By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S PWG DVD REVIEW SERIES
“MYSTERY VORTEX”
DEC. 1, 2012
RESEDA, CALIF

PWG ran this show and packed the venue only announcing PWG Champion Kevin Steen vs. Adam Cole in the main event.

(1) Roderick Strong & Eddie Edwards beat The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson). Strong wiped out Matt with a dropkick and tagged in Edwards. Strong and Edwards took turns chopping the crap out of Matt in the corner and the crowd fired up. Matt caught Strong with a boot as he charged into the corner and quickly tagged in Nick, who choked him with his boot in the corner. The action broke down with the Young Bucks flexing for the crowd only for Strong and Edwards to hit them with stereo chops when they turned around. The Young Bucks cut off Edwards and the crowd was split in their love and hatred for the Bucks. The Young Bucks used all sorts of cheap tactics on Edwards. Matt hit a handspring into a back rake on Edwards in the corner, which got a “Holy s---“ chant from the fans. Edwards finally made the hot tag to Strong, who ran wild on Matt. Strong slammed Nick and hit a belly to belly suplex on Matt that sent him crashing into Nick. Strong capped a big sequence with a back breaker on Nick and the fans went nuts. The action continued at a rapid pace. Nick nailed Strong with a crazy dive to the outside and Matt hit a slingshot DDT on Edwards on the apron and the fans lost their minds.

They went to another big sequence with Edwards and Strong ducking superkicks, but the Young Bucks eventually connected with stereo superkicks and the fans went nuts. The action continued at a rapid pace and Edwards dropkicked Matt into Nick in the corner and then covered Matt for a nearfall. Strong got the Strong hold on Matt. Nick ran in and Strong tried to put the Strong hold on him, but Matt got up and nailed him with a superkick. They went to another big sequence and Strong lifted up Matt and Edwards came off the top with a double stomp for the win.

Star rating: (***3/4) –This was a fantastic opening match. The Young Bucks did a long heat segment on Edwards during the first half of the match, but after that they went to some back and forth spots that really fired up the crowd. The crowd made this match by being red hot for everything leading up to the fantastic finishing sequence. They set a high bar for the rest of the card.

(2) Sami Callihan beat Drake Younger. They started hot and heavy. Callihan kicked out of a rollup attempt and hit a pair of running kicks on Younger in the corner. He went for a third, but Drake ducked it and hit a big clothesline. Callihan kicked Younger off the apron a short time later and he took a flip bump into a pile of chairs. The crowd fired up after Callihan hit a big dive through the ropes to wipe out Younger. The action continued at a crazy pace with Younger booting Callihan off the top to the floor. Younger followed up with a flip dive to the outside and the fans lost their minds. Younger set up a chair on Callihan and went to the apron with another chair. Younger came down off the apron and slammed the chair onto Callihan. They went back and forth on the outside and Callihan eventually connected with an exploder onto a chair on the floor. Younger connected with a headbutt on the apron a short time later. Younger got the upper hand and hit a piledriver on the apron. The crowd went nuts as Younger celebrated in the ring. Steen was beside himself on commentary. Younger began working over Callihan inside the ring. Drake connected with some headbutts up top, but Callihan slipped away and kicked him in the back of the knee and both men were down on the mat.

They exchanged headbutts on the mat once they recovered. Both men got to their feet and exchanged some big forearms. Callihan spit in Younger’s face and told him to bring it. Callihan hit a dragon screw and locked in a modified figure 4. Younger had a nasty gash on his forehead. Younger struggled, but eventually got the ropes. Callihan hit Younger with 7 German suplexes. Younger countered and hit a German and a tiger suplex on the eight attempt. Younger then hit a northern lights bomb and the crowd went bonkers. Callihan caught Younger by surprise with a dead-lift Saito suplex. He then hit another Saito suplex on the apron and rolled Drake back into the ring for a 2 count. Callihan went for the stretch muffler, but Younger kicked him off and countered it into a cross-arm breaker. Callihan got on top of Drake and lifted him into a powerbomb for a 2 count. Callihan then locked in the stretch muffler, but Younger got the ropes. Younger ducked a clothesline and hit Drake’s landing, but Callihan kicked out. Callihan then countered Drake’s landing and hit Younger’s own move on him for a nearfall. The fans went absolutely bananas. Callihan hit a big pair of clotheslines and Younger kicked out at 1. Callihan nailed Drake with a big clothesline for a one count. He then locked in the stretch muffler and transitioned it into a seated stretch muffler forcing Younger to tap.

