By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S CZW “BEST OF THE BEST 11” iPPV BLOG
APRIL 14, 2012
Voorhees, N.J.
AIRED LIVE ON HYBRIDENT.TV

The show started with highlights from past Best of the Best tournaments. It was a nice highlight package centered primarily on Sami Callihan, but it also introduced all of the participants in this tournament as well.

D.J. Hyde came down to the ring dressed in a suit with the Best of the Best 11 trophy. The fans chanted Bulldozer at Hyde. Hyde introduced the tournament and said it was the best tournament in the world. Larry Legend, one of my favorite ring announcers, introduced the participants in the tournament. Sami Callihan came out last to a huge pop. Drake Younger got in his face when he got in the ring. Callihan also appeared to have some tension with Hyde. The Wrestlers all posed with the trophy for the ceremonial picture. Callihan stormed off as soon as the picture was taken.

(1) Sami Callihan vs. M.K. McKinnon vs. Drake Younger vs. Trent7 in a Best of the Best 2011 first round elimination match. They broke up the action during the early stages of the match with two guys going at it in the ring and two guys brawling on the outside. The announcers mentioned that getting to the finals would require the participants to wrestle three times. Younger hit a nice dive to the outside to take out Trent7 and Callihan. They did a tower of doom spot with trent7 powerbombing everyone down to the mat. Trent7 tried to cover everyone, but could only get multiple 2 counts. The action picked up with Younger suplexing Callihan and McKinnon into Trent7 in the corner. Younger then hit a running DVD into the corner onto Callihan and Trent7 with McKinnon, but only got a 2 count.

Trent7 hit a German and a powerbomb on Younger for a nearfall. The pace picked up with McKinnon and Trent7 going at it. McKinnon hit a nice spinning DDT on Trent7 for a nearfall. McKinnon and Callihan then went at it up top. Callihan went for a sunset bomb, but McKinnon held on, so he superkicked his legs out from under him. Callihan went for the stretch muffler, but McKinnon rolled him up for a nearfall. Callihan went for the stretch muffler again and got it. Younger broke it up and rolled up Callihan for a nearfall. Younger hit a Liger bomb on Callihan for a 2 count. There were multiple nearfalls with the action continuing at a rapid face. McKinnon booted Younger off the apron into Callihan and Trent7. He then hit a sick cannonball dive through the ropes to the outside to take out Callihan and Trent7. Younger wisely got out of the way and set up the ring steps. Callihan and Younger battled on the steps and Callihan ended up nailing Younger with a suplex. They aired a nice picture-in-picture replay of the spot. McKinnon and Younger ended up getting counted out and being eliminated from the contest.

The match came down to Callihan and Trent7. The crowd was upset with the ref’s decision. Callihan was busted open. He went face-to-face with Trent7. They exchanged blows in the middle of the ring. Callihan took down Trent7 with several chops. Trent7 caught him coming off the ropes, but Callihan slipped away. Callihan swung at Trent7, but ended up taking a huge clothesline. Trent7 then hit a spinning piledriver for a nearfall. Trent7 went up top, but Callihan cut him off with a big kick. Trent7 kicked him off and hit a frogsplash, but only got a 1 count. Trent7 hit another piledriver, but Callihan kicked out. Trent7 jawed with the fans instead of going after Callihan, who greeted him with a Saito suplex. Callihan followed up with a huge running forearm, but only got a 2 count. Callihan then applied the stretch muffler. Callihan then grapevined the leg while kicking his head. Trent7 finally tapped.

Winner: Sami Callihan to advance to the semi-finals of Best of the Best 11.

Star rating: (***1/4) – The match was really fun at times with some great multi-man spots. There were way too many nearfalls and the crowd didn’t really invest in the finish when Trent7 finally tapped. Overall, the match was good and Callihan is way over in CZW.

Younger tried to come back out and attack Callihan after the match, but was stopped.

