By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S DGUSA DVD REViEW SERIES
“HEAT”
MARCH 29, 2012
HOLLYWOOD, FLA.

1 - - Low Ki vs. Bobby Fish

Ki worked over Fish on the mat during the early going. He began to focus on his arm with a hammerlock/abdominal stretch combination. Fish escaped and hit a big kick before pie-facing Ki. Ki fired back with a chop. Fish hit a kick and hit a slingshot senton for a 1 count. Fish worked a stretch on the mat. The fans rallied behind Ki, who stomped on Fish’s foot to escape the hold. Ki hit a thunderous chop and nailed Fish with a big kick to the chest. They went to a hard-hitting exchange where Ki lit up Fish with hard chops. Fish finally hit a suplex, but only got a 2 count. Fish worked a bodyscissors on the mat as the crowd tried to rally behind Ki, who rolled backwards to force a 2 count.

Fish forced Ki back down with a kick to the leg. Fish hit a running powerslam a short time later for a 2 count. Fish worked a headlock and the crowd was split chanting for both men. Ki ducked a clothesline and got a rollup for a 2 count. Fish went right back on the attack with a big kick to the chest. Fish worked over Ki’s mid-section and hit a suplex for a 2 count. Ki ducked a charge in the corner and hit a rolling kick in the corner. He went for the Ki crusher, but Fish blocked it. Ki hit a big clothesline and hit the Ki crusher for the win.

Winner: Low Ki

Star rating: (**1/4) – This was a solid opening match with some good hard-hitting exchanges. Despite all of the offense Fish got in, I never felt he was going to win.

Fish got a nice round of applause after Low Ki left.

Mad Blankey of Uhaa Nation, Akira Tozawa, and BxB Hulk. Nation talked about the Three-Way Trios main event backstage. He asked Tozawa what Blankey means and Tozawa said bulls—t. He then said their opponents tonight were all bulls—t. This was funny.


2 - - Mike Cruz vs. Ricochet

Leonard said this was their first Breakout Chance match with new faces being matched up with veterans. They went to a fast-paced exchange and Ricochet eventually took Cruz down and got a nearfall. Cruz fired back with a big dropkick. Cruz went for a springboard, but Ricochet nailed him with a dropkick. Ricochet smiled as he went back on the attack. Ricochet hit a series of big kick on Cruz for a nearfall. The fans clapped for Cruz to mount a comeback, but Ricochet hit a big European uppercut. Ricochet tied up Cruz in a stretch and drove him head-first into the turnbuckle before slamming him to the mat for a 2 count. Ricochet hit a chop and did the flair strut. Ricochet went for a leg lariat in the corner, but Cruz ducked and went on the attack. Cruz hit a dropkick off the second turnbuckle moments later.

They went to a strike exchange in the middle of the ring. Ricochet hit a series of kicks and after another exchange, Ricochet caught Cruz by surprise with a diving ace crusher off the ropes for a nearfall. Ricochet went for a springboard moments later, but Cruz caught him and hit a German with a bridge for a nearfall. Ricochet countered Cruz and spiked him head-first into the mat for another 2 count. Ricochet went up top and hit SSP press for the win.

After the match, Mad Blankey attacked Ricochet, but CIMA and Mochizuki made the save.

Winner: Ricochet

Star rating: (**1/2) – This was a nice showcase for Cruz. It never felt like Ricochet was in danger of losing the match, but it’s a credit to Ricochet’s heel work that he got the crowd behind Cruz.

D.U.F. was shown backstage. Cannon and Callihan yelled at Pinkie Sanchez. They tried to cut a promo on Sabu, Fox, and Davis, but Sanchez kept interrupting them. Cannon talked about their main event match against Mad Blankey and Ronin. Callihan said everyone wants to talk about Mad Blankey and Ronin, but D.U.F. still got no respect. Callihan said they would prove who they are tonight. Callihan said nobody could stop them and nobody was safe. Sanchez tried to get another word in, but was dragged away. This was a solid segment to showcase D.U.F. and their personalities. Callihan showed why he has the rep of good promo.

Johnny Gargano came out before the Del Sol-Yoshino match could start. He got a nice ovation. Gargano said he was facing Yoshino on Saturday night for his Open the Freedom Gate Championship. Gargano said he met no disrespect coming out. He said he was going to sit and watch the match to scout Yoshino.

