By Chris Vetter

IWA Mid-South returned to Midlothian, Ill., on Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, for night 1 of the “Ted Petty Invitational.” This two-day tournament is traditionally the biggest shows of the year for this promotion, and arguably the best shows in the Midwest in recent years. However, for a variety of reasons, Low Ki, Samoa Joe, Alex Shelley, Jimmy Rave, Matt Sydal and B-Boy all were removed from this event, and were replaced with local wrestlers, like Nate Webb, Ricochet, Dysfunction and CJ Otis.

The crowd is a whopping 240, which is really impressive considering all the cancellations. The first thing I noticed was that guardrails have been added; I’ve NEVER seen guardrails at an IWA show I’ve attended before! A new curtain & entrance area has been set up for the wrestlers to walk to ringside. The event got under way at 7:40 p.m. In past years, promoter Ian Rotten has talked about Ted Petty, and what a great master he was of all styles. On this night, Rotten stayed at the front desk, and he only addressed the crowd later to announce that the Cubs had won the NL Central title.

* The show opened with each of the 24 men in the tournament being introduced, then they posed for a group photo. As the wrestlers exited the ring, Jimmy Jacobs and long-time nemesis B.J. Whitmer began to brawl! Chuck Taylor ran in, and he nailed the Omega Driver on Jacobs! Taylor left. Jacobs got on the mic and said that he would beat the odds, and win his first-round match tonight. Jacobs acknowledged he would be wrestling for “another promotion” on Saturday, but he would arrange it to make it to both shows if he advanced in the tournament. (Good job of trying to convince fans he could win later.)

(1) Round 1: Josh Abercrombie defeats Ricochet at 8:28. Solid opener. One fan in the crowd held up a HUGE poster board mustache. FUNNY! They opened with some solid mat wrestling, and Ricochet got a backslide for a nearfall at 3:00. Josh hit his sudden side suplex, and he paused to stroke his mustache. Abercrombie choked him in the ropes, then he nailed the (Punk) Pepsi Twist neckbreaker faceplant for a nearfall, but he couldn’t hit the Taliban Backpack. Ricochet hit a second-rope DDT, and they were both down at 6:00.

Ricochet hit some quick kicks and a Pele Kick for a nearfall. Josh hit a leg-capture back suplex for a nearfall. Ricochet hit a satellite headscissors takedown and a flip dive to the floor! However, back in the ring, they battled on the top rope, and Josh hit a falling backward top-rope Taliban Backpack! Abercrombie then locked on a modified Cobra Stretch on the mat, and Ricochet tapped out. The last couple minutes were really good.

(2) Round 1: Joker defeats CJ Otis (w/Joey Eastman) at 5:05. Solid for the time given. Eastman got on the mic and announced this would be his final IWA appearance, and the crowd cheered! They opened by trading shoulder tackles and chops. Joker hit a hurricanrana. Otis hit an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, and he tied Joker up in a Japanese Stranglehold. They traded more chops, and Otis hit a snap suplex for a nearfall at 2:30. Joker nailed a Mafia Kick and a brainbuster for a nearfall. Joker hit a basement dropkick to the back of the head for a nearfall.

Joker nailed a German Suplex, but CJ Otis hopped up and hit a clothesline, and they were both down! Otis hit his own German Suplex! Joker nailed a standing powerbomb to get the pin. A fan sitting with me was deeply disappointed that this was so short, as he thought this would be more of an epic ‘strong style’ match, but they never got to the point of trading vicious forearms. The men hugged afterward.

(3) Round 1: Human Tornado defeats Eddie Kingston at 9:13. Good match, and this woke up the crowd. Kingston tied up the neck, and he applied a legscissors lock. Tornado offered a test of strength, but instead, he pulled back and danced, and Kingston was annoyed. Tornado hit some pimp slaps, then some armdrags, a Mafia Kick, and his ‘dance step’ kicks in the corner, but Kingston bailed before Tornado finished the sequence with a low blow. Tornado nailed a plancha to the floor at 4:00, and they fought on the floor, where Kingston hit some chops.

