PWI's Showcase Rebound
Mop Up

Because if one special-themed episode of Showcase wasn't enough, the PWI's back this week with Showcase Rebound. Showcase is looking to rebound alright, as last week's ratings loss to Retro Revolution was emphatic and devastating. Will Showcase Rebound pull it off? (Spoiler Alert from the future: No, they won't)

We kick things off with Dragonfly arriving, before we go right into the opening video package. 

Ross and Venom are at ringside, and after the pyro they welcome us to another night of action. We've got six matches tonight, including a handicap match with FRED and the return of Rhyno.  It's ironic that following the show Chairman Murrey would go on to lament the EWA's use of 'legends' and special attractions, all while we're treated to teasers of the three top stars of the UWA. Oh well, hypocrisy in wrestling is nothing new, and Murrey's not the only guilty party so I'm gonna let it slide. 

Alexa Bliss is angry that the broadcasters said her Goddess Party last week was in the women's bathroom. Personally, I think it's a great place for a party. If you get thirsty, you can drink from a sink. You can wash your hands after eating cake and if you gotta poop, the party doesn't have to stop! She says Amazon disrespected her, while calling her a fossil and saying that like the dinosaurs, she's gonna be extinct. Man, remind me not to ruin this woman's party in the future; she's vicious. Sasha Bank's music is enough for Amazon to get the victory off the distraction, and it looks like Bank's rumored exit will feature a mini-feud with Bliss to presumably help put her over. I'm happy Amazon got a win; I'd hate to see her put to pasture or used solely as an enhancement talent. I know there are a lot of fresh faces, but the fans are practically begging for one last nostalgia run before the aforementioned happens. 

LayCool are in the back, and they say the tag team titles are just the beginning. Because in the future they're going to be super duper ultra tag team champions? Or even the men's tag team champions?! Seriously, what more could a team want? (Spoiler Alert for 30 seconds from now: It's the Women's Championship and Immunity Championship they want...)

Matt and Jeff are having a moment backstage. Matt says he doesn't know if this tag team should continue, as we're reminded that we were teased a break up months ago before their feud started with the Guerreros. Jeff offers to be his emotional support because Matt's feeling a little insane from the pressure. I like where this is going, and I'm totally fine with them breaking up, but please do not subject me to another brother vs. brother feud. We saw it in the HCW if I recall correctly, and if not, it feels like we did because this always happens with brother teams. 

Jackie Mouse is trying to leave when she's stopped by her mother Catherine. Jackie's still upset that Catherine pushed her out and then, well, pushed her out... (See what I did there? It was a joke about Catherine being pregnant and then putting her up for adoption!) Catherine wants one more chance, Jackie's not convinced. She takes off as Catherine yells, "Come on, Jackie!" and again, as always, I'd like to try that... 

Next we're treated to a women's tag team ladder match for a contract to face the champions. We got the Comic Book Men, The Agency, and the Allure. Jokes about their names aside, Starfire and Thundra looked good, but anyone with eyes know that the Allure has this one in the bag. A month ago I could have foreseen a victory from The Agency, but they've lost a bit of steam here as of late whereas Gallows and Velvet Sky have picked some up. I got to admit, I'm a big fan of tag ladder matches, what can I say, I love the chaos. Oh yeah, did I mention Ivory and Molly Holly were in this match? If I didn't it's because their careers are going nowhere memorable, which is a huge shame for Holly. 

After the match, the Rayne, on behalf of the Allure again confronts Angelina Love. We can barely see their heads for the first half of the segment, and Love says she's "past the Allure."  Rayne has an issue with that, and says she can read her mind. She says Love use to be on top of the world, but now she can't cut it. She needs them, arguably more than they need her. Rayne says Love will come around. 

In the back, Bray Wyatt looks like he's ready to swallow the camera when he starts rambling again. The time is now, he says, to make us choose the light in the darkness. He's willing to show us the darkness, but it's gotta be under his terms. I'll take a pass. He continues his ominous warning to hype up the impending squash match... 

...and FRED easily defeats Mr. Perfect and Jim Neidhart, as if there were ever any doubt. I do wonder why they chose to book him against two random jobbers rather than a low card tag team. At least create the illusion of a contest, ya know? (Also, how humorous is it to see the elderly Neidhart enter the ring to a gangsta theme behind him? He's hip, he swears!) 

After the match, Drakus no sells a sign that says "RUN." 

Mason is backstage with the Storms. The tag champs are in a good mood as Robbie Storms calls Lance "one of the best dads in the world." He forgives his dad for making him a child star, and the two head to ringside. 

The Business Man Harry Puddphucker; I just can't with that name, for what it's worth. Jackie says she can't do it anymore. Catherine keeps trying to talk to her, and Jackie can't keep ignoring her. (Remember earlier when she said she was leaving?) Business Man offers to let her help with paper work, because that's the solution to all of life's troubles... 

Moxley continues to rage, presumably about the allegations involving his wife, as he attacks Mike O'Malley. Moxley deserves better than whatever this is. 

Lance Storm and Robbie manage to retain their titles even after Robbie betrays his father. I must admit, I saw this coming a mile away - their breakup, that is - but I do question the timing. For the first time in his career, Robbie is getting over; more so than his extended feud with Dragonfly. He's on the cusp of something, but if it's rushed, it's going to hurt him more than it helps him. Obviously we can't put the genie back in the bottle here, but we can pump the brakes. We'll see how it goes. 

The next segment, Fitz Riot introduced "The Dirt Sheet Review," where he rambles about the tag division for several minutes. I'm reminded of the Miz's brief run during the ECW, where he feuded with Metal Head for a shot at the Undisputed Championship... all of my friends inside the creative team at PWI *promise* me that they payoff will be worth it, but all I can think of is how far the Miz has fallen, and how unfortunate it is that Morrison will slide with him...

Teo and Attitude bump into one another. Attitude wants another shot at Teo, but Teo isn't just going to give it away for free. Attitude says if he loses, he will retire! Teo grants the match for Motivation 7; and the main event is presumably set. (Although the winner of Rhyno and McIntyre will also be in the equation, though that's an obvious B plot that hasn't happened yet.) El Gigante appears again, intimidating Attitude and protecting Teo. I like this pairing. 

Taz and Samoa Joe continue their feud with a backstage brawl. I originally thought that Taz was preparing for one final singles run, but now I'm thinking he was momentarily built up so creative could feed him to Joe. And judging by the looks of Joe, he'll take the snack, no questions asked. All jokes aside, Joe should come out shining a little brighter when this is through, and Taz will likely slip away into obscurity, where he's spent the bulk of his career. 

