By Chris Vetter

Northern Impact Wrestling, one of the top promotions in Minnesota, held two consecutive shows in early August 2006 for “Road to Immortality weekend.” NIW decided to release a DVD with seven matches from the two shows, rather than release both shows in their entirety. I was busy this weekend, so I wasn’t at either show; this is my first time seeing these matches.

* Night 1, from Aug. 3, 2006, is from a ballroom in Crystal, Minn. The crowd here was about 70 fans, but they are really spread out, so it seems like the crowd is even smaller than that. This is a one camera shot, and it’s a bit far from the ring. On commentary is Vinny Devine, who has a (fake) thick New Yorker accent, and he turned out to be an awesome heel colorman.

No backstage segments. To the ring!

(1) Horace the Psychopath (w/Rob James) defeats Venom at 8:05. Horace is in his early 30s and has been a fixture on the MN indy scene for a decade; he runs around like a madman with white facepaint and a hospital outfit. Venom is a chunky young wrestler. Horace attacked Venom on the floor. Venom hit a Stinger Splash against the ring post. In the ring, Venom hit some stiff forearms and a Stinger Splash. Horace hit a swinging neckbreaker. Ref Rob Page joined commentary. Horace hit a flip senton and a Mafia Kick, sending Venom to the floor at 2:00.

They fought on the floor, and Horace hit a jumping knee to the chest, then a headbutt and some punches. The crowd was HOT and split. Horace hit Venom with a metal bucket. Venom crawled back into the ring at 5:00. Horace was in control, as he hit some stomps and a headbutt. Venom hit a snap suplex for a nearfall, then he applied a bearhug. Venom hit a back chop & front kick & body splash combo for a believable nearfall at 7:30. Horace hit another jumping knee. Venom hit an enziguri and a bodyslam, but he missed a splash. Horace hit a DDT for the pin. Solid big-man match, and the crowd was hot.

(2) Joey Envy defeats The Prophet at 11:05. The Prophet is the NIW “Impact Champion,” but his title was not on the line here. The Prophet is a Goth character, and he’s the face. Envy is skinny, but he’s a cocky, arrogant cruiserweight. The CEO, the heel commissioner, joined commentary, and he predicted that the Prophet’s days as champion are numbered. (Funny, because a year later, the Prophet is STILL the Impact champion!) The match began with an intense lockup, and the wrestlers traded wrist holds. The CEO ripped on female wrestlers (this would matter later in the show). Envy hit a shoulder tackle and a dropkick through the ropes to the floor at 2:30. Envy hit some loud chops, and he was in charge as they brawled in the ring.

Envy flipped Envy up in the air and hit a low blow kick, and Prophet was in pain. Envy hit a running back elbow and he jawed at Prophet. Prophet hit a Tornado DDT for a nearfall at 5:30, then some Dibiase fistdrops and a guillotine legdrop for a nearfall. Envy came back with a Lungblower to the chest for a nearfall and some chops, then a running forearm in the corner and a running knee shot. Envy hit an overhead flipping neckbreaker. (In a funny moment, Vinny Devine turned his mic on; it had been off for the first half of this match, so I only heard the CEO’s half of the conversation.) Prophet hit an inverted DDT, and both men were down at 8:30.

They traded punches, and Prophet hit a clothesline for a nearfall. Envy tried, but he couldn’t hit the Superkick. Prophet hit a bodyslam for a nearfall. However, Prophet couldn’t hit the Message/Air Raid Crash. Envy collapsed in pain at 10:30, and the crowd booed, as everyone knew that Envy was faking an injury. Rob James ran in the ring and hit a pumphandle sitdown powerbomb on Prophet while the referee was checking on Envy! Envy crawled over, covered Prophet, and scored the pin. Good match.

(3) Kid Krazy defeats Chris Jordan at 16:25. A very good match. (Unfortunately, neither man is active on the MN scene today. Krazy has relocated to California, and Jordan retired earlier this year at the height of his popularity). Aaron Corbin, a heel wrestler, joined Devine on commentary. “I hate this guy,” Aaron said as Kid Krazy walked through the crowd. The match began with an intense lockup, and Jordan hit some shoulder thrusts to the gut, then some crossface blows. Krazy hit some punches. Jordan hit a nice fallaway slam and a springboard dropkick, and Krazy fell to the floor. Jordan went for a sunset flip, but Krazy rolled through and immediately hit a Tajiri-style spin kick to the head at 3:00!