(2) Greg Excellent vs. Willie Mack vs. Alex Colon in a Best of the Best 2011 first round elimination match. All three men came to the ring with a different soda beverage. The crowd was hot for the start of the match. Brodus Clay’s music started playing and Excellent began strutting around the ring doing Clay’s dance, but Colon and Mack dropkicked him to the outside. That was funny. Colon ran wild on Mack and did the spinaroonie. Mack caught Colon with a huge pounce and the crowd popped. Excellent pulled down his straps and patted his belly. Mack slapped away at his pectorals. Excellent challenged Excellent to a sumo match. Both men went for shoulder tackles, but were unsuccessful. Colon tried to run in, but Mack and Excellent nailed him with a tandem ace crusher. Mack fired up and ran wild on Colon and Excellent before taking them both down with a double clothesline.

Colon took out Excellent, but Mack ran into the ring and took him down with a running kick. Excellent got up and nailed Mack with a suplex. The crowd fired up and Excellent hit a cannonball on Colon and Mack in the corner. Excellent went up top, but Mack cut him off. Excellent shoved Mack to the floor. Colon tried to go for a hurricanrana off the top, but Excellent powerbombed him onto Mack. With all three men down on the mat, the crowd fired up. All three men crawled to their corners and had a sip of soda. All three men spit soda at each other. Music played and all three men chased each other on the outside. They squared off in the ring and the ref took the soda away. All three men then spit soda into the ref’s face. The fans chanted CZW after the spot. After Excellent hit a double underhook DDT on Colon on the apron, Mack nailed him with a tope con hilo to the floor on Excellent and the crowd popped again. Excellent rubbed Mack’s face into his massive chest, but Mack fired back with a big suplex. Mack went up top and hit a huge frog splash to eliminate Excellent for the win.

It came down to Mack and Colon. Mack hit a Samoan drop and a standing moonsault, but Colon kicked out. Mack sold shock and picked up Colon. Colon slipped away and then escaped a chokeslam. Colon hit a big superkick on Mack, but he kicked out at the last second. Colon dodged Mack in the corner and popped him up and dropped him down with a modified DDT for the win.

Winner: Alex Colon to advance to the semi-finals of Best of the Best 11

Star rating: (**3/4) – There was a lot of comedy and the match was a lot of fun at time. The match dragged a little bit at times, but overall was entertaining.

(3) Johnny Gargano vs. Samuray Del Sol vs. Chuck Taylor in a Best of the Best 2011 first round elimination match. Taylor and Gargano went after Del Sol, but he managed to shove Gargano into Taylor, who spilled to the outside. Del Sol hit an insane twisting arm drag on Gargano. Gargano fired right back with a flurry of offense on Del Sol, but Taylor ran in and jumped him from behind. Taylor caught Gargano with a suplex and posed for the fans. Del Sol took Taylor down and applied a leg submission, but Taylor got the ropes. Del Sol went for a dive on Taylor, but Gargano caught him with a slingshot spear and then wiped out Taylor with a dive through the ropes. All action here and it’s tough to follow. They did some fun three-way spots, which included Gargano tossing Del Sol into Taylor for a dropkick. Taylor fired back and powerbombed Del Sol into Gargano in the corner. Taylor then hit a huge flip dive over the top to the outside to wipe out Gargano. Del Sol then set up and hit an insane step-up dive off the second rope to the outside. They showed a replay of the spot from multiple angles with picture-in-picture of the live action.

Del Sol went after Gargano back inside the ring, but Taylor cut him off. Gargano and Taylor then double teamed Del Sol. Gargano and Taylor then went at it and Gargano took down Taylor with a huge clothesline. Gargano went for the Gargano escape, but Taylor rolled him up to eliminate him. It came down to Taylor and Del Sol. Del Sol surprised Taylor and rolled him up for the win.

