By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN'S PWG "BLACK COLE SUN" DVD REVIEW
DEC. 12, 2014
RESEDA, CALIF.
BY SEAN RADICAN, TORCH COLUMNIST

(1) African American Wolves (ACH & A.R. Fox & Rich Swann) vs. Best Friends and Modern Acquaintance (Bobby Fish & Johnny Gargano & Chuck Taylor) in a Six Man Tag match. Excalibur mentioned that Roderick Strong was supposed to appear, but wouldn't be able to make the show because of a storm. The fans were red hot for the action during the early going. The fans chanted "Ho Ho ACH" at ACH, who was wearing a Santa hat. They did an awesome six way waist lock spot that ended with Gargano wiping out ACH with a a dive on one side of the ring and Taylor wiping out Fox and Swann with a flip dive on the other side of the ring. Taylor hit an elbow on the Santa hat at one point, which drew big heat from the fans. ACH took a beating for a long period of time. ACH hit a stunner on Taylor and tagged in Fox, who ran wild. The action broke down with both teams going back and forth. This was crazy down the stretch and the finish saw Fish go up top and don theSanta hat only for Fox to surprise him with lo mein pain for the win.

Winners: ACH & A.R. Fox & Rich Swann

Star rating: (***3/4) – Tremendous opening match. After some early comedy this match really heated up down the stretch and the fans fired up for the finishing sequence.

(2) Adam Cole vs. Cedric Alexander. I don't want to spoil Cole's introduction, but it was great. Alexander eventually surprised Cole with a running dropkick in the corner and the fight went to the floor. It's amazing to watch Cole bump around given the nature of his arm injuries at this time. Alexander dominated for a while until Cole shoved him off the top to the floor. Cole teased a moonsault, but ended up getting down off the turnbuckles before stomping on Alexander's head. Alexander mounted a comeback and went for the three amigos. Cole fought out of the third one and Alexander then caught him with a nice tornado DDT. They went back and forth and Cole hit a neck breaker over his knee and a running knee to the face, but Alexander managed to kick out at 2. Cole spit in Alexander's face and he fired up. They went back and forth until Alexander hit a Michinoku driver for a near fall. Cole countered a GTS and got a figure 4. Alexander flipped Cole off and spit in his face before getting to the ropes. Alexander kicked out of Panama sunrise a short time later. Alexander hit two missile dropkicks in the corner and went for a third, but Cole nailed him with a superkick. Cole then hit the Florida keys for the win.

Cole cut a promo after the match. He said he needed to have arm surgery. He said he put it off to come wrestle in PWG. Cole said he wouldn't be in PWG and had had the most fun of his career in this ring. Cole said he wouldn't be who he is without the fans in Reseda. Cole got a huge pop leaving the ring.

Winner: Adam Cole

Star rating: (***1/2) - very good singles match between these two. Cold did a good job of heeling on the fans and Alexander could never get on track in this encounter. Cole's post-match promo was a nice send off for him from PWG.

(3) Chris Hero vs . Trevor Lee. Hero nailed Lee with a running boot as he was being introduced. Lee for a roll up a short time later, but Hero nailed him with another big foot and he rolled to the floor. Lee tried to fire back, but Hero decked him with a huge elbow. Lee managed to grab the bottom rope to break the pin. Every time it looked like Lee was getting on track, Hero would deck him with a brutal strike or kick. Lee suddenly sent Hero to the floor arms nailed him with a big moonsault. The fans fired up as they went back and forth. Lee avoided a dive, so Hero flipped himself onto the apron. Lee pulled him to the floor and nailed him with five running kicks from the apron. Lee went for a frog splash, but Hero caught him with a cravat and hit a duplex. Holy s--t! Lee fired back and caught Hero with a jumping double knee strike off the ropes for a 2 count and the fans fired up. Hero tried to elbow out of a German, but Lee hit it anyway. Hero no-sold it. Lee then nailed him with a roundhouse kick to the head and a deadlift German for a near fall. Wow! They had an incredible strike exchange. Hero held on to the ropes to avoid a dropkick and decked Lee with a rolling elbow for a near fall. Holy s---t! Lee blocked a pair of rolling elbows and caught Hero with a small package for the win.

Winner: Trevor Lee
Star rating: (****) - Hero dominated most of the match and the fans really fired up for Lee's short comebacks. The striking in this match was great and I can't wait to see more from these two in PWG.

