Post by Ross Report on Mar 27, 2019 8:42:50 GMT
The action on this week's SLAM! got underway as the "nWo" did battle as a unit for the very first time. Before this, we'd only really seen what they're capable of together on EWA.com in a shocking hospital attack on Matt Morgan, yet John Cena and the Briscoes proved just as deadly in the ring as well. Granted, they weren't exactly going up against the very best the EWA has to offer, but this was an important momentum builder for the "Doctor of Thuganomics" as we head into Civil War. Putting aside my personal feelings after what happened between last month, John Cena has got to be considered one of the frontrunners for next Sunday's annual "brawl for it all."
After two months from hell, Ken Shamrock sat down to get a few things off his chest now that he's finally got his wife back. "The World's Most Dangerous Man" made it clear that next Sunday's match with PCO isn't about the top prize in the game anymore...it's about revenge, pure and simple. And to ensure that happens, Shamrock had made the request for this battle to take place in the most sadistic structure in all of professional wrestling, the Hell In A Cell! Just when you thought this rivalry couldn't get any more exciting, Ken Shamrock finds a way to crank up the heat! This Collision Course rematch was already shaping up to be a "can't miss" contest, but now? We could be about to witness one of the most bloody and brutal matches in EWA history, especially if Ken Shamrock has any say in how it goes down!
"The Great Khali" might not be the most versatile of wrestlers, but boy, he's just about the most intimidating I think I've seen over the past 40 years! Try as he might, Marty Jannetty couldn't find a way to chop down this mighty redwood, and I can't help but wonder if many of the competitors in the Civil War Match will have similar struggles next Sunday! Don't sleep on Khali, folks!
Nice to see "The Kings of Wrestling" presenting a united front heading into next Sunday's Pay-Per-View event too. It's been talked about numerous times before, but the fact that there are so many different superstars working as groups right now should change the entire dynamic of this year's Civil War Match, which traditionally has been more of an "every man for themselves"-type deal. I can't wait to see how it all pans out when the EWA returns to San Antonio!
I was super excited to see the in-ring debut of Xia Li, a young lady from China who has quickly shown a ton of potential. Considering how relatively recently her wrestling career started and the fact that she was in there against a veteran of the sport in Melina, it's safe to say that Xia is a natural! Watch out for those educated feet of hers!
It wasn't just "The Kings" talking up their Civil War chances this week, with the leader of the "Bullet Club" looking to build on some damn fine performances over the last month as well. It feels as if he's just a step or two away from putting it all together, and what better stage to do so than with the whole world watching at Civil War? Of course, while Omega seems lazer-focused, Santino Marella is anything but right now, continuing to try out for various groups within the E-Wrestling Alliance to no avail. Alas, there's no place in the "Bullet Club" for the Italian Stallion, but who knows? Maybe he'll find the right group for him somewhere down the line!
Talk about a barnburner of a tag team match pitting Becky Lynch and Daffney against the two women who've been causing them the most trouble in recent weeks, Charlotte Flair and Scarlett Bordeaux! While Lynch and the Women's Champion might ostensibly be team-mates as part of "Revelation," we've seen tensions flare between the two of them lately, creating some question marks over their ability to work together. Credit where it's due though, Becky and Daffney showed just how effective they can still be together, with "The Queenslayer" surprising Charlotte from the apron, allowing Daffney to capitalize for the win! My sources tell me that this won't be the last time we see these four women in the ring together either, as Daffney will have to defend her Women's Title against Scarlett, Charlotte and her own ally Becky next Sunday in a fatal fourway match! That ought to be "The Zombie Goddess'" toughest challenge yet, to say the least!
Considering the list of injuries Jerry Lynn has picked up ever since he found himself in the crosshairs of "The Honky Tonk Man," it's a wonder the ECW veteran is even still standing! Yet rather than throw in the towel and let "Honky" win, Lynn has signed a waiver to exempt the EWA of all responsibility for his eagerly-anticipated match with "Mr Shake, Rattle And Roll" at Civil War! On the one hand, it's a brave choice from "The New F'N Show," especially since he's struggled to get any kind of momentum against his arch rival in recent weeks...but on the other, can you really blame Jerry Lynn for putting it all on the line just to take "Honky" down? Expect this one to be a slobberknocker!
For the second week running, our broadcast was interrupted by the so-called "Chartered League of Wrestling Naturals," with "King" WALTER none too happy about the lack of recognition he and "C.L.o.W.N." seem to be getting. Not that there's any good reason for myself or Harry Smith to give the big Austrian any press after he quit the EWA several weeks ago, but still. I think any effort to explain that to "King" WALTER might be wasted. Either way though, the important takeaway from this latest hijacking of SLAM! was that "King" WALTER promised to make his presence felt at Civil War to send a message in front of the biggest audience possible. What that message might be, I'd hate to speculate, but I doubt it'll be anything good as far as the rest of the EWA roster is concerned. Could he end up being a surprise entrant in the Civil War Match itself, I wonder?
