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THE REV REVIEWS: Live Free or Die (7.23.08)

By Reverend Rogue Six

(Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following are purely those of the columnist.)

After the shocking Pearl Harbor-like finish of RADIANT FALLOUT, I had no idea what would come at LIVE FREE OR DIE (great name for a July show, I must say), so I came in expecting just about anything to happen -- and oh, did things happen.

The show opened with Team MCW-- Justin Diaz, Jebediah, Jessicka Havok, and Shasta -- coming to the ring. Diaz took the house mic and announced that due to undergoing surgery, Brandon X would not be here to defend the North American title, and so would have to forfeit the belt. He added that he didn't want to win the title by just getting it handed to him, he wanted to earn it, so he issued an open challenge to fight anyone in the back for the belt; he already had one opponent in mind, but was willing to fight anyone else as well.

He then handed the mic off to Shasta, who began talking about last month's event and the return of MCW. He then proceeded into a very surprising shoot about how it's really the fans who make the difference and how the MCW and MEWL workers wouldn't have anything without them coming to the shows, vowing to the crowd, “if you give us your support, everyone in the back will bust their asses for you.” It's not often that I can be left at a loss for words, but this frank honesty was great to hear. And it wasn't lost on the crowd, as they applauded Shasta.

The opening match featured Jazin Blaze challenging MEWL Cruiserweight Champion Supa Lucha for the title. Considering the string of matches (or muggings, in my Roguish opinion) Jazin had been in over the last few months, it was great to see MEWL's Innovator of Offense in a match where the odds were more in his favor. I've often said that whenever there's a Supa Lucha or Jazin Blaze match, you don't need a ref, you need an air traffic controller -- and in this contest, lord, they needed one more then ever! But, despite a heroic effort, this wasn't Jazin's night, and Lucha left the ring still the champion. (I'll tell you, it's hard to be unbiased when you like both wrestlers' style...but I do my best.)

After this match, I was surprised to see Nick Andrews, who ( I was told) has returned to area radio, walk to the ring accompanied by Big Hurt. Nick made it known that they, too, are MCW Originals, and Nick will be the one to announce the MCW wrestlers; apparently he'd be setting up a mic for anyone who wants to offer commentaries. (To the best of my knowledge, no one did.)

Shasta came back down to the ring and said that if he's going to talk the talk, he'd better damn well walk the walk -- and offered an open challenge to anyone in the back for a match. Music hits, and out came -- oh my dear freaking Lord...it was Brian Biggs! (One of my favorite targets! Talk about a great late birthday present!) Shasta said he appreciated Biggs' spunk, but he needs to go in the back and ask his mom -- or get his mom to help him...better yet, why doesn't he just go back to the locker room and take a nap, Shasta would gladly turn his back, let Brian walk away, and they'd forget this happened. [For those of you who don't know of young Brian, let's just say you won't ever use his name and “rocket scientist” in the same sentence and leave it at that, okay?]

Did he take Shasta's more-than-merciful offer? I wish I could say he did, but no, Brian decided to be blindingly stupid (or suicidal, as some said) -- and he hit Shasta. Of course, this had about as much effect as a mosquito hitting a semi. The beating that followed was brutal, just absolutely brutal. I kept shouting “Brian! Quit hitting him! You'll just make him mad!” Shasta finally finished him off with a thundering Shasta Driver for the pinfall. It took Brian several moments to get out of the ring, his body reminding me of a tenderized pork chop. MCW had scored its first victory of the night.

One-half of the MEWL Tag Team Champions, Wilbur Whitlock, took on Johnny Gunn in what really should have been called a Lumberjack match, (Johnny, a piece of advice: next time, read your contract better) due to the presence of Wilbur's tag team partner Durty the Clown and his “family”: the Time Traveler and Otis. This became a contest of Wilbur's brawling vs. Johnny's speed and aerial attacks (featuring a top-rope elbow drop that seemed to come from the rafters), with various involvement from Time Traveler, Otis, and Durty (who actually tried to tag in a couple of times). But as the saying goes, age and treachery will overcome youth and skill; Wilbur's experience outdid Johnny's youth, and he put Johnny away with a 2nd Black River Driver for the win.

