The Pro
Wrestling Guerrilla 2015 Battle of Los Angeles was UN-BE-LIEVABLE!
August 28,
29, & 30 Reseda, California
Of course
once I got the three events it was after my days off and when I started my 10
hour shift rotations which severely limits my free time for watching Pro
Wrestling matches. Because of this I
watch the events a match or two at a time over a period of a few days which is
actually kind of awesome.
I have
determined that PWG is my favorite promotion to watch, I realize they only run
9 – 10 shows a year but they are always awesome. The venue, the atmosphere, filming style, the
commentary, everything about it is amazing.
Watching the shows over a few days spreads out the awesomeness!
This year
PWG brought in wrestlers the England, Wales, Scotland, Holland, Canada, & Mexico to compete in
the tournament with several wrestlers making their PWG debuts. It was truly an international event!
NIGHT 1 August 28th
First Round Matches
Brian Cage
defeated Aero Star with a Steiner Screwdriver Suplex
I had never seen
Aero Star before and as we all know Brian Cage is an f’n machine. I was quite impressed with Aero Star’s
ability and his unique high flying manor.
When he does splashes or planchas to the floor is basically makes his
body stiff as a board until impact so it looks a little odd but it’s unique and
definitely his own thing.
Biff Busick
defeated Andrew Everett
It was a
great match that featured both wrestler’s key styles mixing mat based wrestling
with high flying. Biff went gremlin mode
at one point grabbing Everett by the jaw and laying in several slaps to the
face.
William
Ospreay pinned Mark Andrews
I had seen a
couple Ospreay matches on You Tube but had never heard of Mark Andrews. Both of these wrestlers are from the UK, as
are 3 others in the tournament this year, and were making their PWG
debuts. It was a great introduction to
both wrestlers, the fans wildly behind Ospreay in this match. I was impressed by both of them and their
high flying techniques and a very unique Canadian destroyer style DDT.
Non-Tournament Tag Team Match
Los Gueros
del Cielo: Angelico & Jack Evans defeated Inner City Machine Guns: Rich
Swan & Ricochet when Evans pinned Swan after a 630 splash.
This match
started with a dance contest and then exploded into a one high spot after
another and some amazing acrobatics by Jack Evans. This was the third match I have seen Angelico
in and I am really impressed by him. I
know on night 2 Evans and Angelico have a singles match and I’m looking forward
to it.
First Round Matches
Pentagon Jr.
pinned Drago
The battle
of two AAA luchadores with the crowd solidly behind Pentagon Jr. This match was odd as the beginning and end
were fast paced and high impact but the middle really dragged and almost came
to a standstill. Some good mat wrestling
and submissions by Pentagon Jr.
Matt Sydal
pinned Fenix
I was
expecting some serious high flying, and we got some, but Sydal really worked
Fenix’s leg trying to slow down the high flyer, but he didn’t succeed. Fenix has unbelievable balance and the way he
flies through the air is amazing. Sydal
played the heel much of the match but the crowd popped when he won.
Non Tournament Match
Mt. Rushmore
2.0: World Champion Roderick Strong & World Tag Team Champions: The Young
Bucks: Nick & Matt Jackson defeated Eurotrash: Zack Sabre Jr., “The
Villain” Marty Scurll, & Tommy End.
This match
had everything, British style mat wrestling, strong style, high flying, and
many, many, many stiff kicks. A very
good match that highlighted all six competitors involved and even though Sabre
took the pinfall from Strong, it didn’t hurt him at all and only enhanced the
feud where we will eventually see Sabre win the championship from Strong.
NIGHT 2 August 29th
Dave Meltzer
from the Wrestling Observer was sitting front row this show
First Round Matches
“The
Villian” Marty Scurll defeated Rich Swan
Decent match
was really surprised that Scurll went over but I’m glad to get the chance to
see him in the next round which is against Trevor Lee. For some reason Scurll just looks really
small to me, he’s my height but it’s almost like, with his long beard and hair,
that his head is disproportioned in size to his body. Either way
though it was a good match and a great way to kick off night two of the 2015
Battle of Los Angeles.
Jack Evans
pinned Angelico
In a
match-up of tag team partners the very vocal Jack Evans got the win to
advance. Evans wasn’t playing full blown
heel but was making some very disparaging remarks to the crowd for the second
consecutive day. At one point
Evans had him a drink and went all drunken master, it was done brilliantly
especially the corkscrew head butt.
Chris Hero
pinned Timothy Thatcher
This was a
methodical and extremely hard hitting match between both of these men. I really like Hero a lot and I know the elbow
is his specialty, but sometimes I think he hits it too many times.
Tag Team Match
Aero Star
& Fenix defeated Drago & Pentagon Jr.
This was a
fast paced high flying match with all 4 leaving everything in the ring. Fenix is so amazing, his corkscrew dive off
the top rope to the floor is phenomenal!