We get a nice shot of Drew McIntyre's package before Executioner/Enforcer #2 interupts with a message from Mickey. He wants to thank McIntyre for his efforts a War Games, but he also needs him to stop Teo from ending Attitude's career. McIntyre gladly accepts that his match is now a number one contender's match, and he and Rhyno put on a long back and forth match that ends in a draw... because of course, we need Rhyno in the main event in 20fucking20. Sorry, I can't stand this man, and unless he reinvents himself HCW style, that's likely to continue. 

Dragonfly sits down with Lenny Mouse. In a long interview that I could have watched for an hour, Dragonfly says that he was on the outs with Mickey after losing to Randy Orton at From Dusk Til Dawn. He said that it was obvious to him that he was replaced in Mickey's eyes by Teo, and it never set well with him when Mickey called Teo the future. Dragonfly says the from here on out, he's only looking out for number one. (He's number one, by the by...) Great interview and great segment. 

It's main event time, and Living Dead Girl has issues an open challenge. Victoria accepts, and as soon as I get over my disappointment that we didn't get a new star here (seemed like an opportune time) I realize how good it is to see Victoria again. I also want to take this time to compliment, again, the work the PWI has done with the women's division. We've got five or six established main event talents; all of which would make a credible threat for the title. Ultimately, LDG gets herself disqualified and just like that, Victoria's back in the picture! 

Before the show closes, Murrey holds a rambling press conference; in which he takes no questions from the press. He announced that the seventh installment of Motivation will take place over two nights, because of course it will. I sigh as I realize I'm never going to get around to binging Tiger King on Netflix with all this wrestling, but I am curious to see how we fill a two-night PPV card without the addition of a bunch of filler. 

PWI Live Champion's 
Showcase Mop Up

The wrestling world is still reeling from Monday's historic ratings battle between PWI Live Champion's Showcase and Retro Revolution; but before we can look ahead to the fallout, we must first take a look at PWI's latest broadcast in this, the return of my infamous Mop Up! While everyone's still buzzing about Retro Revolution, Showcase offered some highlights of its own, which, unfortunately for MMouse Enterprises, failed to generate the same kind of buzz/praise. That said, the show was good in its own right, and I'm glad that I finally got around to watching (if only so I can sit here and criticize it mercilessly.)

SEGMENT ONE:

Before the show kicks off, we're treated to the return of "The Crock Show Investigates," which this week is all about locating Mickey, who's still reeling from his team's loss at Fate's Resurrection. (Mickey seems to be reeling from losses quite a bit these days, but that's rather here nor there.) Crock promises to get to the bottom of things, at which he is a self-proclaimed expert. 

We're shown a brief video reminding us that there's an ongoing global pandemic; damn guys, way to bring down the mood. Ross and Venom are at ringside and all titles are on the line tonight! They hype up the show, including a "main event" that features Mike O'Malley. 💩

The Women's Immunity Champion Asuka makes her way to the ring with her plump little friend James E. Cornette, who sounds like a trans Southern Belle. Maria comes to the ring to answer the challenge, and we know how this match is going to end before it starts. Nothing against Maria, as she's been an under looked talent for years now, but this is just not an even challenge. Maria puts up a better fight than expected, but ultimately this thing ends as it started: Me singing along to Asuka's music, which is currently one of my favorite theme songs. 

SEGMENT TWO:

In the back, Lance Storm says he trusts his boy; Robbie says greatness is in their blood and they're going to take the titles and run with it. Lance says Robbie had him at "take this championship," which was essentially the last thing he said. I admit, I've been critical of Robbie's mega push in the last era, but this team - it's working, and it's working well. Good stuff. 

Mason is standing by with the Immunity Champion Brock Lesnar, and like the announcers earlier in the evening, he's hyping up Lesnar's reign. Mason says Lesnar is expected to hold the title through the end of the season, which means that depending on his mystery opponent, he's likely losing. (There's foreshadowing, and then there's treating the audience like we're stupid.) Lesnar says he's not the 'next big thing' and is now the BEAST. Mason says Lesnar's the big thing, and I can't help but picture Mason with a bathroom spy cam... 

Ross says we're looking in the women's restroom... um... er... I think he means the women's locker room, since there isn't a toilet in sight. Bliss interrupts a bunch of women to continue her Goddess Appreciation Party, and Sasha Banks drops a Hard T-Bomb to Amazon after Bliss walks off. The women say someone needs to put Bliss in her place, which just so happens to be my lap. 

Back at ringside, we're set for the men's Immunity Championship match. The champion makes his way out first, which strengthens my predictions that we're about to witness a title change. The announcers continue to hype up Lesnar's reign, until the modern day Terry Austin, AKA Petey Williams. He's cashing in one of his Premier Athlete Tournament title matches, and the two have an above average match that sees William's win the Immunity Championship. One has to wonder what's next for Lesnar, I'd imagine he'll transition into the world title scene sooner rather than later. 

SEGMENT THREE: 

Backstage, the YMCA are working out, hoping to achieve greatness with just a few more headstand pushups. "It burns, it burns!" Slave exclaims, and he's talking about his muscles, not his gonnereaha. B-Rad sad he'll always be Mr. Slave to him, and together they can do great things. They're attacked by AOP, and we transition from a comedy segment to a horror show as AOP hit the Super Collider. Hey, a tag team side feud that doesn't revolve around the title? I'm not bitching. 

The tag champs are backstage. Eddie says they're not worried about the Storms, because they've weathered plenty of storms... ha... Eddie says they're going to put the Storms down just like the Hardyz, and Mason is left looking confused by the one Spanish word Eddie muttered to him. 

Enforcecutioner is in the back, and the Crock is hot on his trail. Crock says the investigation is just heating up, and he encounters a pooping Matt Taven. Hey, take that paycheck where you can get it, right Taven? 

The Storms and Latino Heat deliver arguably the most entertaining tag match of the era thus far, and the Storms manage to pull off a hell of an upset. I do wonder what happens to the ongoing rivalry between the Guerreros and the Hardy Boys, now that the titles are out of the equation. I wouldn't be surprised if the belts are hot potatoed back to the Guerreros in the near future, but I'm going to enjoy the Storm's run while it lasts. 

SEGMENT FOUR:

Backstage, Bray Wyatt says that his latest child to join the family was a lost soul, and that people started to doubt him. (Um, what? You lose one match and you're broken?) Bray says FRED asked for a seat at the family table as the camera pans out to show Braun and Scarecrow. Wait, if he asked for the seat, why didn't you let him sit at the table?! The promo goes on for about 40 seconds too long, as Bray says that terrible things await in the darkness. Follow the buzzards or become a firefly, Bray says, and I've officially lost track of what he's talking about. 

