By Chris Vetter

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla held its big “All Star Weekend V” in early April 2007. This is a review of “night 1,” from April 7, 2007. PWG is hands-down the best indy promotion on the West Coast, and probably the second-best indy promotion behind Ring of Honor.

I am impressed with how much PWG has stepped up the quality of their DVD releases. The wrestling has always been good. Now, the lighting is better, the camera work is stronger, and the editing is vastly improved. It’s not quite “ROH or JAPW” quality, but it’s come a LONG ways. The quality of the production makes these shows much more fun to watch.

Back on commentary are Excalibur & Disco Machine. I’ve been a harsh critic of them in the past for all but ignoring the action in the ring to tell stories, but the last few shows I’ve purchased, they have really stepped up their play-calling. Yes, they still tell lots of jokes and stories, but not at the expense of the action. Plus, PWG DVDs have the option to turn off commentary altogether.

This is my first PWG DVD release of 2007, so I’m a bit behind on their storylines.

* The DVD opened with Dino Winwood and Excalibur in the ring, and they announced that “Colt Cabana” couldn’t make it tonight. (But fans would see “Matt Classic” later on…)

No backstage segments. To the ring!

(1) Disco Machine defeats Nosawa at 8:08. Solid opener. Just to be clear for fans not familiar with PWG – this is NOT “Disco Inferno.” They opened with basic standing switches. Excalibur called this solo (and I prefer this, as opposed to hearing Disco Machine call his own match, which is always a bit too weird. Fans know the commentary is dubbed in post-production, but I prefer not to hear someone call their own match!) Nosawa hit some chops. Disco did some dancing, then he hit his own chops. Nosawa applied an Octopus on the mat, then he hit a DDT, and he mocked Disco’s dancing at 2:30.

Nosawa hit a back suplex for a nearfall. Disco missed a buttdrop. Nosawa hit a Superkick for a nearfall. They brawled to the floor. In the ring, Nosawa hit a Shattered Dreams lowblow in the corner at 5:00. Disco hit a second-rope headscissors takedown. Nosawa hit a Superplex for a nearfall. Disco couldn’t hit his chokeslam finisher. Nosawa slapped on a Crippler Crossface, but Disco Machine reached the ropes. Disco Machine hit a pair of snap suplexes, then a Gordbuster for a nearfall. Nosawa fired back with a Shining Wizard, then a low blow mule kick. However, Disco Machine hit his chokeslam backbreaker over his knee for the pin!

(2) Rocky Romero defeats Roderick Strong at 17:29. WOW, this is the second match of the show! That’s hard to believe, because this match was fantastic! Romero attacked at the bell and hit some quick kicks. They each hit a monkeyflip. Excalibur reminded fans this was a rematch from the 2006 “BOLA” tournament. Romero hit a nice satellite headscissors takedown. Strong hit a hard chop, then a Giant Swing, and he dropped Romero on his gut at 2:00. Strong hit some chops, but Romero fired up and yelled at Strong to hit some more! Romero hit some hard kicks to Strong’s thighs. Disco Machine joined commentary here. Romero hit a Northern Lights suplex for a nearfall.

Strong hit a Bulldog Powerslam for a nearfall, then he applied a Camel Clutch and cranked on the neck. Disco & Excalibur talked about an upcoming tag team tournament (fans can place pre-orders for those shows now!). They fought to the floor, and Strong hit a back suplex on the ring apron at 6:00. Strong then gave Romero a Gorilla Press into the guardrails! OUCH! Fans chanted, “Holy Sh!t!” Strong applied a Bow & Arrow AROUND the ring post! Strong hit a butterfly suplex in the ring for a nearfall. Romero fired back by applying a cross-armbreaker at 9:00, and Strong quickly escaped. Strong tied Romero up in the ropes, and he hit a HARD Mafia kick on the floor to Romero’s head.

Strong applied an Octopus on the mat. Romero hit a flying cross-armbreaker move. They traded chops. Strong hit a back suplex for a nearfall at 11:30. Fans alternated with a “Let’s go Rocky,” “Let’s go Roderick!” chant. Romero hit a springboard dropkick and a 619 in the ropes, and they were both down. Romero hit some slaps to the face and a basement dropkick to the side of the head. Romero applied a cross-armbreaker, but Strong reached the ropes. Strong hit a backbreaker over his knee. Roderick went for the Stronghold/vertical Boston Crab, but Romero reached the ropes.

