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PWTorch features unmatched archives of live wrestling reports (not just results, but match details, context, and analysis). The following is a report originally published here 20 years ago this week…
PWG Battle of Los Angeles – Night One
September 1, 2006
Reseda, California
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist
Prior to the doors being opened, wrestlers filed in to the venue up to four hours ahead of the scheduled bell time. Some arrived on Thursday to help set up the ring while others went straight to the venue from the airport on Friday. The Dragon Gate wrestlers, including Dragon Kid, CIMA, and Genki Horiguchi, talked amongst themselves while local wrestlers went over spots in the ring.
Running a major three-night tournament in a venue for the first time can be adventurous. But, unlike the venue in Hollywood that PWG ran the previous two years, at least there was A/C in the building to keep everyone cool.
Fans continued to file into the building past the advertised 8:00 p.m. PST bell time. Various fans wore flags draped across their backs to represent the various countries they came from. Fans from Asia, Europe, Australia, and parts of the U.S. made up the estimated 350 fans in attendance.
Ring announcer Travis came over the PA system at 10:07 p.m. He welcomed us to enjoy a cold Bud Lite from the bar then spend money at the merchandise table.
Travis came back in the ring at 10:17 to start the show. He set the stage for the three-night tournament. PWG commissioner Dino Winwood was introduced to start the show. However, there was a slight delay when his music didn’t come on the PA system. He said certain people didn’t “You’re going to be shitting in your pants because the excitement is going to be so great,” Dino said. The Briscoes stormed the ring and beat down Dino.
Jay took the mic and said they don’t miss flights. He said they were left at the airport, which is why they missed the previous two shows. Jay squashed Dino in the corner then gave him a stiff kick to the head. He said that was for kicking them out of the tournament. He went in a profanity-laced tirade on the fans then told everyone in the back to watch out because they were coming after them. The fans chanted, “F— you, Briscoes,” as they left the ring. Officials escorted Dino from ringside.
1 — CHRIS SABIN vs. COLT CABANA
Cabana yelled at the fans ringside before locking up. Cabana applied a wristlock then dropped Sabin to the mat with an arm drag. Sabin tried to twist open the bottle, but Cabana blocked and said it was a choke. Referee Mike Knox became involved. It turned into a good ole’ fashioned midget match spot where the two wrestlers took Knox over with an arm drag. They questioned what Knox was doing. Sabin applied a headlock, but Cabana slipped out.
They got cute trying to go into a choreographed exchange, but Sabin ended up with a headlock. Cabana retaliated by biting Sabin in the rear. Sabin checked his rear then rubbed himself against the middle turnbuckle. Cabana grabbed his towel then gave the middle turnbuckle a spit shine.
Sabin snapped off a huricanrana out of the corner then followed up with a double foot kick to the back of the head. Sabin applied a mat hold wrenching Cabana’s arm behind his head. Cabana countered with the same move. He went for a springboard moonsault off the ropes, but Sabin caught him in mid-air with a dropkick to the gut. Sabin snapped off an enziguiri then caught Cabana in the corner with a kick to the face. He hung Cabana in the Tree of Woe then hit a basement dropkick to Cabana’s head. A cover resulted in a nearfall.
Sabin went up top at 7:00, but Cabana caught him in mid-air with Konnan’s old rolling DDT for a nearfall. Cabana scored another nearfall following the Play of the Day – an Elix Skipper signature move. Out of nowhere, Sabin rolled up Cabana with La Mahistral Cradle for a nearfall. From the corner, Sabin rolled up Cabana with the victory roll and used a bridge pin to secure the win. Afterwards, Sabin and Cabana shook hands.
WINNER: Sabin in 9:00. High-energy opening match for nine minutes. Cabana set the tone and led both men to a good match. (**1/4)
2 — DELIRIOUS vs. EL GENERICO
Generico did his usual pre-match shenanigans in the ring to the sounds of “Ole, Ole.” From the edge of sanity, Delirious bit into the green streamers adorning his outfit. A handful of fans threw red and white streamers into the ring for Generico’s intro. They couldn’t get a lock up as both men stormed around the ring. Delirious ran around the ring then screamed to the crowd. They finally locked up at 2:00. Delirious and Generico exchanged incoherent babbling. They backed away from each other then went for a lock up, but Delirious pulled away. Eventually, Delirious took Generico down with a headlock.