Winner: Samuray Del Sol to advance to the semi-finals of Best of the Best 11

Star rating: (**1/2) – This was a fun match while it lasted, but it only lasted about 7 minutes and didn’t really develop enough to rate higher. The eliminations came very quickly once they occurred.

(4) A.R. Fox vs. Lince Dorado vs. ACH in a Best of the Best 2011 first round elimination match. The action was fast-paced during the early going. ACH went for a Mortal Kombat freeze on Dorado, but he ducked and flipped him off. Fox then took out both men with a springboard dropkick. Fox took out both men with a diving kick through the ropes. Fox then hit an inverted 450 to the outside to wipe out both of his opponents again. Fox went for a legdrop on the apron on ACH, but he got out of the way. Dorada countered a charge from ACH by hitting a moonsault to the outside on Fox. ACH then strutted around before going for a springboard, but he missed and landed on his feet. ACH took out Fox and Dorado and hit a springboard Arabian moonsault to the outside to wipe them both out and the crowd popped big. Fox hit a gorgeous double springboard moonsault onto Fox for a nearfall. Fox fired back and went for a kick flip to the outside. ACH moved and Fox landed on his feet. ACH then wiped both men out with a moonsault to the outside and all three men were down as the crowd applauded.

ACH did some Street Fighter inspired moves that eventually launched Dorado into the corner. Dorado fired back and hung ACH upside down. Both men went for a springboard at the same time. Dorado ended up hitting a springboard frankensteiner on Fox. ACH recovered and went for a dive, but missed and all three men were down. Fox came up bleeding from his ear. Fox hit a running SSP on Dorado in the corner. The fans chanted for Fox as he set up for a springboard. Dorado ducked it and nailed with a flipping DDT. The action continued at a rapid pace and incredibly Dorado wiped out Fox with a SSP lariat off the top. ACH countered Dorado hit the Mortal Kombat kicks on the ropes. He then hit a twisting neckbreaker on Dorado for the first elimination.

It came down to Fox and ACH. They exchanged blows in the center of the ring. Fox caught ACH with a series of ace crushers, but ACH pushed him off. Fox came off the top and hit a modified stunner, but didn’t catch it all the way. ACH hit a running elbow on Fox in the corner. ACH then caught Fox with a series of kicks and a running knee, but he only got a 2 count. The fans tried to rally behind the Fox. The announcers commented that ACH had beaten Fox in the past. Fox tried to counter ACH, but he finally hit him with a powerbomb for a nearfall. Fox caught ACH with a running boot in the corner. The fans fired up and he hit a second running kick in the corner. ACH caught Fox with a kick in the corner, but Fox nailed him with a kick and hit Lo Mein pain for the win.

Winner: A.R. Fox to advance to the semi-finals of Best of the Best 11

Star rating: (***) – This was another fun match packed with action. At this point, the spot-heavy matches are becoming overwhelming and I’m hoping they break up the card with a slower-paced match. The crowd was into this match and there were some sloppy exchanges, but overall all three men were impressive here.

The announcers mentioned that Fox would face del Sol in the semi-finals later tonight.

Dave Crist came out, but disappeared. He then attacked Jake from behind to start the match.

(5) CZW Wired TV Champion Jake Crist vs. Dave Crist. The announcers ran down the feud between the brothers that started when Dave had taken out Jake recently. Dave put a beating on Jake on the outside. Jake countered a charge and power slammed Dave into the barrier on the outside. The announcers said their family members had stopped watching since they began feuding. Jake fired up and nailed Dave with several punches. They went back and forth and the fans chanted Irish Airborne. I guess they haven’t picked a side yet. Jake dominated the action and went up top, but Dave cut him off. He hit a twisting neckbreaker of the top, but only got a 2 count.

Dave nailed Jake with a big chop in the corner and nailed him with several blows. Jake fired back with a big running kick and put Dave up top. Jake followed up with a superplex. He rolled through and hit a neckbreaker and the fans applauded. Jake took down his kneepad and nailed Dave with a running knee strike, but he kicked out at 2. Jake nailed Dave with a series of kicks and a tiger suplex with a bridge, but Dave kicked out. Jake held on and nailed Dave with a tiger suplex into the turnbuckles, but he only got a 2 count.

