By Mark Worrall@hoohoowozza
Whilst Kamikaze Pro expands their promotion with season ticket offerings to Coventry, it is still good to see their Pro Live shows remaining in their hometown base of Birmingham. Today was the seventeenth outing of a Kamikaze Pro Live show and emanated from the Cadbury Club in Bourneville, which I guess you could call Kamikaze Pro’s spiritual home. A stacked card with eight matches, these shows spotlight on the trainees of Kamikaze, amongst some regulars to the main roster and is a chance for some new talent to shine through. The Cadbury club was home to a very good crowd for a Pro Live show, reminiscent of a main roster audience which could be a result of the first Cadbury Club show of the year alongside some people not able to make the main roster shows in Coventry. Whatever the reason this was a fun packed afternoon and these are my thoughts.
THE ELLIOTT JORDAN EXPERIENCE defeats KIERAN McQUEEN
My second time of seeing young Kieran McQueen and unfortunately his improvement is still a waiting game. Jordan was terrific throughout and clearly guided the struggling McQueen through a match that had McQueen looking uncomfortable and a little lost at times as Jordan, enticing the watching audience to boo him, once again rallying the fans to cheer on McQueen just showed what a class act Jordan is becoming. A brainbuster from Jordan was superbly executed with his opponent taking a good looking bump which led to Jordan on two occasions attempting to put McQueen away with his finisher. Third time’s a charm as Jordan finally put McQueen out of his misery with the ‘Streamlined Aerodriver’ to pick up the win.
HARLEY FAITH defeats WHITE TIGER
Harley had the fans on her side throughout as White Tiger controlled a large portion of the match with an extremely pleasing skill-set that had Faith working from underneath for a majority of the match. Unfortunately Faith’s timing could be a little off at times but her character role is really good as someone clawing their way back into a match that she should never have really won. If the sport of wrestling were not to be Kayfabe, then this match would have seen a different conclusion! Credit has to be given once again to the Tiger for his consistent work putting over his opponent who secured a somewhat surprising win that pleased the crowd as she speared the big cat from the second rope. There is a lot of promise with Harley, the fans like her and she enables them to get behind her. Good match.
KENNY KILBANE defeats JACK CARNY
So some idiot in the crowd decided to tell Jack Carny he was rubbish! This kind of attitude pisses me off if I’m to be honest. His look of despondency said it all to me; have the viewing audience no idea how hard it is to be a pro wrestler? I give credit to anyone who steps inside a ring, no matter how big, or small just performing in a ring alone is something to give credit for. Whether in a review I make a criticism of a performer, never do I intend any disrespect to a person doing something I could only dream of doing! If you feel a wrestler is not to your ability, then keep it to yourself, or boo them. Of course you pay the money so you can cheer or boo, but… However, this was a mismatch of sizes and yes Carny’s gimmick of a disgruntled clown is a little weird, but he gets it over for me. Kilbane, with the fans backing him overpowered Carny with his pathetic futile offence, so Carny found an avenue with a chance to use the rope to plant a neckbreaker on Kilbane and use that opportunity to work the leg of the bigger man. Good storytelling with Carny no match for Kilbane in strength so picking a body part to work on. This also became futile as the bigger man Kilbane would F5 his opponent, leaving him no escape this time as he felt the full force of a swanton to see Kilbane pick up the win. Kilbane continues to progress as he utilises his size as his major strength.
DENO BABIC defeats NIWA
First half main event, and well, not what I ever expected from a Pro Live show! Not to discredit Pro Live, but this could have been a main event on any British show. The match was frantic from the off with great heat between both men representing Croatia and New Zealand respectively. This match never let up as taking notes was extremely difficult with my eyes constantly following the match that really spoke for itself. Niwa seemed to be more the aggressor as he no doubt knew he could as Babic returned the aggression with fierce exchange of slaps in and out of the ring with the marks of Niwa’s slaps evident to the chest of the croation. Babic did gain some control as this match entered the final stretch with the watching public lapping up everything this match gave as Babic finally secured a win that saw a standing ovation, including myself for what was an excellent match and a faultless performance from two men who are a credit to wrestling.
HEROES NEXT DOOR defeats SECOND TO NONE
Really good way to open the second half of the show with Lacie Adams and Alan Carter looking anything but heroes as the pairing of Grayson and Luca controlled most of the match portraying a typical heel team keeping Carter down and preventing Adams from getting the tag. Second to None were real magnets to the heat from the audience and lapped it up beating down the helpless Carter who somehow kept in the match long enough to finally tag to the debuting Adams to the cheers of the crowd who were really invested with the match as the Heroes next door hit a carbon copy of the ‘Hart Foundations’ finisher the ‘Hart attack’ that got them a close fall. Unknowingly to most this would be Lacie’s night as she rolled up Grayson for the shock win which sent the crowd insane and the heroes to a surprise win. Loved this, especially Second to None who were great gaining heat, with Grayson, somewhat a resemblance to one Zach Gibson gaining the most heat as this team would continue to play a bigger role throughout the night.
