Southern California’s favorite maladjusted reporting duo endure rain and smoke and a trek through Brokeback Mountain to review the debut of another new promotion on the scene. Click below for more. Planes, Trains and Automobiles Report Vol. 7: Next Generation Wrestling 12/9/06
by Jay Doring and Paul Newberry
Hi, Paul Newberry here, welcoming you to the 7th edition of the “Planes, Trains and Automobiles report”. The “whenever I get around to writing it” column that has been highlighting all the mundanery that comes with attending a SoCal Indy event since 2004.
Dateline: December 9th 2006, I received a correspondence from fellow SCU writer, Jay Doring. Who asked me if I wanted to attend a show tonight from a promotion called “Next Gen Wrestling”. I then answered “I don’t know, does it have Sexy Chino?” and then he’s all “Naw dawg, but they gots Ronin!” 45 seconds later I was on the my way there. After making it through the particularly hellish SoCal traffic, we both made our way to the industrial complex that housed the Slam Theater.
Now those of you who are not aware of the lasting cultural influence of the Slam Theater… are not alone. As it has none. Just a place where rock bands with names like Bonded by Blood, Exmortus, Gen0cide and Starland Vocal Band come to play their brand of vaguely musically inspired noise. But tonight, the SLAM played host to the debut show of Next Generation Wrestling, one of maybe three promotions in SoCal without “NWA” in their name (for now at least).
We arrived at around 6:25 to find the most poorly designed line in the history of Indy wrestling lines. It wasn’t even a line really, just random batches of people milling around. Oh well, at least it can’t get worse… but it does! As the skys opened up and the rain unleashed its fury, which sent everyone scattering back to their cars. After a rather boring wait, the honking of a car horns signaled that they were letting people into the venue. Once I got inside… I noticed that there was thrice the amount of people inside as there were in the line. Comp much? It felt like we were in a crowd of the owners friends and family.
We discover our seats and Jay gets his CZW Cage of Death results texted to him (Go LuFisto Go!). Then all of a sudden I see a patch of smoke, and think I’m at a Great White concert for a second.. until I notice that it is actually a smoke machine! They proceed to test the machine out a few times, then naturally never use it during the course of the actual show. Ok then… at least it was a distraction, as this show was no where near starting.
After what felt like days of waiting, the show appears to be starting…. nope, get this… now they are putting on the turnbuckle pads! This takes a while… a long while. Later on, a voice (possibly from heaven) informs us that the show is starting….. in 10 minutes. Will this show ever start?
Around 8 pm the show finally gets started… for real this time. As an unnamed ring announcer (an African American gentlemen, who was exceedingly giggly and… well ok, the guy was clearly stoned) introduces Next Generation Wrestling. Then NGW owner Mr. Blue (no relation to Vida I’m guessing) interrupts and says… something. While his bodyguard (a corpulent black fellow) threatens a member of the crowd. Ok.. at least it was short.
Ah, it’s apparently casual Saturday in NGW, as the ring announcer was sporting a Jimi Hendrix shirt and brand new jeans (complete with the sticker still on them! leading fans to believe he stole them) while the Referee (dubbed Aaron Carter by the fans, but actually “Steve” from HRW) was assigned to this contest wearing a referee shirt and baggy jeans. Looking a lot like one of those “Flavas” dolls that are popular with the kids. Nice presentation already.
Sonny Samson, Diablo, & CK Vs. Tarantula, Ronnie Tsunami & Ryan Mason
Paul: Our awesome ring announcer announces the first unit in the opening 6 man attraction, who all hail from Brokeback Mountain (which I hear is the overused joke capitial of the world) they are “Sexy” Sonny Samson (another big black man… only one who barely wears any clothing) Diablo (former HRW champion, who had a dark match on a TNA PPV recently) and CK (who looks like a guy I knew in Junior High named “Keith”) Their opponents tonight are Ronnie Tsunami, Tarantula and Ryan Mason, all relative newcomers from the HRW promotion.
