Florida Championship Wrestling TV Report
October 18, 2009
Aired on the Bright House Sports Network
Report by Cody Endres, PWTorch contributor

-The show opened with a video recap of Justin Angel capturing the FCW Heavyweight Championship from Heath Slater on last week's episode. Easily the best video FCW has ever produced. Highlights of the match were integrated with shots of the timer to emphasize Angel's battle against the 30-minute time limit. Byron Saxton & Wade Barrett (soon to be trained by Chris Jericho on NXT) are back on commentary to introduce the ring announcer – Howard Finkel.

1 – ALEX RILEY vs. GABRIEL

Before the match Riley insincerely apologized for his actions the past year and claimed he had "impulse control issues, anger management problems, desperate insecurities, and the need to overcompensate." Riley then laughed and told the fans he was better than them. Gabriel is seeking revenge after his loss in a lumberjack match a couple weeks ago. Saxton explained that Dusty Rhodes was gone on assignment. Riley sends Gabriel to the outside with a dropkick. Riley works on a rear chinlock early. If there's one person on the roster who relies way too much on extended rest holds - its Riley. Gabriel hits a sidewinder neckbreaker followed by his Vindicator finisher for the win.

WINNER: Gabriel in 3:18. Not memorable in the least. Barrett mentioned that we needed a rubber match between these two. No, thank you.

[Commercial Break]

2 – CURT HAWKINS vs. YOSHI TATSU

Tatsu frustrates Hawkins from the start with chops and kicks. The announcers are really putting Hawkins over as a former WWE Tag Team Champion. Tatsu attempts a right high kick, but Hawkins ducks to the outside. Hawkins drives Tatsu's lower back into the ring apron a couple times. Returning to the ring, Hawkins works over the back of Tatsu. Tatsu rallies with a series of kicks and running double knees to the chest. Hawkins jumps off the second rope, but Tatsu catches him with a right high kick for the victory.

WINNER: Yoshi Tatsu in 6:18. Decent match although it didn't seem like these two clicked and had a match that lived up to its true potential.

[Commercial Break]

-Justin Angel (soon to be Justin Gabriel on NXT) came out for his first promo as FCW Heavyweight Champion. Angel talked about his journey from South Africa and thanked the fans. Heath Slater interrupted and claimed Angel was the luckiest man alive. Slater slapped the champion before Angel took him out with an STO and hit his 450 splash off the top rope.

[Commercial Break]

-A zany video aired with the South Beach Boys consisting of Darren Young (formerly Fred Rosser) and Percy Watson. Young is now playing a cocky character and wearing a pair of flashing sunglasses and a fur coat. Watson labeled the team "sexy star studs." Watson has a really annoying laugh and seems like he might be playing a blatantly homosexual character. This segment was so over the top it just might work.

3 – MIA MANCINI vs. SAVANNAH – Queen of FCW Match

Barrett predicted Mancini would win because "she looks like a woman and fights like a man." Mancini attempts a running crossbody, but Savannah does the Matrix move to dodge it. Mancini assaults the former Queen with kicks to the gut. Barrett claimed that Mancini's father was a mob boss in Sicily. Savannah with a running step-up enziguri for a nearfall. Savannah leaps off the top rope looking for a crossbody, but Mancini ducks out of the way. Mancini follows up with the Mancini Code (dominator) for the pin.

WINNER: Mia Mancini in 5:21. Barrett's commentary made this extremely entertaining. Otherwise, a tad better than most FCW women's matches.

[Commercial Break]

4 – VANCE ARCHER vs. TYLER REKS

In a pre-tape, Archer said he was going to use Reks as a stepping-stone to the FCW Title. Barrett called Archer a "monster truck full of mean." Both men brawl early on. Archer with a swinging neckbreaker and a big boot for consecutive nearfalls. Archer catches Reks running off the ropes and nails a sideslam. Reks executes his high tide elbow drop and goes for the cover. Archer is obviously supposed to kick out, but ends up lifting a shoulder after the ref counts to three. The referee rings the bell and declares Reks the winner. The crowd is silent and everyone looks confused.

WINNER: Tyler Reks in 5:37. What a mess. How does this make television?

[Commercial Break]

5 – JOHNNY CURTIS vs. JOHNNY PRIME vs. JOE HENNIG – Triple Threat Match

The announcers mention that Prime is returning after taking some time off to "find himself." Curtis tosses Prime to the floor as the match begins. Prime drags Curtis onto the floor and gets his own turn with Hennig. Curtis re-enters the ring and eats a double clothesline for his troubles. Curtis gets a nearfall on Prime following a running kneelift. Curtis takes out Hennig with the Johnny Kick, but Prime breaks up the pinfall attempt. Hennig with the rolling neck snap on Prime. Hennig hits Curtis with his patented running dropkick. Prime leaps off the second rope and takes Hennig down with a flying crossbody. Prime covers Hennig, but Curtis jumps off the top with a guillotine legdrop and pins Prime.

WINNER: Johnny Curtis in 5:30. Boring main event to cap off a terrible show. The one bright spot of the evening was the South Beach Boys video. The mystery man didn't appear on this episode, so let's hope they just don't drop that without an explanation.

-Before the show ended, the announcers hyped that next week would feature a special match between WWE superstars Sheamus and R-Truth.

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