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was an awesome high-impact match that saw both guys go all-out from bell to bell. The headbutt sequences weren’t necessary and took my enjoyment down a bit, but otherwise this was an awesome war between both men. Callihan worked Younger’s leg throughout the match and was unable to put him away until the end with the stretch muffler. The sequence of German suplexes from Callihan was ridiculous.

Cole came out and bragged about winning the PWG BOLA 2012. Cole had the stolen PWG title with him and suggested anyone with a problem come to the ring and shut him up. Steen came down to ringside and Cole told him to come and get his title. Steen turned and left the ring before coming back. Cole said he knew Steen was afraid of losing, but didn’t know he was such a chickens---t. Steen got on the mic and said their match had an element of surprise as well. Steen said he had a little bit of pull in PWG and after all Cole has done the match would be a Guerilla Warfare match. Cole sold shock in the ring as the fans went ballistic. The crowd chanted “You got F-----“ at Cole as he left the ring.

(3) PWG Tag Team Champions The SSB (Player Uno & Player Dos) beat The RockNes Monsters (Johnny Yuma & Johnny Goodtime). Yuma and Goodtime tried to jump the SSB, but they scared them off with Uno holding a wrench and Dos holding a hammer. They chased after Goodtime and Yuma, who hid under the ring. The bell rang with the SSB running wild on Goodtime. Yuma ran into the ring, but didn’t fare much better than Goodtime. Goodtime ended up pulling up the ropes on Dos, who spilled to the outside. Yuma and Goodtime nailed Dos with a pair of dives to the outside. The RockNes Monsters worked over Dos with some cheap tactics for a long period of time and the crowd booed. Dos fired back on Goodtime with a reverse DDT and tagged in Uno after slamming Goodtime into his boot. The SSB hit a combination bulldog/back breaker on Goodtime. Yuma ended up pulling Dos’s shorts down from the apron, which allowed Goodtime to nail him with a running kick. The RockNes Monsters then hit a series of moves on Uno capped by a running senton from Yuma. Uno fired back and got Yuma up on his shoulders before dumping him neck-first over his knee. Dos got the tag, but Yuma cut him off and tagged in Goodtime, who nailed him with a running kick.

The action broke down and Dos capped a big sequence by catching Yuma coming off the top and nailing him with a huge slam. He then covered Yuma, but Goodtime managed to break up the pin. Dos hit a spinning face buster on Yuma a short time later, but Goodtime broke it up with a slingshot dropkick. The crowd fired up as the action picked up. The RockNes Monsters got the upper hand and went to work on Uno. They hit a big sequence of moves on Uno and capped it with an assisted reverse hurricanrana for a nearfall. Uno mounted a comeback a short time later and went to work on Yuma. They battled up top and Yuma hit a low blow on Uno. Dos ran up top, but Yuma cut him off and powerbombed him off the top onto Uno. Goodtime followed up with a big splash, but Uno kicked out at the last second. Dos ran into the ring and the SSB took control of the action. The SSB hit their rolling senton/450 combination on Goodtime and Yuma for a 2 count on Yuma. The crowd fired up after the nearfall. Yuma hit another low blow on Uno. Goodtime cut off a part of his beard and blew it into Dos’s face. Yuma then rolled him up for a nearfall. The SSB fired back a short time later and hit the fatality for the win.

Star rating: (***) – The match got off to a slow start and the crowd was flat in parts, but the action picked up during the second half of the match. Yuma and Goodtime did a nice job of working heel and got some believable nearfalls down the stretch using cheap tactics on the SSB.