(4) PWG World Tag Team Champions World’s Cutest Tag Team (Joey Ryan & Candice LeRae) vs. The Addiction (Frankie Kazarian & Christopher Daniels). Ryan gave his Blowpop to Marina Shafir of the 4 Horsewomen. The fans chanted “She’s got herpes” at her. Kazarian got the Blowpop from Shafir and spit on it and put it down his pants. He tried to stick it in Ryan’s mouth, but Ryan fought back and tried to stick it in his mouth. Daniels tagged in and held Ryan, but Ryan fought out of it. Ryan got the Blowpop and went after Daniels and then Kazarian. Kazarian begged Ryan to throw it away and went for a kick, but Ryan stuck it in his mouth. The action broke down and LeRae took down Daniels with a hurricanrana. Ryan then helped her hit a slam on Daniels. Candice hit a hurricanrana on Daniels that sent him into Kazarian on the floor. Kazarian got the title belt and wiped out Ryan from behind and the fans booed. Ryan was helped to the back with Candice getting worked over inside the ring. The fans booed as LeRae continued to take a beating from Daniels. Daniels actually stomped on her crotch at one point. The fans chanted “This is awkward,” with LeRae taking a sustained beating from two men. Ryan finally ran down to save LeRae from the Koji clutch from Daniels. LeRae countered angel’s wings and tagged in Ryan, who ran wild on Daniels. Daniels finally fired back and held onto Ryan’s hands before stomping him down to the mat for a 2 count. LeRae got the tag from Ryan and ran wild on Kazarian. Ryan hit a DVD on Candice to send her ton top of Kazarian for a 2 count. He then launched her off the top into a T on Kazarian for a 2 count. The Addiction isolated Ryan and hit a springboard leg drop/curb stomp combination, but LeRae made the save. She hit a ballplex on Daniels, but ran right into a punch from Kazarian.

LeRae and Kazarian fought up top and she eventually caught him with a swinging neck breaker. Daniels broke up the pin and went at it with Ryan. Daniels went for angel’s wings, but LeRae nailed him with a missile dropkick and Ryan followed up with a superkick for the win.

Winners: Joey Ryan & Candice LeRae to retain the PWG World Tag Team Titles – This was uncomfortable to watch with a 2 on 1 beat down on LeRae and some low brow humor as well. It picked up towards the end, but I’m over the intergender fad. It doesn’t do anything for me.

(5) Biff Busick vs. Brian Cage vs. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Uhaa Nation in a Four-way match. Ciampa jumped Nation when the bell rang, so Busick went right after Cage. Busick and Ciampa stood tall in the ring and then began exchanges huge slaps. Ciampa gave Busick a hug, but Cage wiped him out with a clothesline. Ciampa gave a hug to Cage, but Nation wiped him out with a clothesline. Ciampa tried to hug Nation, but he gave him a big belly-to-belly suplex. Busick went for a flip dive, but Cage caught him and powerbombed him into the ringpost. Cage then wiped out Nation and Ciampa with a 619 now known as a 818 for Cage. The action continued at a rapid pace. Ciampa hit an air raid crash on Busick on the apron, but Nation nailed him with a bicycle kick. Nation then hit a beautiful standing moonsault to the floor on Ciampa and he landed on his feet. Nation hit a huge splash on Ciampa, but Cage walked over and picked him up right into a German. Busick ended up alone in the ring a short time later and he nailed everyone with a huge dive to the floor. Cage set up on the second rope with Busick inside the ring and suplexed him onto the floor onto Ciampa and Nation and the fans lost their minds. Nation and Ciampa had an insane exchange. Nation went for a trifecta of German’s and he nailed it. Nation then hit three German suplexes on Busick and the fans fired up. Cage tried to jump him from behind, but Nation switched on him and hit two German suplexes. Cage went for a German, but Nation landed on his feet only to walk right into a German with a bridge from Ciampa for a 2 count. Holy s—t! The fans chanted for more German suplexes.

The action continued at a rapid pace. Busick eventually got the bank statement on Nation. Nation got to his feet and tossed him off. Ciampa then nailed Busick with a knee to the head and picked up Nation and hit an air raid crash on his knee for a 2 count. Busick tried to block a running knee strike in the corner, but Ciampa turned it into Project Ciampa for a near fall. Cage hit a huge powerbomb over his knee on Ciampa a short time later for a 2 count. Nation hit a German into the turnbuckles on Cage a short time later. He went for a deadlift suplex off the apron into the ring, but Ciampa turned it into a pinning combination for a near fall. Nation simply stood up and hit a military press. He hit a standing moonsault and tried to finish the Uhaa combination, but Busick ran in out of nowhere and hit a blockbuster. Cage then wiped out Busick with a sick clothesline for the win.

