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Hello and welcome to another edition of my weekly roundup. This time around we've got some DPW, CMLL, Smash Wrestling, AJPW, TNA and Maple Leaf Pro and GCW. I also take my first look at the 1950s in this series with some 1957 French Catch. An interesting thing to note about this week's issue is that it features four Mike Bailey matches from four different promotions, all of which aired in the last week. An impressive feat I would say.
DPW Super Battle
Leon Slater and Lykos Gym vs 1 Called Manders, Thomas Shire and Bk Westbrook
This was just an electric trios match that was a tonne of fun to watch. The British trio of Lykos Gym and Leon Slater are very exciting to watch, particularly Slater. Manders and Shire are a very good powerhouse/brawler type tag team and BK Westbrook rounds out a strong trio with his heel antics. It was BK Westbrook who got the win thanks to a beautiful shooting star press off the top rope.
Match rating: 4
Kenta vs Kevin Blackwood
We all know Kenta is past his prime and doesn't have the physical capabilities he once had but every now and then he'll still produce a banger on the indies. This was definitely one of those times. Kevin Blackwood has been criticised in the past of being almost a cosplayer of the type of wrestler he's trying to be. I always thought this was harsh, but in 2024 I think it's downright wrong. I think he is great at what he does. He is a perfect stylistic fit for Kenta in 2024. This match had a lot of strikes and some good near falls with Kenta finally winning with the GTS. I'd even go as far as to say this is the best Kenta match since before the pandemic.
Match rating: 4.25
LaBron Kozone vs Mike Bailey
This was a bonkers match between two ridiculous athletes. Kozone has a lot of crazy offence thanks to his sheer athleticism and Speedball is Speedball. It was Kozone that got the win with back-to-back lariats. Great match!
Match rating: 4
FTR vs Violence Is Forever
FTR makes their DPW debut against one of the best tag teams on the indies today. This was a very competitive match that eventually went to a 20 minute draw. These teams definitely had good chemistry which isn't surprising. I hope this isn't the last time we see them face off.
Match rating: 4
Jake Something vs Calvin Tankman
Two big men going at it for the world title, what more could you want? This was an excellent hoss fight with Jake Something overcoming Calvin Tankman to win the DPW World's Title.
Match rating: 4
CMLL Super Viernes
Toni Storm vs La Catalina
Timeless Toni Storm debuts in one of wrestling's most historic venues. With the departure of Vaquer, La Catalina is arguably the most marketable woman on the CMLL roster so it wasn't a surprise to see her in this spot. She put up a very good performance in what was one of the best matches of her career. The crowd got really behind her against the timeless character and she even got the upset win with a frog splash! After the match, Toni vowed to return to Arena Mexico before the end of the year.
Match rating: 3.75
Zeuxis vs Persephone
This was the Universal de Amazones 2024 final. It pitted the CMLL World woman's champion Zeuxis against one of the fastest rising stars in the company, Persephone. Persephone joined CMLL late last year and has already really impressed but I think this was definitely her best match yet. She hit a really clean tope con hilo to the outside and Zeuxis got her revenge by hitting a nasty Spanish fly from the apron to the outside. Persephone is a super impressive athlete, she can do the flips but she also has some great power moves such as the powerbomb she hit on Zeuxis for the two count. Persephone got the win with another upset on this show, pinning the champion. Persephone now gets to carry around the title that La Catalina has held for the last year. Like Catalina, I expect Persephone to attract the attention of CMLL’s international partners soon. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see her make a presence on NJPW/AEW/Revpro shows in the next 12 months.
Match rating: 3.75
Smash Challenge Accepted
Jody Threat vs Kristara
From Mexico to Montreal we go to another match between a hard hitting champion and a rising star as Jody Threat defends her Smash Women's Title against Kristara. Kristara was trained by Mike Bailey and Shayne Hawk, debuting in 2021. She wrestles with experience beyond her years though and had a really good match with Jody before coming up short to the F-416.
Match rating: 3.5
Mark Wheeler vs Ethan Allen
I'm not sure what Ethan Allen was doing in Canada but he's here and I'm sure as hell not complaining because this was probably the best singles match he's had since his return from injury. This was my first time seeing Wheeler and I have to say I was impressed. He reminds me a little of Ethan Page, who has a similar body type, strong heel work, and rock solid in the ring. I'd have to see more to form a proper opinion but I think he might even be better than Page. Regardless, this was a splendid wrestling match. Wheeler played the heel and Allen was the no-nonsense wrestler. Ethan Allen doesn't reinvent the wheel or do anything crazily innovative but what he does do he does really well. He really gets the most out of the moves that he does.
There was one point where Allen hit an avalanche butterfly suplex and followed up with a killer looking knee to the guy of Wheeler for a near fall. Wheeler initially tried stalling the action but eventually, he gave as good as he got and hit some great looking offence of his own before picking up the win.
Match rating: 3.75
Mike Bailey vs Zak Patterson vs Conan Lycan
This was a very fun three way. Patterson and Lycan are both big dudes so they posed a difficult challenge for Speedball. To make matters worse Lycan is agile as hell pulling off a rope step moonsault among other things. Speedball got the win with the ultimate weapon.
