the cage, but Jacobs cut him off. They fought on top of the cage, before both tumbling down to the floor, outside the ring.

Jacobs tossed Delirious hard into the chairs at ringside. Jacobs grabbed a table and he tossed it into the ring. They both got back into the cage at 14:30. Jacobs placed Delirious on the table, but Delirious hit a second-rope back suplex at 17:30. They traded headbutts. Delirious hit the Invitro Fertilization for a nearfall. Jacobs hit a backbody drop off the table down to the mat. Jacobs hit the Contra Code/running overhead bulldog for a nearfall. Jacobs placed Delirious on the table, and Jacobs climbed to the top of the cage. Jacobs went for a senton, but Delirious moved, and the table absolutely EXPLODED when Jacobs hit it. Delirious then went to the top of the cage and he hit the Shadows over Hell/backsplash for the pin. WOW.

After the match, Jacobs continued to sell his injuries while the cage came down. He complained about Ian Rotten some more, furthering his heel turn.

(6) Samoa Joe defeats Brad Bradley at 10:53. Good match. Bradley is perhaps 6’2”, and maybe 250 pounds with a great physique. Fannin was on commentary, and he was irate most of the match because Bradley won the tag titles last week. The wrestlers started out with some basic mat wrestling, with Joe applying a cross-armbreaker. They went for shoulder tackles, but neither man would budge, until Bradley finally knocked down Joe. They traded chops, and Joe unloaded a series of stiff clubbing forearms at 5:00.

Joe took over, hitting his back chop/front kick/kneedrop combo, then a Facewash and a legsweep, knocking Bradley off the ring apron. Joe then dove through the ropes onto Bradley on the floor, drawing a loud “IWA” chant. In the ring, Bradley regained control with a Mafia Kick for a nearfall and a back suplex for another nearfall. Joe fired back with a powerslam and a high back suplex, dropping Bradley on his head for a nearfall at 9:00.

Bradley hit a hard clothesline for a nearfall. The crowd was hot. Bradley hit some chops and forearms; Joe immediately unloaded his own forearms and paintbrush blows to the face. Joe nailed an enziguri, then a Death Valley Driver, for the pin. Very good match.

(7) Round 2: Trik Davis defeats Ian Rotten at 14:23. Ian applied a Cobra Clutch IMMEDIATELY, and Trik dove for the ropes. This is all mat wrestling, and Ian is schooling Trik. Ian applied a Figure Four Leglock, and he fishhooked Trik’s mouth at 3:00. Ian stayed on top with some crossface punches, headbutts and chops. Trik applied an Indian Deathlock at 8:00. They began trading ugly thud-sounding headbutts.

Trik applied a modified Fujiwara Armbar. They brawled to the floor, where Ian accidentally hit his shoulder against the ring post. In the ring, Ian hit an Ace Crusher, and both men were down. Ian stayed on top with a spin heel kick for a nearfall, then he applied another Cobra Clutch, but Trik reached the ropes at 13:00. The crowd is hot and really into this. Ian hit a brainbuster for a nearfall. Trik leaped off the top rope and got in a sunset flip for the surprising clean pin to advance. “Davis continues to impress in IWA,” Prazak said. Better than I expected.

(8) Round 2: Brandon Thomaselli defeats Alex Shelley at 7:51. Petey Williams came out with Shelley, and he joined Prazak on commentary. Brandon came to the ring limping, with his knee taped, and he did a great job of selling his knee injury the entire match. Brandon went for a leapfrog move early in the match, and he limped in pain on the landing. Shelley applied an STF, then a Figure Four Leglock at 3:00.

Shelley hit a Dragonscrew legwhip and a dropkick on the knee. Brandon came back with a 450 Splash, and both men were down. Brandon stayed on top with an enziguri, a Mafia Kick, and a standing Shooting Star Press that barely grazed Shelley. Brandon hit a standing Moonsault for a nearfall at 7:00. Shelley hit a second-rope Ace Crusher. Shelley hit a Frogsplash on Brandon’s legs, and he started to set up for a Figure Four, when Brandon sat up, grabbed Shelley and rolled him up for the pin out of nowhere.