LayCool is in the back with Mason. Can I just say how proud I am of Layla and McCool? Both have stepped up their game in this new era, and McCool says she's going to make Benny regret letting the PWI sign her. (Looking at the ratings chart for the fourth segments from both shows, I can't help but notice that more than 350,000 fans switched over to watch 4:20 and Rousey/Jax, but yeah, I'm sure Benny's really upset... I kid, I kid. They really do have some talent, and I'm glad they're getting a chance to run with the proverbial ball.)

Fitz Riot is in the back with The Elite, the Miz and Morrison. I hate everything about this, and insider sources at PWI keep telling me to let it play out. Fitz says he's booked The Elite for the Ascendants Extravaganza, but he doesn't clarify for what. Again, these guys do not need a hype guy, and they're more than capable of carrying a team on their own. Please, I'd take Terry Austin (may he RIP) over this midget. Miz and Morrison get goofy and Ross asks, "What in the actual hell?" My thoughts too, Jim. 

It's time for the Women's Tag Team Championship and can I just say, I hate Taste of Heaven's music? Beyonce aint getting me hyped, bro, she's putting me to sleep. The announcers explain to us how title matches work on Mondays vs. PPVs, because, you know, it isn't the PWI if it isn't as difficult to follow as possible. The match was inoffensive, and the champions retain. Again, as I've stated earlier, I came down hard on this division, but it's slowly but surely coming together. Layla wins the match with an homage to Terry Austin, and I swear, he's more over in death than he ever was alive. 

SEGEMENT FIVE:

We get a short teaser for Motivation VII before the Crock finally stumbles upon Enforcer and Mickey. He tells him he can help get Mickey's story out, and that he's insisting on social distancing. Crock says he needs answers, and Executioner steps aside and Crock enters a dark room. An agitated Mickey says he's been underestimated for years, you know, as he's only the most celebrated wrestling promoter of all time. Mickey says Dragonfly failed him, and he's tired of failure. He starts talking about himself in the third person, and now I'm thinking we might want to send a team to check on Mickey because his mental breakdown, unlike Benny's, is happening live on television. Mickey says he's going to retake it all and he's going to show the world what he's made of. (It wasn't enough that he showed Jane Mouse?) Mickey says everyone is a virus, and he goes off on a rant about Motivation. Oh man, this is starting to sound a lot like the Wyatt promo... we get a cool silhouette shot as Mickey cackles until the camera cuts. 

Mason is backstage with Blayze as she sets to challenge for the Women's Championship. Blayze says she's seen a lot of challenges, and she's trained a lot of the industry's top stars. Blayze says tonight's her night, and she'll be leaving as champion. 

In arguably the best match of the night, Living Dead Girl continues her championship reign with a decisive victory over A-Blayze. Watching this match made me realize how excited I am for the inevitable encounter between Living Dead Girl and Asuka, because at this point, she might be the only one who can stop the destruction. 

SEGMENT SIX:

Teo is in the back with Mason, and he says that he predicted he'd be the first champion and his prediction came true. Teo laughs because not only did he defeat Attitude, he also beat Petey Williams. Teo congratulates Williams on winning the Immunity Championship, but says that's about the best he can ever hope for. Teo says he's the only one to lead this company, and I can't say I disagree. 

O'Malley is in the back for his pre-match interview, and I use the chance to take a much needed piss. 

Teo makes easy work of O'Malley, as he should. Teo's celebration is short lived, as Petey Williams comes out and says he's cashing in a title match right now. Teo tells Petey he's okay with that, but he should probably be more aware of his surroundings. El Gigante comes returns, coming to the aide of Teo. Teo defeats Williams again, and we learn Gigante is now Teo's bodyguard, thanks to Mickey as the credits hit.

The Three R's of wRestling (PWI Live! The Return Show)

The Right:

The Women's Division: Now, I know what you're going to be thinking once you get to the next section. You're going to think I'm contradicting myself, but I promise, I'm not. I enjoyed seeing Sable, Sunny, Maria, Stephanie, and Blayze in the opening contest, and yes, I think the match concept is a little much, but the PWI has done a great job of fleshing out the women's division (in this particular area, the PWI has bested the Knockout's Division, which admittedly has had less time to give the division as much exposure.) Overall, the division has been the best booked in the company, and even though the match had some weak spots, the women deserve credit for creating a competitive division. 

Bray Wyatt: In Wyatt's best performance on the microphone of the era, Wyatt tells Kane that he has no family now, and he's no longer got the option to "run." FRED in the background, menacing as ever, as a breath of fresh air in his character not since seen since his original introduction. Smart booking here, as Wyatt is instantly a superstar with FRED in his "family." 

Tag Team Gauntlet: I debated where to place this segment because I think it teetered on the right and the wRong; the Storms were fun to watch, getting a clean win over The Untouchables. (The story of the Storms coming together is low key one of the most wholesome stories in all of pro wrestling.)  American Alpha's debut was also a fun little surprise, though I again question the booking, having them eat the pin. Then, we're treated to the debut of The War Raiders, only for the Storms to pull off the upset. (The overall booking of the division has been unsatisfying, however, with the Hardyz forced back together -- we never did get an explanation on the whole "delete" chant Matt got the first night; I wanted to see those guys go their separate ways. Instead, they're now playing second fiddle to The War Raiders, making me question what the point was in the first place.)

Samoa Joe/Taz: There are times where superstars with similar movesets/wrestling styles just don't click, but this wasn't one of them. Joe looked like a star tonight, and Taz did what a guy his age should be doing - putting the younger stars over. Taz deserves credit for his hard work thus far this era, as he seamlessly transitioned from tag wrestler to singles wrestler, and from singles wrestler to grizzled veteran. Good stuff. 

Amazon vs. Angelina Love: The year was 2008. Amazon worked her ass off to make Miss Athena Star a legitimate wrestling superstar. The duo were the first women to headline a Monday show, and their two matches over as many months really elevated Star. That's what this entire match reminded me of; though, admittedly, Love is probably better positioned than Star was circa 2008. With the added interest of the ongoing Allure storyline, Love's quest for the gold is bound to be interrupted in the near future. Good stuff, and Amazon again proves she's still every bit the pro she always was. 

The wRong:

Make or Break Fatal 5-Way: I want to emphasize that there is, on paper, nothing wrong with this match and or concept. My problem with the booking is as follows: We've already seen these convoluted stipulations with the Ascendant's matches; one of which forced Billy Gunn into retirement and the other of which allowed someone to slingshot to the main roster, in spite of the already somewhat convoluted rules involving how someone moves to the main roster. In other words, it's just a lot to follow and a lot to continually ask of the fans. The men's match, featuring The Best Mike O'Malley, Test, Ken Shamrock, Scott Nash and Triple H, was the wrong choice for the show's main event, as it was never going to live up to the women's match. I also find it slightly curious that one of these men, all advertised to have never won a match, will suddenly get a world title shot over those who are arguably more deserving. Again, it's the convoluted booking that I take issue with, not the fact that these B- players are getting the shot to get their grades up. (Another issue I had was Ross continuously repeating that the stars were "fighting for their careers, presumably" when Murrey himself likely doesn't know what he's going to do to punish the losers. It felt slightly disingenuous, and again, the card placement didn't help.) And surely, I'm not the only person who has no interest in seeing O'Malley job to Teo, right?? I have similar criticisms about Murrey's post-match announcement, but there's no sense in repeating myself.