Winner: Brian Cage

Star rating: (****) – This was an endless sequence of great exchanges. Everyone looked great in this match, but Nation and Cage really stood out showcasing their power. The crowd got really hot for some of the fantastic displays of power from Nation and Cage. What a match.

(6) Chris Sabin & Matt Sydal vs. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson). The crowd was split with chants for and against the Bucks. The fans chanted IndyTaker at Nick and Sabin got on his knee and did the Taker pose during the early going. Sabin wanted a test of strength, but Nick through a crotch chop. They then had a fast exchange before coming to a stalemate. Nick offered a handshake, but Sabin flipped him off. Sabin ended up knocking Nick off the apron and he landed on Matt’s shoulders. Sydal then came through the ropes and hit the doomsday device on Nick on the floor. Sydal and Sabin continued to run wild on the Buck on the floor and the fans fired up. Nick took a combination of moves inside the ring and went up top, but Matt pulled him to the floor. Matt tagged in, but got cut off by Sabin and Sydal. Matt baited Sabin into going after him on the floor and Nick nailed him with a running kick. Matt then wiped out Sydal on the apron, which got a mixed reaction from the fans. The YB began working over Sabin inside the ring. Matt set up for a back rake in the corner, but turned Sabin around instead and too sweet’d him in the eye. That was great. The Young Bucks went to kiss Sabin before hitting a double team move, but he forced them to kiss each other. Sabin went for the tag, but Nick pulled Sydal off the apron. Sabin finally mounted a comeback and sent Matt head-first into Nick’s crotch with a trip. He then made the hot tag to Sydal, who ran wild. They went to a big exchange with everyone hitting superkicks. Sydal ended the exchange with a standing moonsault on Matt for a near fall.

Sydal hit Matt with a leg lariat inside the ring and went up top. Sydal slipped going up top and Matt held him up for Nick to nail him with a senton off the top for a near fall. That looked like a rough landing for Sydal when he slipped off the top. The Young Bucks went at it with Sydal. Matt blocked a hurricanrana from Sydal and Nick nailed him with a superkick. The Buck hit a crazy flurry of offense capped by risky business on Sydal for a near fall. The fans lost their minds and chanted “This is awesome.” Sydal broke up more bang for your buck, but Matt got him into the tombstone position. Sabin grabbed Nick off the top and hit cradle shock. Sydal and Sabin hit a powerbomb/meteora combination on Matt for a near fall and the fans lost their minds! Holy s—t! Nick recovered and wiped out Sydal with a superkick on the apron. Both teams went back and forth. Sydal nailed Matt with a kick and went up top. He went for a SSP and landed on his feet, but Nick nailed him with a superkick. Matt and Nick hit a package piledriver/superkick combination on Sydal for a near fall. The fans lost their minds and The YB went for more bang for your buck, but Sydal got his knees up. Sabin then hit a German off the top on Matt. Sydal and Sabin then hit a neck breaker/SSP combination for the win. Holy s—t!

Winners: Chris Sabin & Matt Sydal

Star rating: (****1/4) – This was an insane match from start to finish. Both teams showcased some great double team maneuvers, but the sequences down the stretch were insane. There were some great near falls late leading into Sydal and Sabin getting the surprising win in their tag team debut.

(7) PWG World Champion Kyle O’Reilly vs. Ricochet. Both men got streamers when they were introduced. Excalibur mentioned that his was Ricochet’s title shot for winning BOLA 2014. Hero joined Excalibur on commentary. O’Reilly kept going after Ricochet’s arm during the early going, but he managed to get out of it quickly each time. O’Reilly baited Ricochet into helping him kip up off his back. He then kicked Ricochet in the head. They went back and forth and Ricochet mocked the sleazy Kyle dance after hitting a dropkick. Ricochet hit the people’s moonsault a short time later, but O’Reilly kicked out. The fans chanted “people’s moonsault.” Ricochet went for a springboard, but O’Reilly rolled through and got a kimura. Ricochet quickly got to the ropes, but sold his arm on the apron. They went at it on the apron and O’Reilly slammed Ricochet shoulder-first into the mat. O’Reilly began picking apart Ricochet’s arm inside the ring a short time later. They went back and forth and Ricochet finally hit a diving ace crusher that left both men down. The fans chanted “Out of nowhere.” Ricochet popped up and went on the attack. He favored his arm, but managed to hit a springboard lariat for a 2 count. Ricochet went for the benadriller, but O’Reilly countered it into a shoulder capture suplex for a 2 count. O’Reilly then applied a triangle. Ricochet lifted O’Reilly onto his shoulders and popped him up with a kick to the gut. He followed up with a standing SSP for a near fall and the fans applauded.

