SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
RADICAN’S PWG “PUSHIN FORWARD BACK” REPORT
JULY 7, 2017
RESEDA, CALIF.
AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT HIGHSPOTS.COM
(1) Sammy Guevara vs. Ray Horus. Both men are debuting for PWG in this match. The fans chanted for both men before they went at it. Horus offered a handshake, but Guevara flipped him off. Horus ducked a lockup attempt and flicked Guevara off to return the favor. They went to a fast-paced exchange and both guys went for covers, but the ref couldn’t even count to 1. They finally came to a stalemate and the fans applauded. Guevara heeled it up for the crowd and drew some boos. His stalling eventually cost him, as Horus obliterated him with a running shoulder tackle. Horus followed up with an insanely loud overhand chop to Guevara’s chest in the corner. Horus ended up missing a flip dive to the floor and Guevara tossed a chair at him. Guevara went after Horus’s mask on the turnbuckles and the fans booed. He hung Horus upside down in the corner and nailed him with a huge dropkick for a 2 count. Guevara got Horus on his back and did some squats while facing each side of the ring and the fans booed. He then hit a Samoan drop for a 2 count. Horus mounted a comeback and set up for a dive, but Guevara ran into the ring. They went back and forth until Guevara hit a big dropkick for a 2 count. Guevara got a chair from a fan and wedged it between the turnbuckles. Horus eventually fired back and tossed the chair at Guevara. He set the chair up near the ropes and used it to hit an insane flip dive. That looked like an awful landing for Horus, as Guevara didn’t do much of anything to break his fall.
Horus recovered and tossed Guevara into the ringpost. Horus hit a flurry of kicks and a big leg drop for a 2 count. Guevara rolled through on Horus and nailed him with a big superkick. He hit another superkick and a standing moonsault for a 2 count. WOW! They began trading bombs a short time later. THey began hitting each other with huge strikes, but neither man went down. They went to an exchange off the ropes and Horus hit a one man spanish fly for 2 count. Guevara hit a spanish fly of his own for a 2 count. Both men then hit running punches at the same and connected before crumpling to the mat and the fans gave them a big ovation. Guevara missed a moonsault off the top and a standing moonsault, but landed on his feet both times. He then hit a standing SSP for a near fall. The fans fired up with both men down on the mat once again. Horus, who had a swinging DDT blocked earlier in the match, spiked Guevara with a HUGE swinging DDT. WOW! Horus missed a double stomp off the top and Guevara hit a belly to belly toss into the turnbuckles. He went up top slowly, but Horus cut him off. Horus went to the ropes and set up on the top turnbuckle, but Guevara swept his legs out from under him and Horus crumpled to the mat. Guevara then hit a super stiff looking 630 cannonball senton for the win. OH MY GOD!
Winner: Sammy Guevara
Star rating: (****) – They had a couple of spots where it looked like they almost got lost, but overall this was tremendous. This was slick, fast-paced and innovative. They also did a good job of pacing the match to bring the crowd up and down. The finish looked Guevara killed him with a cannonball 630 senton off the top.
(2) Unbreakable F’N Machines (Michael Elgin & Brian Cage) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson). The crowd was hot for The Young Bucks even before the ring introductions. They were introduced as weighing 206 lbs each. Nick got on the mic and said, “That’s a pound over 205.” These two teams haven’t faced each other since 2013. Nick surprised Elgin with a suck it taunt as he came off the ropes and Elgin took a bump and went to the floor as the fans erupted in a too sweet chant. Elgin and Cage got The Young BUcks in a double delayed vertical suplex, but The Young Bucks slipped out and got a double sharpshooter. Elgin and Cage did pushups while they were in the hold. Matt and Nick let go and they kept doing pushups. Matt and Nick tried to elbow them both, but Elgin and Cage got out of the way. Elgin and Cage hit 10 stomps to the back of Matt and Nick and the fans counted along. The Young Bucks jumped high up in the air off the mat with each stomp. Elgin and Cage then got Matt and Nick up and hit stereo delayed vertical suplexes on them. Nick slipped going for a tandem move on the ropes with Matt. The Young Bucks quickly regrouped and sent Cage and Elgin to the floor. I don’t think I’ve seen a mistake from The Young Bucks in the ring in ages. The Young Bucks went for stereo dives, but Elgin and Cage caught them in the vertical suplex position. The Young Bucks slipped out and hit stereo superkicks on Elgin and Cage. Cage and Elgin countered a dive sequence from The Young BUcks and went back on the attack. Cage curled Matt and tossed him over his head. Matt took a sustained beating from Cage and Elgin.
