They just sort of get to it. Couple appreciations and announcements from Excalibur, and then ring the bell. Excalibur retired to the stage, where the cameras are set up, where Willie Mack was chillin. I was stuck in the beer line and kind of stayed standing there the whole time with a Sam Adams in hand.
Team Tremendous (Bill Carr & Dan Barry) vs. World's Cutest Tag Team (Candice LeRae & Joey Ryan) They put up a heck of a fight, but pretty kids get beat up by cops. Someone dropped the lollypop.
Brian Cage vs. Johnny Gargano
Cage has a presence that’s hard to describe but easy to be scared of. He’s over big with the kids. He and Johny hit some hard spots.
Andrew Everett vs. Rich Swann
Couple of charismatics firsts for me. Sometimes, six foot seven guys like to have seats in the front row and stand.
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Trevor Lee
I’ve seen Tommaso on tape, but he’s a full blown blast live. What a nut! Paired up with a bearded North Carolina high flying maniac, this one smacked with fist pump knee pop. Those were just the sounds in between audience's reactions.
"Speedball" Mike Bailey vs. Chris Hero
Big man comes out sporting Seatle Sonics and power bombs. Little man comes out machine gun leg kicks.
Ricochet vs. Akira Tozawa
This is the PWG feel good moment. Riccochet’s music is a sing along. Tozawa greeted with “Welcome Back” cheers. Touch and go match of playful one upmanship. Riccochet, the guy with the Willie McGee demeanor but on a level all his own. Tozawa, a splash of great humor unfortunately caught a beating at the end by Super Dragon and the Young Bucks dressed in SuperDragon Masks. The locker room emptied but the “Rushmore 2.0” team took them all out until Angelico & Evans appeared for the final match.
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla World Tag Team Championship Title Match
The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson – Champions) vs. Angélico & Jack Evans
Young Bucks entered masked with Super Dragon to pull some heat. Set up the Baby Face pop for Angelico & Evans coming to the rescue. They spent most of the match in the air. fEvans is a beast and took a beating from the bucks.
Seth Rollins watched from behind the curtain. William Regal & The Brian Kendrick were huddling up beforehand in the parking lot. Security was big and goofy. I got there a half an hour early and found the right line to meet fellow indy marks. The manager of the Legion hustled up the garbage and cans in the lot while everyone listened to half of the pre-show announcements. Free pat-downs at the door. You can keep your cigarettes, but no lighters or matches inside.
I can say I witnessed when Marty De Rosa turned heel on PWG and caught mega heat from the crowd. Crowds which part and pick up their chairs when they sense the action about to spill outside the ring. Where chanting was the song du jour, standing was the preferred seat, and beers come in fists full of pitchers. As an improvisor I appreciate how spontaneous the players keep it in the ring and how in tune the audience is to the story. Bring cash when you go. The Battle of Los Angeles is the next event August 28, 29, & 30. When tickets were released online last week, someone bought them all in under 3 minutes. If you got tix, I'll take two.
Too Sweet.
I can say I witnessed when Marty De Rosa turned heel on PWG and caught mega heat from the crowd. Crowds which part and pick up their chairs when they sense the action about to spill outside the ring. Where chanting was the song du jour, standing was the preferred seat, and beers come in fists full of pitchers. As an improvisor I appreciate how spontaneous the players keep it in the ring and how in tune the audience is to the story. Bring cash when you go. The Battle of Los Angeles is the next event August 28, 29, & 30. When tickets were released online last week, someone bought them all in under 3 minutes. If you got tix, I'll take two.
Too Sweet.