Delirious ran him over with a shoulderblock then slipped to the outside and ran around the ring. Generico snapped off a series of arm drags once Delirious ran himself back into the ring. Delirious had seen enough so he slipped to the outside again. Generico teased the first high-flying spot of the night, but he simply did a back flip off the ropes back into the ring. Delirious disappeared then reappeared in a sudden game of hide-and-go seek. They exchanged chops on the outside.
Back in the ring, they exchanged headbutts then Delirious ripped off the sickest, most resounding chop to the chest in the history of wrestling. The crowd popped and he backed away as Generico tried to catch his breath. Generico came back with a springboard moonsault out of the corner at 8:00. Delirious snapped off a belly-to-back suplex then picked up his cover at one to raise the roof. A random man screamed, “Delirious for president.” The referee tried to count a rope break when Generico caught Delirious in the ropes, but he had to change his language to Spanish mid-count for the Tijuanan generic luchador.
Delirious made a pass at a woman in the front row. It’s been noted to me that she is the latest front row heckler/character at PWG shows. Generico cleared Delirious to the outside then did the Fosbury Flop over the top rope onto Delirious for the first big highspot of the night. Back in the ring, Generico came off the top rope with a cross body block for a nearfall. Generico hit a turnout slam off the ropes for a nearfall. Delirious blocked Generico’s signature running kick to the head in the corner then smashed Generico in the opposite corner with a charging knee smash at 14:00.
Delirious caught Generico off the ropes with an inside-out clothesline. He went up top and hit a double axe handle smash to the back for a nearfall. Delirious quickly went into a combination Crossface and Muta Lock. Generico fought the hold then reached the ropes to break the hold. Delirious vehemently disagreed with the call. Well, so it seemed considering his lack of clarity in speech. He ripped off a series of chops to the chest then walked into a kick to the face off the ropes. Generico followed in the corner with two signature charging kicks to the head. He hit a single arm underhook slam sending the back of Delirious’s head crashing into the mat. Generico made the cover for the win.
WINNER: El Generico in 17:00. The 15-second finishing sequence had the fans on their feet. Generico deserves recognition for a strong wrestling performance. The early comedy was fine, although the crowd came down during the middle part of the match when the comedy stopped. (**3/4)
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
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3 — M-DOGG 20 vs. CIMA
CIMA was greeted by some left over red streamers during intros. They danced around the ring early on before CIMA tripped Dogg to the mat. They went into a series of standing reversals in the opening minute, which drew a strong applause. CIMA applied a headlock, which Dogg fought out of. Dogg cleared CIMA to the outside with a standing dropkick then hit a baseball slide through the ropes. The exchanged slaps then Dogg took CIMA back into the ring. The aforementioned front row character was back at it. Back in the ring, Dogg snapped of a suplex. He played to the crowd once too often then CIMA caught Dogg’s leg and dropped him to the mat. He followed with a double foot stomp to the chest for a strong reaction. CIMA worked on Dogg’s left knee for several moments. The crowd was quiet here.
CIMA put life back into the crowd with a submission hold where he kept Dogg locked in a planted DDT position that could have rewritten physics books. He followed up with a basement dropkick in the corner at 8:00. Dogg cleared CIMA to the outside with a corner drop kick then he cleared the front row of fans. Dogg ran off the opposite ropes then did a sick cartwheel dive over the top rope onto CIMA after getting some serious hangtime. Dogg hung on the ringpost in the position of a flag hanging in the breeze then dropped an elbow to CIMA’s chest. Strange and cool-looking all at the same time.
Back in the ring, CIMA came back with a modified Mickinoku Driver for a close nearfall. Dogg didn’t waste any time retaliating with a drop kick in the corner for a nearfall. Dogg went up top and CIMA met him with a rolling punch to the face. Dogg tried a huricanrana from the corner turnbuckle, but CIMA caught him and turned it into Elix Skipper’s Play of the Day for the win. The crowd stood and gave both men a strong ovation. Dogg did a heck of a sell job favoring his neck following the finishing move from CIMA.
WINNER: CIMA in 12:00. This was the first time I had seen M-Dogg and was very impressed with him in this match. CIMA was strong with his sudden comebacks. Both men took the crowd on a good rollercoaster ride with some amazing athleticism at times. After the show, some fans were talking about whether CIMA held back or not. Even if he did, he put on a great performance. (***)
– Ring announcer Travis acknowledged the veterans building where they were running the show then asked the fans to give a round of applause for the troops fighting overseas.
