By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S ALPHA-1 WRESTLING “KING OF HEARTS 2013” REVIEW
AUG. 17, 2013
ONTARIO, CANADA

Alpha-1 Update:

Radican note: I recommend watching this before you watch the show. It does a good job of setting up all of the stories going into “King of Hearts.”

A1 GM Emanuel Melo announced that Leah Von Dutch was banned from King of Hearts.

Mike Rollins was shown cutting a promo from the Toronto Zoo. He was upset about losing the Alpha Male Title to Ethan Page at “Insanity.” He talked about training with a bunch of different animals to help him become champion again. This was hilarious.

Ethan Page took a phone call while he was cutting a promo. He told the person he was talking to not to call his land line and use his cell. He said he wasn’t worried about the news. Page said he was just going to cut his promo. He said Leah Von Dutch just called him from upstairs on his cell phone to his house line. She told him that she was banned from the show. He said he has to defend his title through the entire tournament. Page complained about the men he might have to face in the tournament. Page said he was upset he wouldn’t have moral support in his corner. He said Melo was doing this because he can’t stand him. Page said he was going to keep the title on his mantle and next to it, he will put the King of Hearts trophy. He said he and Leah would make love under the mantle.

They showed a video running down the competitors in the tournament that also highlighted that Page would put his title on the line in every match.

Alessandro Del Bruno was shown at a table looking at his soccer trophies. Del Bruno won the 2012 King of Hearts Tournament. He said one trophy symbolized him in A1 and that was the King of Hearts trophy. He said all of his trophies came from his confidence. He said confidence was the one thing he needs to beat Josh Alexander.

Josh Alexander cut a promo. He said he went to the finals of the first King of Hearts Tournament and barely lost. He said it’s all about learning from experience. Alexander said in that same tournament he had a standout match that made him the Walking Weapon that he is today against Del Bruno. He said beating him won’t make Del Bruno a man. He said he eats, sleeps, and breaths being the Alpha Male and mentioned that the belt would be in the finals one way or another and so would Josh Alexander. He said if Del Bruno was passionate enough to kill for the Alpha Male Title, he should know that Alexander is willing to die for it.

They went to footage of Cairnie beating Elgin on the last show. He said he was coming for the Zero Gravity Championship tonight and he would prove that he can fly with this best of them.

Louis Lyndon cut a promo on the Four-Way Zero Gravity Championship match. He said the title would be his.

(1) Alessandro Del Bruno vs. Josh Alexander in a King of Hearts Tournament First Round match. The announcers mentioned that Del Bruno had earned the right to pick his opponent in the first round and he had chosen Alexander. They had some good fast-paced exchanges during the early going before Del Bruno caught Alexander with a hurricanrana. They battled on the ring apron and Del Bruno sent Alexander to the floor with an enzuguri. He went for a dive through the ropes, but Alexander nailed him with a big forearm and the fans fired up. Alexander locked Del Bruno in a nasty stretch over his back before dumping him down to the canvas. Alexander blocked a kick attempt out of the corner from Del Bruno and turned it into a revolution powerbomb for a 2 count. Del Bruno mounted a comeback and hit a rolling kick to Alexander’s head. He followed up with a standing moonsault for a 2 count. Alexander fired back and hit a gut wrench suplex and followed up with a big forearm for a near fall. He followed up with an Angle slam for another 2 count. Del Bruno hit a double knee strike off the top, but he overshot Alexander a bit and only got a 2 count. Del Bruno hit a variation of a shining wizard a short time later after a big exchange, but Alexander managed to grab the bottom rope to break up the pin. Del Bruno tried to flip over Alexander and hit an ace crusher, but Alexander countered it into a spinning tombstone for the win.

Winner: Josh Alexander

Star rating: (***1/2) – This was a really good opener with Del Bruno and Alexander having really good chemistry in the ring together. Alexander got to show off his power and Del Bruno had some fantastic moments when he made his comebacks. The last few minutes of this match were a blast to watch and the finish was sick.

