01/07/2012 – Showtime All-Star Wrestling TV Report for 12/16
From Larry Goodman:
Episode 197
Airing December 16, 2011 on the America One Network
Taped October 8, 2011 at the Old Hickory Community Center
SAW has opened a video-on-demand service here. Episodes 181-194 are currently
available for 99 cents per episode. SAW streams via America One at wvvh.com - 9pm
Fridays. SAW’s next live event is January 7 at the Old Hickory Community Center
featuring a one night tournament to crown the new SAW International Champion.
Last week on SAW…David Young vowed to get revenge on Ryan Genesis – when
Genesis ripped the stuffing out of Blue (Young’s dear, departed muscle suit), he tore
a piece out of Young’s soul…But at the Sausagefest, Genesis pinned Young with the
Death Valley Driver…We saw footage of Jeremiah Plunkett and Derek Neal brawling
in parking lot of the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, followed by Plunkett jumping Neal
after his match at the Sausagefest…Sean Casey spent his day at the Sausagefest
partying. Not the best warm up routine perhaps, as he was pinned by former partner
Chris Michaels via a full can of PBR smashed into his forehead.
1 – DREW HASKINS vs. CHRIS CLINE
Haskins overcame Cline’s skunk-like tendencies and worked over the arm of the
SAW newcomer. Cline made a lumbering charge and got caught with a drop toehold.
When Haskins tried to go aerial, Cline dropped his face on the top turnbuckle. As
Cline heeled away, Michael Graham talked about the potential for dire consequences
as a result of today’s huge main event, because Reno Riggins putting the company
on the line vs. Kid Kash’s SAW International Title. Another lumbering attack by Cline
led to a nice sunset flip out of the corner by Haskins. Cline did a version of the three
amigos. Eddie Guerrero he’s not. Haskins worse for wear here. Cline not looking all
that spry himself. A less than smooth sequence saw Haskins hit Katy Perry’s Favorite
Finisher (snapmare driver) for the pin.
WINNER: Haskins in 5:30.
Grumpy’s Bail Jumper of the Week – Brandon Black. “Bond Girl” Leah was dressed
rather conservatively. It’s all relative. Leah laid a massive guilt trip on Black, and
enticed him to give it up by offering Black camera time to get his message out.
Next up was replay of the video package to set up Kash vs. Riggins for the SAW
International Title – the company isn’t big enough for both of them.
Riggins entered as the smiling, hand slapping babyface with a look straight out of his
Tennessee Volz past. Kash splashed water on the irate old ladies trying to fight their
way past SAW’s one man security force, Bobby Babu. Once inside the ring, Kash
started in on Graham, but the announcer refused to be intimidated. Kash said the fist
fight wasn’t going to happen. Kash said if Reno messed with him, he would leave
and take the belt with him, so they were going to have a traditional wrestling match.
Reno made no reply.
2 – SAW International Title Match – Champion KID KASH vs. SAW Owner RENO
RIGGINS
They got off to a slow start, as Kash did his usual stalling and shenanigans with the
fans. The fans were strongly behind Riggins, who totally outwrestled Kash once they
got down to it. Kash got frustrated and tried to bring a chair in. Reno busted out a
leapfrog/dropkick combo. Kash bailed and said he didn’t have to beat Reno. Kash
started heading to the back, but the babyface side of the dressing room cut off his
escape. Kash tried to go out the front door and was cut off by the heels. The entire
locker room surrounded the ring. Kash looked panic stricken and started going for
any and all shortcuts. He caught a break when Reno’s knee buckled on an up and
over move. Kash feigned compassion. He said they could do it another time…and
attacked Reno from behind. Kash poured on the punishment. Kash applied a series
of leglocks including a figure four around the bottom rope. Reno was screaming in
pain. Kash hammered Reno with crossface forearms. Kash with a barrage of knees.
The wrestlers pounded the mat to spur Reno on. Reno fired back with gutshot but the
knee gave way again. Kash went back to the leglocks. Reno was in agony. A chop
sent Reno down like a ton of bricks. Kash backed Reno into the corner, draped his
injured leg over the rope and kicked the bejeezus out of it. Kash charged and Reno
managed to backdrop him out to the floor. Chase Stevens tossed Kash back into the
ring. Kash started yelling at Stevens, and Reno surprised him with a rolling reverse
and an ultra fast three count by Kurt Herron.
WINNER: Riggins to become the new SAW International Champion at 18 minutes.
The celebration with Reno was on, but Kash remained the center of attention.