Alexa Bliss: I want so badly to like Bliss, she's talented and she's got charisma. But there's something about her booking that has put me off, and I'm also just not buying her on the same level as some of the other top women, such as Angelina Love, Living Dead Girl, Amazon, etc. She's just not there yet, though I'm wholly confident she'll get there. Her decision to announce herself as a finalist for next year's tournament is some long term booking, but in turn, it books the entire tournament into a corner. It also seemed like a premature time to announce this, as the dust has barely settled from the Premier Athlete tournament that just concluded. 

The Ridiculous:

Billy Lee: I don't understand what's happening here. Billy Who? He's a former WPW "star?" He's a "Wrestling Legend?" And now his name is Fitz Riot, the Elite Manager/Managing God? I hate everything about this dude, and I think the "Elite" does not need a mouth piece. Miz is a natural born trash talker, and Morrison is smooth as hell in the ring. Sticking him with this random mouthpiece, while a nice homage to the forgotten art of managers, did absolutely nothing for me. 

The Three R's of wRestling (PWI's Asylum 1.6.20)

The Right:

The Immunity Challenge: So, I wanted to hate this, because when Murrey announced it, it sounded a little convoluted. And don't get me wrong, on paper, it was an absolute clusterfuck. But in practice, what we got was a fun exhibition that was a unique take on a multi-person match. The hardcore nature of it never hurts, especially in an era that's seemingly shying away from that style. Really fun opening segment in which the "qualifying" portion could have went much longer and I would have been thrilled. Confused by the booking choice, especially with the continuity of Shamrock's disdain for Lesnar, but I'm willing to see where it goes.

Mickey Mouse: I've missed Mickey, and his shots at Benny were more than fair. Murrey interrupts, and Mickey accuses him of nearly killing the industry. Murrey brings up the LWF, and I agree with Mickey, it REALLY was a flash in the pan. Mickey brags about having shares when Murrey doesn't (hey, Benny, toss Murrey a share or two? He's gotta pay for those toupees somehow, right?) They fight over big heads for a moment before Murrey says he's here because he cares. Mickey reveals he's been cahooting with Lesnar all along, and Lesnar makes his presence felt once more.

The Main Event: Letting the women close the show was the right call, especially on Mickey's show. He's been accused of not caring about that sort of thing as much as Catherine and Benny, so good on him for shutting that down. Secondly, I love that the title was on the line, that added to the prestige and I just love this new era of excitement that a shortened PPV schedule allows. Living Dead Girl was able to retain her championship in a hell of a match (better than any the men had to offer) and LDG made it clear that she's not done with Angelina Love. Between this and the ongoing Emma and Ivelisse feuds, I'm happy with the state of the Asylum's singles division amongst the women.

The wRong:

Overexposure: I don't envy the bookers, because I am, admittedly, a tough critic to please. That being said, I think that the Mickey and Murrey segment was just slightly hindered because Lesnar's presence already had the wind sucked out. If I'm writing this show, the takeaway here is Mickey and Lesnar's alliance - an alliance that will undoubtedly have large implications and ramifications. That's what mattered tonight, more so than Lesnar proving he can beat up Daniels. Though I enjoyed his confrontation with Shamrock, and I'd be happy with it if it were Lesnar's only appearance, I was left underwhelmed when Mickey went for the reveal, even if the writing that got us to the moment was well thought.

The Ridiculous:

Send 'Em Back to Heaven... um, WHAT?: So, I think... I think... I think I hate a Taste of Heaven. I about tossed my television when Zevon delivered what I hope was a one off catchphrase. Look, I know I've been hard on this division, but it's because I'm still not convinced that it needs to exist. Yes, I understand the goal it stands to serve in showcasing women outside of the title picture, but those feuds can exist without tag wrestling. For A Taste of Heaven to act as if Holly and Ivory are some experienced team when they've wrestled, what, one match together? Two tops? The champs continue to enjoy their push with the least compelling bout so far, and I'm thinking I'd rather have a root canal. (DID YOU KNOW SHE'S A DENTIST?!)

E-Dawg: Am I wrong, or are we past the day of the whacky interviewer? Sure, I can accept a gimmick, but when the backstage personality shines brighter than the talent he's there to introduce, it becomes a problem. I know next to nothing about Ivelisse, and I'd like to. That interview didn't help me learn, and that's unfortunate because she's one I want to know more about. There's a ton of potential there, and all throughout her match, I kept thinking about E-Dawg... there's just no real reason for E-Dawg to be sucking up heat from a new or upcoming talent. (Wanna pull that shit with The Crock, Teo, or another veteran promo? I could stomach it. This? Not so much.) The match was fine, and I purposefully don't mention it elsewhere because I think it was so overshadowed by the comedy segment. I like to laugh, but as I've noted, I really want to know more about this woman, especially since her feud with Emma will continue. 

The Three R's of wRestling (PWI's The Spotlight 12.28.19)

The Right:

The Curious Case of The Crock: You may recall, I was pretty harsh on the Dec. 9th edition of The Crock Show. My criticisms were echoed elsewhere on the internet, and in what I am sure was a last minute idea, the Crock stole the show with his backstage segments throughout the night. When Crock is on his A Game, he works well. This was an example of that, and I am curious to see how the Crock's continued search to find his mojo plays out.

Moxley and Scrull: The PWI scored an absolute win with the signing of Jon Moxley, and if the likes of Samoa Joe received the same sort of booking, I'd have a lot less to complain about. Since the kickoff of this era, the PWI has treated Moxley as if he's a bonafide superstar, and for damn good reason. Sure, his wife is *allegedly* fond of Benny Mouse's chestnuts, but I do find it curious that Young has never once broached that subject to confirm or deny.

Slammu: You can never go wrong with an appearance by Slammu, and I think the PWI's booking of him in his new role of commissioner has been solid. Slammu's held administrative roles before, but absence makes the heart grow fonder and damn did my heart miss his silly shark voice. Glad to see you, Slammu, let's not make a habit of it, though...

The Main Event: Rayne and Taya Valkyrie tore the place down, and the match managed to just barely edge out Paige and Maria from earlier in the evening as my favorite of the night. Now, I address the downsides of having two show-stealing women's matches below, but for the purpose of this category, this match had everything I'd want for a PPV-style main event, including Murrey's surprise decree. The talent is definitely there, and this was an example of that at its finest. Both promise to be major players in the immediate future, and that's a pretty impressive declaration when you consider the talent in the division.