(2) Steve Brown vs. Ron Mathis in a King of Hearts Tournament First Round match. The announcers put over Mathis as being able to wrestle hardcore style and change things up and wrestle as well. Brown sent Mathis to the outside with a big clothesline during the early going. Brown missed a charge on the outside and ran into the ringpost. Mathis then nailed him with a cannonball off the apron to the floor. They brawled on the floor before Brown got the upper hand and tossed Mathis back into the ring. Mathis couldn’t take Brown down with a pair of clotheslines after taking a sustained beating, but he finally dropped the big man with a neck breaker. Mathis followed up with a flatliner on the ring apron. He followed up with a flying elbow for a 2 count. Brown fired back and hit a spinning slam for the win.

Winner: Steve Brown

Star rating: (**) – The action was solid, but nothing about this match blew me away.

(3) Johnny Wave vs. Alex Colon in a King of Hearts Tournament First Round match. Wave’s girlfriend Leah Von Dutch left him for Page on the last show. The announcers said he had a new attitude. The action was hot and heavy during the early going and they ended a big sequence with a double dropkick. Colon baited Wave into chasing him on the floor and nailed him with a kick when he tried to get back into the ring. Colon began working over Wave inside the ring. Colon used cheap tactics to maintain the upper hand. Colon went up top, but Wave tripped him to the mat and began working him over. Both men no-sold suplexes. They continued to go at it at a rapid pace. Wave finally dropped Colon with a running knee and both men were down. Both men battled to the apron and Colon hit a DVD. That was a little too similar to the flat liner on the apron in the previous match. Colon got a running start and hit a big flip dive over the top to the floor. Wave fired back and hit a hangman’s neck breaker off the ropes. He followed up with a big dive through the ropes to wipe out Colon. Wave hit a second dive through the ropes and then a third. The fans fired up with Wave in control. Wave ended up hitting a springboard blockbuster for a near fall after nearly slipping on the top turnbuckle. Colon fired back and hit a big knee to the back of the head for a near fall. He then applied a variation of the camel clutch with only one arm hooked. Wave escaped, but Colon snapped his neck over the middle rope. Colon nailed Wave with a big running boot to the side of the head. Colon went up top for a double stomp, but it was only good for a near fall. Wave went for a slingshot leg drop on the apron but missed. He then hit a senton off the ropes on Colon as he was hanging over the middle role. Wave followed up with a head and arm suplex with a bridge for a near fall. This is just too much at this point with an endless series of spots and no selling. They went back and forth trading running strikes. Wave finally caught Colon and hit a powerbomb. He followed up with a Canadian destroyer for the win.

Winner: Johnny Wave

Star rating: (**1/2) – This match had too much no selling for my liking. Both guys took moves and just kept getting up and trading more moves. There was some good action here, but some of the spots weren’t smooth at all.

(4) Alpha Male Champion Ethan Page vs. Mike Rollins in a Alpha Male Championship King of Hearts First Round match. Rollins hit a big dive through the ropes to wipe out Page during the early stages of the match. They ended up going back and forth on the outside. Rollins ended up hitting a pair of missile dropkicks on Page as he fired up on him inside the ring, but Page ended up nailing him with a suplex for a 2 count a short time later. Rollins began to mount a comeback and eventually took Page down with a spinebuster for a 2 count. Rollins countered a slingshot ace crusher and hit a back breaker, but Page managed to catch him with it a short time later for a 2 count. They went back and forth and Rollins capped a big sequence with a spinning tornado kick for a 2 count. He locked in the rings of Saturn a short time later, but Page got his foot on the bottom rope. Page dragged the ref in front of him when Rollins was coming off the ropes. Page hit a low blow with the red distracted and followed up with the spinning Dwayne for the win.

Winner: Ethan Page to retain the Alpha Male Championship

Star rating: (**3/4) - This was a solid match. They should have kept the action in the ring at the beginning of the match, as the layout of the matches has seemed similar for several of the first round matches. Once they got in the ring, the action was solid and Rollins and Page has some good exchanges down the stretch before Page found a way to cheat to get the win.