Pete Dunne's offer to accompany his fellow "British Strong Style" member to ringside for Trent Seven's match against Samoa Joe ended up backfiring wildly. I can't say I blame "The Bruiserweight" for letting his emotions get the better of him after what happened to Tyler Bate two weeks ago, but he certainly didn't help matters at all when he allowed Joe to goad him into action. Not only was Dunne ejected from ringside before the match could begin, but the distraction allowed Samoa Joe to take out "The Don" at the knee and then target that area during the course of the match until Trent finally succumbed to the pain. I've already heard from several sources that due to the damage sustained at Joe's hands, Trent Seven won't be cleared in time for Civil War this Sunday, meaning Pete Dunne will be the only "BSS" representative in the match. And you've got to believe that's exactly what Samoa Joe wanted, especially when he has his fellow "Kings of Wrestling" watching his back and looking to keep Dunne from winning. To say the odds are stacked against "The Bruiserweight" right now would be a gross understatement, where as the ball is very much in Samoa Joe's court! I wouldn't be at all surprised if "The Samoan Submission Machine" or one of his compatriots go all the way next Sunday.
After weeks of hype, "Prince Puma" has arrived ahead of his official in-ring debut at Civil War! I must admit, I've tried digging up some info on this masked lucha libre star, but it's almost like he's appeared from out of nowhere in December of last year to take Mexico by storm before quickly parlaying that into an opportunity with the EWA. Yeah, that's me trying to speculate that the man under the mask is actually the man formerly known as Trevor Mann/Ricochet, although according to Salina De La Renta, that's apparently not the case. Of course, as we all remember, Ricochet lost his job with the EWA on the last SLAM! before Super Brawl XVIII after being pinned in a triple threat match also involving Gabriel and Marty Scurll, so one couldn't blame him if he did try to hide his identity to make his return. Still, no matter what his true identity is, "Prince Puma" will have to live up to the hype if he holds any hope of success at next Sunday's Pay-Per-View!
With the newly rechristened "Show E." still adjusting to his new body, maybe Civil War has come around a bit too quickly for him to be at his very best. Still, Buh Buh Ray Dudley seems to have plenty of faith in the former plastic lawn ornament, believing that this might be the chance they need to show the whole world what the "Flamingo Family" is capable of! Who am I to argue with that point of view?
I'm still at a loss as to who this "O.D.B." is that will soon be returning to the EWA, especially as it was confirmed that not only is this a male superstar (thus ruling out Jessica Kresa, who has also used those initials), but that they are a former champion and apparently once went undefeated too! That should narrow down the field, but I'll be damned if I'm any closer to figuring this one out! I guess all will be revealed this coming weekend!
Good God almighty, what a main event to cap off this week's show! It's no secret that both "The Vaudevillains" and "The Kings of Wrestling" have talent to spare, with their 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match from last year standing out for it's tag team excellence. But this Steel Cage Match had an entirely different feel altogether, with champions and challengers going to war for the most prized possessions in the tag team division! In the end, Simon Gotch and Aiden English escaped with the win here (both metaphorically and physically), yet no sooner did they do so than they were then attacked by "The Horde!" Marty Scurll and his group of villains had been conspicuous in their absence during the rest of the broadcast, especially considering that many tip them to be the ones to beat at Civil War, but they quickly made their presence felt by decimating Gotch, English, Hero and Cesaro all in one go! I think it's safe to say that the first shots have officially been fired as all eyes now turn towards San Antonio and the Civil War Match itself. Still, it's important to remember that while we have all these groups running around and watching one another's back, only one man can etch their names in the history book and earn a future shot at the World Heavyweight Championship!
With the smoke cleared and the dust settled, here's my picks for this week's top three movers and shakers:
1. The Vaudevillains
2. Samoa Joe
3. Xia Li
Top spot goes to the Tag Team Champions, who no doubt silenced a lot of doubters by retaining their titles over one of the best teams in the business inside of a Steel Cage! Coming in at number two, Samoa Joe continues both his path of destruction and his beef with British Strong Style, putting Trent Seven on the shelf. And last but by no means least, I want to give a shoutout to Xia Li as my third choice after the impressive debut victory she managed to put together! This one's a keeper!
No doubt about it, the last stop before Civil War had everything you could possibly ask for...but the action isn't letting up here! If anything, it's just getting started ahead of this Sunday's Pay-Per-View extravaganza, where we'll see a fatal fourway for the Women's Title, Shamrock and PCO finally settle their long-standing rivalry within the demonic confines of Hell In A Cell, and of course, at least 30 EWA superstars battling it out for Civil War supremacy! Until then,
BOOMER SOONER!