4 — MATT SYDAL vs. KEVIN STEEN
Steen, a big dude with a great moonsault, and Sydal argued over athleticism after the opening bell rang. Sydal mocked Steen’s moonsault pose on his trunks. They exchanged wristlocks then Steen applied a headlock on the mat. Sydal countered with an armbar. Steen countered by grapevining Sydal’s head in between his legs. Steen did some push ups then Sydal broke the hold. Steen led the fans in a chant of “Steen, Sydal, Steen, Sydal.” They stood off in opposite corners then the fans chanted the referee’s name. He tried to deflect the attention to the wrestlers, but they cornered him and did a check for foreign objects. Steen suckered Sydal into checking the referee’s left leg then he applied a headlock. Ah, that crafty Steen.
Sydal and Steen went into a standing switch before Steen scoop slammed Sydal then snapped off a flip leg drop off the ropes. Steen snapped off a thudding chop to the chest. Sydal retaliated with a less stiff chop then Steen thumbed him in the eye to buy time to recover. Steen choked Sydal against the ropes then feigned a flying splash onto a front row heckler. He landed a stiff chop to the chest that knocked several beads of sweat off Sydal’s chest. At 10:00, Steen dropped Sydal with snake eyes in the corner turnbuckle. He scored a nearfall then applied a mat hold to work on Sydal’s upper back.
They went to the corner for a dramatic spot where Sydal held Sydal in a vertical suplex for several seconds with Sydal’s feet nearly striking the top of the building rafters. Sydal slipped out then caught Steen with a spin kick to the chest after Steen tried to fly off the top rope with a turnaround splash. Steen got his knees up in time to block Sydal’s standing moonsault, but Sydal slipped out of the Package Piledriver and scored with his standing moonsault for a close nearfall.
The fans entered a heavy debate on the political nature of the count. Steen caught Sydal in pumphandle slam position the turned it into a sick neck cruncher across his knee. If it didn’t break the man’s neck, it was darn close. Sydal kicked out of a pin attempt. They went back to the corner where Steen blocked a huricanrana attempt and hit a top rope powerbomb for the pin and the win. Steen and Sydal shook hands after the match then Steen lowered the middle rope for Sydal to walk through.
WINNER: Steen in 16:00. Some sick power moves by Steen in this match. Sydal’s neck will be hurting in the morning. The crowd was definitely into the action and they cringed with every bump Sydal took. (***)
– Travis recapped that Chris Sabin, El Generico, CIMA, and Kevin Steen have advanced to the second round of the tournament.
[Intermission. Generic hamburger and fries from the bar gets **]
5 — QUICKSILVER vs. DRAGON KID
Dragon Kid dresses like Ultimo Dragon and looks like a light 1992 Rey Mysterio in Mexico, not like the 2006 Rey Mysterio, who’s carrying too much weight on his frame. They had a stand-off following an arm drag by Kid. Quicksilver ran over Kid with a hard shoulder tackle then Kid came back with a float over arm drag. Kid cleared Quicksilver to the outside with an arm drag then feigned a high-risk move. Quicksilver returned to the ring and took a chop to the chest followed by a charging basement drop kick. Everyone likes the basement dropkick tonight. Kid applied a reverse chinlock and Quicksilver reached the ropes to break the hold.
Quicksilver retaliated with a back elbow smash then a spinebuster off the ropes. He landed a weak chop, which the crowd didn’t respond to because of how violent chops in previous matches had been. The crowd did a rally clap to get some energy back in the match. Kid countered a suplex attempt into a snap DDT that popped the crowd. Kid cleared Quicksilver to the outside then hit a springboard moonsault on Quicksilver and a woman in the front row. The fans chanted, “She’s hardcore.” Fortunately, it wasn’t a Kevin Steen moonsault.
Back in the ring, they took the match up a notch. Quick hit a modified Ace Crusher then hit a fall away neck cracker slam for a nearfall. They went up top at 10:00. Quick knocked Kid off the top turnbuckle to the apron then he missed with a charging kick. Kid hit a triple jump springboard moonsault for a nearfall. Quick reversed a head scissors into a sick piledriver that turned Kid over onto the back of his neck. A very risky move and it resulted in a nearfall. They continued to trade sequences of setting up big spots, executing the move, getting a pop, and then repeating. After a mistimed move, Kid hit a springboard huricanrana, but he didn’t get it in full. However, it was good enough for the pin and the win.
