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| October 11, 2008
Dan Masters and Katie Mayo did a non-specific opening promising a great show. 1 – SAL RINAURO & KUROSUKAJI vs. J-ROD & A. J. STEELE Cru Jones joined Katie and Dan on commentary. He had something insulting to say about everybody involved. The early portion of the match saw the crowd chanting for J-Rod as he outwrestled the masked Japanese star. Masters asked how both Cru and fellow Hot Like Lava member, Micah Taylor had managed to connive their way into the next round of the title tournament last week. The first thing Steele did was punch Kurosukaji (why?). Steele used a hammerlock slam and a powerslam to add to Kurosukaji’s woes. Steele and J-Rod hit a sideslam/double ax combo. Masters mentioned they were both trained by Jerry Oates and suggested an Oates Brothers reunion. Cru said RPW would need to create a “Geriassic division” for that. Jones gave Katie a Hot Like Lava demerit for getting too feisty. “When I want your opinion, Katie, I’ll give it to you.” Distraction by Rinauro and a spinwheel kick from Kurosukaji to start the heat on J-Rod. Rinauro used a Rude Awakening. Masters mentioned that J-Rod put his hair up against Rinauro (none of it aired). Kurosukaji crashed and burned on a Shooting Star Press, but Rinauro pulled J-Rod off the apron to prevent a tag. Sal took a flying crotch bump in the corner, allowing J-Rod to make the hot tag to Steele. He hit a Black Hole Slam (called that way by Micah) on Kurosukaji and Sal saved. J-Rod did a Thesz Press on Sal and pounded him. They fought their way to the back. Steele detonated Kurosukaji with the Steele City Bomb (a pumphandle spiral slam). Winners: J-Rod and Steele in 15 minutes. It was fine except for the length. Back from commercial, J-Rod was chasing Rinauro around. Rinauro sprayed some kind of aerosol concoction in J-Rod’s face. J-Rod was screaming and covering his eyes. Steele saved J-Rod from further damage. They cut to a shot of Sal with a big smile on his face. Steele put a towel over J-Rod’s face and poured water on it. Cru said J-Rod needed to suck it up. 2 – RPW Cruiserweight Title Match: KYLE MATTHEWS vs. SHAUN BANKS vs. FRANKIE VALENTINE (with Ace Diamond) Sal on commentary, and a flying start for Matthews with the heels screwing up right and left. Matthews took the both of them out with a slingshot corkscrew dive. Banks and Valentine got it together to work over Matthews. Jones said Eddie Van Halen/Bon Jovi (Dustin Robinson) needed to speed up his counts. The inevitable greed factor reared its ugly head, and it was every man for himself. There was this great spot where Banks cracked Valentine with a right and then nailed Matthews with a superkick. Matthews did some nice one on two flying, but it ended up where Valentine put Matthews on his shoulders and invited Banks to go up top. As Banks flew, Matthews countered with a victory roll to eliminate Valentine at 6:50. Valentine shoved Banks into a roll up by Matthews. Banks went after Matthews’ back and applied a camel clutch. Comeback time with a top rope crossbody and a tornado DDT. Matthews went for another victory roll, but Banks rolled through using the ropes for extra leverage. Winner: Banks to become the first ever RPW Cruiserweight Champion at 10:30. Outstanding. For pure execution, it was the best match of the four episodes of RPW TV I’ve seen. The layout gave Matthews a chance to shine, and he made the most of it. Banks was joined by his cronies for a little inring celebration. Banks thanked all the little people, those being everyone other than Hot Like Lava. Jones said it was quite a coincidence that there was no Dr. Gayton and no man in a red mask. Cut to Katie interviewing Rinauro in the back. Sal ripped off one of Caprice Coleman’s classic raps, and claimed self-defense with J-Rod. ”Let me tell you something, bro. You have the worst case of BO I’ve ever encountered in my life, and thanks to a little Sal spray, I made it all okee dokee. I’ve got a question for you. Did you see THAT coming?” 3 - RPW Championship Tournament Qualifier – JASON “Cobra” CROSS vs. KODIAK Taylor joined Katie on color commentary. In a round about way, they got across the fact that Cross was coming back from injury. Cross mounted the ropes, rained down five punches and back flipped to his feet for a corner lariat. “There’s the athletic ability of Jason Cross…Go-go, can you do stuff like that?” Katie said she could if she practiced. Cross went down hard off a shoulder block, then used a series of kick to send Kodiak out but not down. Kodiak picked Cross out of midair for some post ramming to the back. Kodiak worked the body part. Cross slipped on a springboard move. Kodiak made the catch and hit a fallaway slam. Cross was dead meat. Kodiak tried a running powerslam. Cross slipped away and rolled Kodiak up for two. Kodiak went for a homicidal powerbomb, and Cross overbalanced into a sunset flip for the pin. They cut to the close up of Cross holding his neck. Winner: Cross in 5:15. No way was Cross not going to be in the tournament. Kodiak is a monster, but green, so he’s not the easiest guy to work with. Cross sold a lot, and beat him without weakening his push. The last segment on my DVD froze up, which really sucks. The gist was J-Rod needed treatment. He was led, blind as bat, into the lavish office of Dr. Gayton for evaluation and diagnosis. J-Rod’s eyeballs were rolled up in his head. Gayton gave J-Rod the bad news that he needed an operation. It was serious for sure, but Gayton was optimistic that surgery could restore J-Rod vision to 100%. Closing Thoughts: The closing segment is indie wrestling DVD gold - part angle and part infomercial You’ve got a legit eye surgeon who also happens to own a wrestling company and world powerlifting records, saving the eye sight of one of his wrestlers. Strong pushes for all of the upper echelon babyfaces, really. This run with RPW is bringing out the best in Steele. He’s grown as a wrestler. Matthews emerged as a deserving top contender for the Cruiserweight Title. I’m not a big fan of three-ways, but that cruiserweight match was outstanding. Sal came out of it as a total scumbag. It's a perfect role for him. I even saw a glimmer of hope for Katie Mayo as a wrestling announcer. She was sticking up for the babyface side, and came across legit pissed at Sal. Masters is the glue of the announcing. There was nobody to carry it when he was in the ring. Jones is great with spontaneous reaction comments. The wrestling was fine, which has consistently been the case, but it was also a more coherent presentation than episodes 3-5. The flow within the hour was much better. Issues remain when it comes to connecting a span of episodes. They halfway mention previous and future events but don't drive the points home. It felt like the first match needed editing. That was an awfully long time to spend on one issue. Then again, I don’t know that there was a better choice. Overall, this was best episode of RPW I’ve seen. |