Matt mounted a comeback and tagged in Nick, who went to work on Cage and Elgin. He hit a bulldog/lariat combination to cap a big sequence of offense on Cage and Elgin. The fans fired up, but Elgin cut off Nick by slingshotting him back into the ring and into a powerslam. Nick countered several back suplexes, but Matt wasn’t on the apron. He countered a double back suplex and finally made the tag to Matt, who ran wild. Matt got on track with some superkicks on Elgin and Cage. He then went up top and hit the praying moonsault to the floor! WOW! The Young Bucks hit a pop-up headscissors on Elgin as they continued to dominate the action after pretty much getting shut out earlier in the match. Cage broke up a double team attempt. He caught Matt going for a crossbody off the top. He then caught Nick at the same time coming off the top with a hurricanrana. He then slammed them both to the mat at the same time! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Nick hit a dropkick on Cage and went right into a senton on Elgin, who Matt was holding up on the ropes. Matt made the cover, but only got a 2 count. The action continued at a furious pace. Elgin blocked a hurricanrana from Nick and went for a powerbomb, but Nick countered it into a hurricanrana. Elgin and Cage powerbombed The Young Bucks into each other and then hit stereo powerbombs on Matt and Nick for a double near fall. Elgin no-sold a poison hurricanrana and a superkick from Matt, but Matt fired back with another superkick. Cage blocked Nick during the springboard flip portion of the Meltzer driver. He then tossed Matt into Elgin, who hit a spinning backfist. Elgin then hit the Elgin bomb a short time later for the win. WOW!
The fans booed Cage and Elgin after the match.
Winners: Brian Cage & Michael Elgin
Star rating: (****½) – This was a red hot tag match. The crowd was into it the entire way. Cage and Elgin dominated the first half of the match. The Young Bucks then mounted a comeback for the first time and the pace picked up from that point forward. They did some crazy spots down the stretch. At one point Cage caught Nick, as he tried to complete the flip for the Meltzer driver on Elgin. This match is worth going out of your way to check out.
(3) Lio Rush vs. Keith Lee vs. Trent in a Triple Threat match. Lee beat Rush in singles action on the last PWG event. Trent went to the floor right after the bell rang. He went over to the bar. Rush glared at Lee and they went face-to-face. Lee picked up Rush like a child and put him back down. Rush got in Lee’s face again. Lee acted like he wanted Trent and looked right past Rush. Trent came back to ringside with a bottle of water. Trent got back into the ring and jawed with Lee. Rush was between them and Trent shoved him to the side. Rush went to slap Trent, but he got out of the way and he ended up slapping Lee. Lee hit a pair of kicks and flexed for the crowd. Lee didn’t go down and he ran over Rush like a truck. Rush and Trent tried to clothesline Lee as he ran the ropes and he ran right through their clotheslines like they were nothing. Lee took Rush and Trent down with a double shoulder tackle. Rush managed to knock Lee to the floor. He went for a dive, but Lee caught him and hit a huge apron bomb. Trent tossed a chair at Lee. The fans chanted for him and he went for a flip dive. Lee caught him and hit another apron bomb. WOW! Lee hit a huge double overhand chop to Rush’s chest. Trent tried to go after him, but he was still on wobbly legs. Lee pushed Trent into the corner and nailed him with a double overhand chop to the chest. Lee set up Rush and Trent in the middle of the ring. He went up to the second turnbuckle for a frog splash, but Trent and Rush got out of the way. Trent and Rush went to town on Lee with a flurry of tandem offense. Trent ended a big sequence with a flying knee strike and everyone was down as the fans applauded.