(9) Danny Daniels defeats CM Punk to win the IWA-Mid South Heavyweight Title at 25:32. Good match. Ian Rotten is now on commentary with Prazak. As the wrestlers shook hands, Prazak pointed out that Punk is 3-0 lifetime against Daniels. They opened with some intense mat wrestling, headlocks and armbars; this is pretty standard stuff for the first 9 minutes, and the crowd sat quietly, watching the basic reversals. Daniels hit a flying forearm, and Punk hit an enziguri at 9:00.

Daniels hit a nice standing neckbreaker, and he cranked on Punk’s head. They traded chops. Punk hit a German Suplex at 13:00, dropping Daniels on his head! Punk stayed on top with a dropkick to the back of the head and a spine kick, then a Welcome to Chicago/tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Daniels blocked a Pepsi Plunge, and he gave Punk a backbody drop off the ropes. Daniels hit a doublestomp and a back suplex for a nearfall at 19:00. Punk came back with a Shining Wizard for a nearfall, then a Pepsi Twist/short-arm clothesline. Daniels hit a sitdown piledriver for a believable nearfall at 21:30.

Daniels hit a second piledriver; this time Punk got a foot on the ropes. Punk hit a second-rope Finlay Roll (Ken Kennedy’s finisher), and the crowd is really hot now. Punk hit a Hammerlock DDT, then he applied the Anaconda Vice at 24:30. Punk went for another Hammerlock DDT, but Daniels somehow rolled through the move, rolled up Punk, and scored the clean pin to win the title. The crowd applauded the finish and the new champ. Good match that really built well.

(10) Finals: Brandon Thomaselli defeats Trik Davis to win the NWA Indiana State Title at 10:47. Eh; disappointing match to finish out a good show. They shook hands, as both are faces. Brandon is still limping, and Prazak said “Trik is one STF or Boston Crab away from winning.” They traded rollups, and Brandon had trouble kipping up to his feet because of his injured knee.

Inexplicably, Trik NEVER went for Brandon’s sore leg. Prazak pointed this out too. With both men selling injuries (Trik had a sore neck), this match was slow. Trik worked Brandon’s arm, wrapping it around the ropes, then hit a doublestomp on it. Brandon came back with a back suplex at 6:00, then a European Uppercut. Brandon cranked on Trik’s sore neck, and he applied a Front Guillotine Choke.

Brandon hit a standing moonsault for a nearfall at 9:00, then an enziguri and a Fisherman’s Brainbuster. Brandon nailed the Air Raid Crash/Kryptonite Krunch to score the pin. Unsatisfying match. Trik’s character would rather be the good guy, and not go for the obvious injury. Nice guys finish last after all.

Final thoughts: Tape runs 3 hours, 46 minutes. This was a very good show. Matches 3 & 4 & 5 are perhaps the best stretch of back-to-back-to-back matches in IWA-Mid South this year. Sydal and Thomaselli simply click in the ring. Petey and Shelley have wrestled numerous times before, and this was among the better matches I’ve seen them have. Delirious vs. Jacobs was a tremendous finish to their six-month feud.

If I had been at this show live, I would have been surprised at the Daniels title win. It was a really good, back and forth match, but it started a bit slow. This is perhaps the best singles match I can recall for Brad Bradley, as he and Joe traded some hard-hitting offense.

Unfortunately, the first and last match of the show were the two I liked the least of this show. Trik has been positioned as the great underdog in IWA-Mid South, but he isn’t having memorable ‘must-see’ matches yet. His best match here was against Ian Rotten.

Overall, this show gets a thumbs up, and it can be purchased for $15 at www.smartmarkvideo.com.

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