Dave fired back and hit an insane leaping DDT off the top rope, but he only got a 2 count. They battled up top again. Jake shoved Dave off the top and he went into the ref. Jake leapt off the top, but Dave nailed him with a low blow. Jake hit another low blow and covered him for the pin.

Winner: Dave Crist to become the new CZW Wired TV Champion

Star rating: (**1/2) – This was a good, intense match. I’m not a big fan of contrived ref bumps, but other than that this was good, but only lasted around 7 minutes in the ring. Both Crist brothers are good in the ring and it’s nice to see they have different looks now that stand out.

The announcers said Dave had finally beat his brother in singles competition after the match ended. He grabbed the title and headed to the back. Jake sold his groin injury in the ring and the fans applauded as he tried to get to his feet.

They showed a nice graphic introducing the first semi-final match between Callihan and Colon. Colon came out first. Callihan came out with his head taped and began tossing chairs around ringside. Callihan got right in Colon’s face and spit at him.

(6) Sami Callihan vs. Alex Colon in a Best of the Best 2011 semi-final match. They started the match exchanging blows and brawled to the outside. Callihan hit a huge running chop on the outside. They continued to go back and forth on the outside. Callihan eventually hit a big slam on Colon on the floor. Callihan hit another huge running chop on the outside and Colon collapsed to the floor. Colon and Callihan brawled on the apron, but Colon caught Sami with a big DVD on the apron and both men spilled back to the floor. Callihan caught Colon and hit a big Saito suplex right into a member of the security team against the railing. Callihan then suplexed Colon once again into the security guy. Colon ducked a charge in the corner and nailed Callihan with a running knee. He followed up with a double stomp off the top for a 2 count.

Colon hit several kicks to Callihan’s head, but could only get a 2 count. Callihan ducked a charge in the corner moments later and eventually landed a huge running boot to Colon’s head. Callihan then hit three huge running kicks to Colon’s head. Colon ducked a charge in the corner and powerbombed Callihan for a 2 count. Colon then applied the stretch muffler. Callihan countered and rolled up Colon for the win.

Winner: Sami Callihan to advance to the finals of the Best of the Best 2011 tournament.

Star rating: (**1/4) – This was too short to develop into much, but it was a good hard-hitting match while it lasted. I’m impressed with Colon as a singles wrestler.

Callihan got on the mic after the match. He said for three years he’s been in this tournament two times and lost in the finals. He said this year he would not lose in the finals. Callihan said Colon was his toughest opponent so far and said he’s the future.

(7) A.R. Fox vs. Samuray Del Sol in a Best of the Best 2011 semi-final match. Both men went back and forth on the mat during the early stages of the mat and came to a stalemate. After a fast exchange, Fox caught Del Sol with a springboard ace crusher, but he got his foot on the ropes to break up the pin. Fox began to gain some momentum and he hit a cannonball in the corner for a 2 count. Del Sol fired back and hit a springboard hurricanrana to take Fox down. They battled on the apron and Del Sol eventually hit a Finlay roll on the apron. He then nailed Fox with a spinning arm drag to the floor that sent Fox into the guardrail. Fox fired back and nailed Del Sol with a kick flip splash off the ringpost to the outside. They showed a nice picture-in-picture replay of the spot from multiple angles.

Del Sol fired back inside the ring and hit a sit down double underhook into an arm bar. Fox managed to fight free and nailed Del Sol with an enzuguri on the apron moments later. Del Sol ended up on the floor and Fox set up for a huge flip dive over the ringpost to the outside and the fans went nuts. Fox slammed Del Sol into the barrier on the outside and nailed him with a running SSP against the barricade and the crowd chanted for Fox. Fox tossed Del Sol into the ring and hit a springboard 450, but Del Sol kicked out. The fans fired up as Fox went back on the attack. Del Sol hit an inverted hurricanrana out of nowhere and covered Fox, but he kicked out at the last second. Fox fired back and hit an enzuguri on Del Sol on the top rope. Fox followed up with Lo Mein pain for the win.