Scorpio Sky got a big “Harold” chant prior to facing Joey Ryan in his final PWG match. Ryan got a big pop and the fans threw streamers when he was introduced. Excalibur mentioned that Scorpio Sky had faced all the members of the Dynasty in their final match before leaving PWG or retiring. Sky gave Ryan a big hug prior to the match starting. Excalibur said TNA was preventing Ryan from appearing in PWG anymore because they forbid their talent to appear on independent DVD releases. Excalibur said that TNA is a bunch of dicks.

(4) Scorpio Sky beat Joey Ryan. Sky charged the corner during the early stages of the match, but Joey countered it into a double stomp. Sky fired back with Chris’s Bosh’s crotch punch and the fans chanted Bosh’s name. Sky went to work on Ryan and nailed him with some big kicks to both of his legs. Sky used cheap tactics while working over Ryan like biting his face and pulling on his nose. Ryan fired back and hit a pump-handle exploder suplex. Ryan then hit an elbow through the ropes to the outside. Sky tried to fire back and went for a springboard, but Ryan nailed him with a superkick. Ryan went up top, but Sky took him down with a leaping hurricanrana for a 2 count. They went back and forth and Ryan hit a powerbomb for a 2 count. Ryan went for a pedigree, but Sky countered it before hitting a bicycle knee moments later and both men were down. Sky sent Ryan to the outside with a running boot and followed up with a huge flip dive to the outside and the crowd went nuts. They ended up battling on the apron and Ryan hit the mustache ride off the apron and both men crashed into a pile of chairs. The crowd went insane. Holy crap!

The ref administered his count with both men down on the outside. Ryan ended up tossing Sky into the ring and both men beat the count. Sky surprised Ryan and hit a flash TKO for a 2 count. Sky set up for a superkick and said, “I’m sorry and I love you” to Ryan. Ryan popped up and nailed Sky with a superkick for a nearfall. The fans fired up and chanted for both men. Sky ducked a superkick and hit a reverse hurricanrana. Sky hit a superkick and another TKO for the win.

The fans chanted “Thank you, Joey” after the match. Sky held up his hand and the fans applauded. The fans chanted “Dynasty, Dynasty.” Ryan got on the mic and said he’s waited ten years to tell each and every fan that they can go f--- themselves. The fans chanted “F--- ourselves.” Ryan said TNA isn’t singling out PWG, but they had signed a worldwide deal with exclusive rights to the talent, so TNA can’t allow any of their talent to appear on DVDs. Ryan said he felt his role was whatever the company needed at the time. Ryan talked about his various roles in TNA and said whatever the company needed, that was his role. Ryan said he was really sad he couldn’t work in PWG anymore because he considered the company and fans his family. Ryan said he would still come to PWG when he has days out. Ryan said if they wouldn’t comp him a ticket, he’d buy one because PWG is worth it. Ryan said PWG is the best show anywhere. Ryan asked the ladies in the crowd to raise their hands if they’d give him oral sex since it’s his last night in the company. Ryan said the fans wanted to chant his name, but he said the company created him and he wanted the fans to chant for PWG. Ryan said once PWG turns 16, he’ll be back. The fans chanted “PWG, PWG.” Excalibur came into the ring and gave Ryan a hug. Excalibur told Ryan to go Orlando and take all their money and not come back. The fans chanted for Ryan again as he left the ring. Ryan went around the ring and shook hands with the fans.

Star rating: (***1/2) – This was a heck of a farewell for PWG founding father Joey Ryan. The match started out a bit slow, but these two had a heck of a back and forth match with the crowd going nuts down the stretch leading into the finish. Ryan’s farewell speech was awesome and I urge everyone to watch it.