Match rating: 3.75
Sinner and Saint vs Super Smash Bros
You might be wondering what drew me to watch this small Canadian indie show this weekend and the answer is this, the main event. Uno and Grayson, one of the best Canadian indie tag teams ever versus a team that I'm sure would like to be in that conversation one day, Judas Icarus and Travis Williams. This didn't disappoint. The tandem offence of Sinner and Saint is fantastic and they were able to successfully bamboozle their more experienced opponents on more than one occasion. I still maintain Uno and Grayson never got their due in AEW because they are a great tag team and I don't think they got enough opportunities to show that there. Nevertheless, they are back doing their thing on the Canadian indies and this was a fantastic match. Sinner and Saint successfully defended their titles.
Match rating: 4
AJPW Raising An Army Memorial Series 2024 - Day 3
Fuminori Abe vs Yuma Aoyagi
This was a fun match between two very talented wrestlers. These men are capable of having a motyc with each other but you're not going to see it in the middle of a minor AJPW show. It'd be nice if Abe was treated as a bigger deal in AJPW but that just isn't the case. As I said this was still a very fun match, not must see but worth watching if you're a fan of the men involved.
Match rating: 3.75
TNA Impact 17/10/2024
Leon Slater vs Mike Bailey
Leon Slater is one of the people with the highest ceilings on the TNA roster, I'm not sure if they realise that considering the lack of a push they've given him so far but he got a big opportunity here with an X-division title match on tv. This is the third meeting between Slater and Speedball, they are both similarly styled so they tend to be a good match-up. Their first meeting came in Revpro in 2022 with Speedball getting the win. This was one of the first matches that put Slater on the map though. In their second match, Slater got his win back in North wrestling at the beginning of this year. Now for their third meeting, Slater aims to become the youngest ever X-division champion at just 20 years old.
I actually think this is my favourite match of their trilogy which I was not expecting to say. Speedball attacked the arm of Slater in this one which was a change from their previous matches. Slater hit some ridiculous looking kicks in this one, in a good way. Speedball got the win with the ultimate weapon followed by a flamingo driver in what was surely a TNA tv motyc.
Match rating: 4.25
MLP Forged In Excellence - Day 1
Konosuke Takeshita vs Mike Bailey
I think this was the best match of the week. Konosuke Takeshita and Mike Bailey are both incredible athletes and this was a really good performance from both. Bailey can be criticised for doing a lot of the same stuff in a lot of his matches but he busted out some stuff here that I've never seen him do before. Takeshita got the win in what was a pretty great ending to the first ever Scott D'Amore produced Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling show.
Match rating: 4.5
GCW Blood On The Hills 3
Megan Bayne vs Juicy Finau
This was awesome! One of the best sub 8 minute matches you'll see all year. Megan Bayne can be a very physically imposing woman but Juicy Finau at 6ft 4 inches tall and 400 plus pounds is a different beast altogether. The size difference didn't deter as she moved fast and used her speed to her advantage. She hit a tope suicida at one point that got some crazy distance. Juicy missed a moonsault attempt and the crowd became electric when Bayne picked Finau up for a slam and won with a thunderous spear. Bayne came out of this looking incredible, brilliant stuff.
Match rating: 4
Classic Matches
As always the classic matches are sourced from the Wrestling Playlist project. This is a daily newsletter that takes a chronological look at wrestling footage dating back to the turn of the 20th century. You can subscribe to at https://wrestlingplaylists.substack.com/ This week's matches are from issue #21 of the newsletter.
French Catch 02/05/1957
Billy Catanzaro vs Gilbert Cesca
This was the first French Catch match to make a buzz in wrestling internet circles I believe. It is a solid half hour of excellent 50s style grappling. Apparently, many people consider this the best match of the 1950s. Personally, I would acknowledge it in the conversation but I can also definitely think of a couple of matches I would place above it.
Catanzaro and Cesca are both on the smaller side but their technique is as good as it gets. This starts off with a slow pace on the mat, with lengthy holds that pose a challenge to get out of. There isn't really any face/heel dynamic in this but it naturally progresses into something more violent and aggressive. There is a thunderous striking exchange involving some of the finest European uppercuts you will ever see and there was even an early version of the Ganso bomb at one point. As with all the French stuff, there is plenty of wrestling in this that will blow your mind and make you marvel at how advanced it seems. A must watch if you want to see some of the best wrestling of the 1950s.
Match rating: 4.25
French Catch 11/05/1957
Luis El Gayo vs Rene Gerber
Some more French Catch and this one is all about the heel performance of Rene Gerber. Honestly, by the end, it feels like half the men in the crowd have individually tried to fight him. This descends into a fight pretty quickly which is a nice change of pace from the usual French Catch stuff. El Gayo is the superior on the mat and Gerber resorts to a lot of heel trickery to try and gain the advantage. One of my favourites was when he feigned tying his shoelace to successfully take down El Gayo with a single leg. There is another great moment where Gerber threatens to level his stool at El Gayo in between rounds. All in all, this was a great match and the fighting continued after Gayo got the win. I think this and the last match definitely shows the range of wrestling and characters that existed in France at the time.
Match rating: 4
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