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Jersey All Pro headed to Carteret, N.J., on May 19, 2007, for “Holy Ouch!” I am a big fan of JAPW, and this was a good show. This venue is a church gym, with a nice high ceiling, and the crowd is perhaps 200 to 300 fans; this is much smaller than a typical JAPW crowd. Modtrom Productions records and edits the shows for JAPW, and they do a pretty good job, and they use multiple cameras for these shoots.

On commentary are Mark Clemson and wrestler Steve “Monsta” Mack. I love this announcing team, as they have a lot of fun with good banter between them, while still calling the action. Another wrestler, Deranged, joins them for much of this show.

While the wrestling here is good, there are some things missing here. For one, JAPW has always done a good job of mixing in backstage interviews between matches, but those clips were absent, and they were missed. Another thing I’ve praised JAPW for in the past is their excellent use of post-match replays. Unfortunately, those also are absent. I’m not sure why JAPW cut these out; I can only guess it was to speed up production.

SO, with no backstage interviews at all, we head directly to the ring!

(1) Danny Demanto & Corvis Fear defeat Gavin Quest & Travis Blake (the Ectasy Express) at 9:28. Solid, average opener. Mack said the EE are the ‘flamboyant team.’ Demanto is chubby, but the announcers noted he’s worked hard to lose some weight. Fear is the hometown boy from Carteret. The ringside camera is overexposed, and it looks terrible. (This was fixed by the second match.) Demanto hit some armdrags, a bodyslam, and he overpowered Blake, who wore an ugly pink outfit. Fear entered, and he slapped Quest, who has a ‘Red Rooster’ style haircut. Fear hit a Sole Food/falling-backward-kick-to-the chin. Blake worked over Fear. Quest hit a snap suplex for a nearfall at 3:30.

In a nice spot, Quest hit a slingshot up, and his teammate hit a Buff Blockbuster! Demanto made the hot tag and he hit some clotheslines, then a backbody drop on each opponent. Mack praised Demanto for his improved stamina. Fear & Demanto hit double basement dropkicks on the EE as they were tied in the Tree of Woe. Clemson began to talk about the big upcoming “10 year anniversary.” Quest hit a dive through the ropes that nailed all three wrestlers on the floor at 7:00. Demanto got a Crucifix Bomb in the ring. Blake hit a Death Valley Driver on Demanto for a nearfall! Fear hit cool-looking bodyslam on Blake. Quest hit a Doomsday kneestrike! However, Fear hit a Burning Hammer on Quest, and Demanto immediately hit a frogsplash on Quest for the win.

(2) Alicia (w/Johnny D) defeats Daizee Haze at 6:07. Solid women’s match. Deranged & Monsta Mack ogled the women during the match (no Shimmer-like commentary from these guys). Alicia shoved Haze into the corner, and she paused to celebrate. Haze hit a slap, an armdrag, and she twisted the left arm. Haze cranked on both arms. Alicia hit a sloppy clothesline and a basement dropkick to the back for a nearfall at 2:30. Johnny D hit Haze, allowing Alicia to get a nearfall. Alicia hit a side suplex for a nearfall (and it’s obvious the ringside camera looks MUCH better now.)

Haze hit a Tornado DDT that spiked Alicia into the mat! Haze hit some chops and an inverted DDT for a nearfall, then a Heartpunch, but Johnny D grabbed Haze’s ankle! Alicia hit a Mafia Kick in the corner for a nearfall at 5:00. Haze hit a running kick to the side of the head for a nearfall. Johnny D crotched Haze in the corner. Alicia immediately hit an Iconoclasm/flip slam out of the corner for the pin. Solid match.

(3) Delirious defeats EC Negro (w/ KC Blade) at 11:38. Solid match. I’ve mentioned this before: Negro reminds me of Chris Kanyon, and he jawed at a woman in her 70s in the crowd. Funny! Delirious picked up a child at ringside and passed him around the ring. Delirious, as usual, went crazy at the bell, and Negro refused to tie up. Negro got a rollup, and he mocked Delirious’ gibberish. The announcers talked about how Delirious won the last encounter between them. Negro hit a shoulder tackle. Delirious hit some armdrags and a crossbody block for a nearfall at 3:30. Blade distracted Delirious.