The wRong:

Taz/Samoa Joe: Following the implosion of TNT, Taz found himself in need of a singles victory to make him look good as he heads into an all out brawl with his former partner, HHH. I am fine with Taz picking up a win for that reason, but I would have chosen a different opponent. Yes, I know that not everyone can enter with a prolonged winning streak, but I was hoping for more for poor Joe. Hopefully a month from now no one remembers that he jobbed to Taz, but I suppose that's going to depend on how things play out from here in terms of his win/loss record.

Billy Gunn vs. The Bossman: What year is it? Because 20 years ago, this would have made for a helluva mid-card title feud. But today, it serves as a reminder that the Bossman's best days in the ring are behind him. Now, he has a knack for the comedy angles, don't get me wrong (I laughed my ass off when he said he was a cop... seriously, over two decades of playing a character has left our friend confused, or so it'd seem...) I would have been fine with this match on Ascendents, but for a PPV caliber show, it didn't live up to my expectations. (And I wasn't expecting much!)

Card Placement: I feel like the booking was all over the place; weaker segments were left without companion pieces that would have otherwise saved them. For example, how are Chaz and Wade Barrett expected to follow Scrull and Moxley?? Had this segment been paired with the Crock's backstage antics, it would have been a bit more memorable.

The Ridiculous:

Layla vs. Sunny and Rose vs. Vega: I always feel badly when I have to place a perfectly acceptable wrestling match in this category, but when the action is as strong as it's been in the women's division, "perfectly fine" essentially amounts to "not good enough." I've been hard on the PWI's female tag division, but if I were booking, I'd put both of these women in said division rather than the likes of Molly Holly and Alexa Bliss. Sadly, this was probably Sunny's best outing of her career thus far, which spans back quite a ways. Still, that being said, the match fell flat to me. It's card placement did not help. The same criticisms that apply to the aforementioned match apply to Mandy Rose and Vega's encounter. These two matches were completely upstaged by Paige/Maria and the evening's main event. When you've got two stellar women matches on a card with two average ones, it makes the average ones seem a lot worse by comparison. 

The Three R's of wRestling

PWI Legends (Dec. 17, 2019)

The Right:

2020 Vision: Well, almost... let's just say that starting with Ascendants prior, the view is **MUCH** better and I appreciate being able to see 80% of the match as opposed to 50%. That's a thirty percent improvement, and I've got to give credit where credit is due.

Press Conference: This was a mixed bag to me, but for the most part I'm going to put it in this category simply because it was something different, and I can appreciate that. It was reminiscent of the old cabinet meetings, or mid-show Catherine press conferences of the days of yesteryear. I can dig.

Teo/Catherine: Teo's my boy, you all know that. I would describe my feelings for him similar to the ones I had for Dragonfly in the UWA. Teo continues to do the tweener act right, and puts Catherine in her place. Teo promises to become the champion at the end of the tournament, and until I have reason not to, I think I believe him.

The Main Event: I have been reluctant to embrace the push of Petey Williams, and I was secretly incredulous when AJ Styles (willingly, I should say) did the job to him at From Dusk Til Dawn in that hellacious match, but I was impressed with this match. Williams, Hardy and Nash paid homage to their HCW roots, and what can I say, I'm a sucker for the subtext and nostalgia...

The wRong:

E-Dawg/Taven: I think the interview was meant to hype Matt's upcoming match with RVD, but E-Dawg was in rare form tonight, and not in the best way. Matt Taven says he's Matt Taven and RVD isn't, and that's nice and all, but E-Dawg completely undersells it for the sweet hottie in the corner. Holla! It totally sucked the wind out of me leading into Taven's victory over RVD - which was the right booking move, don't get me wrong, but somehow felt cheapened. Even the roulette stipulation didn't bring it back for me. Still, I'm hoping for great things in Taven's future.

Haven vs. McCool: I know what you're thinking, how could I diss on my girl Michelle, right? Well, you trippin', boo (see, E-Dawg, I can be a jackass, too!) There was absolutely nothing wrong with that match, and Haven's side quest push continues. The problem was, it was just average, and in an era that's dominated by women's wrestling, average isn't going to get you TV time on a roster the size of PWI's.

The Women's Tag Division: Ric Venom took the words right out of my mouth when he said that Bliss and Carmella were just kind of thrown together; and I mean, Ivory and Holly you could say the same. I know that the payoff could be worth it if we could suffer through the setup of a division that I think exists purely as a lazy way to showcase an extra women's match here and there. I also have high hopes for Bliss's singles future, but I know that one of the disadvantages to a large women's roster is the slow rolling of all the new talent and I really am trying to be patient with it...

The Ridiculous:

Press Conference: Remember when I said I'd revisit this later? Well, friends... it's later... first and foremost, I can only imagine the look on Mickey's face watching his "chairman" Jeff Murrey go out there and WILLINGLY eat crow. Murrey tried to spin the negatives into a positive, and the announcement of the fifth show specials was a nice touch, but in this era, innovation is what sells, and Benny and the EWA have promoted all shows as PPV level; this is the PWI's way of doing the same. Which again, isn't inherently a bad thing, but we're going to see levels of petty this era the likes of which we've never seen (see the announcers referencing the count out rule) - and to be clear, this pettiness will come from both sides, especially with ratings so close. 

The Three R's of wRestling: The Right, the wRong, and the Ridiculous (Week of 12.09.19)

Welcome to the return installment of the Three R's of wRestling, I am your host Chris Hyatte. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be back to work full time, and with that said, let's get to the highlights!

The Right:

The Tag Team Ladder Match: There's a lot that I could say about this match, but focusing strictly on the positives, there's a couple of things that are worth noting. First and foremost, the breakup of TNT is perhaps the first interesting thing that's happened to them since their original run. At this point in their careers, Matt and Jeff Hardy truly have nothing left to prove in the tag divisions. They're superstars, now, which is evident by their separate entrances. (Can we talk about Matt Hardy? WTF? Please don't delete me, whatever the hell that means!) Eddie and Chavo winning was the right call, in my opinion, for the reasons I just mentioned. Also, for the first time ever, I was actually impressed with Lance Storm! (Has Hell frozen over??)

A Storm Brewing: Admittedly, I missed out on Robbie Storm's breakout performance last era, but I've read all about it. He went from being a reference during every Lance Storm promo to feuding with Dragonfly; that's a pretty big rise regardless of if you're a fan. I'm interested in seeing if Robbie will be able to break away from his father entirely, as it's already arguable that Robbie has surpassed Lance's career accomplishments already.

