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Pro Wrestling Unplugged
Diamond Anniversary
September 15, 2007
New Alhambra Arena
Philadelphia, PA
By Art Shimko
http://www.combat-hooligans.com/
Pro Wrestling Unplugged celebrated their third anniversary Saturday night in front of a packed house at the New Alhambra Arena, a historic venue that has been home to many wrestling promotions since 1993.
Before the wrestling itself took place PWU held a Red Carpet ceremony in a parking lot across from the arena which featured many of the wrestlers performing this evening being interviewed about their matches by Johnny Kashmere who was sporting a Batman mask.
Local rock group Shovelhook played an acoustic set that was at one point interrupted by Joey Matthews who cut a promo on 2 Cold Scorpio who he was wrestling for PWU world title later on.
As fans were entering the arena for the evening's Diamond Anniversary show another local rock group Survival Rate Zero were entertaining the crowd inside.
Show opens with a PWU music video featuring various clips and highlights played to Pearl Jam's "Go".
Nikolai Volkoff comes out to the ring and sings the National Anthem, he seemed to forget some of the words and didn't finish the song, crowd didn't know what to really make of this but it was an interesting idea and surreal to hear him sing the National Anthem.
1) PWU TV Title Tournament - Match #1
Detox vs Lucky of The New Jersey Independent All Stars
Lucky comes out and tears a fan's sign who then replaces it with one that reads "You're Still A Jobber", Lucky wasn't too happy with that one. Lucky gets the early advantage striking away at Detox, gets cocky about it while Detox goes for a pin only to get a two-count. Lucky hits a standing moonsault and goes for a pin, gets another two-count. Lucky scoops up Detox, has him upside down and throws Detox hard into the corner. Lucky climbs to the top turnbuckle and falls back and gets his knee caught in the top rope, referee Mike Kehner checks on Lucky who then superkicks Detox but he catches Lucky's boot and hits a pumphandle slam for the win.
2) JC Ryder vs Aramis w/Gary Wolfe and Annie Social
Ryder's eyeing up Annie saying she's a beautiful girl and girls who look as good as her are from New Jersey, this gets "Jersey Sucks" chants and some people around me didn't take too kindly to that chant. Ryder immediately beats on Aramis cornering him with chops then trips him into the bottom turnbuckle taking control of the match but only gets a two-count for his first pin attempt. Ryder then flirts with Annie, Aramis hits a brainbuster on Ryder and gets the pin. Afterwards Aramis holds up Ryder while Annie slaps the hell out of him.
3) Special Challenge match: Justice Pain vs Gangrel
Former CZW wrestler Justice Pain makes his debut this evening accepting former WWE wrestler Gangrel's open challenge. Pain goes for the early advantage but Gangrel quickly takes control cornering Pain with a beating and goes for a pin but only gets a two-count. Pain hits a belly-to-belly on Gangrel and follows up with some punches and kicks. Gangrel heads out the ring and Pain dives out the ring onto Gangrel, after some fighting outside the ring both wrestlers are back in, Pain brings a chair but the ref takes it away. Gangrel gets the chair and goes for Pain in the corner with a chairshot and misses, Pain hits the Pain Thriller on Gangrel and gets the pinfall for his first win as a PWU wrestler.
4) PWU Women's title match
Amy Lee (champ) w/Dr. Bootz vs Lexx - referee: Annie Social
Lexx is a cutie, Lee comes out and throws her belt in the ring hitting Annie's head. Match was at a slow pace, Lexx was making an effort to get as much offense on Lee but didn't have much luck. Lee wins with a Gory stretch for the submission win, Lee then cuts a promo on Annie who wouldn't raise her hand for the victory, she challenges Annie next month and she accepts. Lee's jawjacking with a fan in the front row making fun of his teeth and clothes.
John House comes out to the ring and interviews Joey Matthews on his match later on, the last time I saw Matthews in this building was his last match in 3PW against Chris Sabin. A few fans and myself recalled the early days when Matthews was aligned with Special K in Ring Of Honor. Matthews at first puts over the Philadelphia fans then says he realizes that they're disrespectful. Matthews brings out his enforcer for the main event, Dan "The Beast" Severn! Severn assures Matthews he'll watch his back during the match.
PWU returns to the New Alhambra Arena on 10/27 featuring Brutus Beefcake, Larry Zbyszko and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.
5) 1) PWU TV Title Tournament - Match #2
Z-Barr w/Sunny vs John McChesney
First off I couldn't believe how hot Sunny looked, Z-Barr attacks McChesney from behind following his chops and headbutts. McChesney fights back and superkicks him out the ring then gets on the top rope and hits a splash onto Z-Barr. Back in the ring McChesney corners Z-Barr, hits a dropkick and follows with a Northern Lights suplex. Another dropkick, McChesney goes for the pin but gets a two-count, Z-Barr kicks McChesney out of the ring and Sunny works on him. McChesney back in the ring gets a Bossman slam from Z-Barr, goes for the pin only with a two-count. Both men exchange vicious chops, McChesney hits a frogsplash and goes for a pin as Sunny distracts the ref. Z-Barr gets McChesney with a brainbuster for the win.
6) Number one contender's match for the PWU Tag Team titles
The Best Around (TJ Cannon and Bruce Maxwell) vs The Iron Saints (Sal and Vito Thomaselli) vs All Money Is Legal (K-Murda and K-Push)
TJ and Vito start off, lots of action with various tag partners coming in, TBA takes control beating on Murda then the Saints run in tossing TBA out the ring and continuing the beatdown on Murda. Pusha tags in getting revenge on the Saints, TBA back in and AMIL work on them also, Saints come back beating on AMIL. It's craziness as all teams are beating on each other, AMIL and the Saints take out TBA and then both AMIL and the Saints end up outside the ring fighting. The ref counts both teams out and The Best Around become the #1 contenders for the tag titles. The AMIL/Saints feud is far from over.