Back in the ring, Tornado hit his own chops. Kingston hit some blows to the back, and he mocked Tornado’s “dance step kicks.” Kingston was in charge, and he hit a Mafia Kick. Tornado fired back with his own Mafia Kick at 7:00, and he hit a doublestomp on the head in the ropes, then a springboard dropkick in the ring. Tornado finally hit his low blow kick in the corner! Kingston hit a belly-to-belly suplex for a nearfall. Kingston nailed a short-arm clothesline for a nearfall, and the crowd rallied for Eddie. However, Tornado hit an enziguri and a leg-capture back suplex for the pin. Good match.

* Chris Hero appeared in the crowd, and he spoke on the mic, as he taunted Kingston for losing. Kingston told Ian Rotten that he wanted a match with Hero! Ian Rotten reminded Kingston that he cannot interfere in Hero’s match later, or he would be banned from IWA for a year!

(4) Round 1: Davey Richards defeats B.J. Whitmer at 14:13. A very good match, and my pick for best of the show. They had an intense lockup, and Richards hit his bridge-back kick, and he twisted Whitmer’s left leg. They traded shoulder tackles, with neither man budging. Richards hit some chops, kicks, and a headscissors takedown, and Whitmer bailed at 3:00. They traded chops, and Richards hit some spin kicks to the chest. Whitmer fired back with a Spinebuster, and he dropped Davey gut-first on the top rope. On the floor, Whitmer whipped Richards into the guardrails. In the ring, Whitmer hit a backbreaker over his knee, then he applied a Camel Clutch at 6:00, but Richards reached the ropes.

Whitmer hit a snap suplex for a nearfall. Whitmer suplexed both of them over the top rope to the floor. In the ring, Richards nailed a flying kneestrike and a series of chops, then an overhead belly-to-belly suplex and a flying forearm. Richards stayed in charge with a springboard dropkick to the back and a tope con helo dive to the floor at 9:30. In the ring, Richards hit a top-rope crossbody block for a nearfall, then some Kawada Kicks. Whitmer hit a running knee for a nearfall and a brainbuster, then a frogsplash for a nearfall, and the crowd was hot! They fought on the ropes, and Richards hit a Sunset Flip Powerbomb.

Richards couldn’t hit the DR Driver/butterfly piledriver. Whitmer nailed a powerbomb into the corner, and he hit a Mafia kick! Whitmer hit a standing powerbomb for a believable nearfall at 13:30, and the crowd was really hot now! Richards hit a handspring-back-enziguri, a Saito Suplex, a German Suplex with a bridge for a nearfall, then he tied Whitmer up in a stretch-hold on the mat, and Whitmer tapped out. Good back and forth match, and the crowd wasn’t sure who would win.

(5) Round 1: Devon Moore defeats Dysfunction at 5:10. Solid for the time given. Moore hit a kick to the face, and Dysfunction bailed. Devon dove to the floor. Dys hit some chops, and he whipped Moore into the guardrail. Dys nailed a backbody drop on the floor! He beat up Moore on the floor. In the ring, Dys hit a backbreaker over his knee for a nearfall, and he hit some spine kicks. Moore fought back with an enziguri and a Lionsault for a nearfall at 2:00.

Dys hit an enziguri and a standing moonsault! Moore hit a running clothesline, but he botched a springboard neckbreaker. Moore hit a Victory Roll for a nearfall. Dys nailed a Superkick for a nearfall, then a Death Valley Driver for a nearfall, but he missed a top-rope guillotine legdrop. Moore hit a second-rope headscissors takedown. Moore nailed a top-rope Shooting Star Press for the pin. Good action, but little heat, as I don’t think the crowd thought either man was worthy of advancing to the second round.

* Intermission was next. Just as the show was re-starting, Jason Dukes hopped in the ring, and he spoke on the mic. Dukes wondered why he isn’t in the tournament, as he noted he is the NWA Midwest X Division champion. Dukes said Ian should give him a first-round bye, and be included in tomorrow’s action! Ian Rotten walked to ringside, and he demanded that Dukes get out of the ring. Security pulled Dukes out. Ian grabbed Dukes’ title belt, and he wiped his rear with it!

