By Mark Worrall@hoohoowozza
Originally scheduled for Saturday 4th May this Pro Live show had to be moved due to a double booking at the Cadbury Club, Bourneville. So we have a show on a Friday night instead, not a bad move as to be said as the eighteenth instalment of the Pro Live series continues to bring in bigger crowds and as always delivers every time. The following are my own thoughts of the show.
DENO BABIC def. ENDER KARA
This was Ender Kara’s first singles match for the promotion after debuting in the previous Pro Live event as a participant in the roulette rumble. A Turkish native recently plying his trade around the rings of Scandinavia, Kara could not have asked for a tougher test to begin his Kamikaze career, facing Croatian Deno Babic who has more than proved himself during his time in Kamikaze Pro. However, this match, for me provided a stepping stone for Babic, who from his wrestling side had already showed terrific potential, but tonight showed a new, characteristic side I had not seen before. Babic showed personality, at times showing a more heelish persona, switching at times looking for the crowds support as Kara and Babic opened up the show with a terrific match with Babic seeming the more dominant at times controlling Kara ringside, putting on his heel persona, sometimes antagonist against his opponent who did throw a spit at the Croatian as there did seem some genuine heat between the two! Kara’s more athletic approach did show a lot of skill against the more powerful arsenal of Babic that would see the Croatian come out the winner after frog splashing Kara to defeat. Great opener as Babic’s character was the winner here.
LEVI MUIR def. ALAN CARTER
Muir is cocky and arrogant which helped Carter as the locals rallied behind the magic marvel as Muir at times struggled with Carter’s size, although Muir did get some good control Carter did manage to force an ankle lock onto Muir who managed an escape. Muir did find the win, although Carter’s size did prove a problem for Muir and for Carter himself at times.
NIWA def. KIERAN McQUEEN
McQueen was always going to fight from underneath is this match! Up against the New Zealand native Niwa, a man who previously enjoyed his trade around the CMLL rings. McQueen fought an uphill battle to find any chance of winning. Credit to the youngster though has he delivered a good showing here, albeit with the help of the more seasoned Niwa who was once again superb, carrying his younger opponent to a decent match. Niwa played the heel tonight and certainly looking the part, controlling McQueen throughout, dominating possession and plying moves that looked too good for an academy show. Niwa’s Bow and Arrow was textbook as he tried to squeeze a submission from McQueen who was allowed some retaliation with a couple of around the world DDT’s. A powerbomb from Niwa, using his knees to crush the spine of McQueen ended the misery for the youngster as Niwa attacked McQueen post-match, certainly looking to generate more heat. Hard to hate Niwa though!
KAT VON KAIGE def. HARLEY FAITH
Credit to Harley who had to carry poor Kat through the match as she struggled to lift Harley as she insisted on finishing with a top rope DDT that took four attempts before putting Harley away! This was a struggle, and I felt that if Kat had made a decision to find a different way to win the match, then this could have been better. Harley tried hard but she was up against it here as Kaige seemed a little off, however Harley showed a lot here by keeping this match from being a dud.
THE HUNTER BROTHERS def. SECOND TO NONE
Really good tag match to end the first half with the impressive Second to None returning to Kamikaze against long time favourites the Hunters who were so good on this night with quick precise tags that always comes with their offence, keeping control and frustrating their opponents until Grayson used the ref as a decoy enabling Luca to throw a Lariat on poor Jim which changed the tide of the match. Grayson and Luca worked on Jim with Luca looking really good all night as Grayson looking slightly mediocre which surprised me after his previous experience and I wondered if an injury might have been there. Jim eventually found Lee as he unleashed with the match then enjoying some back and forth action until Jim finally hit a cutter on Luka and The Hunters enjoy the win. Crowd were into this match, Hunters enjoying the fans support as always.
NO DQ MATCH
CHANTAL JORDAN def. THE HAMMER HEELEY
This Match!! Standout performance from both here as they set the Cadbury club alight in what became a no disqualification match due to Chantal’s performance at the ‘Rise of an Empress’ show in April. Heeley has his aristocratic persona to a tee and was the perfect opponent for the ever rising Chantal as they went all out to put out an excellent match. Chantal walking the rope, nailing a hurricanrana showed she is so much more than a kick boxer as she followed with a suicide dive that Heeley countered by catching the fifteen year old sending her into the ringpost, and so we had a match that went all over the room as the crowd scattered, not wanting to miss a second of the action. Heeley was relentless once taking control, battering Jordan, who took some fierce chair shots, felt a Death Valley Driver that sent her through another chair, and narrowly missed Heeley’s prized Hammer! Chantal’s resilience paid off, taking a lot of offence, fought her way back into the match that really could have gone either way! A destroyer, so well executed however from Jordan opened up the chance to nail a roundhouse kick and this match was done. Credit to both here, perfect match up with the no DQ stipulation benefitting the match.
KENNY KILBANE def. HASSAN ALI
Ali wasted no time as he attacked Kilbane during his entrance, followed up with a spear that had a near fall and then continued to a suplex before locking Kilbane into a STF as he knew Kilbane had the size advantage, and the support of the on looking fans. Kilbane rallied, using his power until a missed centon enabled Ali to wear down Kilbane once again, locking on submission moves to keep Kilbane on the mat. This match was really good; both men really working hard with Kilbane finally able to use his size advantage and nailing the centon at the second time of asking that finished the match.