Trent and Rush took turns beating up on Lee. Rush hit a running frog splash on Lee. Trent then followed with a less impressive one of his own. Rush hit a standing moonsault on Lee. The fans chanted you can do it at Trent. He then followed up with a standing moonsault of his own. Rush set up for a dive, but pulled up short. He told Trent to do a dive. Trent set up and did a fake out of his own to top Rush and the fans exploded. Rush and Trent hit a double suplex on Lee. Trent asked for a leaping high five from Rush and he obliged. Trent wanted a hug, but Rush ended up nailing him with a bodyslam. The fans booed as Excalibur called Rush a snake in the grass on commentary. Rush tried to slam Lee, but Lee fell on top of him. Everyone was down and the fans fired up. Lee ended up fending off Trent and Lee and he tossed them both over his shoulder at the same time. Lee caught Rush coming off the ropes with a one-handed chokeslam for a near fall. Trent cut Lee off and went on the attack. Lee fought off a tornado DDT attempt. He then sent Lee onto Trent’s shoulders for a poison hurricanrana. Rush hit a flurry of kicks and lifted Lee up for a DVD! WOW! Rush made the cover, but Lee kicked out at the last second! Rush went up top, but Trent cut him off. Lee recovered and he powerbombed Trent, who in turn hit a suplex on Lee. Lee then popped Rush up for the spirit bomb, but Rush kicked out at the very last second! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Trent countered the spirit bomb from Lee and hit the dude buster, but Rush made the save at the last second! WOW! The near falls in this match have been crazy! What timing! The fans chanted f–k you Justin at the ref. Rush hit Rush hour on Trent, but he kicked out. Trent rolled to the floor. The fans chanted that was 2 at the ref. Rush put Trent’s headband on . He nailed Lee with some big kicks to the chest. Rush set up and the fans fired up. Rush took forever and hit a karate pose. Lee punched away another kick attempt and hit a big headbutt to Rush’s chest. Rush tried to hit Rush hour on Lee, but Lee picked him up with one hand and hit a one-handed jack hammer for the win. WOW!
Winner: Keith Lee
Star rating: (****½) – This was an awesome match. It dragged slightly while Rush and Trent were working over Lee together, but once Rush turned on Trent, the match was incredible. They did some fantastic near falls and the finish with Lee hitting a one armed jack hammer on Rush was pure insanity.
Sami Callihan got on the mic and said Jason Cade and Shane Strickland weren’t going to make it to the show. Desmond Xavier, who was in the ring with OI4K, immediately left the ring. Callihan told the fans to get on twitter and tell American Airlines what they think of them. Callihan said they still needed to have a match. He said he asked PWG management what they want to do and they told him to do whatever he wants. Callihan said he wanted a four-way and he immediately kicked Xavier.
(4) Sami Callihan vs. Dave Crist vs. Jake Crist vs. Dezmond Xavier in a Four-Way match. Everyone went after each other and the action was chaotic at the start. Dave hit a big ace crusher on Xavier, but Jake broke it up. Callihan and Jake went at it. Callihan eventually wiped him out with a HUGE clothesline and the fans fired up. They went to a big dive sequence where everyone hit dives to the floor. Xavier was the last man left in the ring and he hit the Sasuke special and the fans fired up huge again. The ref got a running start and hit a suicide dive to wipe out everyone and the fans exploded. WOW! Rick Knox acted like he was sorry, but then he hit two more suicide dives. He then wiped out Dave with a suicide dive. The fans chanted for Knox, who went up top and hit a flip dive. WOW! THIS IS NUTS! Knox apologized to the wrestlers and seemed like he didn’t know what had come over him. The action continued at a chaotic pace. Xavier wiped out Jake with a coast-to-coast dropkick to cap a big sequence in the ring and everyone was down. Callihan wiped out Dave with a flurry of offense. Jake then went at it with Callihan. He eventually ended up hitting a powerslam on Callihan into the turnbuckles, but Xavier made the save. Jake hit a double underhook destroyer on Xavier, but he kicked out at 2. Callihan hit a Liger bomb on Jake. He went right into a stretch muffler on Jake after he kicked out. Dave broke it up with a series of kicks to Callihan’s head. Dave climbed the ropes holding Callihan’s hand and hit a diving ace crusher, but Callihan rolled to the floor. Xavier went up top a short time later and hit a corkscrew dive off the top for the win.
