By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S KING OF INDIES 2015: NIGHT 1 REPORT
MARCH 27, 2015
SAN JOSE, CALIF.
AIRED LIVE ON WWNLIVE.COM

The show began with a 10-bell salute for Cincinnati Red and Perro Aguayo Jr. The 16 wrestlers in the tournament were then introduced by the ring announcer.

Kevin Gill and John Roberts are your announcers for the show.

(1) Rey Horus vs. Lil’ Cholo in a King of Indies 2015 First Round match. KG mentioned that Cholo had been making waves in Lucha Underground. Horus hit a sick arm drag into a pinning combination off the ropes on Cholo during the early going. They went back and forth exchanging pinfalls, but neither man could get a one count and they came to a stalemate. The fans applauded both men after the exchange. They went to another quick exchange and Cholo backdropped Horus to the floor and then nailed him with a dropkick through the ropes. Horus fired back and scaled the ropes before hitting a hurricanrana off the second rope followed by a dropkick for a 2 count. They went to a big exchange off the ropes and Cholo slid under the ropes to the floor, but Horus immediately wiped him out with a flip dive over the top to the floor and the fans applauded. Horus came off the top a short time later, but Cholo got his knees up and covered him for a two count. Horus went for a kick and missed, but caught Cholo the second time, but only managed to get a pair of 2 counts. They went to another quick exchange and Cholo caught Horus with a big running kick in the corner, but Horus managed to get his hand on the bottom rope to break up the count. They battled up top and Horus ended up hitting a leaping hurricanrana for the win.

Both men shook hands after the match and the fans applauded them. Cholo appeared to have hurt his knee at some point during the match. The fans chanted for Cholo as he walked to the back.

Winner: Rey Horus

Star rating: (***1/4) – This was a really good way to kick off the tournament. They had some fantastic Lucha style exchanges and the fans were very appreciative of the action in the ring to kick off the tournament.

(2) Rik Luxury vs. Jeff Cobb. Gill mentioned that Cobb is signed with Lucha Underground. Both men went back and forth on the mat during the early going before coming to a stalemate. Roberts said this match would show who the best shooter in the world is. Gill mentioned that Luxury had a big experience edge on Cobb. Both men continued to go back and forth on the mat. Cobb got an arm submission, but Luxury got to the ropes and went to the floor before getting back into the ring. Luxury got the upper hand after hitting a slingshot neck breaker on Cobb. Luxury began targeting Cobb’s neck on the mat. Luxury choked Cobb on the mat, but the ref made him break it off. Luxury taunted Cobb, who tried to fire back with a forearm. Cobb eventually caught Luxury with a belly-to-belly suplex and both men were down on the mat. Luxury fired back and nailed Cobb with a big boot a short time later after a back and forth exchange. Luxury went back after the neck with a traditional neck breaker, but he only got a 2 count. Luxury choked Cobb and asked the fans if he was the man to no reaction. Cobb fired back and hit a deadlift German and both men were down on the mat. That was impressive. Cobb fired up and hit a flurry of offense on Luxury capped by a dropkick for a two count. The fans chanted for both men with Cobb in control. Luxury fired back and hit a slingshot German. Luxury began climbing up top, but Cobb cut him off. Luxury bit Cobb’s face and pushed him off. Luxury went for a leg drop off the top, but Cobb got out of the way. Cobb then hit the tour of the islands for the win.

Winner: Jeff Cobb

Star rating: (**1/2) – They had some impressive exchanges at times during the match. The action dragged a little at times, but both men showcased some impressive power moves, especially Cobbs’s reverse rotation powerslam finisher.

(3) Adam Thornstowe vs. Shaun Ricker in a King of Indies 2015 First Round match. Thornstowe hit a huge dive over the top to the floor to fire up the crowd during the early stages of the match. He followed up with a slingshot senton back inside the ring. Thornstowe went up to the second turnbuckle, but Ricker tripped him down to the mat and hit some punches from the mount a short time later. The fans tried to rally behind Thornstowe, but Ricker caught him with an elbow off the ropes. Roberts mentioned that neither man had faced off in the ring before. Ricker went for a springboard and slipped, which allowed Thornstowe to roll him up for a two count. Ricker quickly fired back with a suplex for a 2 count to maintain the advantage. Thornstowe finally mounted a comeback and hit a big dropkick on Ricker. He finished a big flurry of offense with a running SSP for a 2 count. Ricker fired back and popped Thornstowe up before dropping him down with a side slam variation for a 2 count. Both men ended up battling up top. Thornstowe finally knocked Ricker off the top, caught him with a forearm, and then hit a double stomp. Thornstowe hit a DVD and went up top with a big five star frog splash for the win.

Winner: Adam Thornstowe

Star rating: (**1/2) – The action was solid. The match dragged with Ricker on offense, but Thornstowe was very impressive with his hard-hitting offense and high-flying maneuvers.