INTERMISSION
7) PWU TV Title Tournament - Match #3
Brandon Thomaselli vs Adam Flash
When the ring announcer is about to say Flash's name the mic cuts out, Flash gets mad and grabs the mic to say his name but again the mic cuts out. When Thomaselli grabs the mic it works fine, there are fans with signs featuring different versions of Flash's name, he's not amused. Thomaselli gets control early on getting Flash in a headlock then a chokehold, drops an elbow for a quick pin attempt but only gets a two-count. Flash hits a spinebuster and gains control cornering Thomaselli with elbows and hits a facebuster from the top rope but only another two-count. Flash on the top turnbuckle, Thomaselli hits a superplex leaving both men lying on the mat. Both men are up, Thomaselli hits a double underhook lungblower followed by "The Deal" (Thomaselli pulls Flash face-first down into his knees) for the victory.
Johnny Kashmere (in a Batman mask) and Jimmy Clydesdale (as Robin) debut their "Batcave" segment by bringing out special guest Diamond Dallas Page. They have contestants in the ring for the PWU Commissioner Idol contest where a PWU fan wins a spot as the promotion's commissioner. Each contestant gives a 30-second promo on why they would make a great commissioner. Voting for the winner takes place at www.prowrestlingunplugged.com. Segment ends with DDP, Kashmere and Clydesdale tossing packs of Batman cards to the crowd.
8) PWU TV Title Tournament - Match #4
Luke Hawx vs Eddie Kingston
Hawx wastes not time attacking Kingston from behind with a series of chops and kicks, Kingston retaliates with a powerslam and goes for a pin only getting a two-count. Luke goes for a lowblow followed by a kneedrop to Kingston's head. Hawx hits a neckbreaker but Kingston kicks out of his pin attempt, Hawx kicks Kingston several times, heads to the top turnbuckle but Kingston hits him with an enzuigiri. Eddie comes back hitting Hawx with a number of suplexes, Hawx hits a flatliner but only a two-count following another pin attempt. Eddie tries a backdrop driver and misses, Hawx with a spinning kick and misses, Kingston delivers and connects with a spinning back fist and gets the pin.
9) Number One contender's match for the PWU world title
Trent Acid w/Dewey Donovan vs Devon Moore
Trent takes his good ol' time getting to the ring working the crowd and emptying his shorts from the dollar bills given to him by girls in the crowd. Moore is all heated up and storms in attacking Acid, Acid returns with an aggressive series of punches and strikes to Moore. Moore delivers a sunset flip powerbomb to Acid outside the ring! Back in the ring Moore goes for a few pin attempts only getting two-counts, he's working on Acid with elbows in the corner, Acid hits a swinging neckbreaker and a springboard DDT. Moore and Acid on the top turnbuckle, Acid hits a sitout powerbomb but only gets a two-count, Moore goes out the ring and Moore hits an high Asai moonsault onto Moore slamming his ankle into the guardrail. Acid limps back into the ring and goes for a lariat, Moore ducks and referee Mike Kehner gets knocked out. Acid yakuza kicks Moore goes for the pin but the ref's still out, Moore has brass knuckles and punches out Acid. Moore puts the knucks in Acid's shorts and positions him on Moore for a pinfall, ref counts it then finds the knucks on Acid and reverses the decision in Moore's favor.
10) PWU tag team champions The S.A.T. (Jose and Joel Maximo) vs The Bosom Buddies (Teddy Fine and Drew Blood)
As the Bosom Buddies are in the ring waiting for the SAT they come from the crowd and attack the Buddies from behind. Both teams fight outside the ring then Teddy and Joel wrestle in the ring while Drew and Jose continue brawling outside, Drew helps his partner double team Joel. SAT come back hitting double team moves of their own regaining control of the match, Drew tags in beating on the SAT. SAT set Drew up on the top turnbuckle for the Spanish Fly but Teddy holds onto Drew's feet and the SAT go to the mat without him. Drew pins Joel following a crossbody getting a two-count, Joel hits Drew and rolls him up for the pin.
DDP comes out to do commentary for the main event.
11) PWU World Championship
2 Cold Scorpio (champ) vs Joey Matthews w/Dave "The Beast" Severn
Scorpio offers a handshake and Matthews flips him off. Match begins with some mat wrestling as both men counter each other's moves, they go for a test of strength and Matthews takes Scorpio down trying his best to get a pinfall without any luck. Scorpio now in control elbowing Matthews who then sends him out of the ring with an elbow strike of his own. Back in the ring Scorpio takes punishment from Matthews delivering a lariat followed by a sleeper hold, Scorpio grabs the ropes and the hold is broken. Scorpio hits a gord buster, Matthews on the top turnbuckle and Scorpio hits a sunset flip powerbomb for the pin but gets a two-count. Scorpio goes for a dropkick on Matthews and instead hits referee John Finnegan. The match breaks down as Severn applies a guillotine choke on Scorpio, DDT runs in hitting the Diamond Cutter on both Matthews and Severn, then Devon Moore runs in attacking DDP and Scorpio... suddenly the lights go out... a fan next to me wonders if it's Sandman then figures probably not... but in fact it is the Sandman! And the crowd pops like crazy! Moore, Matthews and Severn escape as DDP, Scorpio and Sandman celebrate in the ring, Todd Gordon comes to the ring as well. Crowd chants "Welcome back!" to which Sandman replies, "Damn, it feels good to be home!" Title match was a no-contest but the crowd went home extremely pleased seeing their hometown hero back in the old ECW Arena.
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