Winner: A.R. Fox to advance to the finals of the Best of the Best 2011 tournament.

Star rating: (***) – The match started slow, but it got really good after the initial stages. Both men went back and forth exchanging some incredible maneuvers down the stretch. The crowd chanted for Fox after he won.

Kobayashi vs. Ito from Big Japan aired during intermission.

Drew Gulak came down to the ring after intermission. The fans threw toilet paper at him. Gulak said he had a contract that his lawyers had drawn up. He said the contract would settle a matter that had been plaguing him for months involving Danny Havoc. Gulak ran down the things Havoc had done to him before inviting Havoc down to the ring to sign their contract for a match on May 12. Havoc ran into the ring and attacked Gulak with a barbed-wire bat before Gulak’s security ran him off. Havoc said he wasn’t just going to walk down to the ring and sign the contract. Gulak came up bleeding inside the ring. Gulak screamed and yelled at Havoc on the mic. Gulak told his buddies to leave and asked Havoc to get inside the ring and sign the contract. Gulak said he would wrap the whole ring in barbed-wire and face him in a match in Philadelphia. Havoc asked him if he’s kidding. Gulak signed the contract. Havoc said he had made the biggest mistake of his life. Gulak told Havoc to sign the contract. Havoc looked over the contract and signed it. He then wiped Havoc’s blood on his hand and licked it. Gulak turned the table over and walked away. Gulak told the fans to be there on May 12 for a No Rope Barbed-Wire match.

Tremont vs. Hyde is up next. Hyde was still wearing his suit from earlier. Hyde said his suit cost more than any of the people in attendance make. Tremont fired up in the ring, which was covered in plunder. Hyde asked Tremont if he thought he should do this again. Hyde called Tremont a boy. Hyde said he’s the greatest wrestler and indicated that the fans worship him. Tremont yelled at Hyde to get in the ring. Hyde said he had a surprise for Tremont. Cliff Margera jumped Tremont from behind and nailed him with a cane. Margera nailed Tremont with all sorts of plunder. The announcers said Hyde is afraid of Tremont. Tremont fired back and nailed Margera with a board and then used it to bust him open.

(8) Matt Tremont vs. Glenn Margera. The fans chanted for Tremont, who nailed Margera with a headbutt. Both men were bleeding at this point. Tremont fired up on Margera in the ring and covered him for a 2 count. Tremont got a chair and nailed Margera in the head with it. He went for another chairshot, but Margera hit a low blow and connected with a chairshot of his own to the head. Tremont got a water jug and nailed Margera with it. Tremont continued to dominate and grabbed a tack back. Margera grabbed a tack back as well and they hit each other with tacks at the same time. Margera grabbed the bat and raked it across Tremont’s face. Margera hit another shot with the tack bat for a nearfall. Margera continued to dominate, but he couldn’t put Tremont away. Tremont fired back with another chairshot to Margera’s head and dumped some tacks into the ring.

Tremont slammed Margera into the tacks. He then took his shirt off and dragged him through the tacks. Tremont went up top, but ended up splashing down on the tacks. Margera hit several tack bat shots, but Tremont fired up and bulldogged him onto the tack pile. Tremont set up a barbed wire chair across two chairs in the ring. He then battled with Margera up top. Margera nailed Tremont with a running kick. They continued to go back and forth. Margera finally powerbombed Margera into the chair pile for the win.

Winner: Matt Tremont – This type of match isn’t something I enjoy. Both guys hit each other in the head with chairs, although they weren’t swing for the fences type chairshots, this type of thing shouldn’t be done in wrestling. There all sorts of big bumps and thumbtack spots as well, but overall, this was the least enjoyable match on the card so far.