Bray Wyatt: "Run!" Talk about a debut! I was initially confused by the decision to put Henry over Kane, but I was willing to live with it. After Bray's debut, I had totally forgotten about the match's results. We've heard a lot about Wyatt in the build to the Sixth Era, and he's definitely one that I've got my eye on. I look forward to seeing more.

Teo: After scoring another pinball victory of Attitude, Teo's star continues to rise. I address the tournament below, but taking that out of the equation, the mixed tag team match all but stole the show. Teo's constantly the best booked part of the show, and I wouldn't be surprised if the entire roster is jealous of the push Teo continues to receive.

Fresh Faces: Reading on, you'll see that I had a lot to say about the Crock's performance, and some criticisms about the overall booking of the women's battle royal, but I will say this: The biggest positive to come from the tag team battle royal is the look we got at the depth of the PWI's women's division.

The wRrong:

The Non-Title Match: Look, I get it, the show was booked months ago... there was no way to know that Living Dead Girl would be the Women's Champion. That said, this is the first Monday show of the era, and it's going head to head against a stacked card from the competition. Putting the belt on the line would have added to the match's marquee value and helped with the title's prestige, and the result would have been the same.

The Card Placement: I get that the PWI was going for symmetry, kicking things off with the men's tag titles and ending the show with the women's, but after we spent the entirety of Greatness Reborn building on the Teo storyline, an audible should have been called and the mixed tag match should have went on last. Also, what sense does it make to put Teo in the premier athlete tournament if he's being punished for his actions? There are some decisions in the early goings of this company that have not been thought through, and it makes for some annoying inconsistencies.

The Crock Show: I love the Crock as much as the rest of the world, but man, he said it best himself when he said the crowd went too easy on him. Don't get me wrong, the nostalgia was there and typically this hat trick works more often than it doesn't, but the segment droned on and the absence of a sidekick to break up the Crock's antics in a twenty minute rant hurt more than it helped. "I have no material!!!" <-- Accurate, and from the host's mouth himself! The segment was absolutely salvaged by Lesnar's attack and destroying the set, as everything prior to that was leading nowhere. I hope this is the last we see of the Crock until he has some new material. Nothing personal against the Crock, but in an era that's filled with so many fresh faces, the old timers shouldn't eat up time if they're not willing to put the work in.

The Ridiculous:

The Presentation: I was dismayed to learn that after complaints, the PWI went forward with the same camera angle we had during Greatness Reborn, meaning the hard camera had a nice view of a giant pillar that obstructed the center of the ring for the entirety of the show. Now, I was willing to let it slide during Greatness Reborn - it was their first show in years, and there were bound to be some hiccups. But two shows in a row? (Three if we're counting Ascendents...) The pillar obstructed the center of the ring during the ladder match, which greatly diminished my enjoyment of the bout because most of the high spots were obstructed by the pillar. I have heard tales that the PWI has corrected this issue moving forward, but it's hard not to bitch about the pillar. There was also the weird issue with the overhead lights, with us learning that they'll only be on during the opening contest and the main event... um, what? But why?!?

The "Remarkable Matches" of Mark Henry: I get putting your guys over, but don't you dare fucking lie to me! During the Kane and Henry bout, Jim Ross made reference to Kane's storied career. For some reason, Ric Venom chose to add on that Henry's had some memorable matches over his career, too. Well, Ric, name one, would ya? Because to my knowledge, Henry hasn't had a match or a significant role in the industry for close to two decades. Yikes, that throwaway line pissed me off!

The Women's Tag Division: Like most of the world, I was rather intrigued by the idea of a women's tag team division. Unfortunately, tag divisions are hard to book even when they're strong, and yet even harder to book when there are no established teams. These women aren't friends, with the exception of the Royce and Kay, and therefore they're going to lack chemistry as this division gets going. I think it was a mistake to decide the championship in a battle royal, and that stems from more than just my dislike of battle royals. In a tag team division we need cohesive bonds, and by introducing the division before giving the women time to form teams of their own, we're left with some sloppy booking that's more or less a rush to crown the champions. (Crown 'em first, worry about the rest later, I suppose?) The match itself was fine, and the women's division is strong, but I wish we would have held off with the introduction of these titles, or at least found a different way to do it.

Other notes:

Did I fall asleep during the announcement about the 2019 draft or something? Or was the promo for Asylum (which should have been dated for the 6th of January and not "next week") the first mention of it? Either way, I'm all for it though it seems a little soon since the rosters will have had only one show a piece prior to shaking them up again. Oh, those whacky Mouses! Also, was the Ascendants promo wrong, or are we getting Scorpion vs. Aliestar Black part two? 

Hyatte's Asylum Preview

Opening day has come and gone, but perhaps the bigger head to head battle comes Monday, December 9th when the debut episode of Revolution goes head to head with the debut episode of Asylum.

Before then, however, let's take a look at the card for Asylum, shall we?

First, we have the PWI Tag Team Championship ladder match, which will kick off the evening. The match features The Guerreros, TNT, The Hardys, YMCA, and the Storms. Ironically enough, both Monday shows will kick off with a ladder match, with Revolution to feature an eight woman Money in the Bank ladder match, with the winner to get a Knockouts Championship match at any time of her choosing.

Of the teams in the PWI tag title match, I'd say the Hardys have the best chance at walking out with the gold.

Next up, Mark Henry is set to take on Kane in what I believe to be Henry's first match since the early 2000s. He was employed by BWM Inc. in the previous eras and was never featured. Kane is riding a wave of momentum following the Callaway Brothers match at From Dusk Til Dawn, and therefore I think he's walking out the victor.

Following that, we have a mixed tag team match with Teo and Amazon taking on Attitude and Ariel. All of the above had impressive showings at Greatness Reborn, and though Teo was robbed of the world championship, he was kind enough to make sure that no one else took home his title. Teo and Attitude got into it again at Greatness Reborn, so this match will be filled with the animosity that's underlined their feud for years. Although I hate to see Attitude suffer another loss so early, I predict that Teo and Amazon will leave the victors.

Next up, we have what I assume will be a non-title match between Victoria, Angelina Love and the Living Dead Girl. If the title is on the line, I imagine LDG will retain. If the belt is not on the line, I predict Angelina Love will win by pinning Victoria. I'd be very surprised to see LDG eat a pinfall at this point in her push.

The Crock Show returns, and I'm sure I'll have a lot more to say about after I view it. I was always a fan of the Crock Show, so I suspect that so long as he does the hits, the segment will go over well.

Finally, we're going to crown the PWI Women's Tag Team Championship with yet another battle royal (hopefully this one isn't an hour long!) According to the rules, the last two women remaining will be the champions. I'm not entirely sure that is the best way to build a division, but I guess I'll reserve my judgments until after I see the show. I can't really make any solid predictions on the winners because I'm unsure of the participants.

