-Show opens with Roddy Piper coming out with Thunder's little boy. Don Coss is back, but Joe V is on commentary with him, so that is good news. Piper says the wrestlers are on strike, and he now understands why Vince McMahon is always so mad at him. He sympathizes with the wrestlers and buries the promoter. Piper brings out Thunder, who is sporting the brand new Thunder t-shirt, which I assume you can conveniently buy at any live event. Before Thunder can say much, the Grappler comes out with Wade BY GOD Hess. Grappler tells Hess to stand in the corner and be quiet because he owns his contract. Piper challenges Grappler to put Thunder in a No DQ match against one of his guys, and if Thunder wins, Grappler frees Hess from his contract. If Thunder fails, Piper will give Grappler $10,000. Grappler agrees to the stipulations, but says Thunder must face Exile, Dr. Kliever, AND Mike Santiago.-Joe V interviews Mike Santiago, who isn't happy about being put in the 3 on 1 match without agreeing to it, but says he will kick anyone's butt.
-Match #1
Mike Santiago defeated Gentleman George Michael after the roaring elbow
Josh Wilcox is back, joining Don Coss on commentary. I like Wilcox. If it were possible, I'd make Joe V and Wilcox the full time announce team, with Piper sitting in when he can. Not really sure why this match is happening if the wrestlers are on strike. Nothing is explained. Are only the babyfaces on strike? Is the strike off because Grappler agreed to put Hess' contract up? So many questions, so few answers.
-Joe V interviews Santiago again, who cuts a promo for the 3 on 1 match. Thunder and Piper interrupt and Thunder lays Santiago out with the cowbell on a bullrope. Thunder reminds Santiago the match later is ANYTHING GOES.
-Joe V interviews Mr. Ooh La La, who says the promoter wants him to do for some of the other wrestlers what he did for the Blanchards. He brings out Ethan HD, who is the first guy he will potentially work with. He says HD claims to be a great rapper, so he raps to prove it. Ooh La La is not impressed.
-Match #2
Ethan HD defeated Quiz after a running knee to the head
Joe V announces that Santiago is out of the 3 on 1 match because Santiago is hurt after Thunder's attack. So now the match is a 2 on 1 with Thunder vs. Exile and Kliever.
-Flashback from 1989 - Battle of the Southern Rockers: Steve Doll vs. Scott Peterson, ending with Scotty the Body (Raven) joining Peterson in attacking Doll
-Match #3
CJ Edwards vs. Eric Right ended in a no-contest when Big Ugly attacked both men
Ugly explains that the wrestlers are on strike and it pisses him off these young guys are still wrestling. He says he respects Edwards and Right, but he's trying to protect them from working for somebody that doesn't care about them and doesn't pay them. He totally buries the promotion and the promoter personally until his mic gets cut and the show goes to commercial.
-Joe V interviews Roddy Piper and Dominic Hess, who is Wade BY GOD Hess' teenage son. Piper says that Hess has refereed 30 pro matches. If you go to DOA shows you've probably seen him referee. Piper makes Hess' son the referee for the handi-cap match, which infuriates Grappler.
-Match #4 - Anything Goes, Piper's $10,000 vs. Wade Hess' contract
Thunder defeated Exile and Dr. Kliever when Thunder pinned Kliever after hitting him in the head with a kendo stick
The story of the match was Piper stacking the deck in Thunder's favor so justice would be served. Exile had Thunder pinned, but Hess' son tied his shoe instead of counting three. Later it was Piper who brought the kendo stick out and gave it to Thunder which led to the pinfall. After the match, Hess slapped Grappler and tore up the contract. All the wrestlers came out to cheer Thunder and Hess on. Is the strike over? If so, somebody better tell Big Ugly.
Obviously the strike and all the complaining about pay was a work but honestly I think the workers are finally seeing that this promoter is all about never stepping out of his comfort zone and doing anything new. Poor advertising, no house shows other than Milwaukie that they run every month, a website that has absolutely no new info on it since they built it and a facebook page that still has a February 21st show as the headline.
ReplyDeleteIf you are a worker it sure gets tough paying the bills with a tv taping every two weeks and one house show in Milwaukie a month. I have a feeling that some of the heat in the dressing room may be real right about now.
The complaining about pay is not a work. I can assure you. It's been weaved into storylines, but it is very real. They all worked the last taping for free and Ugly bought his own plane ticket from Sacramento. The only reason there is still a show is because the boys have so much respect for Piper and Grappler. The promoter is another story.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't have a lot of respect for Pete Schweitzer either but that is another story. I'd love to compare notes if you are ever interested.
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