(4) Vinnie Massaro vs. El Mariachi. Roberts mentioned that Massaro is the only man in the tournament that was also in the original King of Indies tournaments in 2000 and 2001. Mariachi hit a flurry of offense on Massaro during the early going and he bailed to the floor. Mariachi hit a dropkick through the ropes and followed up with a suicide dive. He nearly went over Massaro, but he managed to catch him. Mariachi followed up with another dive to the floor before tossing Massaro back into the ring for a 2 count. Mariachi went for another step up arm drag off the ropes, but Massaro countered it and dumped him to the mat for a 2 count. The fans tried to rally behind Mariachi, but Massaro decked him with a straight right. Mariachi countered a suplex attempt and went for a hurricanrana, but Massaro countered it into a sit out powerbomb for a 2 count. Mariachi then got caught in a cross-arm bar. Massaro hit some stomps to Mariachi’s head, but he eventually managed to get to the ropes. Mariachi fired back and went up top. He missed a dive off the top, but managed to land on his feet and hit a double springboard cross-body for a 2 count. Mariachi hit a powerslam on Massaro. He followed up with a dancing double stomp and a splash for a 2 count. They went back and forth and Massaro caught Mariachi with a lariat and locked in a variation of the anaconda vice for the win.

Winner: Vinnie Massaro

Star rating: (**) – Mariachi hit some impressive high-flying maneuvers, but they seemed to be off on a couple of spots and the match wasn’t all that exciting at times. The finish also seemed to come out of nowhere.

(5) Roland Alexander Memorial Over the Top Battle Royal: The participants are J. R. Kratos, Dalton Frost, Big Ugly, Boyce Legrande, Idris Jackson, Marcus Lewis, Matt Carlos, Jinxx, Famous B., Rudy Juarez, Will Cuevez, Campesino 1, Campesino 2, Anarkia Jr., Earl Kooter, Johnny Yen, Slone Finau, Big Duke, Mike Matthews, Peter Avalon, Truex, Joshua Roberts, Insano, and Daniel Forth. Kratos ended up getting the win hitting a roll of the dice slam over the top to the floor on Legrande, who crashed into a pile of men on the floor.

Winner: J.R. Kratos – This was every average battle royal I’ve seen, although the finish was fun.

(6) B-Boy vs. Brian Cage in a King of Indies 2015 First Round match. Cage immediately hit a deadlift superplex during the early stages of the match. They went to the floor and Cage dumped B-Boy onto the apron. B-Boy fired back on the floor and shoved Cage into the ringpost. Cage fired right back and powerbombed B-Boy into the ringpost. Cage tossed B-Boy back into the ring and covered him for a 2 count. Cage continued to work over B-Boy inside the ring before nailing him with a huge short arm clothesline. The fans tried to rally behind B-Boy, who eventually ducked a springboard moonsault and hit a jumping DDT off the turnbuckles that left both men down on the mat. B-Boy went to work on Cage and hit a sliding dropkick to the back of the head for a 1 count. Both men eventually went back and forth. Cage ended up hitting a swinging neck breaker, but was slow to capitalize. B-Boy caught Cage with a face buster in the corner and followed up with a basement dropkick in the corner for a 2 count. Both men ended up on the apron and B-Boy eventually connected with a DDT and both men spilled to the floor. B-Boy followed up with a double stomp to the back of Cage’s head off the apron. They ended up back inside the ring and B-Boy went up top and connected with a double stomp, but Cage managed to kick out at the last second. Cage and B-Boy went back and forth. Cage caught B-Boy going for a float over in the corner and hit a sit-out spinebuster for a 2 count. B-Boy countered Cage and hit an enzuguri to the back of Cage’s head. Both men then traded bombs in the middle of the ring. B-Boy ended up poking Cage in the eye before rolling him up for a near fall. Cage ducked a kick on his knees, but B-Boy countered a falcon arrow attempt and hit a shining wizard for a 2 count. Cage tied B-Boy up over his back and dropped him down with a modified DDT for the win.

Winner: Brian Cage

Star rating: (**3/4) – The action was solid in this match. There were some slow spots in the match, but the action heated up nicely down the stretch. Cage using a new move for a finish took me by surprise.