(5) Steve Brown vs. Josh Alexander in a King of Hearts Semi-final Round match. Alexander tagged Brown with some big forearms, but Brown returned fire. Alexander couldn't get Brown down to the mat even after hitting him with a big dropkick. Alexander put the boots to Brown in the corner and out the boots to him. Brown fired back and hit a double choke slam for a 2 count. Brown went for a splash, but Alexander got out of the way and nailed him with chips and elbows. Alexander went to town on Brown, but he pushed him away and Alexander rolled to the floor. Brown went to follow him, but he tied up Brown's leg in the ropes and nailed him with a dropkick. Alexander came off the turnbuckles, but Brown caught him on the floor and choke slammed him into the apron and the fans fired up. Alexander hit three roaring forearms that knocked Brown out of the building. Alexander managed to get back into the ring to beat the ref's count to win the match. That was hilarious.

Winner: Josh Alexander via count out

Star rating: (***) - This was fun to watch. Alexander just unloaded on Brown with strikes, but had a hard time keeping him off his feet throughout the match. They built to a cool spot where Brown caught Alexander going for a dive off the turnbuckles before choke slamming him onto the apron. The finish made sense since Alexander wasn't having a lot of luck with Brown, he forearmed out of the exit and took the count out win.

(6) Alpha Male Champion Ethan Page vs. Johnny Wave in a Alpha Championship King of Hearts Semifinal Round match. Wave hit a dive on Page as he came out and they brawled on the floor. They brawled to the upper section of the venue and went back and forth. Wave ended up back dropping Page onto the floor near a bunch of tables. Page fired back and catapulted Wave into the bottom of the table set up at ringside. Page worked over Wave in the ring, but he fired back and hit a block buster for a 2 count. The announcers said Wave was looking for revenge on Page for stealing his girlfriend. Wave hit a hangman ace crusher on Page for a 2 count. Wave countered a slingshot ace crushed by landing on his hands. He nailed Page with a kick, but Page fired back with a suplex where he lifted Page up and then dumped him straight down onto his back. Wave hit a sick corkscrew splash on Page for a near fall a short time later. They battled up top a short time later. Page eventually hit a fall away superplex, but Wave managed to kick out. Page then hit the spinning Dwayne, but he kicked out at the last second. Page slapped the ref. He then hit a low blow on Wave. The ref called for the DQ.

Page yelled at the ref and then held up his title. The announcers said Page found the easy way out as he stood over Wave. Page spit on Wave before leaving the ring.

Winner: Johnny Wave via DQ - this was more of an angle than a match. Wave wanted revenge on Page and went after him full bore throughout the match. He frustrated Page down the stretch, which caused Page to get himself DQ'd rather than lose the title.

(7) Zero Gravity Champion Brent Banks vs. Alex Vega vs. Eric Cairnie vs. Louis Lyndon in a Four-way Elimination match. This was all action during the early going. Vega cut off Cairnie going for a dive and nailed him with a huge clothesline. Vega continued to heel on the crowd, which cost him as Lyndon was able to take him out from behind. All four men exchanged moves and Vega finally ended the sequence by decking Banks with an enzuguri. Vega was the first man out after Cairnie rolled him up when he took too long to set up a power bomb. They went to a three way submission spot on the turnbuckles. Lyndon dumped Banks to the mat and power bombed Cairnie onto him, but he couldn't get a pin on either man. Lyndon hit a moonsault into a dragon sleeper on Cairnie and he tapped out. It was down to Banks and Lyndon and this one has been all action so far. Banks power bombed Lyndon onto the camera stage and then hit a frog splash for a 2 count. Lyndon got a variation of the dragon sleeper before locking it in fully, but Banks got the ropes. Banks finally lifted up Lyndon and brought him down with a modified falcon arrow to get the pin.

After the match, Vega attacked Banks. He brought him down onto the Zero Gravity title with a modified brain buster. The fans booed as Vega held up the title.

Winner: Brent Bank

Star rating: (***1/4) - this was all action from start to finish for the most part. There were some sequences that looked overly choreographed, but overall this was a fun match.