Negro whipped Delirious to the floor, and Blade beat him up. Delirious got back in the ring and hit a back suplex. However, Negro hit a tilt-a-whirl bodyslam, and he was in charge, as he pulled Delirious to the mat by his tassels. Delirious nailed a drop-toe-hold and the Panic Attack/running knee in the corner at 8:00. Delirious hit some clotheslines and the BAM leaping lariat. Negro got in an O’Connor Roll, then a nice Northern Lights suplex for a nearfall. Negro hit a Cobra Clutch slam, but he missed a top-rope guillotine legdrop. They traded stiff forearms, and Negro hit a running clothesline for a nearfall. But, Delirious hit the Shadows Over Hell backsplash for the pin.

(4) Azrieal & Jay Lethal defeat Oman Tortuga & Diablo Santiago (the Outcast Killaz) via DQ at 8:43 to retain the tag titles. OK match. The OCK are vastly improved since they last wrestled in Ring of Honor, and they attacked the champs from behind. The announcers talked about the LONG history of this feud. Lethal slipped coming off the ropes. (By the way, he was not “Black Machismo” here.) Lethal hit a leg lariat and a basement dropkick to Santiago’s exposed face for a nearfall. The OCK picked up the champions and gave them gorilla presses into each other! The OCK got in some quick team moves on Azrieal with Tortuga hitting a clothesline for a nearfall at 3:00.

Azrieal hit a hurricanrana. Monsta Mack said the Outcast Killaz are the “future of tagteam wrestling.” Santiago hit a bodyslam for a nearfall, and the heels were in charge, with Diablo hitting a nice back suplex for a nearfall. Azrieal hit an enziguri around the ropes, then a missile dropkick on Santiago at 6:30. Lethal made the hot tag, and he hit some clotheslines and a nice tornado DDT on Santiago. Azrieal hit an enziguri. Lethal hit a Superkick. In a nice spot, Santiago hit a German suplex on both opponents for a nearfall! The OCK hit a team running boot & Russian Legsweep spot on Lethal for a nearfall. However, Azrieal did the “Eddie Spot” where he flipped the tag titles to the heels, and he collapsed on the mat. The ref turned around, saw the heels with the belts, and he disqualified the OCK. Disappointing finish, as this match was just starting to get going.

(5) Grim Reefer defeats Bandido Jr. (w/KC Blade) to retain the JAPW light-heavyweight title at 10:33. Average match, no more. Bandido is really short, maybe 5’2”, and he’s really slim. Reefer tied up Bandido Jr. and shoved him, showing disrespect. Reefer chased Blade on the floor, and the referee ordered Blade to leave ringside. Bandido hit some blows to Reefer’s back. They exchanged some quick reversals and Reefer hit a chop and a guillotine legdrop for a nearfall. Bandido hit a DDT onto the ring apron at 3:00, and they both fell to the floor. In the ring, Bandido hit a basement dropkick and he was in charge, as he hit a guillotine legdrop. Reefer hit a second-rope Russian Legsweep, and they were both down at 6:00.

Reefer hit a clothesline, a flying shoulder tackle, a spin heel kick, and he walked along the top rope before hitting a springboard flip senton for a nearfall! Bandido hit a dropkick to the back, then a Lungblower out of the corner for a nearfall. Reefer hit a Hangman’s DDT for a nearfall, but Bandido’s feet were under the ropes. Bandido hit the “Latin Swing” (Jimmy Rave’s Ghana Rea!) for a nearfall at 9:00. Reefer applied the “Chronic Crossface” on the mat, but Bandido reached the ropes. KC Blade returned to ringside and distracted the referee. EC Negro hopped in the ring out of nowhere, and he attacked Reefer. However, Bandido accidentally kicked Negro! Reefer then hit a piledriver out of the corner on Bandido for the win.

* End of DVD 1. Nothing really above average at all on the first disc!