Ricochet missed a phoenix splash, but landed on his feet. He nailed O’Reilly with a roundhouse kick. O’Reilly went for a pendulum lariat, but Ricochet blocked it. O’Reilly ended the big sequence with a brainbuster and both men were down. O’Reilly got a front chancery and then went for an arm bar, but Ricochet got to his feet. O’Reilly held onto Ricochet’s arm and planted him with a pump-handle driver for a 2 count. The fans chanted for Ricochet with both men down on the mat. O’Reilly nailed Ricochet, who was on his knees, with kicks. Ricochet told O’Reilly to bring it. He then blocked a kick and fired back with a series of slaps. They went back and forth exchanging kicks and strikes. Ricochet hit a northern lights suplex and tried to roll through, but O’Reilly got a front chancery. Ricochet stood up and hit a northern lights. Ricochet then deadlifted O’Reilly and hit a big suplex. He then draped one arm over O’Reilly, who kicked out at 2. The fans fired up big time after that sequence. Ricochet favored his arm and went up top. O’Reilly popped up and cut him off. O’Reilly eventually knocked Ricochet down to the apron. O’Reilly then climbed the turnbuckles as the fans chanted for both men. Ricochet nailed O’Reilly with a kick. Ricochet climbed the ropes and hit a super hurricanrana and the fans went nuts. O’Reilly rolled to the floor and Ricochet hit a space flying tiger driver to the floor. He followed up with a springboard 450, but O’Reilly kicked out at the last second. Ricochet went up top for a SSP, but O’Reilly caught him in a triangle. Ricochet tried to stand up and he picked up O’Reilly and slammed him down, but O’Reilly applied the triangle again after a moment. O’Reilly got a cross-arm breaker with the leg hooked and Ricochet tapped out.

Excalibur signed off and Ricochet hugged O’Reilly after the match. O’Reilly got on the mic and said he loves PWG. The fans chanted that they love O’Reilly. He said he has to address some rumors and Strong ran down and attacked him.

Winner: Kyle O’Reilly to retain the PWG World Championship

Star rating: (****) – This took some time to get going, but things really picked up with O’Reilly going after Ricochet’s arm and Ricochet trying to mount comebacks while favoring his arm. There were some great exchanges down the stretch and the match got really great late.

Strong got on the mic and said he wanted to address O’Reilly still being champion. Strong said he was going to give him two options. He said O’Reilly could give him a world title shot right now or not walk out of here under his own power. Strong said was going to count to 10 and then stopped at 4 and tried to jump O’Reilly. O’Reilly cut him off and Strong bailed. He told Strong he couldn’t have a match and challenged him to Guerrilla Warfare. Strong then ran down and the match was on as the fans went nuts.

(8) PWG World Champion Kyle O’Reilly vs Roderick Strong in a Guerrilla Warfare match. The action quickly spilled to the floor. Strong got a trashcan and sent a bunch of plunder flying into the ring. O’Reilly cut him off and hit a double knee strike off the apron onto Strong, who was holding a trashcan. Strong won a strike exchange on the outside and held the upper hand once they got into the ring. The fans chanted about Strong’s tiny boots and he took exception. Strong then hit a big back breaker O’Reilly. O’Reilly ducked a charge in the corner and sent Strong into a chair set up in the corner. He then sent Strong into another chair set up in the opposite corner, but he only got a2 count. Strong fired back with a big dropkick a short time later. The cameras showed he had a big cut on the back of his shoulder. Strong set up a chair and sent O’Reilly gut-first into it, but O’Reilly popped up and sent Strong shoulder-first into the chair and the fans went nuts with both men down. O’Reilly went to the back and the fans chanted for tables. O’Reilly came back through the curtain with a table and the fans popped. O’Reilly set up a chair over Strong in the corner and nailed him with a big dropkick for a 2 count. They went to a strike exchange and Strong ducked a forearm and turned it into a back breaker. Strong set up another chair and sent O’Reilly flying through it.