Romero applied an anklelock, but Strong reached the ropes at 15:30. Romero hit some kicks to the chest and a second-rope DDT, then a Tajiri-style spin kick for a believable nearfall. Strong hit his Gorilla Press Gutbuster over his knees, then a running boot for a believable nearfall, and the crowd popped for Romero’s kickout! Moments later, Romero applied a cross-armbreaker as he fell from the top rope to the mat, and Strong immediately tapped out! Wow, that was an impressive match!

* Human Tornado was in the ring with Candice LaRae, and it appears that Tornado is more heelish now, especially with how he’s treating LaRae. He told her they could “be a team again,” but then he turned and slapped her, sending her crashing to the mat! Tornado is beloved here, so the fans applauded him hitting his manager. Tornado called her a “stupid b!tch.”

(3) Human Tornado (w/Candice LaRae) defeats Claudio Castagnoli at 11:50. Good match. Claudio chased Human Tornado to the floor, but Tornado used LaRae as a human shield, but then Tornado pushed her into the guardrail! In the ring, Claudio hit a European Uppercut that leveled the smaller Tornado. Claudio hit a Giant Swing, doing SEVERAL rotations, before he finally dropped Human Tornado. Cool visual. Claudio hit a delayed vertical suplex, and he kipped up immediately, at 2:30. Human Tornado hit a hurricanrana from in the ring, but they both crashed to the floor. Human Tornado kicked Claudio off the apron, and Claudio fell backward into the guardrail.

Human Tornado tossed LaRae onto Claudio on the floor. In the ring, Human Tornado hit some stomps, then he choked Claudio in the ropes. Tornado hit a splash on the mat at 6:00 as Claudio was on the bottom rope. Claudio hit a jumping European Uppercut, then a headscissors takedown off the top rope, and they were both down! They traded punches and European Uppercuts. Human Tornado hit a backbreaker over his knee, then a Facewash for a nearfall at 9:00.

Claudio NAILED his pop-up European Uppercut, then a German Suplex for a nearfall. Human Tornado hit a springboard dropkick for a nearfall. Tornado shoved Claudio into Candice, who was standing on the ring apron, and Tornado got a rollup for a nearfall. Claudio fired back by nailing his bicycle kick to the chest. However, Candice grabbed Claudio’s ankle! This distraction allowed Tornado to hit a Pimp Slap to Claudio’s face, get a rollup with a handful of tights, and score the pin. After the match, Tornado shoved Candice into the guardrails again as they were leaving.

(4) Kikutaro defeats Matt Classic at 10:36. Good humor. Kikutaro is the comedy wrestler from Japan who used to wrestle as “Ebessan.” Matt Classic, of course, is Colt Cabana with a mask, doing a gimmick of being a 1950s-style old-school wrestler. It’s weird to see Cabana’s bare chest, as he ALWAYS wrestles in a singlet! Excalibur acknowledged the ‘rumor’ that Classic and Cabana are the same person. The match began, and Classic overpowered Kikutaro and shoved him to the mat. The commentary team talked about Colt Cabana signing a WWE contract and going on his farewell tour. Kikutaro tried to get Matt Classic to fight the referee. Kikutaro hit a shoulder tackle, and he paused to flex, even the blow didn’t budge Classic.

Kikutaro convinced Classic to arm-wrestle him, but when Classic dropped to the mat, Kikutaro stomped on him at 3:30! The referee accidentally kicked Kikutaro in some humor spots. Matt Classic applied the CLAW, and he hit a buttsplash in the corner. Kikutaro did a ‘Flair Flop’ on the mat, and he bailed and begged for a time out. Kikutaro hit a low blow in the ropes on Classic, then one on the referee! Kikutaro hit some chops, and did some struts. Classic climbed the ropes in the corner, became afraid of heights, climbed back down, and hit a splash at 7:00 for a nearfall. FUNNY.

Kikutaro hit a Shining Wizard for a nearfall. Classic applied a Bear Hug, but Kikutaro powered out. Each wrestler hit a low blow mule kick, then the referee also took a low blow, and all three keeled over onto the mat. FUNNY. The crowd loved this silliness, as they chanted, “PWG!” The referee shoved Matt Classic, and Kikutaro did a Schoolyard Takedown and rollup for the quick pin on Classic. Fun stuff. I wish we had seen more “Matt Classic” matches.

(5) Kevin Steen defeats Jack Evans at 12:47. Good match. Evans started to dance, but Steen shoved him to the floor! Steen hit a shoulder tackle. Evans hit an armdrag. Steen hit some forearms and chops. Evans hit a hard kick and a standing moonsault off of Steen’s chest. Evans hit a hurricanrana and a handspring-back-elbow that sent them both crashing over the top rope to the floor. In the ring, Steen hit a senton at 2:30, then a clothesline, and he was in charge, as he unloaded several hard chops. Evans hit a standing spin kick to the side of the head, then a standing 450 Splash!