WINNER: Dragon Kid in 12:00. The crowd was more than forgiving for the mistimed spots in this match. Many fans said they enjoyed this match better than I did. There just seemed to be a constant communication problem, but both men did their best in the match and worked very hard to impress the audience. The slow five minute period in the middle of the match took the match down a notch. (**)
6 — RODERICK STRONG vs. ROCKY ROMERO
Romero set himself up as the obvious heel in the match when he spit in Strong’s direction before the opening bell. Romero went for a kick to the gut, but Strong avoided it just in time. Romero faked some kicks then Strong wrestled him down with a hard takedown. “Shoot!” a random man yelled. Strong drove Romero to the corner then they locked up center ring. They locked up near the ropes then Strong ripped off a patented chop to the chest.
After Romero recovered on the outside, they went back to the mat in the ring. Romero applied some innovative holds then stretched Strong with a bow and arrow submission. Strong broke the hold then went for a handshake, but Romero spit at him in the face. Strong said that was enough so he stripped off his wrist tape and locked up in the corner. Strong landed a ridiculously hard chop to the chest and Romero retreated to the outside. He returned and took another sick chop to the chest. Strong landed a series of stiff forearms then Romero caught him with a monkey flip, but Strong ended up on his feet.
They repeated the same set with Romero landing on his feet. Strong missed with a kick then they had a stand-off to a rousing ovation. They locked up with Strong hooking Romero in a surfboard stretch. He wrapped his arms around Romero’s neck then pulled back into a modified surfboard stretch. Goodness, that was a great hold. They went to the apron and Strong blocked a belly-to-back suplex into the front row with a back breaker, dropping Romero back-first onto the apron. On the outside, Strong landed two sick chops to the chest then Romero fired back with three semi-stiff chops, but Strong answered with an even stiffer chop. Strong rolled Romero back into the ring at 10:00 for a nearfall. Strong applied an innovative modification of a Camel Clutch, leaning backwards and pulling Romero’s legs back. Goodness, another great hold.
Romero broke the hold then went on the offensive, but Strong dropped him with a chop. Strong hit a fall away slam for a nearfall. Strong went to the mat where he grapevined Romero’s arms behind his back with his legs then leaned backwards. Strong released the hold then Romero caught him with a kick to the side of the head after Strong avoided the initial strike. Romero ripped off a series of stiff kicks to the chest and Strong answered with chops. Romero eventually knocked Strong down with a double foot drop kick and Strong rolled to the outside. Romero followed up with a suicide dive.
Back in the ring, Romero locked in a standing guillotine submission. The fans cheered for a submission, but Strong slipped out. Romero caught him with a top rope DDT for a nearfall. Romero went for a double underhook suplex, but Strong blocked the hold then executed the urinagi into a back breaker. He followed with a torture rack slam into a flip over backbreaker for a close nearfall. Romero slipped out of a suplex attempt then bounced off the ropes and punt kicked Strong straight in the chest for a nearfall. They fought to the corner at 17:00 where Romero missed with a kick.
Strong slapped him across the face then caught him off the ropes with a double underhook powerbomb into the Boston Crab. Romero fought the hold then he eventually tapped out. The fans gave both men a standing ovation. They chanted, “That was awesome.” Strong tried to get a handshake, but Romero backed away to the apron. He spit at Strong then left. The fans continued to cheer for Strong until he left.
WINNER: Strong in 18:00. Goodness, what a match. This is why I love pro wrestling. Hard-fought one-on-one battle with a good story of a clearly established heel going against the vicious babyface. The crowd was into the match from the opening takedown all the way through to Strong’s submission victory. Clearly, Strong is one of the top independent wrestlers out there. Romero was up for the task of putting together a match of the night contender. (****1/2)
7 — SCOTT LOST & CHRIS BOSH & PWG champion JOEY RYAN (w/Jade Chung) & PETEY WILLIAMS vs. HUMAN TORNADO & EXCALIBUR & B-BOY & HOMICIDE
Joey took the mic after the Dynasty’s music ended. In response to a “Die, Joey, die” chant, he said, “I’m going to live.” Joey walked around the ring then eventually went into his spiel. He told referee Rick Knox to call the match down the middle or he would make him bleed. Where’s a homeless Earl Hebner when you need him? Joey continued to rant on the fans then said his mystery partner is someone who knows how to be a team player – the great Petey Williams.