3 - - Samuray Del Sol vs. Masato Yoshino

This is Del Sol’s main show debut for DGUSA. They had a nice exchange on the mat early and came to a stalemate. The pace picked up and Del Sol sent Yoshino to the floor and did a fake dive once he saw Yoshino had gotten out of the way. The crowd chanted for Del Sol as Yoshino regrouped on the outside. Yoshino turned his attention to Gargano as he got back on the ring and Del Sol caught him with a dropkick and applied a leg submission. Yoshino got the ropes to break the hold. Yoshio caught Del Sol by surprise with an elbow and went to work on Del Sol. Yoshino applied an arm submission, but Del Sol got the ropes. Yoshino applied a hammerlock and kicked Del Sol in the head at the same time, but Del Sol got the ropes again.

Del Sol missed a dropkick and Yoshino nailed him with a dropkick of his own followed by a suplex for a 2 count. The crowd tried to rally behind Del Sol. Del Sol caught Yoshino with a kick near the apron and hit a springboard missile dropkick. He went for a dive to the outside, but tripped and crashed to the floor. It looked like Yoshino was able to catch him to avoid a really nasty spill. Del Sol took over once the action spilled back inside the ring and hit a slingshot splash for a 2 count. Yoshino caught Del Sol with sling blade off the ropes a short time later for a 2 count. Del Sol countered Yoshino coming off the ropes a short time later and hit a nice gutbuster for a 2 count. Del Sol came off the ropes and sort of landed on Del Sol in another sloppy spot. Del Sol hit a twisting neckbreaker on Yoshino. They battled up top and Yoshino blocked a top rope hurricanrana and hit a nice missile dropkick for a nearfall. Yoshino went for sol naciente, but Del Sol rolled him up for the win.

Winner: Samuray Del Sol

Star rating: (**1/2) – There were a few sloppy exchanges during the match, but there were also some good ones as well. Del Sol and Yoshino never seemed to click here and take the match into a higher gear after some nice exchanges during the early part of the match.

Gargano got in the ring and said he didn’t know if Yoshino was off his game or Del Sol as advertised. Gargano told Yoshino he was looking forward to facing him Saturday night. Yoshino told Gargano not to insult him and gave him a little shove after the match. Yoshino left and Gargano grabbed the mic and said he’s not going to insult Yoshino and promised to beat him Saturday night.

The Scene came out for their match. Amber made out with Caleb Konley and then grinded on Scott Reed while Larry Dallas watched and smiled. Amber got on the apron and grinded on Dallas’s face before simulating a lewd act with Konley and Reed. The crowd started a herpes chant for Amber. CIMA and Mochizuki got a good reaction when they made their entrance.

4 - - The Scene (Caleb Konley & Scott Reed) w/ Larry Dallas & Amber vs. Team Veteran (CIMA & Misaaki Mochizuki)

The Scene jumped their opponents and tossed them to the outside when the bell rang. Reed took down Mochizuki with a big shoulder tackle, but Mochizuki caught him with a running kick on the apron a short time later. Konley and CIMA tagged into the match and went at it. CIMA took down Konley and hit a big senton for a 2 count. CIMA held Konley upside down and Mochizuki nailed him with an axe kick to the groin. They then did the same thing to Reed and the crowd loved it. CIMA went after Dallas, who ran into the crowd. Leonard said this was Breakout Chance match number 3. Mochizuki got a sharpshooter on Konley. CIMA ran in and nailed Konley with a running dropkick. Konley kicked the middle rope into Mochizuki’s crotch and tagged in Reed, who did the same thing to CIMA.

Reed began working over Mochizuki. He tagged in Konley and they nailed Mochizuki with a double elbow for a 2 count. The Scene made multiple tags while working over Mochizuki and hit their chop/suplex combination, but CIMA made the save. Mochizuki hit a kicks on Konley and Reed before tagging in CIMA, who put the boots to Reed. Konley ran in, but CIMA took out the Scene with a bulldog/clothesline combination. Konley fired back on CIMA and hit a unique neckbreaker. He tagged in Reed, who took a pair of kicks from Mochizuki. Reed cut off Mochizuki with a big clothesline as he came off the ropes. Both men went for Germans, but Reed bounced off the ropes and ran into a pair of kicks from CIMA and Mochizuki. Amber got on the apron and undressed for CIMA, who got taken out by Konley. The Scene hit a DDT/Wheelbarrow suplex for a nearfall that was broken up by CIMA. Konley tossed Mochizuki to Reed for a powerslam, but he kicked out. Mochizuki avoided a double dropkick and hit kicks on both members of the Scene. CIMA and Mochizuki then took out both members of the Scene and set them up for a stereo meteora for the pin.