Jay: This was my first time seeing 4 out of the 6 guys in this match, as Victorville is a little too far out of my driving range to catch a full HRW show. Diablo though, didn’t seem to look anything like the “El Diablo” that teamed with Jimmy Jacobs on a TNA PPV pre-show…maybe because that Diablo wore a mask. The match didn’t get off to the greatest start, as the babyfaces seemed to have a little bit of trouble adjusting to the ring, slipping on the ropes and getting confused on some of the early exchanges. The match picked up as it went along, with the heel team doing a fairly good job of drawing heat with their effeminate antics as they worked over Ryan Mason. CK, despite looking like an older version of the kid from “Bad Santa” with incredibly unflattering purple ring gear, actually appeared to have more stamina than Kid Vicious and threw some good strikes. The final stretch was done pretty well, with Ronnie Tsunami and Tarantula both showing some good babyface fire until they fell to some dastardly CHEATING~! While sloppy in a lot of places, the match did a decent job of waking the crowd up after the long pre-show wait.
Paul: Decent opening contest. A few sloppy portions but solid enough overall. My favorite part had to be when Ryan Mason was lightly knocked to the floor, and an overeager EMT came out of nowhere to check on him! I can only imagine how awkward that conversation must have been…
Winners: Sonny Samson, Diablo, & CK
Disco Machine Vs. Chimaera
Paul: Disco Machine is a well traveled veteran of the SoCal scene. Who can be seen in PWG, AWS, LuchaVaVoom, on MTV as part of WSX, and where ever the disco sound is found.
Chimaera is a young high flyer (wearing what appeared to be Quicksilver’s tights) that can currently be seen in such promotions as UEW, NTW/NTLL, PWA. You know the SoCal promotions that seemingly only exist in myth. You sometimes hear about them but never actually ever meet anyone who’s ever attended one. I call them the Bigfoot feds….
Jay: The biggest bummer of this show was by far was that of all the entrance music on this show, Disco Machine’s was the only theme that was barely audible (thanks Slam Theater DJ!) Chimaera, who I believe only has a handful of matches under his belt, sadly does not have two heads, or even one of those cool hybrid masks with two different designs on it, nor did he breathe fire (yes all lame Greek mythology references, very sorry.) The match started off okay, with Disco and Chimaera going through some basic, nice-looking lucha sequences, but Chimaera’s inexperience started to overwhelm the action – he seemed more concerned with getting his moves in than having the match make sense, and he did mess up a few key parts of the match. Age is also starting to catch up to Disco Machine – despite his experience he really doesn’t have the physical ability to lead rookies through matches anymore. After a few Chokebreaker teases, the ending comes after Chimaera missed his corkscrew frog splash, and Disco gets the three off of a bridging Northern Lights Suplex that seemed to only get 2. Not horrible by any means, but it was a pretty weak match that didn’t go very long.
Paul: Ring Announcer: “Here is your winner.. the Disco Inferno!” Oh no he didn’t! This leads to an amusing tirade from Disco, who says he’ll be on MTV in January, while Disco Inferno hasn’t been seen since 1996. Ha! Sure told off that jerk. Ha ha, I must say… I like this ring announcer. Everyone should use him (I’m serious)
Winner: The Disco Inferno (you heard me)
The Young Buck$ Vs. Blazing Riot
Paul: After that, we see the entrance of what appear to be Matt Hardy and WCW-era Shannon Moore. Seconds later, the the ring announcer confirms their identity as the Young Buck$ of HRW. Who appear to have grown a personality since I’ve last seen them. Which worked for them.
Their opposition “Blazing Riot” enter to a loud reaction. They are Markus Riot, who was enjoying a decent push in Pro Wrestling WAR before that went the way of the Buffalo and most projects involving Chevy Chase. Now makes his home in whatever fed will book him. His partner tonight is Leo Blaze. I know a whole lot of nothing about Mr. Blaze except that his name is Leo Blaze (if THAT is his real name…)
Jay: This is my first time seeing Markus Riot since the March AWS event, and he’s changed his look from “basic young rookie” to a more nise-Homicide look. The Young Bucks are so much more effective as heels than they are as the happy-go-lucky babyfaces they portray on NWA Pro/AWS shows. Nick and MIR, jawjacking from bell to bell, basically annihilated Riot the entire match with various doubleteams while allowing Leo Blaze little chance to get into the match. Riot finally made the tag and Blaze took out both of the ponytailed heels with dropkicks and leg lariats and all sorts of other fun kickiness. I also give Blaze a lot of credit for trying (and hitting) a running somersault plancha from the corner of the ring- that takes a lot of balls for a relative rookie. The fight went through all parts of the building, where Riot made good use of the SLAM~! Theater staging area by hitting a moonsault off of it. The Bucks finally took control again with more chicanery, and Riot fell victim to a vicious-looking flurry of doubleteams – the Finlay Roll into the Senton Bomb into a split-legged moonsault. Mega-fun spotfest that finally proved to me that the Young Bucks hype in SoCal definitely has merit. Riot is also steadily improving, and while he’s not ready for prime time he’s shown he can put on a solid mid-level match at shows like this.