(6) Round 1: Mike Quackenbush defeats Billy Roc at 11:53. Good match. Quack immediately tied up the left leg, then the left arm, and they had a standoff at 3:00. They sped it up by trading some armdrags. Quack hit a back chop and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker over his knee. He tied up Roc’s legs and cranked back on the head. Quack hit a spine kick, and he was in charge. Quack hit a double kneedrop to the chest for a nearfall at 6:00, then he applied an inverted Boston Crab, but Roc reached the ropes. Roc hit a basement dropkick to the face, then a series of dropkicks and a spin heel kick.

Roc got a Crucifix Takedown rollup for a nearfall. Quack nailed a headbutt to the shoulder. Rock hit a Sunset Flip Powerbomb for a believable nearfall, drawing a nice pop. Quack nailed his Palmstrike and a brainbuster for a nearfall. Quack applied a Kondo Clutch/reverse Texas Cloverleaf, but Roc reached the ropes at 11:00. Roc nailed a Backflip Driver for a nearfall, and he went for a frogsplash, but Quackenbush got his knees up to block it. Quack tied Roc in a pretzel that almost looked like an abdominal stretch, and Roc tapped out.

(7) Round 1: Brent Albright defeats Tank at 5:06. Tank jumped Albright on the floor. In the ring, Albright hit a dropkick, a Mafia Kick, and a running forearm. Tank hit a (Boss Man) sidewalk slam. Albright missed a top-rope crossbody block. Tank unloaded some crossface blows and he hit a headbutt. Albright worked over the left arm, but he couldn’t push Tank down to apply the Crowbar/Fujiwara Armbar. Tank hit a bodyslam and a guillotine legdrop at 3:00. They traded blows on their knees, then they exchanged headbutts. Albright hit a clothesline for a nearfall and a German Suplex for a nearfall. They traded punches. Albright applied a cross-armbreaker, and Tank tapped out. Solid.


(8) Round 1: Joey Ryan defeats Brandon Thomaselli at 9:54. I was disappointed with this match. Ryan was introduced as half of the NWA tag champions. Brandon has a new tattoo over the left side of his chest. They took turns playing to the crowd. Ryan hit a shoulder tackle, and he paused to lewdly rub his chest. They traded SEVERAL armdrags, and Ryan stopped to use his inhaler. Ryan hit some kneedrops on the left arm. Brandon tied Ryan up on the mat. The crowd was really quiet, not cheering for either man. Brandon hit a spine kick at 5:00, then a snap suplex. Ryan hit a German Suplex, and they were both down.

Ryan hit a dropkick, then a spear through the ropes, and they fell to the floor at 8:00. In the ring, Brandon hit a fisherman’s buster for a nearfall. Ryan hit a pumphandle overhead suplex. Brandon hit a Mafia Kick for a nearfall and a double-arm DDT. Ryan nailed a Superkick for the pin. Disappointingly slow, with no crowd heat.

(9) Round 1: Nate Webb defeats Drake Younger at 8:55. The only upset, in my eyes, of night 1. The crowd loved Webb’s extended intro to “Teenage Dirtbag.” Younger twisted the left ankle. Webb hit a drop-toe-hold. Younger hit a backbody drop, and he twisted Webb’s left wrist. Webb hit a hurricanrana, and they had a standoff at 3:00. They traded forearm shots, and Younger hit some chops and a headbutt. Younger cranked on the head as he had Webb’s legs tied up. Younger hit a second-rope moonsault and a delayed vertical suplex for a nearfall.

Webb fired back with some kneelifts to the chest, but he missed the Arachnid Kick, and he crashed in the ropes. Younger nailed the running Liger Bomb for a nearfall at 7:00. Webb hit a chinbreaker over his knee and a hard clothesline for a nearfall, and the crowd popped. Younger hit a Bulldog Powerslam for a nearfall. They fought on the top rope, and Webb hit a top-rope half-nelson spinning faceplant for the pin! I was definitely surprised with this finish.

* Ian Rotten announced that the Cubs had won the National League Central Division. As expected, a mixture of cheers and boos (as Midlothian is definitely closer to the White Sox’ stadium.)