Tremont got on the mic after the match. He said he came here tonight to kick Hyde’s a--. He said he wants Hyde now. The fans taunted Hyde, who began taking off his suit. Hyde asked Tremont if he wants a match. Hyde also asked if the fans want to see it. Hyde said he’d give Tremont a match under one condition. Hyde said he had to prove he was on his level by winning Tournament of Death. Hyde told Tremont his first round opponent would be Abdullah Kobayashi from Big Japan in June.

A video package aired with highlights from first and second rounds of the Best of the Best 11 tournament. This was a really nice video package going over the big moments so far in the tournament on this show. The package closed focusing on the finals featuring Fox vs. Callihan.

(9) A.R. Fox vs. Sami Callihan – Best of the Best 11 tournament finals. Fox nailed Callihan with a flip dive as he made his entrance. Fox went for another dive, but Callihan got out of the way and he landed with a thud in the front row. That’s a bump nobody should take. Callihan went on the attack and Fox appeared to be alright. The announcers talked about Callihan being unable to win this tournament the last two years, despite reaching the finals. The announcers said Fox was advised to go to the hospital to have his ear checked, but he refused. Callihan put a beating on Fox back inside the ring for several minutes. Callihan stalked Fox and gave him small headbutts on the mat. Callihan put the boots to Fox in the corner before going after Fox’s leg. The fans began chanting for Fox as he ate two huge clotheslines in the corner. Fox tried to fire back, but Callihan nailed him with an enzuguri on the top turnbuckle. Fox fired back and shoved Callihan to the opposite corner. He followed up with a cannonball in the corner and the crowd fired up. Fox nailed Callihan with a flurry of offense and sent Callihan to the outside with a missile dropkick. Fox went for a dive, but Callihan got on the apron. Fox nailed Callihan with an enzuguri and followed up with a springboard 450.

Fox set up Callihan on the apron and the crowd fired up as he went up top. Fox went for a legdrop, but Callihan got out of the way. Callihan nailed Fox with a springboard clothesline and nailed him with a dive through the ropes. The fans booed Callihan as he fired up on the outside. The other participants in the tournament came down the entrance and surrounded the ring as Callihan and Fox went toe-to-toe in the middle of the ring. Callihan nailed Fox with a big slap to the ear, but Fox fired back with a DVD and a huge swanton bomb for a nearfall. The fans fired up as Fox went up top again. Fox went for a 450, but Callihan got his feet up. Callihan nailed Fox with a big running kick in the corner. Callihan blew Fox a kiss and hit another running kick. Callihan signaled he was going for another running kick, but Fox moved and rolled him up for a nearfall. Fox hit Lo Mein pain a short time later and the crowd roared, but Callihan kicked out at the last second. Fox set up Callihan again, but missed an inverted 450. Callihan fired up and nailed Fox with a huge clothesline as the crowd fired up. Callihan hit another big clothesline, but Fox kicked out. Callihan hit another huge running lariat, but Fox kicked out at one. Callihan went for the stretch muffler and locked it in while kicking Fox in the head. Callihan had a body lock with the stretch muffler locked in. Fox struggled for the ropes, so Callihan locked in a single leg crab variation and Fox tapped out.

Winner: Sami Callihan to win Best of the Best 11

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was a really good match. It was really concerning when Fox crashed and burned going for a dive during the early stages of the match, but he appeared to be alright. These two had a really good back and forth battle and the crowd was hot for the entire match.

After the match, Hyde came down to the ring with the Best of the Best 11 trophy. Callihan told Hyde to give him his trophy. Hyde looked upset as he handed Callihan the trophy. Hyde spit in Callihan’s face and bailed to ringside. The crowd clapped as Callihan cut a promo. Callihan said he should have three trophies now. Callihan said he proved he was the best by beating the s—t out of Fox. Callihan told Fox he hoped his eardrum was busted. Callihan challenged anyone to step up to him because he had proven he’s the best. Younger got into the ring and went face-to-face with Callihan. The fans chanted that they wanted one more match between them. Callihan yelled at Younger to let his have his moment.