(5) Willie Mack beat Brian Cage and T.J. Perkins and B-Boy in a Four Way match. Mack dropkicked Cage, who was standing on the outside during the introductions. They brawled on the outside while Perkins and B-Boy went at it in the ring. The action continued at a rapid pace, as all four men went at it in the ring. Perkins tied up Mack in a submission. B-Boy tried to break it up, but Perkins placed him in an abdominal stretch. Cage tried to break up the submission, but Perkins hit a bridging suplex on him while still holding a leg submission on Mack. Perkins locked up Cage in a figure 4. B-Boy rolled them over and applied and he and Mack applied stereo camel clutches on Cage and Perkins. Perkins got the ropes and B-Boy and Mack traded blows in the middle of the ring. B-Boy hit a big forearm and Mack went down, but B-Boy collapsed to the mat as well. They went to a big sequence and everyone was down after B-Boy hit an ace crusher on Mack. They went to another big sequence with Perkins running wild, but B-Boy caught him with a powerslam on the aprons. Cage ended up recovering and hit a dead-lift superplex into the ring on B-Boy. Cage then wiped out Mack with a big flip dive to the outside. Cage caught Perkins coming off the top in the suplex position. B-Boy tried to cut him off, but Cage ended up hitting a double suplex on them and the crowd went nuts. They went to another big sequence and Cage tossed Perkins to Mack, who hit a Samoan drop. Mack then hit a standing moonsault on Perkins, but Cage broke up the pin.

All four men ended up down on the mat and they went to another big sequence that ended with B-Boy hitting an ace crusher on Perkins out of the corner. The crowd went nuts with everyone down on the mat. Mack had the chocolate thunder bomb on Cage, but he kicked out. The fans chanted for Mack as he sold shock that Cage kicked out. Mack and B-Boy looked weary before they began exchanging strikes. Mack hit a ridiculous reverse crescent kick on Mack, but B-Boy fired back with a tornado DDT and both men were down. After another exchange, Perkins got the STF on Cage. B-Boy got back into the ring and charged at Perkins, but Mack caught B-Boy with the chocolate thunder driver for the win.

Star rating: (***1/4) –The match started off slowly, but they got the crowd into things once all four men pulled off some fantastic multi-man sequences. Cage was particularly impressive and showed a lot of power during the match. The finish didn’t come off great, as it looked too choreographed with B-Boy waiting in position to charge at Perkins before Mack cut him off.

(6) El Generico beat Rich Swann. Swann seemed to get upset after Generico won an early exchange. Generico offered a handshake, but Swann slapped his hands away. They went to a big sequence off the ropes and Swann caught Generico with a dropkick and the crowd went nuts. Swann took control of the match and grabbed a chin lock. The fans clapped as Generico tried to fight out of it. Generico finally powered out and hit a big slam. Generico took control and hit a big back breaker for a 2 count. Generico worked over Swann for a long period of time before nailing him with some big chops in the corner. Generico showed more of an edge while taunting Swann before nailing him with a big punch. Swann began to mount a comeback and hit a jumping hurricanrana out of the corner. Swann then hit Generico with an insane flip dive to the outside. Generico tried to fire up, but Swann caught him with a crazy DDT coming off the ropes for a 2 count. Generico finally caught Swann with a Michinoku driver for a 2 count and the crowd applauded.

The crowd seemed split because of Generico’s heelish tactics. They went to a big exchange and Swann hit a crazy looking Dragoncanrana for a nearfall and the crowd went nuts. Both men were down on the mat after the nearfall before they went at it again. Swann ended up going for a handspring, but Generico countered it into a blue thunder bomb for a 2 count. Swann ducked a Yokuza kick and hit a back handspring ace crusher for a 2 count. Swann went up top and went for a frog splash, but Generico got his knees up and connected with a running Yokuza kick in the corner. Generico then tied up Swann and popped him up in the air before dropping him down into a sit out powerbomb for the win. Wow!

Star rating: (***3/4) – This match was fantastic to watch, although it felt like it ended too soon before they could build enough drama to take things to the next level. Swann hit some amazing maneuvers and Generico mixed in some heelish tactics during the match to keep things interesting. The finishing sequence with Generico hitting a crazy powerbomb variation was nuts. The crowd seemed surprised once they realized the match was over, but it was a heck of a match while it lasted.