Winners: The Young Buck$
Ronin Vs. Charles Mercury
Paul: The PWG “Pimpin’ In High Places” DVD music begins, and Ronin enters to a pretty good reaction. Ronin does what any of us would do, and responds to the adulation of the crowd by flipping off little kids. Clearly not a man of the people. Ronin is currently enjoying great success in PWG with his Battle to the 2007 Battle of Los Angeles Tour, where he’s scored big wins over such names as Chasyn Rance, Shingo Takagi, M-Dogg 20, Arik Cannon and Matt Sydal.
Then the theme from the Highlander hits and the newly dubbed “Prince of the universe” Charles Mercury enters! He’s come to be the ruler of your world! And well… he hates the fans too. Chuck is a favorite of mine, and one of the most underutilized performers in SoCal. You can see him regularly in AWS and NWA Pro, where he teams with Johnny Paradise to comprise the team of “Midnight Dynamite”.
Jay: This match right here made driving 25 miles to South El Monte and waiting 45 minutes in a downpour worth it, because this match marked the night Ronin finally stepped up and showed he can hit the next level in wrestling. No disrespect to Charles Mercury, who definitely held up his end in the match and continues to be the most underrated heel performer in SoCal, but Ronin BROUGHT it here, destroying the Chuckster. His offense was just ON, from the vicious forearms and chops he threw the whole match, getting great snap on his neckbreaker suplex, planting Mercury with big throws…but that wasn’t the main reason this match ruled. Ronin added the heel touches to his matches that his masked mentor Super Dragon was known for…from skating a chair into Mercury’s feet on the outside, tripping him, to throwing Mercury a stretcher after the match, Ronin might be able to eventually fill the shoes of Super Dragon if he can deliver these matches consistently. Match of the Night ,and hopefully Ronin can do a match like this on a bigger stage.
Paul: I’ve been watching Ronin wrestle under different various guises since about 2003, and while he has always been steadily improving. This is the first time I’ve seen him come off like a “star” You often hear in PWG circles, about Ronin appearing uncomfortable in his role. But none of that was present tonight, as he let loose and delievered a memorable performance, that would have made Super Dragon proud. My pick for match of the night.
Winner and NEW Prince of The Universe: Ronin
Bino Gambino Vs. Joey Ryan
Paul: Ah the match we all paid to see. The battle of the champions! Much like Ric Flair vs. Nick Bockwinkel, Jerry Lawler Vs Kerry Von Erich, Hiroyoshi Tenzan Vs. Satoshi Kojima of yesteryear. Tonight it’s the PWG Champion Vs. The EWF Champion! Will they go BROADWAY? (Yes, by broadway I mean singing and dancing. This is a theatre afterall).
EWF Champion Bino Gambino (sans belt) enters… as the ultra-hyper fan-friendly Bino (which is a big step down from the cocky heel Gambino) and gives the crowd a “Hey” “ah” “ohhh” or whatever he says when on the turnbuckle.
Then PWG Champion Joey Ryan (also sans belt) enters. Joey is sporting a rather sparse mustache tonight, and no sideburns! What gives!? Say, you don’t think Joey shaves his Tony Award winning stache and ‘burns in the PWG off season do you? Nah. Joey soaks up the hate of the crowd like a sponge as he taunts the El Monte faithful with his sleazy antics before getting into the ring.
But before the match begins, we get an exchange of promos. Joey Ryan puts over the PWG title as being on a much higher plain than the EWF title, and informs us that the question tonight is not who is the better champion, but “Who wants a mustache ride?!” Then they each ask each other “where’s your belt?” and apparently they both forgot them… or traded them for magic beans or something. Then Bino takes the easy road and calls Joey a child molester, and mentions Joey should go back home and get his belt from his 11 1/2 year old girlfriend. Joey then reminds Bino that he is not dating his 11 1/2 year old sister. Joey then says something about making Bino look like a bigger bitch then that little girls mom! (points to a fan in the crowd, who I’m guessing looked like a bitch). And with that the battle of champions is on!