CHANTEL JORDAN defeats HASSAN ALI
So Chantel Jordan continues to enjoy her push within Kamikaze Pro, and I for one am behind her all the way. Jordan has a really good look and kicks ass, and she makes her offence seem realistic against Ali, who I have to admit not seeing before, was a perfect opponent for Jordan. Ali took some punishment from Jordan and really made her look good and really was good fodder for Jordan to feed on as she executed her kicks to perfection as Ali really allowed her to let loose. Jordan’s expressions also played a part, and her all business attitude are really going down with the Kamikaze faithful who are really behind the seventeen year old. A succession of fifteen kicks with an enzuguiri being the sixteenth saw Chantel nailing a roundhouse kick on Ali to secure another good win. Good match that saw Jordan looking really good, and if I had any say in the booking, Jordan would look good in a match with Millie McKenzie as the two would really complement each other.
KAMIKAZE PRO LIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
LUKE DOUGLAS(c) defeats HAMMER HEELEY & SHAUN DEVINE
Shaun had his family sitting ringside and anyone could believe that this was Shaun’s night to shine. With a really good promo a couple of days before the match, Devine looked primed to take Luke Douglas title away from ‘the Bled’ and home to Kamikaze Pro. Hammer Heeley sporting a more aristocratic persona seemed the extra man in this match that was not really needed although it would be Heeley’s hammer that would determine the outcome of the match. As expected this match went all around the Cadbury Club including a visit outside through one set of doors and into another as the wall took yet another beating before resuming in the ring. There was so much interference to come however as Second to none re-emerged attacking the hapless Shaun that saw Douglas helping out Devine until Heeley nailed Douglas with his Hammer that saw Elliott Jordan come to the aid of his helpless ‘Bled’ teammate. Heeley’s hammer would be the problem solver as Devine felt the full force of the weapon as Douglas used this advantage to pin Devine. Crowd really into this although sometimes rather messy and a bit too much interference, however taking nothing away I did enjoy this.
KAMIKAZE PRO ROULETTE RUMBLE (winner receives a future title match)
So we are treated to a Royal Rumble match with a twist so to speak! I really looked forward to this match and I was not disappointed as this was a battle Royale with a slight difference where the fans got to draw the entrants from a bowl, so the contest was completely random. Chantel Jordan entered first and was joined by Ender Kara, a Turkish wrestler making his Kamikaze Pro debut. Lacie Adams was drawn third with Deno Babic coming out fourth followed by White Tiger who would eliminate Babic who unfortunately would not accept being thrown out and would return to the ring, confusing Ender Kara by eliminating him only for Kara not to be eliminated and return to the match. Babic would actually be thrown out three times before he finally got the message which did gain him a few boos! Jamil Prince would now enter followed by Kenny Kilbane who unleashed with lariats on everyone and anyone left in the ring eliminating White Tiger and Ender Kara (official!) in the process before Niwa entered the match. Jamil Prince’s debut was short lived by Kilbane as Harley Faith, Kieran McQueen, Jack Carny and MJ Grayson entered the Rumble respectively! Grayson would have quite the impact as he eliminated Faith, McQueen and Chantel in succession with Alan Carter entering whilst all the eliminations occurred. In fact it was Carter who eliminated Niwa that got a pop as Young Lion, making his debut as well as Kamikaze Kid, who was in fact ‘a kid’ that let loose on anyone that had the Cadbury Club losing their minds! Hassan Ali was next in followed by Relentless champion Elliott Jordan who would look the favourite at this stage of the match. Hassan would eliminate Young Lion before he was eliminated himself by Jordan who also ended the hopes of the Kamikaze Kid with Carny also leaving the match. MJ Grayson’s tag partner Luca would be the final competitor as the odds looked good for their team as Jordan fell victim to Alan Carter alongside Kilbane who needed three to be eliminated! This left the earlier vision of tonight’s tag match as Carter/Adams were left facing Grayson/Luca. Luca would somehow find himself eliminated by Adams and Carter with the latter being eliminated by Grayson who did not see Lacie throwing him out and the debuting Lacie Adams becomes the new number one contender!!
The rumble was terrific, surprised by the result? Yes, however the crowd loved it and why not, this was a feel good night and the crowd seemed overjoyed for Lacie’s win and good on her. Great end to a great night.