Strong got a screw and began loosening the top turnbuckle. Strong then hit another big backbreaker on O’Reilly before going back to work on the top rope. Strong took forever to get the turnbuckle off. He then finally got it off and choked O’Reilly with the rope. Strong let go and made the cover, but O’Reilly kicked out at 2. Strong hit an Olympic slam and a Gibson river, but O’Reilly kicked out. Strong then out on the Stronghold, but O’Reilly revered it into an ankle lock. Strong went for the ropes, but there are no rope breakers. Strong then rolled over and kicked O’Reilly away. O’Reilly got the ankle lock again, but his boot slipped off. O’Reilly took a sick kick, but kicked out at one. Strong then nailed him with his boot, but O’Reilly managed to kick out at the last second. Strong set up a bunch of chairs and the fans booed. Some fans clapped along as Strong egged them on. Strong went for end of heartache on the chairs, but O’Reilly countered it into a brainbuster for a near fall. O’Reilly went for a cross-arm breaker and Strong tried to block it. He switched to the other side, but Strong got up and kicked him in the face to break free. The fans went nuts as both men went at it near the apron. Strong ended up suplexing O’Reilly over the ropes and through a table on the floor and the fans went nuts. Holy s—t! Both men eventually got back into the ring. They went back and forth and O’Reilly took a jumping knee and hit a pendulum lariat. He then hit a brainbuster on the chair. O’Reilly got a metal chain and wrapped it around Strong’s neck. He pulled on the chain while stomping on Strong’s head. He then got the triangle with the chain around Strong’s neck. Strong somehow managed to hit the ref low and O’Reilly let go of the hold. Strong then hit a low blow on O’Reilly. Both men got up and began exchanging strikes. O’Reilly hit a series of Kawada kicks, but Strong tossed a chair into O’Reilly’s ankle. Strong hit several jumping knee strikes and end of heartache, but O’Reilly kicked out at the very last second. The fans booed because it looked like it was a 3 count. Strong set up several chairs and hit end of heartache on them Strong then locked in the Stronghold and O’Reilly passed out.

The fans gave Strong a mixed reaction and he smiled when the ref handed him the PWG World Championship. The fans chanted “s---ty little champ” at Strong. Strong sat in the chair as the fans were split chanting for and against him. Strong said now that he’s champion he can say f---k every single one of you mother----kers. Strong then left the ring.

Winner: Roderick Strong to become the new PWG World Champion

Star rating: (****1/2) – This was one heck of a war between these two. Both men were able to tell a really good story given the stipulations without taking things too far. This match was tremendous down the stretch until Strong finally put O’Reilly away with the Stronghold after an end of heartache through several chairs.

Overall thoughts: (9.5) – This was an incredible show from PWG and the ROH regulars that are under exclusive contract went out with a bang here, especially O’Reilly, who put on two incredible matches back-to-back to end the show. This was just an amazing card from start to finish with only one match on the undercard falling flat.

The show got off to a great start with a really fun Six Man Tag and Cole saying farewell to PWG with a very good singles match against Cedric Alexander. Then Trevor Lee and Chris Hero turned things up with a really fantastic match highlighted by Hero’s striking. Every time Lee tried to get out of the blocks, Hero would assault him with a brutal elbow or kick variation. The fans were really into this match leading up to a fun finish that saw Lee roll up Hero for the win.

The second half of this show was insane with a barrage of one excellent match after another. The Four-way featured some really insane stuff with Busick, Nation, Ciampa, and Cage going balls to the wall from start to finish. The YB vs. Sydal & Sabin was excellent as well and the crowd was really hot for the great exchanges between these two teams. It was a bit of a surprise to see Sydal and Sabin pick up the win over the YB their first time out.

Kyle O’Reilly is an incredible talent and he showed that tonight wrestling two excellent matches to end the show. His match against Ricochet would have been a perfectly acceptable ending to this show, but Strong surprising the fans and O’Reilly by coming down to the ring after the scheduled main event set the stage for an incredible finale to this show. O’Reilly and Strong tore the house down with a brawling segment outside the ring before plunder got involved and they went to war inside the ring. This is a match well-worth going out of your way to see.

If you haven’t seen this show yet, go way out of your way to see it. It’s an incredible value for your dollar, especially if you pick and choose which shows to watch.

You can purchase PWG’s “Black Cole Sun” on DVD download by clicking HERE or by visiting Highspots.com. You can also purchase this event on MP4 at Highspots.com, which is running a 25% off sale this weekend on MP4’s. You can also rent or buy this show at DIYWrestling.com by clicking For more information on RPW visit RevolutionProWrestling.com. HERE. For more information on PWG visit ProWrestlingGuerrilla.com

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