After the match, the Time Traveler took the house mic and talked about how Durty was the longest running MEWL hardcore champion, and issued an open challenge to the back for a hardcore match. To the shock of the crowd (myself included), out to the ring comes -- Jessicka Havok?? Holy battle of the sexes, Batman! What came next was a knock-down, drag-out battle that went around the ring, out of the ring, into the armory restroom, and back. It was rough, painful (especially when the Time Traveler took one south of the border), nasty (Durty's booger-to-the-eye strike...geez, that was just WRONG!), and just a little bit kinky at spots. In the end, it was Beauty taking out the Beast with a DDT on a steel chair to give Jessica the win - and MCW their second victory. Nice to see Jessicka hadn't lost her edge.

Justin Diaz faced off with Max Fahrenheit -- who looked more like Carlito's cousin (you really had to see his hair, I‘m not kidding) and appeared to favor Taz's old color scheme (orange and black), so I will be referring to him as “Tazito” -- and...Otis for the vacant MEWL North American title. (Otis...I'm still scratching my head over that one...) Diaz told Otis he really should leave the ring, but no, Otis wanted to fight; Diaz said he wasn't going to be responsible for what happened to him, and the match was on. Diaz and “Tazito” double-teamed Otis, who held his own for about oh, 3 moves at best before getting knocked out of the ring. Diaz and “Tazito” proceeded to go at it hammer-and-tongs for several minutes, each giving as good as they got. Otis finally crawled back into the ring at one point, after both Diaz and Tazito knocked each other out, and tried to pin both men. (Hey, gotta give him credit for trying!) But fate wasn't looking at Otis or Tazito...this was Diaz's night, and after a 1-2-3 on Max (okay, I had to stop calling him Tazito), we had a new North American champion and MCW had their third win in a row.

My hat's off to Diaz -- he said he would fight for the belt, and fight he did.

Nick Andrews and Big Hurt came back to the ring and gave out autographed MCW shirts to fans; the shirts were passes for the August 1st show in Alliance. (Doesn't hurt to grease a few wheels, I guess...)

“The Natural” Christian Vaughn made his return to action taking on Ryan Midnight, who was somewhat reluctant to enter the ring -- and didn't endear himself to the fans by insulting a few of them before finally getting in. (By the way, I have to say this about Midnight's outfit -- pale orange and purple trim? Not may can wear that scheme...and neither can he.) Despite his reluctance, Midnight started and stayed on the offense for several minutes. Vaughn rallied back fast, and proceeded to mount a formidable offense of his own (never saw a reversed fisherman buster before), even going to the air. Ryan was never able to really recover, and it was “The Natural” with the win.

In the Main Event, MEWL Heavyweight Champion (and MCW Original, Nick Andrews reminded us) Jebediah defended the title against Matt Mason. I was glad to see that Jebediah left his shovel at home, although I'm a little bewildered why he needed to climb each turnbuckle and shout his name to the crowd...everyone knew who he was...Mason went on offense early, but nearly every time he went for an aerial move, he ended up crashing and burning on the mat. Jebediah showed everyone why he was wearing the MEWL belt as he took Mason from corner to corner in a very sound match that ended with a pinfall, aided by Jebediah propping himself on the ropes for leverage as the ref counted the 1-2-3.

With that win, the MCW Originals had swept the card with 4 straight wins.

While this was a exceptional show, the 4-0 night MCW had kept nagging at me.

I couldn't help but think that this may have been a wakeup call to MEWL: step up your game, or we'll walk right over you.

Now the war goes back to Alliance...

Until next time, I'm the Reverend Rogue Six -- and I'll see you at ringside!