(10) Round 1: Claudio Castagnoli defeats Nigel McGuinness at 11:22. These two have fought many times before, both in ROH, and in the first round of the 2004 TPI! They traded intense armbars, some good mat reversals, and they had a standoff at 3:00. I liked the good, realistic vibe here. They traded a series of rollups and had a standoff, and the crowd shouted, “Hey!” They shook hands. Nigel hit his headstand mule kick in the corner. They began to trade an EXTENDED series of European Uppercuts. Good fun. Nigel ended it with a short-arm clothesline for a nearfall at 7:00. Nigel hit his back kick & inverted DDT combo in the corner.

Claudio nailed a top-rope diving European Uppercut for a nearfall, then he hit the Giant Swing for a nearfall. Nigel hit the Tower of London/Hangman’s stunner for a nearfall at 9:00. Nigel hit a running European Uppercut in the corner and a short-arm clothesline for a nearfall. Claudio hit a second-rope flying European Uppercut and a Waterslide for a nearfall, but he couldn’t hit the Ricola Bomb/pyramid bomb. Nigel hit another short-arm clothesline for a believable nearfall, and the crowd was hot and split. Nigel couldn’t hit the Rebound (Jawbreaker) Lariat. Claudio immediately nailed the Ricola Bomb for the pin. Very good match, and this could have gone much longer!

(11) Round 1: Too Cold Scorpio defeats Chris Hero at 19:31. Good match. The ring announcer (at Hero’s request) introduced Hero as the only man in all the TPI tournaments, and the “best pure athlete” in the field. They opened with an intense lockup, and Scorpio twisted the left wrist. Scorpio kept applying a cravate, which frustrated Hero! Hero began to jump around, bouncing up and down, then he did a kip up. Scorpio nailed a nice dropkick at 5:30, and Hero fell to the floor. They brawled on the floor. In the ring, Hero hit some Garvin stomps. Scorpio applied a crossface hold on the mat, and Hero reached the ropes at 8:30.

Scorpio nailed a jumping kick to the face, then some jabs to the face. Scorpio hit a guillotine legdrop on the ring apron! Fans chanted for Scorpio. Scorpio hit a top-rope crossbody block for a nearfall, and he went for a standing moonsault, but Hero got his knees up. Hero hit some sentons, then he hit a basement dropkick to the face for a nearfall at 12:30. Hero hit some forearms and chops. Scorpio hit a headscissors takedown to the floor. In the ring, Hero tried to slow Scorpio down with a hammerlock, but Scorpio hit a Pele Kick in the corner, then a back suplex. This had a good, deliberate pace. Scorpio hit a 450 guillotine legdrop for a nearfall at 15:30.

Scorpio hit a top-rope corkscrew press for a nearfall. They traded stiff forearms, and this got the crowd going! Hero nailed a Mafia Kick for a nearfall, then a roaring forearm and a release suplex for a nearfall. Scorpio got an inside cradle for a nearfall. Hero hit a cravate swinging neckbreaker off the second rope for a nearfall at 18:30. Scorpio hit a spin heel kick, some kneelifts, a Pele Kick, and a top-rope 450 Splash for the clean pin! Good match.

* The crowd taunted Hero with a “loser!” chant. Kingston returned to ringside and brawled with Hero, and they had to be separated by other wrestlers. Ian told Kingston he could have Hero tomorrow. Fans chanted, “No DQ!” Rotten said it would be a no-DQ, last-man-standing match!

(12) Round 1: Chuck Taylor defeats Jimmy Jacobs at 26:01 to retain the heavyweight title. Jacobs came out to a TrustCompany song, and he wore his blood-drenched white trenchcoat from ROH. Jacobs jumped Taylor on the floor (I heard a bell here, so I started my clock as they made contact). They traded chops, and Jacobs whipped Taylor into the guardrail. They brawled into the crowd, and on top of the merchandise table! Jacobs speared Taylor as he was holding onto the basketball backboard at 3:30! Jacobs brought Taylor into the ring (and the bell again sounded to ‘officially start’ the match.) Jacobs hit some punches on the mat, then his doublestomps on the chest and a senton for a nearfall.