Krazy hit some spine kicks for a huge pop, and he slowed Jordan down with a chinlock. Krazy hit a nice (A.J. Styles-like) dropkick for a nearfall, then a leaping forearm from the apron to the floor. Krazy went for his Uh-OHH running basement dropkick in the corner, but Jordan moved, and Krazy crashed to the floor at 5:30. Jordan slammed Krazy’s back into the apron and ring post, and Jordan hit some European Uppercuts. The crowd loudly chanted, “Let’s go Krazy!” Jordan hit a Spinebuster in the ring for a nearfall. Jordan applied an abdominal stretch, then he hit a second Spinebuster for a nearfall at 8:00. Jordan hit a Northern Clothesline and several backbreakers over his knee for a nearfall.

Jordan hit a nice gutbuster over his knee for a nearfall, and he was in charge. Krazy fired back with a DDT, and they were both down at 11:30. Jordan accidentally collided with the ring post. Krazy nailed several Kawada Kicks to the face and a flip senton for a nearfall. Krazy hit a Hip Kick and a running dropkick to the chest in the corner, then he nailed the Uh-OHH for a nearfall. Jordan hit an Alabama Slam for a nearfall. The ref was bumped. Krazy hit an enziguri, and they fought to the floor. (Unfortunately, the camera did a poor job of following the action outside the ring here.)

Krazy got a visual pinfall in the ring, but there was no referee. Suddenly, Horace the Psychopath and Pete Huge ran out from the back, and they attacked Kid Krazy, with Horace hitting a jumping knee. The North Star Express (Darin Corbin & Ryan Cruz) ran to the ring and chased off the heels, so it was just Jordan vs. Krazy again. Jordan hit Krazy with a belt for a believable nearfall! However, Krazy hit the World of Pain/Canadian Destroyer for the pin. Good match. These two had several battles before, and it’s always good stuff.

* The remaining matches are from “night 2” in a bar in Amery, Wis. Unfortunately, the crowd is only 50 to 60 strong on this night. On commentary are babyface owner Frosty and babyface wrestler Ryan Cruz. This was a two-camera recording, and editing is solid.

(4) Portia Perez & Ben Sailer defeat Ann Brookstone & “Playboy” Pete Huge in a mixed tag match at 10:05. Portia is a Canadian girl, and she really does look like she’s 12 or 13; she has wrestled for Shimmer. Brookstone is a taller, stronger woman, and she also has wrestled for Shimmer. Huge is the ‘ladies’ man’ on the local scene, and he flirted with Portia at the bell; he finally tied up with Sailer, and Huge hit a shoulder tackle. Sailer hit a monkeyflip and a springboard dropkick. The ladies tagged in and tied up at 2:30. Portia hit a headscissors takedown.

Huge tagged in and he forcefully kissed Perez, and she bailed. Brookstone kissed Sailer, and he bailed in disgust, and he got his face washed at the bar. FUNNY. Portia hit a spin heel kick on Brookstone. Huge hit a clothesline on Perez! Brookstone chopped Perez. Huge choked Perez in the ropes. Heel wrestler Vinny Devine returned to commentary. Huge hit a bodyslam for a nearfall, and he applied a Camel Clutch at 6:30. Brookstone hit a Hennig Necksnap for a nearfall. Brookstone tied Perez up in a Pendulum, and then she hit a Curbstomp!

Huge hit a clothesline for a nearfall. Portia hit a low blow on Huge, and she made the hot tag to Sailer at 9:30. Sailer hit back-elbows on both heels, and he hit a Northern Lights suplex on Brookstone for a nearfall. Sailer hit a kick to Huge’s chest as Perez was going for a sunset flip on Huge, allowing Perez to score the pin on Pete Huge! Huge hit a G-Spot/X-Factor on Sailer after the match. Solid, standard tag match.

* The CEO brought scissors in the ring, as if he was going to cut Portia’s hair, but Ryan Cruz & Darin Corbin chased him off.

(5) Rob James & Horace the Psychopath defeat Kid Krazy & The Prophet at 10:44. Good match. Rob James’ gimmick is that he’s “six percent body fat,” similar to the Simon Dean character. Prophet and Rob James started, and Prophet hit an armdrag and he posed, then he hit a bodyslam. Prophet immediately hit his own armdrags and a bodyslam. Rob James bailed and stretched on the floor. Kid Krazy tagged in at 2:30, and he locked up with Horace. Krazy hit a doublestomp on the back, then a spine kick and some Kawada Kicks to the face.

