THE BRIAN KENDRICK W/JACK GALLAGHER VS. AKIRA TOZAWA
Very entertaining to see Tozawa knock down Gallagher and Kendrick each with once punch. Very different styles here and Tozawa’s offense is an explosive flurry while Kendrick is slow and methodical. It’s a perfect matchup.
Tozawa shows some real aggression with smashing up Kendrick’s leg. That’s usually a heel tactic but it seems to fit his style. He hits the big senton splash from the top for the win. They have been keeping him looking strong and showcasing him while he’s out of the title picture. Fun match.
Match Rating: Five Gold Medals
HIDEO ITAMI VS. MICHAEL BLAISE
This will probably not end well for Blaise. He gets one kick in, but Itami begins to destroy him. As the announcers talk about the ref stopping an Itami match fort he second week in a row, Mustafa Ali shows up and Itami runs. This would appear to be a count out win for Blaise! They don’t announce a winner, but that’s the rules. This was really well done
Match Rating: Eight Gold Medals
BACKSTAGE PROMO: CEDRIC ALEXANDER
Cedric says that Drew Gulak exposed himself last week when he wouldn’t fight Cedric, and he’s calling him out next week. Well-done promo.
Promo Rating: Three Stone Colds
KALISTO W/LINCE DORADO & GRAN METALIK VS. BUDDY MURPHY W/TONY NESE
Murphy makes mistakes when he’s frustrated, and he seems to always get frustrated at some point in his matches. Otherwise I don’t think Kalisto would stand a chance in this match. Murphy goes high-risk too early in this one and it gives Kalisto the opening he needs to fly. He definitely hit the back of the referee’s head/neck on his suicide dive flip. The ref looks fine but that could not have felt good.
I thought we’d get a free-for-all no contest for a second there, but the sidekicks all take their spots back on the outside. The spot where Murphy caught Kalisto in a dive and hold him up for a suplex was incredible. The ref throws out Lucha House Party, giving Murphy a huge advantage with Nese in his corner. Inevitably, Nese grabbed Kalisto’s ankle, and Murphy takes advantage with a massive clothesline. The ref tosses out Nese, and things are even once again.
Kalisto seems to have his legs better underneath him than Murphy and goes on an offensive tear after Nese is ejected. He hits the BasementRana for a two count. I love that move. That flurry may have taken everything out of him as both men lay on the mat afterwards.
The action moves to the outside and seems to get desperate as both guys use the surrounding environment to their advantage. Murphy breaks the count just as Kalisto is about to get counted out and then gets launched into timekeeper’s area. Just like I said, he makes mistakes when he gets frustrated. He gets back into the ring at nine and gets another BasementRana for it. Both guys look exhausted.
Kalisto goes for a springboard hurricanrana but Murphy catches him with a huge powerbomb for a two count. After another back-and-forth flurry, Murphy hits Murphy’s Law for the win. Holy shit, one of the best matches I’ve ever seen.
Match Rating: Twenty Gold Medals
Overall Show Rating: Nine Gold Medals
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