(6) Archadia defeats “M-Dogg 20” Matt Cross and Matt Sydal and Human Tornado at 20:41. Fantastic high-flying matchup here! This is one fall to a finish. Archadia and Cross started with some mat reversals, then Sydal tied up with Archadia. The announcers talked about how Archadia was out six months with some health problems and he has to work his way back up the roster. Tornado’s hair was in corn rows, rather than the large Afro I’m used to seeing. Cross and Sydal sped up the match by running the ropes, and Cross hit a Japanese Armdrag at 4:00. Tornado hit a second-rope crossbody block on Archadia, the a big slap! No tags are needed in this match, as it is a ‘scramble style’ match.

Sydal hit his cannonball guillotine legdrop on Archadia. Archadia hit a Russian Legsweel on Sydal. Tornado danced in the ring, so Archadia hopped in the ring and danced with him. Cross hopped in the ring and danced, so Sydal also got in the ring and danced, and the crowd ROARED in approval. However, Sydal attacked Tornado at 8:00 to end this silliness dance-off. “What’s with all the dance-offs?” Clemson asked. Sydal hit a clothesline in the corner and a catapult basement dropkick on Tornado for a nearfall. Cross hit a senton on Tornado for a nearfall. Archadia hit a nice dropkick on Tornado for a nearfall. However, Human Tornado hit a neckbreaker over his knee on Archadia. Sydal hit a spin heel kick on Human Tornado for a nearfall at 12:00.

Sydal put Tornado in the Bow & Arrow. Cross hit a nice Arabian Press for a nearfall. Tornado hit a spin heel kick on Sydal, then Tornado hit a hurricanrana onto Archadia on the floor! Tornado hit a nice flip dive over the top rope onto all three opponents at 14:30, and they were all down. Tornado hit a big slap on Archadia in the ring, then his dance ‘two-step’ on Cross. Tornado hit a basement dropkick on Archadia’s groin, then another on Sydal. Sydal went for a springboard dropkick, but Cross & Archadia caught him with simultaneous dropkicks! Nice. Archadia hit a guillotine legdrop off Tornado’s back for a nearfall at 17:00. Cross hit a springboard doublestomp on Archadia’s back for a nearfall. Sydal hit a standing moonsault on Cross for a nearfall.

Tornado nailed a Pounce on Cross! Archadia hit a missile dropkick that NAILED Tornado, and it appeared that Tornado may have been legit out for a second. Cross hit a cartwheel-into-a-flip dive on all three opponents on the floor. In the ring, Cross hit a DVD over his knee on Archadia, then a corkscrew moonsault on Archadia for a nearfall. Tornado hit a release suplex on Cross for a nearfall. Sydal hit a reverse Tombstone Piledriver (along his back) for a nearfall on Tornado, then Matt hit his Floatover Famouser on Archadia. Sydal missed his top-rope Shooting Star Press, as he landed on his feet. Archadia grabbed Matt and hit a sitdown piledriver for the pin! Mack praised the last five minutes of this match. WOW, that was good high-flying action!

(7) Eddie Kingston defeats B-Boy at 13:00 even. The announcers talked about how the BLK OUT (Kingston’s faction) are coming to JAPW to feud with B-Boy’s group, the Strong Style Thugs. B-Boy attacked Kingston from behind, and he hit a doublestomp and a senton. B-Boy beat up Kingston on the floor, and he whipped him into the guardrail. Kingston hit a basement dropkick on the knee in the ring at 2:30. Kingston twisted the left leg, and he applied a Horse Collar, but B-Boy escaped. B-Boy tried to run the ropes, but his leg gave out on him, and he rolled to the floor.

Clemson & Mack talked about how Kingston has made a name for himself in IWA Mid-South and CZW, and now he’s come to JAPW. B-Boy hit a Blockbuster move at 7:00, but he aggravated his leg injury. B-Boy hit some forearms and a kneeshot to the head, then a Stunner on the ring apron!! Kingston applied a Kondo Clutch/reverse Texas Cloverleaf in the ring, and he turned it into a Trailer Hitch! The crowd rallied for B-Boy, who finally reached the ropes at 10:00. B-Boy hit an enziguri and a Facelift/running basement dropkick, but he sold the pain in his leg. Kingston hit a swinging uranage for a nearfall. B-Boy hit a Shining Wizard. However, Kingston got a jackknife rollup, with his feet on the ropes, for the pin.