Prophet hit a dropkick on Horace. Krazy hit a catapult senton and an enziguri on Horace. Prophet hit a plancha on Horace. Krazy hit a NICE flip dive onto Horace. However, Rob James hit Prophet from the ring apron. Horace hit a Samoan Drop on Prophet, then a jumping knee. Rob James hit a Rumpshaker on Prophet in the corner. Horace hit a flip senton on Prophet. Rob James hit an Earthquake Buttsplash for a nearfall at 5:30. Horace bit Prophet on the forehead. Rob James did some lewd squats over Prophet’s face. Prophet hit a Tornado DDT on Rob James for a nearfall at 8:30. Rob James hit a mid-ring buttbump for a nearfall.

Prophet hit a back suplex on Horace, and he finally made the hot tag to Kid Krazy. Krazy hit his Uh-OHH/running basement dropkick in the corner on Horace. Krazy hit a Hipkick and a springboard forearm on Rob James. Moments later, Rob James hit a low blow, got a rollup, and scored a pin on Prophet. Good match, but I hoped for more. This match should have been longer, and Kid Krazy spent too much time on the ring apron.

(6) Arik Cannon vs. Cody O’Neill ended in a time-limit draw at 30:46. Frosty, the babyface owner, was a “second referee” at ringside while also on commentary. (And you know he was going to play into this match somehow!) O’Neill is chubby and short, maybe 5’6”, but he’s a great high-flyer. He’s cocky and smug, and he came out to Madonna’s “Like a Virgin.” Cannon wore his white full-body ring attire. They stalled at the bell; they finally had an intense lockup and traded standing switches. (It was announced this match had a 30-minute time limit, and it quickly became obvious these guys were planning to go the distance with their good-but-deliberate pacing).

Cannon bit the left wrist. They traded armbars. Cannon hit a loud chop at 6:00, and he sped it up with some quick armdrags and a bodyslam. Cody bailed and stalled. Cody finally got back in and hit his own loud chop, but he couldn’t hit a handspring-back-elbow. Cody nailed a leg lariat for a nearfall at 8:30. Cannon hit an armdrag, and he focused on the arm and hit some chops. They traded more chops, with Cannon hitting more of them. Cannon hit some quick armdrags, and Cody bailed again at 16:30. Fans chanted, “Oompa Loompa” at the diminutive Cody, and he was annoyed with the fans. Cody hit a clothesline for a nearfall, some punches, and he was in charge. Cannon hit a Hangman’s twisting neckbreaker out of the ropes for a nearfall at 21:00.

Cody hit his handspring back elbow, grabbed the ropes for leverage, and scored a pin at 21:27! However, Frosty immediately told the referee about Cody using the ropes, and the match was restarted. Cody hit Cannon with a weapon as Frosty spoke to referee Rob Page. Cannon was bleeding. Cody tossed Cannon to the floor at 24:30, and he hit more blows on the floor. Cannon fired back with more chops, LOUD headbutts and punches. They got back in the ring, and Cody nailed a double-jump moonsault, then a Shining Wizard for a believable nearfall at 27:30.

Cannon hit a swinging neckbreaker, then a delayed vertical brainbuster for a nearfall! They hit double clotheslines, and both men were down. Cannon hit several clotheslines, as the ring announcer said that only one minute was remaining in the time limit. Cannon hit a Hangman’s Pedigree, but he missed the Glimmering Warlock/step-up enziguri. Cody put Cannon in a cool headscissorslock submission hold with 30 seconds to go, but Cannon refused to submit. Finally, the bell sounded, and the match ended in a draw.

* Suddenly, heel wrestler John Johnson (who runs Northstar Premier Wrestling, and is NOT a wrestler for NIW!) hit the ring and attacked Cannon. The Prophet made the save. The CEO came out, and he talked about burying Johnson’s old promotion, Neo Pro. Johnson got on the mic, and he demanded a one-on-one match with Cannon. Cannon agreed to that match on the Sept. 16 (2006) show. They eventually traded punches, but Johnson bailed.

(7) Darin Corbin & Ryan Cruz (the North Star Express) defeat Ash & Michael Elgin at 15:10 to win the tag titles. Darin is the goofy redhead, and Ryan is the Matt Hardy-lookalike. Elgin is the Rhino-lookalike. Ash is thin with a good wrestling physique. This is a face-face tag match. Cruz and Elgin started and traded basic armholds. They each missed dropkicks and had a standoff. Darin faced Ash at 2:30. Ash hit a shoulder tackle, and they avoided each other’s punches. Ryan entered and hit a quick armdrag on Ash. Ash hit a doublestomp on Ryan’s back, then he hit an assisted senton for a nearfall. Ryan hit a uranage. The NSE hit a double gutbuster and a double basement dropkick to Ash’ head for a nearfall at 6:00.