Winner: Dezmond Xavier
Star rating: (***3/4) – This was short, but it was all rapid-fire action that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Knox hit a flurry of high-flying offense during the match was pure insanity as well. This was a TON of fun.
Ricochet vs. Trevor Lee is up next in the semi-main event spot. Lee made sure he was introduced as being from Impact. Lee then jumped Ricochet during his introduction and the match was on. This is the second match in a row to start with a sneak attack.
(5) Ricochet vs. Trevor Lee. Lee put the boots to Ricochet, which got a mixed reaction from the crowd. Ricochet fired back and sent Lee to the floor with a gorgeous dropkick. He wente for the benadriller a short time later, but Lee managed to escape it. Ricochet sent Lee to the floor again, but Lee cut him off only to eat a hurricanrana. Ricochet then hit a big dive over the top to the floor and the fans fired up. Ricochet went for a springboard, but Lee tossed him into the ropes. The ref yelled at Lee, who went to the apron and nailed a PK from the apron to the floor. Lee drew a mixed reaction as he celebrated on the apron. Lee hit a big biel that sent Ricochet flying across the ring. He hit another one to send Ricochet flying to the other side of the ring. Ricochet rolled to the floor and Lee went after him. He sent Ricochet flying into a section of chairs on the floor. Lee went for a deadlift German, but Ricochet landed on his feet. Ricochet pushed Lee off with his feet in the corner and rolled right into a HUGE dropkick and both men were down. Ricochet hit a standing SSP a short time later, but only got a 2 count. Lee fired back with a mushroom stomp a short time later for a 2 count. They went back and forth. Ricochet hit a northern lights suplex and rolled through, but Lee blocked his suplex attempt. They went back and forth and Ricochet got Lee up and just dumped him right on his head with a reverse powerbomb of sorts for a near fall. WOW!
Ricochet missed a SSP off the top, but landed on his feet. They went back and forth trading counters until Lee jumped backwards over Ricochet and hit an everest German with a bridge for a near fall. WOW! They went back and forth trading blows. Ricochet hit a huge roundhouse kick to the head. Lee then hit his signature spinning powerslam on Ricochet in the middle of the ring for a 2 count He followed up with a brainbuster on Ricochet for another 2 count. Lee tried to go up top, but was very slow to do so. Ricochet finally popped up and wiped out Lee up top. Ricochet went fro a super hurricanrana, but Lee landed on his feet! Ricochet nailed Lee with a clothesline. Lee blocked the benadriller and got a small package for a near fall. Ricochet popped up and hit a huge knee, a benadriller, and a big face buster variation for the win.
Winner: Ricochet
Star rating: (****) – This was a tremendous fast-paced match that got the crowd on their feet. Ricochet is so smooth in the ring. It’s just unbelievable watching him perform at times. The finishing stretch here was fantastic as well.