Steen hit his flip guillotine legdrop and a diving European Uppercut to the back for a nearfall. Steen nailed a German Release suplex at 5:30 that dumped Evans on his head for a nearfall! OUCH! Steen choked him in the ropes. Evans hit his Lionsault-back-elbow move, and they were both down. Evans hit a spinning cartwheel kick and a double kneedrop to the chest, then a standing corkscrew press for a nearfall at 8:30. Evans hit a hurricanrana, and Steen bailed. Evans nailed a springboard 450 Splash to the floor! However, Steen picked up Evans and nailed a powerbomb into the corner of the ring apron! OUCH!

Steen powerbombed Evans into some chairs on the floor. In the ring, Steen went for a Swanton Bomb, but Evans got his knees up. Evans missed a springboard 630 Splash, but he hit several kicks. Steen hit a clothesline for a believable nearfall at 11:30. Evans hit a Reverse Rana for a nearfall. Steen hit a package piledriver, but he picked up Evans at the two-count. Steen then nailed a suplex over his head, tossing Evans into the corner, for the pin. Hard-hitting match.

* Scorpio Sky ran out and beat up his former teammates in Arrogance. He fought with a new, masked “Scorpio.” Scorpio Sky hit a crossbody block on his replacement. Intriguing.

(6) Scott Lost & Chris Bosh & Joey Ryan & Karl Anderson defeat Top Gun Talwar & Ronin & Frankie Kazarian & TJ (Puma) Perkins at 20:54. Solid 8-man tag. Karl Anderson hit some big shoulder tackles on the smaller Talwar, as Anderson is much bigger and thicker than everyone else in this match. Bosh faced Ronin at 3:30, and Bosh hit a shoulder tackle. Bosh stalled a lot, and this was dull early. Ronin hit some forearms and chops. Bosh hit a hurricanrana. Kazarian tagged in to face Joey Ryan. The referee pinned Ryan in a funny spot. The referee did some fun spots side-by-side with Kazarian. Lost faced Perkins at 7:30, and they sped it up with some quicker offense.

Lost hit a nice dropkick to the back. Perkins got in a Victory Roll for a nearfall. The faces cleared the ring. Perkins & Kazarian hit simultaneous dives to the floor on the heels. Perkins got a nearfall in the ring on Lost at 10:30, then Perkins hit a nice enziguri. Kazarian tagged in and hit a nice AJ Styles-like dropkick on Lost. Top Gun Talwar entered, and he bit Lost on the nipple. I’m not kidding. Joey Ryan entered and he attacked Perkins. Karl Anderson hit a European Uppercut and some punches on the mat on Perkins. Bosh hit a Dibiase fistdrop on Perkins for a nearfall at 14:00, as the heels took turns beating down Perkins.

Lost applied a Camel Clutch. Excalibur talked about Scorpio Sky losing a “loser leave town” match, but he apparently is trying to get back into PWG. Ryan hit a nice dropkick. Kazarian finally made the hot tag, and he hit some clotheslines and a dropkick, then a nice Northern Lights suplex on Bosh at 17:00. Lost hit an Ace Crusher on Kazarian. Bosh hit an Ace Crusher on Ronin. Karl Anderson hit a Spinebuster, as everyone was quickly hitting finishers. There was a five-person tower spot out of the corner, with Kazarian on top, and Frankie landed all the way across the ring.

Karl Anderson hit a Goldberg-style Jackhammer on Perkins for a nearfall. Ronin chased someone to the back, so this is now just a six-man tag. Bosh hit a backbreaker on Perkins, then a low blow punch on Kazarian. Top Gun Talwar hit a ‘Chipotle’/Backflip Driver for a nearfall. Kazarian hit a bicycle kick for a nearfall. However, Lost nailed a Northern Lights suplex on Talwar across Bosh’s knee, and Lost pinned Talwar. Fairly standard 8-man tag, and Kazarian was just not in the ring enough here.

(7) Kaz Hayashi defeats Alex Shelley at 21:18. Wow, what a sharp, sharp match! Kaz looks great, and he’s more muscular than when he wrestled in WCW years ago. The crowd was HOT. They started off with some intense armbars, and this match had a great, realistic vibe right away. Shelley applied an STT. Kaz tossed Shelley into the air, and Alex crashed stomach-first to the mat, and he hurt his wrist on the landing. Kaz hit a basement dropkick, then a kneedrop onto Shelley’s injured wrist. Shelley came back with a nice headscissors takedown and a leg lariat. Kaz hit a spin heel kick at 4:00. Shelley hit a flip dive to the floor. Disco Machine said this was a first-time-ever encounter.