Pentagon is a bad ass, plain and simply.
The match ended with a double pin on Drago and Pentagon after different
piledriver variations.
First Round Matches
Tommy End
pinned Drew Gulak
This match
wasn’t very long, it was mat based and very, very physical and violent with
severe striking by both of them. I liked
this match because it was different and ended unexpectedly.
“Speedball”
Mike Bailey pinned Drew Galloway
Visually
this was a massive mismatch. Galloway
easily has a foot on Bailey and a 50 – 60 pound weight advantage. Bailey utilized his kicking ability and
quickness to out maneuver Galloway to get the eventual win. This is just another great match by Bailey in
the long line he’s been having as of late.
Galloway was fantastic in the ring and it obvious how WWE missed the
boat with him.
Zack Sabre
Jr. pinned Ricochet
A
high-flying and mat based affair with the future of professional
wrestling. Sabre got the win
Six Person
Tag Team Guerrilla Warfare Match
Mt. Rushmore
2.0: Super Dragon and Tag Team Champions: The Young Bucks: Matt & Nick
Jackson defeated Biff Busick, Andrew Everett, & Trevor Lee.
This match
was absolutely crazy fighting all over the building using anything they could
find as weapons. All six of them were
flying all over place, vicious chairshots, ladders, trash cans, one table the
Bucks broke out the thumbtack sneakers, one for each this time. Biff finally got his hands on Dragon and
even though in the end Dragon pinned Biff of the win for his team, Biff beat
the tar out of Dragon first.
After the
match Excalibur got in the ring to say he’s had enough of 2.0 and was going to
put a team together to go against them.
Dragon and Bucks ran back and beat up Excalibur, Chris Hero made the
save but eventually was also laid out
NIGHT 3 August 30th
Second Round Matches
Jack Evans
pinned Brian Cage
Jack Evans
cut another scathing promo endearing himself to Brian Cage and the fans. Cage beat the tar out of Evans for a few
moments before Evans hit is one offensive kick and then scored a quick upset
pin.
Chris Hero
pinned Biff Busick
Another
brutally stiff match that featured lots of striking and ended with an avalanche
piledriver from the second rope.
“The
Villain” Marty Scurll submitted Trevor Lee
Scurll worked the shoulder the entire match leading to his chicken wing finisher. Trevor Lee was fantastic as always.
Zack Sabre
Jr. defeated Pentagon Jr.
Very little high flying, lots and lots of mat based wrestling and VERY unique submissions holds. Sabre got the win with a kimura, or as JR calls it a double wrist lock.
“Speedball”
Mike Bailey defeated Tommy End
So many brutally stiff kicks from both men in this match, Bailey got a decisive victory in this match where the other first round matches seemed to be quick or fluke wins. Tommy End is THE man
William Ospreay defeated Matt Sydal
These two have a very similar style with fast paced high flying and stiff strikes.
Eight Man Tag
Mt. Rushmore
2.0: Super Dragon, World Champion Roderick Strong & World Tag Team
Champions: The Young Bucks: Nick & Matt Jackson defeated Angelico, Fenix
& Inner City Machine Guns: Rich Swann & Ricochet
This was high flying everyone going everywhere match with lots of high flying awesomeness. Of course Mt Rushmore couldn't lose this weekend with Rich Swann being pinned.
Semi-Final Round Matches
Chris Hero
defeated Jack Evans
Before and after this match Evans addressed the crowd much the same he has the last two nights belittling the crowd. Evans took a beating this entire match but kicked out of every pinfall attempt at a 1 count, except for the final one where the ref reached 3.
“Speedball”
Mike Bailey defeated William Ospreay
Again two similarly styled competitors bringing it with high flying and Bailey's brutal and precise kicks. I'd love to see a longer match between the two.
Zack Sabre
Jr. defeated “The Villian” Mart Scurll
I loved this match! There was comedy, but it was the cheeky British style comedy and some really great mat wrestling and reversals including some stuff I've never ever seen before!
Ten Person Tag Team Match
Aero Star,
Drew Galloway, Drew Gulak, & Best Friends: Chuck Taylor & Trent? Vs. Mark Andrews, Tommaso Ciampa, Drago,
Andrew Everett, & Timothy Thatcher
This was a giant train wreck! We had a 10 way nut shot, slow motion action, intense mat wrestling, high flying, everything, just everything.
2015 Battle of Los Angeles Finals
Zack Sabre
Jr. defeated Chris Hero & “Speedball” Mike Bailey
The match starts with very unique 3 man mat wrestling that I've never seen before! I don't think it's anything you can practice so it was all very creative. This match was vicious from beginning to end with stiff, stiff strikes, and submissions galore. Long match too.
Chris Hero pinned Bailey after 3 piledriver variations
Sabre submitted Hero with a double arm bar and stomps to the head.
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