(6) PWG World Champion Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Chuck Taylor. Taylor got a big pop and streamers during the formal introductions. Sabre was mostly booed during the formal introductions. A big chant rang out for both men. The Chucky T chants were much louder than the chants for Sabre. Excalibur noted that Taylor has not lost except to Zack Sabre Jr. since 2015. That includes tag team and singles match. The only match he lost was against Sabre back in February of this year. Both men shoved each other during the early going before Taylor grabbed a headlock. A fan told Sabre his matches are boring and Sabre stuck his butt out between the ropes a short time later. Sabre pie faced Taylor. Taylor slapped him across the face. Sabre fired back with a HUGE forearm a short time later and Taylor went down. Taylor hit a big hip toss across the ring. He did it again sending Sabre across the other side of the ring. Sabre didn’t offer a clean break a short time later while holding a leg submission. He hit a big kick to Taylor’s leg before backing away. Sabre got Taylor down a short time later and went after his leg, but Taylor slipped away into an arm submission. Sabre got the leg submission again, but Taylor managed to grab the rope to break it up. They went back and forth. Sabre got a neck crank using his feet. He then grabbed a stretch on the mat while cranking on Taylor’s neck. Sabre choked Taylor with his boot while using the ropes for leverage on the apron and the fans booed. Sabre hit a big forearm and Taylor waved him on to bring it. Sabre hit another big forearm. Taylor waved him on to do it again. Sabre hit a HUGE uppercut and then stood on Taylor’s face. Taylor smiled at Sabre and asked, “Is that all you’ve got?” Taylor put his hands behind his back and took a HUGE uppercut. Taylor got up and put his hands behind his back. Sabre hit a couple of light slaps to the face and another big uppercut as the fans chanted for Taylor.
Taylor got up and hit an overhand chop. Sabre hit several big uppercuts and a stomp to the head. Taylor got up and hit a baseball chop. Taylor hit several chops, but Sabre blocked a chop. He went to grab Taylor, but Taylor countered him and hit a falcon arrow! The fans chanted for Taylor as Sabre rolled under the ropes. Taylor tossed Sabre over the top back into the ring. Taylor put the boots to Sabre and hit several forearms. He then tossed Sabre across the ring with a bodyslam and the fans fired up. Sabre countered Taylor near the ropes and grabbed an arm submission. Taylor caught Sabre with an enzuguri a short time later that sent Sabre to the floor. Taylor followed him to the floor and hit a series of big chops. Taylor began making a chair structure as several fans handed him chairs. Excalibur said this fired back on him during his street fight against Marty Scurll. Sabre ended up rolling back into the ring. Taylor tried to suplex him over the top to the floor, but Sabre fought out of it. Sabre then hit a HUGE running dropkick that sent Taylor off the apron and into the chair structure! Holy s–t! Taylor got back into the ring and Sabre set his arm up over the mat before stomping down on it. Sabre stood on top of Taylor up against the ropes until the ref dragged him off of Taylor.
Taylor tried to fire back, but he was on wobbly legs. Sabre ducked a forearm and hit a big release German. Sabre charged at Taylor, but Taylor caught him and hit the awful waffle. WOW! Taylor had a hard time making a quick cover, but he got on top of Sabre, who kicked out at the last second! They went back and forth and Taylor spiked Sabre with a DDT. Sabre fired back and kicked his arm. Taylor went for a slap, but Sabre turned it into an cross-arm breaker. Taylor managed to get his foot on the bottom rope and Sabre had to break the hold. Sabre went after Taylor’s fingers, but Taylor countered him into sole food! Sabre got a bridging pin, but Taylor kicked out and hit a short piledriver for a near fall! Sabre countered out of a powerbomb and got a modified kimura. He then went after Taylor’s other arm when he went for the ropes. Taylor managed to shift his foot and get it on the bottom rope and the fans exploded. WOW! Sabre undid the bottom turnbuckle. He appeared to be trying to take the bottom rope down so Taylor couldn’t get to the ropes! Sabre grabbed a ring crew member and tried to make him take the bottom rope off. The ring crew member grabbed a wrench and the fans booed. Sabre undid the rest of the corners. The fans booed as Sabre choked Taylor with the bottom rope. Sabre hit a big PK, but Taylor got up and nailed him with a lariat!