They traded blows on the floor. In the ring, Shelley stomped on Kaz’s left arm, and he tied Hayashi in a pretzel on the mat. Shelley hit a Northern Lights suplex at 7:00, and he hit a Field Goal Kick to the gut, then he dropped Kaz stomach-first on the top rope. Shelley hit a top-rope kneedrop to the head for a nearfall. Kaz fought back with a Dragonscrew Legwhip in the ropes! They fought on the apron, and Kaz shoved Shelley into the guardrail, and Shelley hurt his left knee, at 9:30. In the ring, Kaz stomped and twisted on Shelley’s leg, and he applied a (Jamie Noble) Trailer Hitch leglock, but Shelley reached the ropes. Shelley hit a stunner at 12:00.

Kaz hit a basement dropkick on the knee, then another Dragonscrew Legwhip! Kaz hit a Lionsault, as Shelley’s leg was tied in the ropes. Shelley hit some chops and a leg lariat in the corner. Kaz hit a dropkick that sent Shelley to the floor. Shelley hit an enziguri at 15:00, and he hit a Tower of London/hangman’s stunner from the corner. Shelley hit a basement dropkick to the face as Kaz was tied in the Tree of Woe, then Shelley hit a modified Flatliner for a nearfall. Kaz hit a handspring-back-enziguri! Shelley hit a German Suplex that dumped Kaz on his head! Kaz hit a brainbuster. Shelley hit another German Suplex; Kaz hit another brainbuster! They were both down at 17:00! WOW!

Kaz hit a Tajiri-style spin kick to the head. Shelley hit a top-rope chinbreaker. Kaz hit a Shining Wizard. Shelley hit a Crucifix Takedown, and he turned it into the Border City Stretch on the mat! However, Kaz reached the ropes at 19:30. Shelley hit a drop-toe-hold into the corner, and he nailed a Superkick, then the Sliced Bread #2 for a believable nearfall! Shelley hit a frogsplash for a nearfall, then a Tajiri-style spin kick. But, Kaz nailed a Superkick, an Air Raid Crash for a nearfall, a spinning faceplant, and an Eye of the Hurricana/swinging inverted DDT for the pin. Excellent, excellent match.

(8) Low Ki defeats Davey Richards at 24:59. Another fantastic match! This is Low Ki’s PWG debut. Richards is the heel here, and he jawed at fans. Disco Machine said this is “one of the biggest matches we’ve had in PWG.” Ki hit some kicks to the thigh, and this was intense. Richards applied a headscissorslock and a hammerlock, and they had a standoff at 3:00. Ki nailed a LOUD chop, and Richards bailed! Back in the ring, Ki rolled onto his shoulders and he kicked Richards in the chest. The crowd booed all of Richards’ offense. Richards applied a Camel Clutch. Excalibur mentioned that these two have wrestled before (I saw it last year in IWA Mid-South.)

Richards went for a Bow & Arrow, but Low Ki escaped at 7:00. Richards applied a cross-armbreaker, but he couldn’t hit his bridge-back kick. Ki hit some more chops, so Richards bailed again. Ki nailed a doublejump-springboard crossbody block to the floor at 9:00! Nice. Ki hit some more chops on the floor. Richards whipped him into the guardrail, then he hit a Mafia Kick that sent Low Ki into the crowd. In the ring, they traded some stiff kicks, and Richards tossed Ki gut-first across the top rope. Richards hit a bodyslam, then he applied a bodyscissors lock around the waist. Richards hit a snap suplex for a nearfall at 13:00. Ki fired back with a Crucifix Takedown for a nearfall.

Richards hit a backbreaker over his knee, a shoulder tackle, and he applied an abdominal stretch on the mat, and the crowd rallied for Ki. Ki nailed a doublestomp to the chest, and they were both down at 16:00. Ki hit several Kobashi-style chops against the ropes, then he hit his springboard spin kick! Ki nailed some more spin kicks to the chest as Richards was on his knees. Richards hit some spin kicks. Ki nailed a Tajiri-style roundhouse kick for a nearfall at 18:30. Ki applied an Octopus in the middle of the ring. Richards hit an enziguri, a Saito Suplex, a German Suplex, and some Kawada Kicks to the face. They traded stiff forearms, chops, and paintbrush slaps to the face. Richards nailed an Alarm Clock/flip-up kick. Ki hit his rolling Coppo Kick at 21:30.