Jay: The match I paid to see as well (thus proving Joey Ryan truly is “The Draw”) and while it didn’t turn out the way I expected it in my head, I felt I got my money’s worth. Joey played a more vicious version of his PWG heel character to counter spunky babyface Gambino, taking advantage of Bino accidentally injuring his arm on a tope to the floor. Joey busted out some of his old technical wizardry, systematically breaking down Bino’s arm with creative use of the Fujiwara and a variety of hammerlock slams. Bino made the heroic comeback, and nearly beat Joey with his finisher in a very believable nearfall. The only aspect of this match I didn’t like was the ending, as right after Joey kicked out of Bino’s finish, they ran to the ropes and I KNEW they were going to do the “Joey holds onto the ropes on a sunset flip attempt for the 1-2-3” finish. Other than that, it was a well-done classic-style main event from two of the most underrated all-around wrestlers in Southern California.
Paul: Ring Announcer: “Your winner from Los Angeles California, JOEY RYAN!” Ha ha, dude is so baked that he’s reading directly off the introduction cue card! Awesome. Anyway, good match here. As Jay mentioned, Joey utilized much more wrestling here then he has in PWG recently… proving those “Joey can’t wrestle” critics to be erroneous in their claims.
Winner: Joey Ryan
Nemesis & Guerrero De Sangre Vs. Los Luchas
Paul: Team uno: Los Luchas, one of SoCal’s most entertaining tag teams. The one knock on them has always been an inability to actually make their bookings. But it does appear that have broken their streak of no shows and seem to be appearing where they are advertised regularly. Their most notable accomplishment is recently winning NWA Pro’s Copa Del Lucha tournament in Las Vegas.
Team Dos: Nemesis, who you may have seen in PWG where he was a regular up until recently and his partner: Guerrero De Sangre (whose name roughly translates to “warrior of blood” Which sounds like a band that’ll be playing this venue soon) is a rather large luchadore who has appeared in Lucha VaVoom, NWA Pro, AWS and HRW in the last few months.
Jay: Nemesis is one guy I’m really sad to see has been missing from PWG cards lately – he does an awesome job of getting crowds involved with his “luchador Billy Graham” posedowns and is a really fun wrestler to watch. Los Luchas, accompanied by the “New York Knockout” Nikki, were really on their game tonight, with the best performance I’ve seen from them live since PWG All Star Weekend 3 – they hit all of their trademark spots really fluidly this whole match. The star of this tag though, was Guerrero de Sangre, who I hadn’t seen much of outside Lucha Va Voom. He hit the biggest “holy shit” spot of the night, running of the concert stage with a HUGE fat gut running plancha onto the Luchas. He also DESTROYED Nikki with an incredible one-handed chokelift into a stunner. One scary moment occurred here, as during the Luchas’ springboard Blockbuster spot, GDS fell the wrong way, which looked to injure both himself and Phoenix Star. The finish came almost immediately after, as Zokre and Star put Nemesis away with their tandem springboard senton bombs. While it didn’t really feel like a “main event” (Joey vs. Bino probably should have gone on last) it was a fun pure lucha match to close out the night.
Paul: Entertaining match up. Which ends our show exactly at 9:45. Wow, that was short… I think we waited longer than that for it to start.
Winners: Los Luchas
Overall thoughts:
Jay: Despite being the shortest indy event I’ve ever attended, clocking in at 1 hour and 40 minutes (beating UPW’s record of 2 hours and 10 minutes), I really can’t complain about the in-ring action at the show, as it delivered 3 top-quality indy matches and nothing on the show was actively bad. NGW has done a solid job of choosing talent, but they need to work out a few kinks to be an indy people care about -namely, starting on time, improving the overall presentation (maybe use that cool Slam Theater SMOKE MACHINE), and cutting out the extraneous use of the “authority figure” (seriously, what was the point of Mr. Blue?) Oh, and also, they need to have that ring announcer on the shows as much as possible. He’s definitely the promotion’s breakout star. As it stands, NGW is yet another startup Indy in SoCal with “potential,” and it will be interesting to see how/if they will follow up on this debut performance.
Paul: Indeed. I will say the presentation needs some smoothing out and it would help to start somewhere near the advertised start time. But no complaints about the actual show. It was an entertaining night of wrestling. I liked the way NGW handled promotion of the show. No pompous boasting about being the best fed in SoCal or outlandish claims they couldn’t live up to. Just a solid show that spoke for itself. I’d definitely be interested in checking out more of this promotion.
For more info on NGW check out http://www.myspace.com/nextgenwrestling or keep it locked right here on SoCalUncensored, since 2001 your uncensored source for Southern California wrestling news and information (I get something free for saying that… right?)
