The Wrestling Society Xperience - WSXtra Episode Six (3/13/07)
Matt Sydal has a great match, and...not really a whole lot else. Enjoy!
WSXtra - Episode Six
Good day!
Fabian Kaelin and Lacey run down Youth Suicide getting blown up at the end of the most recent episode of the TV broadcast. We get clips of the ending angle that featured said explosion and all manner of general nonsense.
Matt Sydal vs. El Hombre Blanco Enmascarado
Sydal’s nickname du jour is “The Cocky Cover Boy”. Lizzy Valentine gets in an argument with one of the plants at ringside.
We get a bit of slick mat wrestling to kick things off, and Hombre gets a nice counter of a leapfrog into a sunset flip for two. Hombre evades some Sydal offense and hits a springboard crossbody for two. Sydal comes back with moonsault into a leg-assisted inverted DDT for two, then he hits a corner dropsault, a corner clothesline, and a Tetsuya Naito-like slingshot dropkick for two. Sydal continues to dominate, landing a nice fireman’s carry backbreaker into a longbow.
El Hombre makes the ropes, then he comes back with some strikes, then a sweet corner kick, a headscissors, and a spinebuster for two. Sydal dodges Hombre’s attacks and hits a standing moonsault for another close call. Hombre blocks a top rope Frankensteiner, but Sydal catches him leaping with a spinning heel kick for another two-count. Sydal goes for the shooting star press, but Hombre avoids it and catches Sydal with a snapmare driver for another close nearfall! Hombre ascends the ropes, but Lizzy crotches him, affording her boyfriend the opportunity to hit a top-rope belly-to-belly to end it.
The Take: This was a very entertaining match; likely one of the best I’ve seen from WSX so far. What could have been a complete squash was greatly elevated by some believable near-falls and an honest-to-God babyface vs. heel storyline. They established that an upset could happen here. Sydal’s always impressively smooth out there, Hombre did a great job fighting from underneath, and both guys hit some creative offense.
The Vibes: Near-immaculate.
“The Anarchist” Arik Cannon cuts a promo on The Cartel. He’s disappointed in himself that the beatdown from Episode Five happened. He challenges them to a scrap, but he’s got backup this time!
Luke Hawx & Alkatrazz vs. Trailer Park Boyz
According to Bret Ernst on commentary, Alkatrazz is on his eighth strike. That’s a lot of strikes.
Alfred Katrazz pounds the snot out of Nate Webb to start, and rebuffs Josh Raymond’s attempts to stop him. Webb manages a wheelbarrow bulldog (but ending with a knee to the face) and tags in Jug. Raymond hits a slingshot hurricanrana, sending Alkatrazz into his corner to tag in Hawx. Jug catches him with a nice swinging neckbreaker for two, but a lionsault hits knees. Hawx T-bone suplexes Raymond into Nate, who was facing away from the action to seek guidance from Johnny Webb at ringside.
Referee Rick Knox is distracted by everything (a truly stunning development for anyone who’s watched him in PWG and AEW), and Keepin’ it Gangsta run in and beat the tar out of Hawx. Ruckus hits a moonsault legdrop FROM THE TURNBUCKLE NEXT TO KNOX, and Raymond sneaks in for the pin!
The Take: Really not much here. This had the makings of a squash for Hawx and Alka-seltzer until the interference at the end gave it to the Boyz. The ref distraction bit felt way more contrived than usual. WSX prides itself on the ‘anything goes’ aspect, so why would the referee distraction be needed?
On the plus side, Raymond looked pretty slick here for the few seconds he was doing stuff. I generally like Nate Webb, but his offense can get a bit too set-up heavy at times.
The Vibes: Non-existent.
Hawx & Alkatrazz and K.I.G. brawl around the arena while the Trailer Park Boyz celebrate (though Johnny Webb was not happy with how the win came about).
Ernst thinks this was their first win, while Kris Kloss thinks it was their second underhanded win in a row. They’re both wrong (the Boyz beat D.I.F.H. on Episode Two of WSXtra, but lost in Episode Five to Los Pochos Guapos). I understand commentary is a tough gig, especially with a hectic taping cycle, but it just comes across as bush league.
NEXT TIME: Wrestling Society X Episode Seven, with Los Pochos Guapos vs. The Filth & The Fury and musical guest QUIETDRIVE!