(7) Eddie Edwards & Roderick Strong beat PWG Tag Team Champions The Super Smash Bros. (Player Uno & Player Dos in a Non-Title match. Strong and Edwards jumped the SSB from behind during the ring introductions. Uno finally fired back on Strong and then Edwards. Edwards and Strong cut off Uno with stereo enzuguris up top. The action broke down and Strong tossed Dos into the ringpost like a ragdoll. Edwards and Strong then took turns chopping Uno on the outside. They ended up taking off Uno’s signature top to land some big chops. Edwards used Uno’s top in the corner to choke him while Strong chopped him at the same time. The crowd tried to fire up behind Uno, who was taking a heck of a beating from Strong and Edwards. Uno finally fired back and caught Strong in mid-air before dropping him head-first into the mat. Dos got the hot tag and ran wild on Strong and Edwards as the crowd went nuts. Dos hit a crazy dive through the ropes to wipe out Edwards. Dos then hit a springboard DDT on Strong before hitting a flip dive over the top to the outside on Edwards. Dos ended up taking out Strong a short time later with a meteora off the top for a two count and the crowd went ballistic. Edwards ran into the ring and cut off Dos, but Dos fired back and took them down with a double hurricanrana. The SSB then hit an assisted double sliced bread #2 on Edwards and Strong.

Both teams went back and forth. Edwards took out Dos and then hit a code breaker off the top on Uno. Strong then nailed him with a big back breaker for a 2 count. Strong and Edwards continued to double team Uno with a series of moves, but Dos broke up the pin. They went to a big sequence with Edwards hitting a tiger suplex on Uno, but Dos came right off the top with a frog splash and everyone was down with the crowd going nuts. The action continued at a furious pace once everyone recovered. Edwards and Strong isolated Dos, but he fired back with a double Pele kick. The SSB hit a back cracker/lung blower combination for a nearfall. Uno then went up top and hit a huge moonsault for another nearfall. Holy crap! The SSB set up Edwards for the fatality, but Uno dropped him. The SSB ended up hitting the fatality on Edwards, but Strong broke up the pin. They went to a big sequence on the apron that ended with Edwards hitting a pair of doubles stomps on Uno and then Dos. Strong hit a sick back breaker on Dos and then Edwards came off the top with a double stomp for the win. OH MY GOD!

Star rating: (****1/2) – This was a ridiculously fantastic tag match. Edwards and Strong beat the crap out of Uno and Dos with chops and double team maneuvers. Dos quite possibly had the most epic hot tag sprint in the history of wrestling midway through the match. The action down the stretch had the fans going nuts and the finish sequence with Strong’s put up back breaker followed by a huge Edwards double stomp on Dos was crazy. Wow!

(8) Adam Cole beat PWG Champion Kevin Steen to become the new PWG Champion in a Guerrilla Warfare match. Both men went at it right away. Steen crotched Cole as he got back into the ring by kicking the ropes. Steen followed up with a big DDT inside the ring. The action spilled to the outside and both men back and forth. The announcers talked about how Steen had waited for this match since BOLA. Steen crotched Cole on the ringpost and then pushed him to the floor. Steen went to another corner on the outside and crotched Cole again and the fans went nuts. Steen crotched Cole a third time and then kissed the ref on the apron and the crowd applauded. Steen crotched Cole on the final ringpost that he hadn’t gotten to yet and the fans went nuts. Steen continued to abuse Cole, as he lifted him up and powerbombed him on the ring apron. Steen then took Cole around to another side of the ring and powerbombed him on the apron again. The fans went nuts as Steen tried to decide where to powerbomb Cole next. Steen hit a third powerbomb on Cole and the fans applauded again. The fans that hadn’t gotten a Cole powerbomb yet applauded. Cole tried to fire back, but Steen bit him and powerbombed him on the apron for a fourth time and the fans went crazy and chanted for Steen.

Steen went under the ring and tossed a bunch of chairs into the ring. Steen clobbered Cole over the head with a trashcan. Steen picked up a chair and licked it after hitting Cole over the back with it. Steen tried to hit a sleeper suplex onto the chair, but Cole hit an enzuguri that sent Steen onto the chair. Cole then hit a shining wizard with a trashcan lid over his knee. Cole got the trashcan and nailed Steen over the head with it. Cole went under the ring and got a ladder. Cole went to work on Steen with the ladder by slamming it over his back. Cole set up the ladder in the corner, but Steen picked him up and tossed him into the ladder. Steen placed Cole inside the ladder a short time later and hit him with a front flip leg drop and the fans went nuts. Steen then hit Cole with a running senton with Cole still trapped inside the ladder and the fans chanted for Steen. Cole fired back and went under the ring to get another ladder. They went back and forth until Steen caught Cole coming off the ropes with a pop-up powerbomb onto a trashcan for a 2 count. Steen got mad at a fan and spit at him before dumping the ladder down onto Cole. Steen set up two ladders and went to suplex Cole, but Cole countered and hit a suplex onto the ladder structure for a nearfall. Cole picked up a ladder, but Steen hit a lung blower onto the ladder and then followed up with an F5 onto the ladder for a nearfall. The fans fired up as Steen decided what to do next. The fans fired up as Steen set up a structure with several chairs.