(7) Willie Mack vs. Jody Kristofferson in a King of Indies 2015 First Round match. Both men went back and forth off the ropes and Mack caught Kristofferson with a flying knee for a 2 count. Kristofferson fired back and hit a belly-to-belly suplex for a 2 count a short time later. Mack tried to fire back, but got caught with a huge clothesline off the ropes for a 2 count. Kristofferson hit some big forearms in the corner and eventually ended up choking Mack against the ropes a short time later. Make tried to go for a splash off the ropes, but Kristofferson caught him and hit a big slam for a 2 count. Kristofferson worked a body scissors on the mat, but eventually let it go. The fans tried to get behind Mack, which seemed to upset Kristofferson. Mack went for a sunset flip and Kristofferson tried to sit on him, but Mack got out of the way. They went for a big sequence off the ropes, but ended up botching it and Mack sold his leg. He eventually came out of the corner and hit a huge clothesline. Mack then hit a big spinning slam before hitting a leg drop off the ropes. Mack appeared to have injured his leg, but he managed to hit a Samoan drop, kip up, and hit a standing moonsault for a 2 count. Both men traded blows from their knees. They eventually stood and continued to exchange blows. Kristofferson eventually got Mack up in the torture rack position before dropping him down to the mat. He went for a charge in the corner, but Mack caught him with a roundhouse kick. Mack then hit a sick corkscrew splash off the top for the win.

Mack and Kristofferson shook hands after the match and the fans applauded.

Winner: Willie Mack

Star rating: (**1/2) – There was some solid exchanges during the early going with Kristofferson hitting some big blows while he was working over Mack. The pace really slowed during the middle portion of the match with Kristofferson in control. Mack seemed to hurt his leg when they botched a move in the middle of the ring, but fought through it and ended up putting Kristofferson away.

(8) Jeckles vs. Luster The Legend. Luster hit a hurricanrana out of the corner that sent Jeckles to the floor. He followed up with a dive through the ropes to wipe out Jeckles. They ended up back inside the ring and Luster continued to work over Jeckles. Jeckles mounted a comeback and hit a pair of running boots in the corner followed by a Saito suplex for a 2 count. Jeckles went for a moonsault off the second rope, but Luster got his knees up. Luster hit a Samoan drop and went up top for a flying elbow, but he only got a 2 count. Jeckles fired back and hit a German, but Luster fired back with one of his own. Jeckles popped right up and hit a rolling elbow for a 2 count. Jeckles set up Luster and went up to the second turnbuckle and hit a moonsault, but he only got a 2 count. Jeckles went all the way up top, but Luster cut him off. He then set up for the Legend bomb and connected. Luster then locked in a cloverleaf, but Jeckles got the ropes. How is that not the finish? They went back and forth, but Jeckles caught Luster with a forearm and went for a dive over the top rope. He barely made it over the top and Luster did a good job of catching him. They got back into the ring and began trading bomb. Luster finally hit got a cobra clutch, swept Jeckles’s legs out from under him, and held on to the cobra clutch for the win.

Winner: Luster The Legend

Star rating: (*1/2) – This was not a good match. They didn’t sell a single thing during the match and they went back and forth the entire match. I was stunned the Razor’s edge/Texas cloverleaf combination wasn’t the finish. Luster then got right back up after taking a dive on the floor late in the match and they continued to not sell a thing until the finish.

(9) Timothy Thatcher vs. Dylan Drake in a King of Indies 2015 First Round match. Thatcher countered Drake on the mat early and went after his arm, but he managed to escape and bailed to the floor. Drake jawed with some fans and Thatcher tried to grab him by the ears, but Drake tripped him and slammed his leg into the apron. They went at it on the floor and Thatcher caught Drake with a pair of big European uppercuts. Drake tried to fire back and went for a chop, but Thatcher got out of the way and he hit the ring post. Drake caught Thatcher with a dragon screw around the ropes as he tried to get back into the ring. Drake then went after Thatcher’s leg inside the ring. Thatcher glared at Drake and tried to free himself from a leg submission. Thatcher eventually got on top of Drake and went for an arm bar, but Drake blocked it. Drake went back after Thatcher’s leg and nailed it with several kicks. Drake worked over Thatcher for a long period of time before arguing the ref. Thatcher hit a series of uppercuts. They went back and forth trading blows. Thatcher finally caught Drake with a headbutt to the face and he spilled to the floor. Thatcher tried to mount a comeback, but his leg gave out when Drake shoved him away. Drake applied a single leg crab, but Thatcher managed to shove him off with his feet. Drake nailed Thatcher with a running boot in the corner. He then set Thatcher on the top turnbuckle. He hit a back breaker over the top turnbuckle, but only managed a 2 count. Drake got the sharpshooter on Thatcher. Thatcher screamed and the fans fired up. Thatcher eventually managed to get to the ropes and Drake had to break the hold. Thatcher fired back with several European uppercuts. Drake went for a backslide and set up for a Dragon screw, but Thatcher countered him into a cross-arm breaker for the win.

Winner: Timothy Thatcher

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was easily the best match on the show so far. Drake worked over Thatcher’s leg for most of the match. He was able to block the cross-arm breaker from Thatcher early in the match, but Thatcher caught him with it at the end of the match and tapped him out. This was a very good technical wrestling match.