Winners: Misaaki Mochizuki & CIMA

Star rating: (***) – This was a good back and forth contest until the decisive finish. The crowd was hot during the match and into CIMA and Mochizuki overcoming the heel work of the Scene. Konley & Reed had one of their better outings in this match and showcased some nice tandem offense.

After the match, Hulk and Tozawa attacked CIMA and Mochizuki. Ricochet ran down and made the save. Nation ran down and wiped out Mochizuki and CIMA. Tozawa got on the mic and told everyone to shut up. He reminded people what Mad Blankey. He told CIMA they would beat them in Miami.

Ronin cut a promo backstage. Gargano told Swann and Taylor his back was feeling better. They made fun of Swann for missing his flight to California. They asked Taylor why he’s not wearing his Ronin shirt. Taylor said it’s hot in Florida. They argued for a moment and Taylor said they should talk about tonight. Taylor and Ronin cut comical promos saying they would win tonight. Taylor and Swann then flexed for the camera. I don’t think they mentioned who they were facing or what was at stake in the main event, but it was a funny promo.

5 - - PAC vs. A.R. Fox

They went back and forth on the mat during the early going and came to a stalemate. They did some chain wrestling next and came to another stalemate. They went to another fast-paced exchange that saw PAC catch Fox by surprise with a missile dropkick after Fox had sent him to the floor and was setting up for a dive. PAC methodically began working over Fox with submissions on the mat. PAC hit a series of legdrops and went for a cover, but only got a 2 count. Fox tried to mount a comeback, but was cut off right away with an elbow as he came off the ropes. The crowd heat died down given the methodical nature of PAC’s offense.

PAC went up top, but Fox cut him off and hit a springboard kick that sent PAC tumbling to the floor. That was impressive. Fox followed up with Lo mein rain to the outside and the fans woke up. Fox went up top and hit a guillotine legdrop to the apron for a nearfall. Fox followed up with a running SSP press into the corner for another 2 count. PAC mounted a comeback and took down Fox with a flying forearm. PAC following up with a springboard dropkick to the back of Fox’s head and a brainbuster, but he kicked out. The fans chanted for PAC as he went back on the attack. Fox fired back and went for a missile dropkick, but PAC got out of the way. PAC went up top for a SSP, but Fox got his knees up. Fox hit a springboard 450 a short time later, but only got a 2 count. PAC countered Lo mein pain and hit a German suplex. Fox kicked out, so PAC hit several more moves and Fox kicked out. PAC hit a sit out powerbomb that finally finished off Fox.

Winner: PAC

Star rating: (**3/4) – I was expecting much more from this match and was underwhelmed. The first part of the match with PAC on offense dragged while it lasted. They had some nice exchanges after that when Fox made his comeback, but the match only got really good during the final stretch.

Cannon and Hulk traded drinks before the bell ring. Cannon didn’t like Hulk’s wine and Hulk didn’t like Cannon’s beer. They both spit their drinks out. Cannon spit his beer at Hulk and hit Tozawa after Hulk ducked. Hulk spit his wine at Cannon, but he ducked and the wine hit Callihan.

6 - - Ronin (Johnny Gargano & Chuck Taylor & Rich Swann) vs. D.U.F. (Sami Callihan & Arik Cannon & Pinkie Sanchez) vs. Mad Blankey (Uhaa Nation & Akira Tozawa & BxB Hulk) – Triangle Elimination match

Nation press-slammed Swann to the floor onto Taylor and Gargano during the early going. Nation fired back after Callihan took him down and connected with a standing SSP. Cannon broke up the pin and went for a leg submission on Nation. Cannon spit beer at Tozawa when he tried to break it up, but Tozawa nailed him with a bicycle kick. The action picked up with guys coming in and out of the ring. Callihan ran wild on Swann and sent him to the outside. Callihan hit a huge dive through the ropes to wipe out Swann. Gargano tried to catch Callihan with a dive, but ate a kick to the face.

Callihan began working over Gargano and he went after his back. The crowd chanted break his back. Cannon tagged in and continued to target Gargano’s back, which he had just finished rehabbing at this time. Hulk and Tozawa cleared the ring and continued to work over Gargano. Cannon blind-tagged himself in on Hulk and Tozawa didn’t like it. Hulk and Tozawa went after Callihan and Cannon, but they fought them off and went back after Gargano. Sanchez then tagged in and did a horrible dance while attacking Gargano. Callihan and Cannon got upset and kicked Sanchez and tried to toss him into Gargano, but he got out of the way. Gargano then fired back and took out D.U.F. Ronin ended up standing tall and hit a triple dive to the floor on D.U.F. and the fans went nuts. Nation went for a dive and immediately grabbed his knee after landing.