Cole surprised Steen with a low blow and nailed him with the title. Cole then came off the second turnbuckle with a code red for a nearfall. The announcers put over how difficult to pin Steen for the title, but it’s even more difficult to pin him when he’s angry. Cole went to the outside and added more chairs to the chair structure. The announcers said Cole should just pin Steen. The fans chanted one more chair as Cole continued to add chairs to the structure. They ended up battling up top near the chair structure. Cole gyrated in Steen’s face, but Steen hit a low blow followed by an air raid crash through the chair structure, but Cole kicked out at the last second and the crowd went crazy. Steen went over to the announce table and grabbed a pitcher. Steen ended up dumping a bunch of thumbtacks on to the mat. Excalibur said Steen had given him the thumbtacks earlier in the evening. Steen then drank some thumbtacks and spit them at Cole. Cole and Steen exchanged counters near the tacks. Steen hit a superkick, but Cole fired back with a German into the thumbtacks. Steen then hit the Florida Keys for the win. Wow.

Cole looked like a man possessed clutching the title in the corner. The announcers said Cole had just beat Steen in his own match. The fans chanted for Steen as officials attended to him in the ring. Steen eventually managed to drag himself out of the ring. The fans chanted “Thank you Steen” as the refs helped him to the back. The fans chanted “Show of the year” to close the show.

Star rating: (****3/4) – This was an amazing and brutally physical match. It was fitting for the kind of feud Steen and Cole have had in PWG. It’s amazing to see how carries himself as a heel compared to his work in ROH. He commands the ring and has the facials down to a science. They built up to some amazing and cringe-worthy spots, but kept things safe considering the style of match they were having. The finishing sequence with Steen putting Cole through a chair structure off the top rope and the back and forth action after that had the crowd going nuts.

Overall thoughts: (9.5) – This was PWG at their best. This was an amazing show with an amazing crowd and every match was very good to excellent on the card. PWG only announced Kevin Steen defending the PWG Championship against Adam Cole in advance and still managed to pack the house just based on the talent list for the show.

The show started hot with the Young Bucks taking on Edwards & Strong in a red hot opener and never really slowed down. Callihan vs. Younger followed up the opener with a really physical singles encounter that had the crowd going crazy, although I wasn’t a big fan of some of the headbutt spots they did in the match given how dangerous those can be.

The rest of the card was filled with good action. Joey Ryan had a fantastic farewell match against Scorpio Sky and his farewell speech is something you’re going to want to see. It’s a shame Ryan can’t perform in PWG anymore due to his TNA contract, but it was nice to see him get this kind of sendoff.

The last three shows to close “Mystery Vortex” put this show over the top. Generico-Swann had an awesome and innovative singles match. The SSB-Edwards & Strong match was a mind-blowing tag team match that saw all four men go all out. Dos’s hot tag sprint after Uno had been worked over for a long period of time was perhaps the best hot tag I’ve seen in all my years of watching wrestling. He was a beast during that segment of the match.

The main event grudge match between Cole and Steen for the PWG World Title was fantastic. These two had a brutal Guerrilla Warfare match, but they managed to do it while keeping things safe and not resorting to unprotected chair shots. The crowd was red hot for the match and the built-in story between Steen and Cole. You’re going to want to see this match, as Cole carried himself like a star playing the heel.

You should drop whatever you’re doing right now and go buy this show. It will put a huge smile on your face. Highly recommended.

You can purchase this release at Highspots.com

***

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