Richards hit a powerbomb into the corner and a sitdown powerbomb for a believable nearfall, but he missed a top-rope Shooting Star Press. Ki nailed his flying double boot that sent Richards flying into the corner. However, Ki missed the Warriors Way/top-rope doublestomp to the chest. Richards hit some chops. Ki hit a cartwheel-into-a-spin kick. Richards shoved the referee into the ropes, causing Low Ki to fall and be crotched in the corner. They fought on the top rope, and Ki pushed Richards backward so Richards was tied in the Tree of Woe! The crowd went nuts as Ki nailed the Ghetto Stomp to the chest for the pin! Awesome action!

(9) El Generico defeats PAC at 25:43. Wow, another absolutely amazing match. They traded armbars and standing switches early, and PAC applied a Camel Clutch, but Generico reached the ropes. PAC hit a headscissors takedown at 4:30. PAC hit a cool jump-up Rana out of nowhere, and Generico stalled. This was solid mat reversals early, and PAC hit a springboard headscissors takedown at 8:00, then a Londonsault dropkick, and Generico bailed. PAC hit some spin kicks to the chest and a backbody drop. Generico fired back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a nearfall, then a leg lariat. The announcers talked about Quicksilver being out of action because of concussions. PAC hit an awesome jump-up Rana, but he missed a backflip move. Generico nailed a clothesline for a nearfall at 13:00.

The crowd began to sing the “Ole” song to rally Generico. Generico hit a backbreaker over his knee. PAC hit a top-rope hurricanrana to the mat. They traded forearms, and PAC hit a Blue Thunder bomb for a nearfall, then a second-rope Phoenix Splash for a nearfall. Generico flipped PAC up and turned it into a powerbomb for a nearfall at 16:30. PAC hit a Reverse Rana. Generico hit a Mafia Kick, and they were both down. PAC hit a Sasake Special/cartwheel flip to the floor. PAC hit a top-rope Shooting Star kneedrop in the ring for a nearfall. Generico couldn’t hit a top-rope brainbuster. PAC nailed a springboard Dragon Rana for a believable nearfall at 19:30, and the crowd chanted, “This is awesome!”

Generico hit a suplex into the corner and a Mafia Kick, then a half-nelson suplex for a believable nearfall. PAC hit a modified Victory Roll and a top-rope corkscrew press for a believable nearfall. “I’m seeing a super-human display,” Excalibur said. PAC missed a 630 Splash, and he crashed with an ugly-looking landing. Fans chanted, “Please don’t die!” Generico hit a half-nelson suplex on the ring apron for another believable nearfall at 24:30! The fans were now on their feet and cheering! Generico hit a Mafia Kick in the corner, then the brainbuster on the top turnbuckle for the pin! WOW.

Final thoughts: DVD runs 2 hours, 56 minutes.

What a PHENOMENAL show. Seriously, there is some great stuff here! Seriously… when is the last time I claimed there were 3 “four-star matches” on one show? It’s pretty rare! I’ll give best match to the intense Low Ki vs. Davey Richards match, as they brutalized each other with stiff blows and kicks. Low Ki brings an unparalleled intensity to all his matches, and this is no different. A truly special, special match.

The main event started a bit slow, but Generico and Pac really loosened up after the eight-minute mark, and the final 10 minutes was just amazing action, and the fans went nuts for some of the crazy, insane spots they saw. PAC is a blast to watch, and he should be a regular in the U.S. indy scene.

Alex Shelley vs. Kaz Hayashi also had a special magic to it, as these two went out and had a classic mat battle. All of these top three matches were amazing, and I wouldn’t disagree with anyone who thought any of these were the best match of the show.

Strong vs. Romero was really good, and could seriously headline a lot of indy shows, but here, it went on second and was merely fourth-best – that says a LOT about what a stacked show this was!

Not every match was great, but nothing was terrible. The 8-man tag was fairly standard. On the face team, Ronin doesn’t interest me, and he doesn’t draw much of a babyface reaction. Talwar is silly, but not a great wrestler. That left Kazarian to stand on the ring apron while the heels spent too much time working over the other decent babyface wrestler, Perkins. I could have drawn up how this match would play out before it started. Not a bad match, but not anything memorable.

One of my other complaints about PWG in the past is they cut ring music, and I understand why they do that. What they’ve done, which I really like, is giving a few seconds of the wrestlers in the ring before and after each match before the action begins or ends. It gives a little bit of ‘breathing room’ between matches, which is what I really wanted, anyway. The show did end a bit abruptly, however.

This DVD is HIGHLY, highly recommended. It is now the best non-ROH indy DVD I’ve seen from 2007. It is really, really that good. Purchase this DVD at www.prowrestlingguerrilla.com for $20.

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