(8) Low Ki defeats Necro Butcher at 19:13. Excellent match, and the reason to purchase this show. Necro attacked Ki from behind and hit some stomps and raked at his face. Ki hit a spin heel kick to the chest as Necro was tied in the ropes. Mark Clemson talked about their prior singles match in IWA Mid-South. Ki hit some chops and spin heel kicks. Necro hit a kneestrike, some palm strikes to the chest, and he shoved Ki to the floor at 3:00. Necro beat up Ki on the floor. Ki hit a Kawada Kick to the face, then a (Samoa Joe-style) Ole Kick on the floor! Ki hit a Power Drive elbowdrop on the floor. In the ring, Necro hit a bodyslam onto a folded chair for a nearfall at 6:00.

Necro hit a chair-assisted bodyslam for a nearfall, then a Mafia Kick. Necro pulled out a piece of wood from under the ring, and he bridged it between the guardrail and the ring apron, and he placed Ki on it. Necro leapt off the ring apron, but Ki moved, and Necro crashed through the wood. Ki peeled off Necro’s shirt, and he hit several Kobashi-style chops at 9:00. Ki hit his overhead kick to the base of the neck and his springboard spin kick to the head! The fans loudly chanted for Low Ki. Ki hit his Tajiri-style spin kicks, and he applied the Dragon Clutch, but Necro reached te ropes. Ki hit a springboard doublestomp to the the back, then some more spin kicks to the chest and a rolling Coppo Kick.

Necro fired back with a short-arm clothesline, and they were both down at 12:30. Necro hit some chops and punches in the corner, but he couldn’t hit the top-rope Superplex. Ki set up for the top-rope Ghetto Stomp, but Necro Butcher was able to avoid it. Necro hit a top-rope Hurricanrana! Necro set up another piece of wood in the corner, and he hit a standing powerbomb for a nearfall at 16:30. Necro poured thumbtacks all over the mat (and keep in mind, Necro wrestles barefoot!). Necro couldn’t hit a powerbomb, so he nailed a straight right punch! “This has got to be the hardest hitting match I’ve seen in my life,” Mack said. Ki gave Necro an Irish Whip, with Necro running ACROSS the TACKS! Ki hit his flying double book, with Necro falling backward through the wood piece in the corner! Ki then hit the Warriors Way/top-rope doublestomp to the chest for the clean pin! WOW, that was hard-hitting stuff!

Final thoughts:

Low Ki vs. Necro Butcher was hands down the best match of the show. I saw the first matchup live between these two in IWA Mid-South, and I thought that one was a bit better, but this is really, really good. Ki dominates without making Necro look bad by losing to a man much smaller than him. These two have excellent chemistry. Mack wasn’t kidding when he talked about this being one of the hardest-hitting matches he’s seen.

The four-way, even with the silliness in the middle, was awesome stuff. Here was some really good high-flyers mixing it up, with the hometown star getting a much-needed victory. Nothing wrong with that! Kingston vs. B-Boy earned third-best, and it did its job of starting the feud between the Strong Style Thugs and BLK OUT.

If you purchase this DVD set, it’s because of those three matches on disc 2. Nothing on the first disc stood out as anything really above average or outstanding at all, and that has to be a bit disappointing. The copout finish to the Azrieal/Lethal vs. Outcast Killaz match was particularly disappointing, as they’ve had such a long, long feud, and these four are capable of doing so much more in the ring. Delirious did what he could with EC Negro, but it was pretty standard overall.

I don’t know why JAPW & Modtrom Production didn’t use backstage promos and replays here, but I’m disappointed. I’ve always praised JAPW as having some of the best non-ROH production out there, but this DVD set, in terms of production, falls well short of what I’m used to seeing from this promotion.

Yes, this DVD earns a thumbs up on the strength of the marquee matches. But JAPW needs to ramp up its production quality again to meet its previous high standards. This DVD is available at www.japw.net for $17, including shipping.

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