(8) Josh Alexander vs. Johnny Wave in the 2013 King of Hearts Finals. The announcers billed the match as a rising star vs. established star match. Alexander caught Wave going for a splash off the ropes and turned it into a power slam for a 2 count. Wave fired back and wrenched at Alexander’s nose before letting it go and Alexander bailed to the floor. Alexander stalled on the floor and rolled in and out of the ring to break the ref’s count. Both men went back and forth on the mat until Wave caught Alexander with a leg drop. Alexander slapped Wave across the face and they began exchanging blows. Wave hit a big step up leg drop on Alexander as the pace picked up. Alexander got the upper hand and worked over Wave with a chin lock on the mat. Wave stood up and backed Alexander into the corner and nailed him with some big chops. Alexander fired back and hit a nice gut wrench suplex for a 2 count. Alexander nailed Wave with some big chops in the corner. He followed up with a running splash in the corner a short time later. Alexander went for another charge into the corner, but Wave backdropped him to the floor and Alexander took a nasty spill. Wave eventually hit a series of dives through the ropes and the fans applauded. Wave went up top and jumped over Alexander. Wave hit a big leg-capture suplex with a bridge for a 2 count. Alexander fired back and put Wave on the top turnbuckle. Wave fought him off and went for a Canadian destroyer, but Alexander turned it into a rusty nail for a near fall. Wow! Wave countered Alexander and locked in the undertow in the middle of the ring. Alexander teased tapping, but managed to get to the ropes. Wave dragged him back to the middle of the ring and cinched in the undertow again, but Alexander rolled through and caught him in a pinning combination for a near fall. Alexander followed up with a double underhook piledriver for a near fall. That was a fantastic sequence. Alexander took off his headgear and used it to choke Wave, but the ref broke it up. Wave hit a superkick to Alexander’s bad ear. They continued to go back and forth, but Alexander fell down and sold his ear. Both men battled up top and Wave eventually hit a sunset powerbomb and then the Canadian destroyer for the win. Awesome conclusion to the tournament.

Wave got on the mic after the match and held his trophy. Wave said he wanted Ethan Page and asked for Melo to make the match. Melo said they would have an Iron Man match. Wave said he wanted a no DQ match and Melo granted him that stipulation as well for the next show.

Winner: Johnny Wave to win the 2013 King of Hearts Tournament

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was a really good match. They started with a slow build on the mat and picked up the pace after Alexander dominated the action. Wave made some great comebacks down the stretch and frustrated Alexander. They built to some good near falls before Wave eventually got the big win.

Overall score: (6.5) – This was a good show. Parts of the card dragged, but overall the storytelling and in-ring action were enough to make this show worth a look. One of the things I like about A1 is that the shows are short and they feature storylines that are easy to follow. I suggest you watch the update videos before watching the main show to get caught up on things. These videos are well done and set the stage for the main show.

The King of Hearts tournament wasn’t your typical tournament with wrestlers facing off without storylines. Several of the first round matches had storyline implications, which made them more enjoyable than they would have been as just matches thrown on the card for the tournament.

Some of the undercard matches felt the same with a lot of crowd brawling and dive sequences. None of the matches on the card were bad, but there was a definite lull at times as the tournament progressed. I’m looking forward to A1 moving out of the venue used for the last few shows I’ve watched. It has a cool underground vibe, but the six sided ring doesn’t look like it’s in great shape and the venue doesn’t lend itself to go site lines for the hard camera.

Alexander was the in-ring MVP of the show. He’s clearly a level above everyone in the promotion right now, although there’s a lot of potential up and down the A1 roster. His first round win over Del Bruno opened the show and was the second best match on the card. He advanced to the semi-final round and had another good match against big man Steve Brown. I loved the finish of that match with Alexander having trouble grounding Brown, so he eventually just forearmed him out of the venue. Alexander then had a really good match in the finals against Johnny Wave. They built the match slowly and Alexander started to use some shortcuts late in the match, as the upstart Wave was clearly building momentum against him. They built to some good near falls down the stretch and the best match of the night.

Overall this was a solid show. It did a good job of building towards the next show and with A1 running a limited amount of shows each year, this is an easy promotion to follow with a lot of rising talent in Ontario.

You can purchase A1 “King of Hearts 2013” on DVD by clicking HERE or by visiting SmartMarkVideo.com. You can also purchase this show on VOD at SMVOD.com. For more information on A1 visit alpha-1wrestling.com.

***

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