Younger said Callihan may have one tonight, but their issue was far from over. Younger said on May 5 CZW was going to Indiana. Younger said the issue between them was far from over. Younger handed Callihan his trophy, but Callihan gave him a low blow. Callihan said he hated everyone could suck his d—k. Callihan said this wasn’t about him having an ego because he was telling the truth.

Hyde got in the ring and got on the mic. Hyde told Younger he doesn’t like Callihan, but he respects him. He said Callihan, along with everyone outside the ring are among the best wrestlers in the world. Hyde said they should have a 2 out of 3 falls match in Indiana. The fans said they wanted the match in Jersey. Hyde said he’d think about it. Hyde asked all of the wrestlers to get in the ring. Hyde said the fan appreciation award was a tradition for this tournament. He asked the crowd if Del Sol should win the fan appreciation award. The fans clapped. Hyde asked about some of the other competitors in the tournament. Fox got a big chant when Hyde announced his name. Hyde told Fox he may not like him, but Fox bleed yellow and black. Hyde told fox he could have any title shot he wants anytime this year. Fox said that sounds good. Hyde asked the fans if they want to see these wrestlers back in the ring again. The fans chanted please come back. Hyde said he had an offer for everyone except for Taylor. Hyde said he may not like all of the wrestlers in the ring, but the fans like them. Hyde said McKinnon and Trent7 are amazing and everyone should check out their home promotion Fight Club Pro. Hyde then put over Gargano and said he deserves a spot in CZW. Hyde then put over Willie Mack, who danced for the fans. Hyde proposed a Mack tag team with Rich Swann. Hyde then addressed Del Sol and the fans chanted for him. Hyde thanked the wrestlers and said they were truly 2012 best of the best. The fans applauded to end the show.

Bonus match: Adam Cole vs. Tony Nese

Overall thoughts: (7.0) – This was a good show overall. I thought the thing that jumped out right off the bat was the production values on hybrident.tv. The show was well-lit, the sound was good, and the production and graphics were top-notch. It was also nice that there were several picture-in-picture replays throughout the night showcasing the big spots that took place during certain matches.

The show did a good job of putting over Best of the Best as an important tournament with several video packages, a graphic showing the wrestlers advancing in the tournament (think NCAA men’s basketball), and all of the wrestlers coming down to the ring during the main event.

The pacing of the show was a bit tough to get through, as all of the first round matches in the tournament were wrestled at a breakneck pace. Nearly all of the matches were enjoyable on the card, although some deserved more time, especially the Taylor vs. Gargano vs. Del Sol first round elimination match, which was criminally short.

The best match in the first round was the opener by a notch, but all of the first round matches had something good to offer. I thought the dynamic between Excellent, Colon, and Mack was hilarious. It was nice to see Mack in a different environment, as I usually only see him in PWG, but he was really funny in CZW doing some comedy spots before his match got serious. Colon was also really impressive in this tournament advancing to the semi-finals before falling to Callihan in a short, but hard-hitting match. Del Sol-Fox also had a very good match, but they were only given a small amount of time.

The road to the finals of the tournament told a good story, as Callihan had gotten to the finals the previous two years only to fall short. Callihan had another very good match with Fox and they have really good chemistry in the ring. The finals felt special and although the match started a little slow and there was some concern for Fox after he took a nasty bump on a dive, they told a good story in the ring that delivered in the end.
I would give a VOD replay on HybridENT.TV a solid recommendation. There was a hardcore match on the show that just isn’t something I enjoy, but everything else on the card was good to very good.

You can purchase this show on VOD or DVD at HybridENT.TV.

***

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