Sabre got on top of Taylor’s back a short time later and then slipped around to the front. He got a triangle and then transitioned to a double arm submission. Sabre then grabbed Taylor’s leg, but Taylor managed to get his foot on the middle rope! WOW! Sabre grabbed the PWG title and shoved the ref away. He nailed title with a belt shot. The ref admonished Taylor and told him to get rid of the belt. Sabre went to make the cover, but the ref refused to count it because he had used the belt. Sabre went after the ref, but he pushed him into Taylor for a near fall. Sabre hit a low blow and the ref went to finally DQ Sabre, but Taylor begged him not to. Sabre booted Taylor to the floor. Taylor went under the ring and crawled back with an envelope in his hand. Sabre grabbed it from him and slapped him across the head. Sabre dumped a bunch of tacks out of the envelope onto the mat. He hit a German on Taylor that sent him into the tacks followed by a PK. He went for another PK, but Taylor blocked it. Taylor grabbed a sleeper, but Sabre fell backwards and Taylor went into the tacks again! Taylor rose up and went for the sleeper, but Sabre rolled over him into a cross-arm breaker! Sabre transitioned into a triangle. Taylor stood up and hit a one-armed powerbomb into the tacks and the fans went nuts! WOW! Taylor followed up with an awful waffle and it was good for the win!
Winner: Chuck Taylor to become the new PWG World Champion
Star rating: (****¾) – Yeah, this was EPIC. Taylor gave it everything he had in this match to overcome Sabre’s heel tactics which made his technical wrestling even that much more powerful during this match. This match built and built, as Sabre dominated on the mat for the most part, but Taylor kept mounting comebacks and showed some incredible fire. This match is a MUST SEE! It was so great to see Taylor get a big moment on a stage like PWG after all the years I’ve been watching him wrestling on the indies. This was also the conclusion to a great storyline.
The building exploded and Taylor smiled on the mat. The ref handed Taylor the belt and the fans went nuts. A HUGE CHUCKY T chant rang out. What a moment! The fans chanted you deserve it at Taylor. Trent came into the ring and hugged Taylor. WOW! Another chant for Taylor rang out. He got on the mic and said his first PWG show was 9 years ago. He said he would defend the title for 9 more and left the ring.
Overall thoughts: (9.5) – This is one of if not the best wrestling shows I’ve seen all year. Taylor winning the PWG Championship made for an epic match and moment. Taylor vs. Sabre was one of the best U.S. indie matches I’ve seen in 2017. The rest of the card was filled with incredible matches as well.
The show started with a bang, as Sammy Guevara and Ray Horus absolutely tore down the house in the opener. The strength of this card was that it was so diverse. If you like great traditional tag team wrestling, look no further than the incredible match between The Young Bucks and The Unbreakable F’N Machines. If you like crazy three-way action, look no further than Keith Lee vs. Trent vs. Lio Rush. If Four-way action is your thing, there’s an insane match featuring Sami Callihan vs. Jake Crist vs. Dave Crist vs. Dezmond Xavier.
Finally, there was the main event with Taylor challenging Sabre for the PWG World Championship. Taylor had been on a HUGE roll going into the match. His only loss in the last couple of years in singles and tag matches had been to Sabre back in February of this year. Taylor showed tons of fire during this match and Sabre worked over his arm with submissions and manipulated his fingers as well. Taylor was built up so well for this big moment and after the match built and built, the fans exploded when Taylor hit a second awful waffle to win the match.
This show is a must buy. You probably won’t see a better indie show this year. In fact, you might not see a better show anywhere in 2017. The card was so diverse and every match delivered in the ring with three of them delivering huge. Run to Highspots.com and buy this show right now!
You can purchase PWG’s “Pushin Forward back” release on DVD & Blu-Ray at HIGHSPOTS.COM. For more information on PWG visit their website by clicking HERE.
***
Contact Sean at pwtorchsean@gmail.com. Follow Sean on twitter HERE. Follow and like Radican’s Wrestling Community Facebook.com HERE
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.