I'll be back following the show with the return of the 3R's of Wrestling, the Right, the wRong, and the Ridiculous! 

"Greatness Reborn" Mop Up

Perhaps the most anticipated return of the Sixth Era is finally here - that's right folks, Chris Hyatte here with the official Mop Up for PWI's Greatness Reborn!

SEGMENT ONE

We kick things off with Mickey's first professional single since his 90s mix of "No Chance." After Mickey's take on Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes, we're treated to the original and I'm thinking, "Don't quit your day job, Mr. Mouse." All kidding aside, the opening promo got me pretty pumped for the PPV, and isn't that the real purpose?

Following the promo, we get a nice glimpse at the set, which would be pretty nifty were it not obstructed by a giant post. The announcers welcome us to the show and before we know it, we're an hour deep into the Immunity Championship battle royal. Word to the bookers: That's too long, bro.

Cesaro, Moxley, and Kevin Owens had an impressive showing, but it was Brock Lesnar who stood tall at the conclusion of the match.

SEGMENT TWO

We're in the back with Lawrence Mason and Catherine Mouse. Catherine says Teo's running out of time for apologizing to Terry Austin and his family, and I'm like, what, is he going to come back to life or something? Teo's got all the time in the world for all that, when ya think about it. Terry is in no hurry for an apology, he's too busy having his face eaten by worms... whoops, better hope I don't get sued for that one! #TeoDIdNothingWrong #JusticeForTeo

At ringside, we're treated to the highly anticipated "Battle of the Bald Guys (w/ Similar Names)" as Kurt Angle and The Fallen Angel Christopher Daniels square off for the first time ever. Although I think the wrong man went over here, I gotta say I was impressed with both Angle and Daniels' showing.

SEGMENT THREE

We're in the back with Mason and Teo, and Teo's echoing my earlier sentiments that his conduct doesn't require an apology. I mean, com'n, this PC shit is getting out of control! Teo has been unfairly discriminated against for over a month now, all because he dared to express his first amendment right. Terry was a failure, everyone knows it, and #TeoDidNothingWrong!

Up next is the women's gauntlet to determine the number one contender, and the announcers, like the rest of the world, totally forgot that it was on the card. That's OK, though, because every few minutes we get to check out a new piece of tail. Oh wait, there I go, being politically incorrect again! In what came as somewhat of a surprise, Stephanie McMahon probably had one of the best outings of her career, dominating for most of the match. Aerial took over where Stephanie left off, going on to win the match.

SEGMENT FOUR

We get a quick video tease for Ascendants before returning to ringside.

Another singles match, this time we have RVD and Brandon Lee. Two guys with similar styles. I don't have a whole lot to say about this match, it didn't disappoint me but it also didn't blow me... away, that is. Olsen and Lee were split up in the draft, probably for the best too, since their career paths have a way of intersecting. Lee picks up the victory and follows through with a post-match beat down, verbally and physically.

SEGMENT FIVE

We get a quick teaser video for PWI's return to Monday nights, and out next is the Mickey Mouse. Mouse sent his personal "businessman" Harry Pudfucker (I giggle every time they say his name, though I'm not quite sure what a "pud" is. We get a twenty-minute promo that goes in circles, before Harry reveals that the anonymous investor was Blaster and Catherine's aborted daughter. I had predicted it would be Blaster, and I guess I was part right? Either way, Blaster stuns Mickey and Catherine and we move on with our lives, uncertain on where this goes next. Though the segment did run long, I thought it had some pretty funny moments that saved it for me.

Murrey's in the back, and he's still bitching about Teo. In fact, he's gone so far to remove Teo from the six-pack challenge (coughMassacre6hack). Robbie Storm and Jeff Hardy will determine the sixth and final entrant into the six-pack challenge, as Robbie looks to become the Terry Austin of the modern era. Can I just express that this is complete and utter bullshit? Seriously, let us punish the HEEL because he didn't apologize to the dead man. BOO!

Jeff Hardy and Robbie Storm put on a better than expected contest, and as a result of Murrey's announcement and Teo's refusal to apologize, Hardy secures himself a spot in the six-pack challenge. When we return, we'll kick things off with the six-pack challenge.

SEGMENT SIX

We're back with the six-pack challenge, as Jeff Hardy's already in the ring. Attitude's next out, followed by Drakus, Petey Williams (perhaps the new odds on favorite with Teo out of the picture), Scott Nash, and Rhyno, who the fans welcomed like it was 2003. I know I joked about the similarities here with a Massacre 6 match, but what differs here is that this is going to be one fall to the finish. The announcers repeat the lie that Teo's removal of the match was his "own doing," when truthfully, we all know that #TeoDidNothingWrong.

Petey Williams took some time to call out AJ Styles, even using the Styles Clash. Hardy, despite his tiredness, has a great outing. Teo runs in through the crowd, which resulted in him positioning a double cover. We get the pinfall and there's confusion - such as, why wasn't Teo in this match again?? Stamboli, Buffer, and Road Dog can't agree on who the winner is, and after 35 minutes we get a no contest. The crowd chants "bullshit" and I couldn't agree more. The only one who's happy is Teo, who grabs the microphone. Teo said no one but him is leaving as champion, so if he can't be champion no one can be. That seems pretty fair to me!

SEGMENT SEVEN

We get a preview for Legends before we get ready for our main event, the first-ever women's Total Anarchy match.

The Hell in a Cell looks a lot more daunting than the one we saw this past summer at From Dusk Til Dawn, so the girls had that going for them. The cage was outfitted in enough barbed wire to cut a nipple off, so hopefully, that doesn't happen.

We're treated to one of the best theme songs in all of pro-wrestling as Victoria's introduced, followed by Angelina Love, who also has some badass theme music IMO. Amazon is out next, and though I'd like to see her leave tonight with the title, I'll be just as happy with any of the winners. LDG is out next.

In a brutal contest, LDG walks out victorious, and really, we shouldn't be too surprised to see that wrestling's female phenom victorious in one of wrestling's most brutal matches. Murrey's out to present the title, and we conclude the 4 and half hour show with PWI's credit sequence, which I admit is a nice touch.

The opening day of the PWI is in the books... until next time! 

"Greatness Reborn" Preview

By CHRIS HYATTE | 11.3.19

Earlier this week, Mickey Mouse announced that the PWI PPV Greatness Reborn will air a full month earlier than previously announced, undercutting Benny Mouse and the EWA's premiere in late December. As such, I've been forced to return to work early, which I'll try to get over sooner rather than later. So, with that said, let's take a look at the card. 