Graham got on the apron to announce Riggins in the winner, and did so right in Kash’
s face. They went nose to nose. Kash threatened to stick his fist down Graham’s
freaking throat. Kash got into with the old ladies again, and one of them bopped him
on the head with a chair when he wasn’t looking. Chris Michaels was laughing so
hard he had to cover his mouth.
Afterthoughts: My how the once mighty SAW has fallen. Less than two years ago,
Kash lost the SAW Title to Stevens in front of a packed house at the Nashville
Fairgrounds. In one of the most dramatic matches in SAW history, Riggins put one
over on Kash by inserting Stevens as Kash’s opponent and unveiling himself as the
special referee. Kash’s obsession with Riggins played out through one outrageous
incident after another, spanning a period of three and half years. Sadly, it came to
down to this. They didn’t do a lot, but what they did was fine. Riggins was in a shape
and displayed impressive quickness. His facial expressions were tremendous when
Kash was destroying his knee. Kash was a complete a hole. As Dave Meltzer point
out, one of the great things about Kash is that he acts likes it’s real. Kash also makes
a great trapped rat. Once the bell rang, they told a good story. The wrestlers at
ringside made sense because Kash had put the entire company in jeopardy by
stealing the TV footage. Stevens being the one to throw Kash back in was a nice tie in
to their Fairgrounds match. The stuff with Graham made sense based on their
altercation at the Gallatin show. The sad part was the rinky dink, drama killing vibe the
match had on TV - a couple of hundred people in a rec center with crappy lighting, and
one security guy making a valiant effort hold back the old ladies trying to get at Kash.
The fans were into the match, but there weren’t enough of them for it sound or look
right for TV. The other major problem was the disconnect between the match and the
build up. Reno’s promo called for a no holds barred, no DQ fight and that’s the way it
was advertised. Then in the ring, Kash decided it would be a straight wrestling match,
and Reno acted like that was just hunky dory. Huh?? SAW has been stretching the
soup a lot over the past year, and this was episode was stretched to the limit – just
the title match and a mediocre opener featuring newcomer Cline and the newly
boring “Teen Excitement” Drew Haskins. That was it for new material. I enjoyed this
taping as a live experience, but it sure didn’t translate well to TV. It was a shame to
see a match that had been built up so well for so long come across like a minor
league production.
Feedback
From Larry Goodman:
Episode 197
Airing December 16, 2011 on the America One Network
Taped October 8, 2011 at the Old Hickory Community Center
SAW has opened a video-on-demand service here. Episodes 181-194 are currently
available for 99 cents per episode. SAW streams via America One at wvvh.com - 9pm
Fridays. SAW’s next live event is January 7 at the Old Hickory Community Center
featuring a one night tournament to crown the new SAW International Champion.
Last week on SAW…David Young vowed to get revenge on Ryan Genesis – when
Genesis ripped the stuffing out of Blue (Young’s dear, departed muscle suit), he tore
a piece out of Young’s soul…But at the Sausagefest, Genesis pinned Young with the
Death Valley Driver…We saw footage of Jeremiah Plunkett and Derek Neal brawling
in parking lot of the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, followed by Plunkett jumping Neal
after his match at the Sausagefest…Sean Casey spent his day at the Sausagefest
partying. Not the best warm up routine perhaps, as he was pinned by former partner
Chris Michaels via a full can of PBR smashed into his forehead.
1 – DREW HASKINS vs. CHRIS CLINE
Haskins overcame Cline’s skunk-like tendencies and worked over the arm of the
SAW newcomer. Cline made a lumbering charge and got caught with a drop toehold.
When Haskins tried to go aerial, Cline dropped his face on the top turnbuckle. As
Cline heeled away, Michael Graham talked about the potential for dire consequences
as a result of today’s huge main event, because Reno Riggins putting the company
on the line vs. Kid Kash’s SAW International Title. Another lumbering attack by Cline
led to a nice sunset flip out of the corner by Haskins. Cline did a version of the three
amigos. Eddie Guerrero he’s not. Haskins worse for wear here. Cline not looking all
that spry himself. A less than smooth sequence saw Haskins hit Katy Perry’s Favorite
Finisher (snapmare driver) for the pin.
WINNER: Haskins in 5:30.
Grumpy’s Bail Jumper of the Week – Brandon Black. “Bond Girl” Leah was dressed
rather conservatively. It’s all relative. Leah laid a massive guilt trip on Black, and
enticed him to give it up by offering Black camera time to get his message out.
Next up was replay of the video package to set up Kash vs. Riggins for the SAW
International Title – the company isn’t big enough for both of them.
