Lucha Unleashed: Dire Consequences

Lucha Unleashed: Dire Consequences

On Thursday I posted a brief piece on the Lucha Unleashed promotion based in Glendale, AZ. That piece was timed to go with this past Saturday’ Lucha Unleased event: DIRE CONSEQUENCES

I want to mention two things up front:

• I wrote that there are not as many hard hitting matches at Lucha as there are at AWF. On this night there were two major hard hitting matches.

• The second thing is, this was the BEST show that Lucha Unleashed has put on in its short history. Seriously, there was not a bad match on the card. Seven matches, all good or better and everyone delivered in what they needed to do.

• Dirty Doug versus EJ Sparks

This was our opening match. EJ Sparks is a highly athletic high flyer who can wrestle and fly equally well, with an entertaining in-ring persona. His style is similar to Rich Swan, Kofi Kingston, but with more Spark.

Dirty Doug, well the less said, or experienced, about Dirty is better. Let’s say his name and gimmick has little to do with dirty tactics. Think Pig Pen.

This was a true clash of styles, the athletic ability of EJ versus the brawling of Dirty. Dirty was very Anderson like, working over EJ’s left arm for most of the match. This was a good, hot opening match with lots of action and near falls. In the end, Dirty was a little too Dirty and gained the pin.

• Jax versus Lawrence Tyler (LT)

I now know who Jax is, and I mean no disrespect by that. Jax is normally part of a tag team – Mason and Jax. They have always been announced as Mason and Jax and I was really never sure which one was which. This is the first time I have seen him in a singles match.

LT is one bad ass bruiser who can go in the ring. Jax hung in there with him, pounding away on LT as much as LT did on Jax. This was a solid, massive hard hitting, slobber knocker of a fight. That ended when Lt brought a wrestling hold (a roll up) to a fight.

• Jace Battle versus Greg Romero 

Jace Battle is becoming an AZ Stalwart. Greg Romero was making his Lucha debut. Romero was rocking some sorta, cowboy boots, chaps wearing leather biker, greaser gimmick. I think. Jace is the ‘Grand Father of Strong Style’ and has a Kung Fu Fighting inspired style.

Romero is a bruiser who dominated most of the match. Battle made numerous comeback with kicks, strikes and some spectacular high flying movies for his build. Even though Romero dominated, he never quiet seemed to get going against Jace, whose fighting spirit won out the day.

• Debuting JC Watson versus R3

JC Watson come to the ring with some epic music, received some cheers, grabbed the mic and showed some skills. At which point, he lost the cheers and generated a lot . . . cold (con) fusion. He claimed to be the rookie of the year, the greatest in the world, the hottest thing to ever come out of the AWF Academy. Those cheering for him were stealing his moment (whatever that was).

He rambled on about living the dream in-ring night in and night out, while we were at home, on our couches eating Lays potato chips. He motioned to me. I was eating a small bag of Lays original flavor at the time. I stood up, held the bag up like a title belt and started a small Lays chant.

Then music hit . . . it was R3 to the rescue! This was this shortest match of the night, but still decent. JC got in some good offense, and even had R3 off his feet a couple of times. But the Monster that is R3 overcame, hit Fatality, and doused the fire of the Hottest Wrestler going.

On a side note, I know this was JC Watson’s Lucha debut, but I don’t know anything else about the man. I know he hasn’t wrestles for the AWF (at least as JC Watson). I don’t know if he has wrestled anywhere else or if this was his pro debut.

During intermission, Dave and I talked to the ‘King of AZ’ Chris Evans and Johnny Saovi (pronounced Suave). Both are cools guys, great in ring and always fun to talk to. I told Johnny that he should squash Sanchise in their match. I said he should just low blow Sanchise when the ref isn’t looking, hit a DDT and pin him . . .

That match was up next.

• Daniel Sanchise versus Johnny Saovi

What a freaking awesome match this was. I have never been a big Sanchise guy, but he has some great moves and a lot of skill. Saovi is awesome, and it’s hard to boo him even though he’s the heel.

Defying Gravity is the best way to define and describe this match. Spectacular moves and escapes, exciting and fast paced, multiple near pins. This was a near text book perfect cruiserweight match.

Then, with the ref slightly distracted, Saovi hit a back kick low blow, a Michnoki Type Drive and put Sanchise down for the three.

Yes, Saovi won the match in almost the exact way I said during intermission! Freaking Awesome.

• Midnight Marvels versus Veterano IV/Thugnificent

The Midnight Marvels are two young, masked mysterious Marvels called Damien Drake and Spyder Warrior (true). Tonight they faced Veterano IV and Thugnificent, who were out for revenge after last month’s show.

Veterano IV and Thugnificent brought the punishment and tried to ground and pound the masked duo. The Marvels flew through the air with ease and skill. In the end the would-be super-heroes proved too much and vanquished the villainous team.

I have never been a big fan of the obvious fan boy gimmick of the Midnight Marvels, but this match was their coming out party. This is the best I have seen them, and they have an excellent dropkick into a crucifix pin finisher.

Time for our Main Event, The Lucha Unleashed Championship on the line –

• Chris Evans (c) versus Owen Travers

‘Now this IS a wrestling match,’ said one of the girls who always sit next to Dave and I. That is the best description that can be applied to this match.

While there were some spectacular highflying moves, this stayed mostly a hard hitting, ground game wrestling match. It ran the gambit of emotions, passion and desire. The harder Travers hit Evans, Evans hit back harder.

Neither man gave an inch. One stiff kick, was returned with another. A hard chop, returned with a hard punch. Nothing either man did kept the other down for three. Evans fought to retain his title. Owens wanted, maybe needed, the title.

Despite Chris’s wishes, Lucha Unleashed General Manager June Jackson came out to ring side, following him. On more than one occasion, she slide a chair into the ring – for Chris. Chris refused every time to use it.

Due to Jackson’s distraction the ref got knocked out, Chris had the match won and Jackson looked on dumbfounded at what she did. Eventually the ref stirred. Jackson slide the chair back into the ring. Chris refused it, argued with Jackson . . .

No, Travers! No! Travers wrestled with his own conscience, but as Chris turned around, he made his choice. Chair Shot. Three Count. Damn June Jackson!

WINNER AND NEW CHAMP: OWEN TRAVERS!!!

FINAL THOUGHTS:

BEST LUCHA UNLEASHED SHOW EVER.

If you disagree I’ll have Chris Evan hit you – hard!

RATING: 7.5