This is Draven UnScripted with a full recap of IWL’s “Unhinged” TV Taping for the IWL ROKU channel at the Santino Brothers Dojo in Bell Gardens, ca.
The show kicked off with a guest ring announcer which was none other than…ME!!! Yes, I was the guest ring announcer as I welcomed everyone to the show & now that I’m done boasting, onto the show:
Taping #1
Eric Cross & Ray Rosas made their way to the ring & talked about what happened last week on Unhinged (or rather two weeks ago at the taping). Rosas & Cross felt that the loss of the IWL Anarchy championship & IWL Championship matches were a travisty & demanded that IWL Promoter Vic Luna grant them a rematch. Luna made a match for next week that if Cross & Rosas can defeat IWL Johnny Saovi & a partner of his choosing, they’ll receive their rematch.
As Rosas & Cross left the ring, Vic Luna welcomed everyone to the show & announced the opening contest will be Champion vs Champion as IWL Breakout Champion Simon Lotto vs IWL Champion Johnny Saovi. As the music hits, Saovi made his way to the ring only to be jumped from behind by Rosas & Cross. After the beatdown, Cross & Rosas left the ring with smiles & the match was put on hold to see if Saovi would be physically ok to compete in his match later that evening.
Mikey O’shea defeated Che Cabrera with a Swinging Sideslam. (Strong opening match, great way to kick off the matches)
Justin Ryke made his way to the ring awaiting his opponent but Pinky & the Nobodies (Damian Omen & Everfly) made their way to the ring. Pinky introduce his opponent & “friend” The Scourge of Grizzly Hills Joseph Knox.
Justin Ryke defeated Joseph Knox (w/Pinky & the Nobodies) with a spear for the 3 count. Afterwards, Knox apologies to Pinky for the loss & the two hugged as a sign of forgiveness only to have Pinky issue the attack on a exhausted Knox by the Nobodies as Ryke looked on.
Main Event
IWL Champion Johnny Saovi defeated IWL Breakout Champion Simon Lotto with a Slice bread for the victory. Afterwards, Saovi took the mic & talked about next weeks tag team match & after this great match asked Simon Lotto if he would be his tag partner. Both men shook hands & the match became official..Ray Rosas & Eric Cross vs Johnny Saovi & Simon Lotto.
Taping #2
Everfly along with Pinky & Damian Omen made their way to the ring for the schedule match & Everfly decided to hide to get the jump on his opponent Che Cabrera. Cabrera was blindsided but Cabrera held his own against the much smaller Everfly as he tossed him into the ring to start the match.
Che Cabrera defeated Everfly with a Powerbomb from the Top Rope for the win. After the match, an upset Pinky showed some to love to Everfly & tossing him out of the ring as Pinky was scheduled for the next match.
Pinky (w/the Nobodies) defeated Seville the Thrill with his Chokeslam into a Knee to the face maneuver for the win. Afterwards Pinky ordered the Nobodies to beat down on Seville the Thrill until Justin Ryke came in to make the save. Ryke took the mic & talked that he wanted another shot at Pinky but he refused. So Ryke made the proposal to face Everfly & Omen in a 2 on 1 handicap match & if he wins, he gets another shot at Pinky. Pinky agreed only if Justin Ryke loses, he must join The Nobodies & Ryke agreed.
Main Event
Ray Rosas & Eric Cross defeated IWL Champion Johnny Saovi & IWL Breakout Champion Simon Lotto when Rosas & Cross hit a double team Front face slam/Double Knee combo on Saovi & Rosas threw Cross into Lotto to prevent him from the save & Rosas covered Saovi for the win. After the match, Cross looked confused on what just happen but with the victory, a happy Ray Rosas & Eric Cross knew that their rematches for the championships are set. As Eric Cross was about to speak, Rosas grabbed the mic from him & announced that Ray Rosas will challenge Johnny Saovi for the IWL Championship. Once again, Eric Cross looked confused on what had just happened again as Ray Rosas left the ring.
This IWL Unhinged TV taping deliver 6 solid match ups that gave the fans in attendance a great night of wrestling action & should give their fans who watch on ROKU some interesting matches to talk about. As to my Match of the Night, everyone gave it their all in these matches with a lot of blood (just a bit by Pinky), sweat & tears & in the end I felt all the matches were solid matches with a lot a great chemistry & good storytelling. Picking one or two matches out of this particular show is difficult because everyone brought something to the table to deliver a solid performance or to enhance a current storyline to make you think what will happen next. So overall, another decent showing from IWL.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take any photos for this event as I usually do when I cover any event I attend. But I want to personally thank Vic Luna & IWL for the opportunity to be a guest Ring Announcer for this event. I never thought in my wildest dreams that this would ever happen but it did & I had a blast. This was my 1st attempt as a ring announcer & its a memory I will cherish for a long time. I hope to be asked again to be a ring announcer somewhere down the road by IWL or in fact by any Southern California Indy Promotion if needed.
Mark your calendars for Friday, August 9th as the next time Insane Wrestling League will be having their next ROKU TV Taping at the Santino Bros Dojo in Bell Gardens, ca. For more info on the IWL visit their site: http://steelcageradio.com/iwlblog/ or at Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/IWLWrestling
So until next time, this is Mike Draven….signing off