JACK CARNY def. SEAN DEVINE
Carny, to be fair plays this creepy clown character well, intimidating the younger fans he faced Devine, sporting a Batman mask which they both exchanged when Carny dragged Devine under the ring. This was a comedy break although the crowd seemed a little disinterested at this point with Sean showing the better offence but somehow came up short to Carny who hit Devine with a code-breaker to win the match. Devine is well over with the Kamikaze crowd and could not help thinking he is better than this and would be more suited with a straight up wrestling match to really see what Sean is made of. Cannot help liking that Clown though!
ELLIOTT JORDAN def. JEROME PRINCE
Relentless Division champion Elliott is terrific with the fans, the heat generated between himself and the locals highlights his character perfectly, he then backs it up in the ring and his opponent suited his style as Prince, with his athletic ability had Jordan all over the place, unable to cope with his style. Jordan managing to bring himself back into the match slowed the pace down and turned the advantage his way, continuously interacting with the crowd throughout which Prince used as a means to rally himself back into things scoring a near fall with a great Spanish fly. Jordan, relying on his finishing move, the ‘Streamlined Aerodriver’ failed on a couple of attempts to put his opponent away as the match went back and forth for a while until third time lucky as Jordan was finally successful with his finisher. Good match, Jerome shows some good potential, Elliott class as always.
KAMIKAZE PRO LIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
LUKE DOUGLAS (C) def. LACIE ADAMS
Half expected a squash here if I am honest. Adams making her singles debut on a kamikaze show was here due to her Roulette Rumble at the previous Pro Live show. Douglas had complete domination for most of the match, slowly picking at Adams who avoided as much of the offence from Douglas whenever she could, finding roll ups hoping to achieve a surprise win. This match went a bit too long, Douglas has been champion for a year now and being a member of the Bled he has been nothing but dominant throughout his reign with regular main roster spots. A domineering performance would easily have made Douglas look even more of a champion as he has now become a class of his own and has star potential in a bundle. A good performance from Adams, and that was never in question, plenty of hope spots with the crowd really behind her as a succession of super kicks to Adams saw Douglas finally nail his finish and Douglas retains.
ROULETTE RUMBLE
The staple of any Kamikaze Pro Live show recently, the roulette rumble randomly has a member of the audience draw out a name and this follows until all wrestlers have entered the match. Kieran McQueen was drawn first, followed by Luca who lasted long into the rumble and was impressive throughout. Alan Carter followed with Jerome Prince at number four. Chantal Jordan was next followed by Kilbane as he eliminated Prince. Hassan Ali followed but did not last long as he left the rumble before Jim Hunter made his appearance. McQueen eliminated as MJ Grayson, Elliott Jordan, Niwa and Hammer Heeley joined the match in that order. MJ Grayson saw himself eliminated, followed by, somewhat surprisingly Elliott Jordan who seemed a little put out himself! The Kamikaze Kid then made another rumble appearance followed by Lee Hunter who played the Kofi roll, which entertained us all with one spot seeing a chair pushed by a fan to assist Lee as he dangled from the top rope! Alan Carter is out as a surprise entrant follows with referee Stevie W taking off his shirt and briefly enters the Rumble, then leaves the Rumble! Kat Von Kaige is next as Kenny Kilbane is eliminated as everybody’s favourite clown, Jack Carny is next up with Kaige and the Kamikaze Kid eliminated! Harley Faith, Ender Kara and Sean Devine enter respectively as Carny is taken out followed by Devine and we see the first debut as Casey Wild enters the match but it is a short lived debut as Casey is eliminated. Another debut as George Lydon joins the match followed by Deno Babic and Samuel Hughes. Babic then gets eliminated, twice! No one left to join as a remaining ten remain. Lydon falls first; Niwa follows with both the Hunters eliminated together! Kara is next to go followed by Hughes and Heeley and after what seems like an eternity, Luca from Second to None is finally eliminated after a terrific display. Finally Harley Faith and Chantal Jordan who has been in the match since number five battle for the number one contender shot with Chantal, after a terrific night finally eliminates Faith and wins the roulette Rumble! Kamikaze Pro Live champion Luke Douglas attacks Chantal post match, hopefully to stamp his authority on his new number one contender who receives help from Lacie Adams and at first a reluctant Harley Faith with all three ladies standing in the ring together as the show closes!
So Chantal Jordan receives a Kamikaze Pro Live championship match, she certainly will be a threat to Luke Douglas and a possible title change. Chantal’s rise through the Pro Live ranks, for someone so young is phenomenal, and well deserved. On this night she was awesome and truly deserves her spot.
The show ran well over, hitting the four hour mark! However this did not really seem to matter to most, as the show hit the mark once again and proved that Kamikaze Pro is a promotion to be reckoned with amongst the leading promotions in the UK. As an academy show some of the wrestling on display was great and I have no doubt some of the wrestlers on this show will be the next generation of British talent to make it big.