Darin hit some doublestomps in the corner. Ryan hit a Lungblower to the chest, and he gave Darin a monkeyflip into the corner. Elgin gave Darin a powerbomb onto Ryan and got a nearfall! Elgin hit a delayed vertical suplex for a nearfall on Cruz. Ash & Elgin hit a team inverted DDT move on Cruz for a nearfall. Cruz hit a nice spin heel kick on Ash, then a guillotine legdrop for a nearfall at 9:00. Ash hit an Iconoclasm for a nearfall on Ryan. The champs made several quick tags, and they kept Cruz in their corner. Cruz fired up and hit some punches, and he made the hot tag to Darin. Darin hit some clotheslines and forearms, then a Flair Toss on Ash. Elgin bodyslammed both opponents for a nearfall at 11:30!

Elgin tossed Ash over the top rope onto Darin on the floor! Ryan and Elgin fought in the ring, and Cruz hit a hurricanrana off the second rope on Elgin, and they both crashed to the floor onto Ash and Darin Corbin! In the ring, Elgin hit a Splash Mountain/overhead powerbomb on Cruz. Ash nailed a superkick. Cruz fired back with his Boomshakalaka/gutwrench sideslam on Ash. Ryan hit the Cruz Control to pin Ash at 14:26. However, the CEO claimed that Cruz’s feet were on the ropes (they weren’t!), and he ordered the match to be restarted. Ash & Elgin hit double bodyslams for a nearfall. The CEO tossed the tag belts into the ring! However, Ryan Cruz hit a DDT on the title belt to pin Elgin and win the tag titles!

* The CEO grabbed the mic, and he said the NSE cheated to win the titles, so he was declaring the belts vacant! Portia Perez ran out, and she shoved the CEO into the ring. Portia pulled out a pair of scissors, and the crowd went nuts! Darin put the CEO in a sleeper, and the CEO was out on the mat! Portia cut off much of the CEO’s pink & black hair. Darin and Ryan also took turns cutting his hair! The CEO finally woke up, and he saw his hair lying in the ring, and he went crazy! He tried to scoop up his hair and put it back on his head. He yelled at the fans to get out of the building, as the show came to a close.

Final thoughts: DVD runs 2 hours, 40 minutes.

This was a fun, fun show. I’m really glad that promoter Andrew Scalz decided to put the best three matches from night 1 with the best 4 matches from night 2 onto one disc, as it produced a very, very good DVD.

For people unfamiliar with the best wrestlers in Minnesota – my “top 10 list” of wrestlers in 2006 included Kid Krazy, Pete Huge, Arik Cannon, Ryan Cruz, Chris Jordan, Joey Envy and Cody O’Neill – seven of those top 10 wrestled on this show! (John Johnson, who also made the list, appeared as well!) Point being, if you are unfamiliar with the best wrestlers in Minnesota, this show is a good place to start.

Best match goes to Kid Krazy vs. Chris Jordan. While I’m admittedly a big Kid Krazy fan, I had raved about Jordan’s big matches in the past two years. (His retirement match is my 2007 match of the year so far.) Both guys are terribly missed on the indy scene. They’ve had a few clashes before this one, and they are always good action.

Second-best goes to the 30-minute Arik Cannon vs. Cody O’Neill match. These two have had COUNTLESS matches against each other. No, this is not the best match they’ve had, but it’s still a good, hard-hitting brawl, as they traded good mat holds between some HARD hitting chops. These two, at one time, were supposed to have a one-hour ironman match. If ANY two wrestlers in MN could do that, these two would be my picks.

The main event was a good face-face tag match, and the finish with the CEO getting his hair cut was a satisfying conclusion to a summer-long angle of the CEO bashing women’s wrestling. Yes, you’ve seen wrestlers get their hair cut in the ring before, but the CEO’s attempt to scoop up his hair and put it back on his head was HILARIOUS.

The mixed tag match was fine, but it was focused on the ladies, which was understandable. However, a wrestling fan seeing Pete Huge and Ben Sailer for the first time wouldn’t have a sense that these two are really gifted wrestlers.

The sound of the discs could have been a bit better, and camera work could still be improved a bit. The hilarious color commentary of heel wrestler Vinnie Devine was golden, however. He’s easily the best play-by-play man I’ve heard on an MN indy DVD.

This DVD is recommended for fans of the Minnesota indy scene. If you are unfamiliar with the best of the Minnesota scene, I recommend picking up NIW’s “Impact Tournament” from July 2006 (featuring Delirious, Austin Aries, B.J. Whitmer) ahead of this DVD.

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