Roberts ran down the Quarterfinal round matches for the second night of the King of Indies Tournament.

(10) Joey Ryan vs. Ricochet vs. Matt Cross in a Three-way Dance match. Before the match began, Ryan wanted to know who wanted his lollipop. Men, women, and children all raised their hands. Joey eventually dropped his lollipop in a young lady’s mouth. KG pointed out that not only do you get the lollipop and the stick, but you also get some Joey Ryan DNA when he gives you your lollipop. The action was fast and furious during the early going. Ryan managed to catch Cross and Ricochet with a flip dive over the top. Ryan nailed Ricochet with a punch that sent him back to the floor and continued to work over Cross inside the ring. Cross fired back and hit standing moonsault for a 2 count. Ricochet ran into the ring and went at it with Cross. Cross took Ricochet down with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors. He hit a pair of handspring elbows in opposite corners on Ricochet and then Ryan. Cross then went to work on Ricochet with Ryan down on the outside. Ryan tripped Ricochet from the outside and hit a spear on cross. Ryan went after Cross and Ricochet with punches from the mount, but could only manage a pair of two counts on both of his opponents. Ryan put the boots to Ricochet and Cross and got winded. Ryan called for a timeout, but ended up taking a double dropkick from Cross and Ricochet. Ricochet went for a high five, but Cross nailed him with a kick. Ricochet ducked a clothesline from Cross and nailed Ryan with a twisting moonsault to the floor. Cross fired back on Ricochet and nailed him with a double stomp. He wiped out Ryan with a dive through the ropes and dove back into the ring to over Ricochet, but only got a 2 count.

Ricochet and Cross went at it near the apron. Ricochet countered Cross and hit a blue thunder powerbomb, but Ryan broke up the pin. Cross ended up rolling to the floor and Ryan went to work on Ricochet inside the ring. Ricochet hit Ryan with a German, but Cross hit a SSP off the top on Ricochet right after it. Ryan managed to break up the pin as the action continued at a furious pace. Ryan set up behind Cross and went for a superkick, but Cross blocked it. Ryan fired back with a superkick of his own. They went to a big exchange and Cross bounced off the ropes when Ricochet tried to toss him to the floor and came backwards with an elbow and everyone was down. Ricochet went for the benadriller, but Cross ducked the kick and hit a running SSP a short time later. Ryan broke up the pin and hit Cross with an exploder, but he ended up rolling to the floor. Ricochet hit a sit-out pump handle slam for the win.

Winner: Ricochet

Star rating: (***1/2) – This was a really good fast-paced match. Cross and Ricochet are really good at supplying the high-flying action, but Ryan was good in this match as well. It was a bit odd to see Ricochet win out of nowhere with a move that isn’t his finish, but this was a blast to watch while it lasted.

Overall thoughts: (5.5) – A lot of the first round matches were average or below on this card. There were a couple of very good matches to end the show, but overall this show dragged after the opening match.

I hadn’t seen much of a lot of talent on this card, but the three wrestlers that I hadn’t seen much of that made the biggest impression were Adam Thornstowe, Ray Horus, and Dylan Drake. Horus is a masked wrestler that is quick as a whip and reminded a lot of Rey Mysterio and Dragon Kid. He had a really fun, albeit short opening match against Cholo that set a good tone for the show. Horus appears to be the type of talent that could bring in a lot of fans to a big name indie promotion.

Thornstowe was impressive as well. He has a great punk rock look, hits hard, and can do some high flying. Thornstowe has gotten a shot in PWG in the past, but he showed that he definitely deserves a brighter spotlight shown on him in the near future. His matches wasn’t all that exciting when Ricker was on offense, but when Thornstowe got a chance to shine, he looked really good and the crowd was into him as well.

Dylan Drake was another pleasant surprise on the show. He had the best match of the night against Timothy Thatcher and his over the top robe with wings didn’t really mesh with his technical style in the ring, but I need to see more of him to figure out what he’s all about. Drake had a really good technical match with Thatcher and worked over his leg for the entire match before Thatcher caught him with a cross-arm breaker to get the submission victory.

Gill and Roberts did a good job of filling in the background of a lot of the unknown talent throughout the show, which was very helpful in terms of allowing fans watching at home to engage in the action in the ring.

The main event Three-way Dance between Ricochet, Cross, and Ryan was a really fun way to end the show. They had a very good 11 minute sprint with all three guys wrestling at a fast pace for the duration. They did a lot of good near falls down the stretch before Ricochet got the win.

Overall, the show had a large portion that dragged things down. The fans also dragged things down a bit, especially during the main event when they didn’t get into the fantastic action in the ring. It looks like the second night of King of Indies has a chance to be really good with the Quarterfinal Round matches set. I’m especially looking forward to Willie Mack vs. Ray Horus, which should be outstanding. Slight thumbs up.

***

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