Extreme Battle Royal to crown the PWI Immunity Champion

The Participants: X-Pac, Test, Taz, Randy Savage, Mr. Kennedy, Shinsuke Nakamura, Jon Moxley, Marty Scurll, Drew McIntyre, Matt Taven, John Morrison, Dolph Ziggler, Wade Barrett, The Miz, Cesaro, Samoa Joe, Kevin Owens, Ken Shamrock, Triple H, and a mystery participant!

The first of seven matches is quite possibly the hardest to predict. 

It's no secret that this match has been surrounded by a ton of controversy. When the match was originally announced at From Dusk 'Til Dawn, it was announced as an intergender battle royal. After several months of backlash - from Benny, fans, and workers in the PWI alike - the idea was scrapped and Catherine retreated from her original immunity concept. 

Now, personally, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't just slightly disappointed about the change. I understand why Miss Mouse took a few steps back and repositioned the match, but had it been me, I would have used the controversy to power forward. I can't help but think that the match was announced as it was because Catherine wanted to explore a storyline that granted a woman immunity. Now that that's been scrapped, we're left with a typical battle royal that's more or less an excuse to get a bunch of new guys on the show. 

I'll go out on a limb here and predict that Taz, Randy Savage, Ken Shamrock, and Triple H will fail to win the match, leaving the victory to one of the plethoras of young, hungry PWI stars. Wild money is on Moxley, Nakamura, Scrull or Morrison, with Kevin Owens as a dark horse. Again, it's almost impossible to predict what's essentially the "Newcomers Battle Royal" Round 2. 

Kurt Angle vs. "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels

Angle vs. Angel is, at the very least, very fun to say. Seriously, go ahead and try it, I'll wait. 

That being said, I doubt the match was booked *just* because it's kind of a tongue twister. Both men have a lot to prove here, as Angle has failed to properly leave his mark on the business even after more than a decade of trying. As for Daniels, aside from a brief storyline in the EWA that saw him partner with Kane against AJ Styles, we really haven't seen what he has to offer. For that reason, I'm predicting that Daniels will walk out of Greatness Reborn with the win. 

Gauntlet Match: Winner to be #1 Contender for the Women's Title

The Participants: Ariel, Molly Holly, Maria, Layla, Ivory, Michelle McCool, Stephanie McMahon, Sable, and Sunny 

The women bumped from the Immunity Championship battle royal were instead given this match as a consolation prize, and the winner will be first in line for the women's championship. 

The match is full of talented women, any one of which would be a convincing and credible number one contender - with the exception of maybe Sunny or Sable, but hey, at least their tits are fun to look at, right? That being said, I'm leaning towards either an Ariel or Molly Holly victory, as those two are without a doubt just a notch above the rest. Really, it's a shame that they were left out of the main event, but I suppose not participating in a Total Anarchy match could just be a blessing in disguise. 

Brandon Lee vs. Rob Van Dam

In what's sure to be a fun grudge match, the similar styles of RVD and Lee make this match fairly unpredictable, especially lacking story or substance. Lee's brother, Sean Olsen, was a fairly early draft pick for Benny Mouse. That said, Lee is and always has been a star in his own right. The two teamed together one last time at From Dusk 'Til Dawn, and I'm predicting that Lee will find continued momentum with a victory over RVD. RVD had great success in the UWA, and as much fun as the Whole F'n Show is and always has been, I'm thinking a loss here would hurt Lee far more than it would RVD. (Again though with the rhyming names...)

Jeff Hardy vs. Robby Storm

This is a match I'm just dying to see on PPV... 

...said no one, ever. 

In a push that's eerily similar to that of Terry Austin, Mickey continues to try and make Robby Storm a top superstar within his promotion. Of course, "Little Robby" has been a favorite character of Mickey's for two decades now, first when he was just a throwaway line in a Lance Storm promo, and later when he was revealed to be the mystery attacker behind the assault on Dragonfly. 

I will say, I like Storm a lot more than I ever like Terry Austin (rest his soul!) Hardy established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the HCW, and he has main event potential. That being said, I expect Storm's super push to continue, which includes picking up the win on Dec. 1st.

PWI World Championship - Six-Pack Challenge: 

The Participants: Teo vs. Attitude vs. Scott Nash vs. Drakus vs. Petey Williams vs. Rhyno

After putting on a career-defining match at the final installment of From Dusk 'Til Dawn, Teo and Attitude enter the double main event with the most potential, but also the biggest targets on their backs. Additionally, Rhyno, a perpetual main event star in Mickey-led companies for the past two decades, will be one to watch. 

I expect Petey Williams to really stand out in this match, too, though I don't think he'll be crowned the champion. In the absence of Dragonfly, Williams may just be one of the best wrestlers on the roster, pound for pound. I wholly expect a future world in which Williams is the PWI Champion, but that will come later. 

Scott Nash, arguably the most iconic of the Nash family, will also have a strong showing but it is doubtful he'll walk out as the heavyweight champion. The same can be said for Drakus, minus that whole "Nash family" bit. 

For me it's a toss-up between Teo and Attitude, but if I had to choose, I'd choose Attitude simply because it makes the most logical sense in progressing the blood feud that is Teo/Attitude. Some would argue that their match at FDTD 3 ended the feud, but booking 101 says it just extended it, with Teo picking up the advantage. That said, I could just as easily see a Teo win. 

Regardless of who leaves with the PWI title, the match promises to be a ton of fun. 

PWI Women's Championship

Total Anarchy Match

The Participants: Living Dead Girl, Amazon, Victoria, and Angelina Love

In what many see to be a direct response to Benny Mouse's heavy-handed promotion of the EWA Knockout's Division, including the history-making all Knockouts PPV Hell Hath No Fury, we'll see four of the most talented women in the industry headline PWI's opening PPV with the first-ever female Total Anarchy match. 

The Total Anarchy match is arguably the most famous match under the MMouse Enterprises umbrella. For the first time, we're going to witness female superstars in Mickey's most dangerous match. 

Amazon is entering the match with the most momentum. After defeating Athena Star for the first time at From Dusk Til Dawn 3, Amazon's career is back on track. Amazon failed to defeat Athena in their two encounters during the original EWA run. That losing streak ended over the summer, however, and Amazon continues to prove she's a force to be reckoned with. 

That said, Victoria and Angelina Love are no strangers to leading the women's division, with both scoring prominent title reigns in the UWA and PWI, respectively. Love is arguably just as talented as Athena Star and Amazon and is in my opinion just a notch above Victoria in terms of what she can offer inside the squared circle. 

Living Dead Girl presents the true wild card within this match, as the female phenom proves to be a younger and stronger version of Amazon. That being said, as much as an Amazon or Love victory here would make sense, putting the title on LDG or Victoria would be the most unpredictable way to go. 

For that reason, I'm predicting that either Victoria or LDG will walk out of Greatness Reborn as the champion, with Amazon and Love hanging around the top of the division until they are given title reigns of their own.