Riggins entered as the smiling, hand slapping babyface with a look straight out of his
Tennessee Volz past. Kash splashed water on the irate old ladies trying to fight their
way past SAW’s one man security force, Bobby Babu. Once inside the ring, Kash
started in on Graham, but the announcer refused to be intimidated. Kash said the fist
fight wasn’t going to happen. Kash said if Reno messed with him, he would leave
and take the belt with him, so they were going to have a traditional wrestling match.
Reno made no reply.
2 – SAW International Title Match – Champion KID KASH vs. SAW Owner RENO
RIGGINS
They got off to a slow start, as Kash did his usual stalling and shenanigans with the
fans. The fans were strongly behind Riggins, who totally outwrestled Kash once they
got down to it. Kash got frustrated and tried to bring a chair in. Reno busted out a
leapfrog/dropkick combo. Kash bailed and said he didn’t have to beat Reno. Kash
started heading to the back, but the babyface side of the dressing room cut off his
escape. Kash tried to go out the front door and was cut off by the heels. The entire
locker room surrounded the ring. Kash looked panic stricken and started going for
any and all shortcuts. He caught a break when Reno’s knee buckled on an up and
over move. Kash feigned compassion. He said they could do it another time…and
attacked Reno from behind. Kash poured on the punishment. Kash applied a series
of leglocks including a figure four around the bottom rope. Reno was screaming in
pain. Kash hammered Reno with crossface forearms. Kash with a barrage of knees.
The wrestlers pounded the mat to spur Reno on. Reno fired back with gutshot but the
knee gave way again. Kash went back to the leglocks. Reno was in agony. A chop
sent Reno down like a ton of bricks. Kash backed Reno into the corner, draped his
injured leg over the rope and kicked the bejeezus out of it. Kash charged and Reno
managed to backdrop him out to the floor. Chase Stevens tossed Kash back into the
ring. Kash started yelling at Stevens, and Reno surprised him with a rolling reverse
and an ultra fast three count by Kurt Herron.
WINNER: Riggins to become the new SAW International Champion at 18 minutes.
The celebration with Reno was on, but Kash remained the center of attention.
Graham got on the apron to announce Riggins in the winner, and did so right in Kash’
s face. They went nose to nose. Kash threatened to stick his fist down Graham’s
freaking throat. Kash got into with the old ladies again, and one of them bopped him
on the head with a chair when he wasn’t looking. Chris Michaels was laughing so
hard he had to cover his mouth.
Afterthoughts: My how the once mighty SAW has fallen. Less than two years ago,
Kash lost the SAW Title to Stevens in front of a packed house at the Nashville
Fairgrounds. In one of the most dramatic matches in SAW history, Riggins put one
over on Kash by inserting Stevens as Kash’s opponent and unveiling himself as the
special referee. Kash’s obsession with Riggins played out through one outrageous
incident after another, spanning a period of three and half years. Sadly, it came to
down to this. They didn’t do a lot, but what they did was fine. Riggins was in a shape
and displayed impressive quickness. His facial expressions were tremendous when
Kash was destroying his knee. Kash was a complete a hole. As Dave Meltzer point
out, one of the great things about Kash is that he acts likes it’s real. Kash also makes
a great trapped rat. Once the bell rang, they told a good story. The wrestlers at
ringside made sense because Kash had put the entire company in jeopardy by
stealing the TV footage. Stevens being the one to throw Kash back in was a nice tie in
to their Fairgrounds match. The stuff with Graham made sense based on their
altercation at the Gallatin show. The sad part was the rinky dink, drama killing vibe the
match had on TV - a couple of hundred people in a rec center with crappy lighting, and
one security guy making a valiant effort hold back the old ladies trying to get at Kash.
The fans were into the match, but there weren’t enough of them for it sound or look
right for TV. The other major problem was the disconnect between the match and the
build up. Reno’s promo called for a no holds barred, no DQ fight and that’s the way it
was advertised. Then in the ring, Kash decided it would be a straight wrestling match,
and Reno acted like that was just hunky dory. Huh?? SAW has been stretching the
soup a lot over the past year, and this was episode was stretched to the limit – just
the title match and a mediocre opener featuring newcomer Cline and the newly
boring “Teen Excitement” Drew Haskins. That was it for new material. I enjoyed this
taping as a live experience, but it sure didn’t translate well to TV. It was a shame to
see a match that had been built up so well for so long come across like a minor
league production.
Feedback
| NEWS AND NOTES |