At least it wasn’t the Great Khali. Petey hugged everyone in the Dynasty after being introduced. Tornado came out first for his team. He took off his polyester jacket to reveal a taped shoulder from Dynasty’s recent beat down on him. Excalibur came out followed by B-Boy. The sound system cut out when B-Boy hit the ring. They tried to introduce Homicide as the mystery partner, but his music wouldn’t come on.
Eventually, B-Boy’s music came on a second time and Homicide came out to a strong reaction. Dynasty and Petey cleared to the outside. The fans chanted, “Homi-cide’s gonna kill you.” Announcer Travis introduced all eight participants. Tornado was announced as the only black man in the movie Nacho Libre.
B-Boy said he wanted Joey to start the match. Joey, of course, didn’t want any part of B-Boy so he tagged out to Lost. B-Boy ran over Lost with a cross body splash then Lost retreated to his corner. Homicide and Petey entered the ring at 3:00. Petey drove Homicide to the mat with an armbar. They exchanged control on the mat then they exchanged slaps to the face. They tied up then rolled to the outside, still locked up. Petey became frustrated and threw Homicide down to the mat.
They exchanged control then Petey screamed, “Screw this s—” and tagged out to Joey. Heck of a worked shoot. Homicide knocked Joey to the outside after Joey scored an advantageous kick to the back of the knee. Tornado tagged in the Joey threw his toothpick at Joey. Tornado smiled then pimpslapped Joey. Tornado ripped off a head scissors then landed a spinwheel kick to the head. Tornado did the pimpkick to Joey’s crotch in the corner after distracting the referee.
Tornado sent Joey stumbling around the ring then Knox got in a stiff right hand to Joey’s face. He made a quick count, but Joey kicked out of a Tornado pin attempt. B-Boy tagged in then landed another basement drop kick. The babyfaces continued to work on Joey. Homicide landed a stiff kick to the back then applied a nerve hold. Homicide applied a Camel Clutch then B-Boy tagged in and ran the ropes four times before landing a hard double foot kick to the face.
Tornado cleared Joey to the outside then went for a flip dive, but Petey blocked the move from the apron then dropped Tornado and landed a leg drop. The heels took over at 13:00 then exchanged tags working on Tornado. Eventually, the valets became involved to break the monotony. Tornado used a slap from the babyface valet on Joey to hit his overhead slam finisher. Homicide took the hot tag and cleared the heels with suplexes. Homicide flew through the ropes with a cannonball dive onto Petey.
In the ring, they set up a seven-way corner spot, but Petey broke it up by pulling everyone down. Eventually, the babyfaces cleared Petey and they set up the same seven-way spot. This time, they executed it and nearly everyone died from crashing onto each other. The action broke down into the usual PWG uncontrollable in-ring brawling where you just wait for the false finishes to lead to a finish. Homicide went for the cheer of “Eddie” after hitting three consecutive suplexes. A fan screamed, “Someone pin somebody!”
Petey slipped out of a Cop Killer attempt then Joey and Petey ran into each other. This led to a shoving match and Petey hit the Canadian Destroyer on Joey, which popped the crowd. Excalibur rolled into the ring and draped an arm over Joey for the pin.
WINNERS: Homicide, B-Boy, Excalibur, and Tornado in 27:00. A very long match that fans seemed anxious to see end after a long night. A formula PWG multiple-person main event with an extended period of big spots followed by pin attempts broken up by a fresh man. (**1/2)
– Afterwards, the Briscoes hit the ring and attacked Homicide and B-Boy. A brawl ensued with a post-show angle leading to Homicide smashing a chair over one of the Briscoes repeatedly. Fans cleared out as Homicide and B-Boy stood their ground near the entrance stage.
FINAL THOUGHTS
NIGHT ONE RATING: 7.0. A very strong pre-main event match of Roderick Strong vs. Rocky Romero is must watch material. It’s exactly what TNA is missing from their TV matches and what WWE is missing with gimmicks like Sylvester Terkay trying to do a half-job as a shoot fighter. The main event was exciting at times, but it dragged towards the end. The tournament is shaping up to be very strong with Night two featuring more opening round matches with even more big names and night three being the quarters, semis, and finals with some very intriguing match-ups, especially Strong vs. Dragon Kid. A good showing from PWG and the crowd was hot throughout the night, which helped.
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