Jacobs tied Taylor in the Tree of Woe, and he worked on the knee and got a nearfall at 7:30. Jacobs jawed at Taylor as he hit some stomps, and this was fairly basic. They traded slaps, and Jacobs went for Sliced Bread #2, but Taylor shoved Jacobs over the top rope to the floor, drawing a nice pop. Taylor then dove to the floor at 11:00, but he struck his legs against the new guardrail. Back in the ring, Taylor hit a nice dropkick for a nearfall, then his overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Taylor hit an enziguri and a back suplex for a nearfall, but he missed a second-rope moonsault at 14:00. Taylor nailed his “Sole Food”/falling backward boot across the chin.

Jacobs fired back with a spear for a nearfall, and he went for a dive to the floor, but he missed and crashed into the guardrail! Taylor got in the ring; Jacobs barely got back in at the 19-count. Jacobs was now quite BLOODY. Taylor hit a powerbomb with a jackknife cover, and he hit some punches to Jacobs’ bloody forehead, and he was in charge. Taylor hit another Soul Food, then a Mafia Kick for a nearfall at 19:00. Jacobs again couldn’t hit the Sliced Bread #2. Taylor worked on Jacob’s left leg, and he yanked off Jacobs’ leg brace! Taylor applied a Figure Four leglock, and they traded slaps and headbutts. Taylor hit a basement dropkick on the knee.

Jacobs fired back by nailing a top-rope senton splash for a nearfall at 23:00. Taylor hit repeated kicks on the leg. They fought on the ropes in the corner, and Jacobs hit a falling-backward top-rope senton splash. However, Jacobs again could not hit the Sliced Bread #2! Taylor distracted the ref, hit a low blow mule kick, then the Omega Driver/modified Michinoku Driver, for the pin. Good match, but it was a bit drawn out.

Final thoughts: The show ended around 11:20 p.m.

This was a good show. However, I’ve been at the past three years of the “Ted Petty Invitational,” and those have all been “great shows.” This was NOT a great show. It doesn’t match up to night 1 of 2004, 2005, or 2006.

One of the problems with this show is there were few matches where it wasn’t obvious which wrestler would win. No one expected CJ Otis to beat Joker. No one thought Roc would beat Quackenbush. And no one really expected Taylor to lose to Jacobs. The few matches (Scorpio-Hero, Whitmer-Richards, Nigel-Claudio) that could have gone either way were the ones with the best heat. The shortness of some of the matches (three ending in under 5-and-a-half minutes) also was quite disappointing.

Best match goes to Davey Richards vs. BJ Whitmer. The crowd was hot and split, the action was sharp and believable, and both men delivered in the ring. Second-best goes to Nigel vs. Claudio. Sure, I’ve seen them have better matches before, but they packed some good, intense action into the time allotted to them. I’ll give Scorpio-Hero third-best, just ahead of Jacobs-Taylor. Both were good matches. The crowd really didn’t seem to know who to cheer for between Jacobs and Taylor, though.

The action was NOT bad, even if the matches were short. The only match I considered disappointing was Ryan vs. Thomaselli; I’m generally a fan of both wrestlers, but on this night, the action was just a bit off.

One random thought: there were a LOT of tapout victories on this night -- certainly more than a usual show. I don’t know if that was designed, or if the wrestlers each came up with those finishes on their own. But it definitely stood out from prior IWA shows, and prior TPIs.

I won’t pretend that I’m not disappointed in the cancellations. I made plans to attend this event (taking days off work, lining up hotels, coordinating plans with people to attend the shows with me, and planning my Saturday events in Chicago) when the lineup still featured Samoa Joe, Low Ki, etc. The local replacements were fine, but it left me feeling short-changed. (IWA could have lowered ticket prices after the cancellations to reflect the new, cheaper roster of the show.) The whole night had me thinking this was a big “bait-and-switch” tactic. Thus, I decided to attend a different show on Saturday. I’ll eventually get the DVD of the weekend and see what I missed.

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