Cannon and Callihan hit a tandem total anarchy on Taylor, but Swann broke it up. Sanchez and Hulk ended up alone in the ring. Hulk obliterated Sanchez with an overhead kick, but he kicked out at 2. Tozawa hit a German with a bridge on Sanchez, but Callihan made the save. Hulk finally pinned Sanchez after a series of kicks for the first elimination in the match. Tozawa and Hulk began working over Swann after the first elimination. Leonard announced Nation had been carter off with what looked like a serious knee injury. Tozawa lit up Swann with Kobashi style chops in the corner and the fans chanted Tozawa’s name. Tozawa stopped and teased more chops before dropping Swann with a short punch. Tozawa and Hulk took turns kicking Swann in the middle of the ring. Hulk then began working over Swann’s arm.

Hulk applied a half crab on Swann and nailed him with several kicks before sitting down on the hold. The crowd tried to rally behind Swann, who finally got the ropes. Swann finally nailed Hulk with a leaping kick to the top turnbuckle. Swann then ran up and hit a leaping hurricanrana on Hulk off the top. Swann tagged in Taylor and Gargano, who ran wild. Tozawa ran in and cut off Taylor. The action picked up as Ronin and Mad Blankey went at it. Ronin hit a series of moves on Tozawa capped by a frog splash, but Tozawa kicked out. Tozawa and Gargano exchanged strikes. Gargano hit a big lariat, but Tozawa popped up and hit Gargano with a Saito suplex that left both men down. Gargano and Tozawa got up and exchanged forearms again. Tozawa hit a German suplex with a bridge for a nearfall. Tozawa went for a straightjacket German as Gargano tried to fight out. Tozawa hit the straightjacket German and ended up pinning Gargano for the win.

Tozawa got on the mic and screamed bulls—t. He promised back and Mad Blankey left the ring. The fans chanted for Ronin. Taylor looked upset about losing, but he went and checked on Gargano. Gargano recovered and looked upset. The fans chanted for Gargano, who shook his head in disgust. Ronin ended up leaving the ring to end the show.

Winners: Akira Tozawa & BxB Hulk & Uhaa Nation

Star rating: (****1/4) – The main event was awesome. The beginning was a bit chaotic, but after D.U.F. was eliminated. The Ronin vs. Mad Blankey portion of the match was awesome. Tozawa got the crowd into the action in a big way with his Kobashi chops on Swann in the corner. Hulk and Tozawa also looked dominant in controlling Swann for a long period of time. After Swann made the hot tag, both teams had some really nice exchanges. The finishing sequence with Gargano and Tozawa put this match over the top.

Overall thoughts: (6.0) – For the most part, this show felt like a DGUSA house show. The series of matches with the up-and-comers vs. veterans were all solid, but the action was fairly ordinary for the most part.

The highlight of the undercard was the Scene vs. Team Veteran match. Konley & Reed did a good job getting heat from the crowd and were aided by distractions from Amber and Dallas on the outside. I liked how Dallas bailed and took a seat in the crowd.

Del Sol’s debut was a bit of a letdown. He didn’t seem to be on the same page with Yoshino and unfortunately some of their exchanges were sloppy. That being said, a good portion of the match was very good, but overall it seemed like more of a setup for Gargano-Yoshino later in the weekend than a showcase match for Del Sol in his main card debut.

The main event was excellent and one of the better DGUSA matches of 2012. The crowd was into the action and were hotter than they had been all night. The crowd was good all night I should say, but this match gave them a reason to get really hot. It was sad to see Nation get hurt doing for a dive over the top to the outside, but other than that down note, this match was great. Once the match came down to Ronin vs. Mad Blankey, it was less chaotic and there were some really nice segments leading into the excellent finishing sequence between Gargano and Tozawa.

The bonus features on this release are a mixed bag. The DVD includes two death matches from CZW, but I gave up after watching six minutes of the first match. I don’t find Death matches to be entertaining at all even with Kevin Steen joining Lenny Leonard on commentary.

The other bonus features are good. Included for the first time on DVD is Samuray Del Sol’s DGUSA debut from back in 2010 that was only included on the cable PPV airing of “Untouchable 2012” previously. The alternate angle highlight video is once again included and it’s always fun to go back and watch the best sequences from each match from different angles.

This show had a good crowd, a great looking venue, and great production, but the in-ring action just didn’t support the release overall. If you want to see the main event, than this show is worth a purchase, but otherwise all of DGUSA’s other offerings in 2012 were much better than this release.

You can purchase “Heat” at DGUSA.tv

***

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