By Mark Worrall@hoohoowozza
23.06.2019, Coventry
Six years ago to this very date Kamikaze Pro opened their doors to the wrestling world! Six years on this company has grown, stalled and then grown to where they are today, in my opinion one of the premier promotions in the UK today. Only two wrestlers on today’s card were on the original show – ‘The Beginning’ back in 2013! Damian Dunne and Dan Moloney and both still remain two of the best on the UK Indie scene. Emanating from Coventry these are my thoughts on the anniversary show.
RELENTLESS DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP – SIX-MAN SCRAMBLE MATCH
ELLIOTT JORDAN def. MAN LIKE DERIESS, DENO BABIC, MAN LIKE BEANO, SEAN DEVINE & VISAGE
Man like Deriess in entrance alone looks a star, crowd were completely behind him and a title change looked a possibility here! However, after Jordan questioned the eligibility of Deriess’s title shot after coming from two previous defeats! This being an anniversary show meant that this was not going to be a singles match! Several entrances later and we had a six-man scramble featuring some of the impressive Pro Live talents, alongside a returning Visage and Welsh, four belts champion Beano! This was a terrific way to open the show, Visage, removing his wig went straight after Jordan who seemed to have a target on his back as he faced the offence from everyone wanting not only to win his title, but beat down Jordan too. Some great displays all around from all six wrestlers with Deno Babic standing out especially with another top notch performance! Loved Sean Devine walking around the ring swigging from a can, then using it as a weapon! Jordan however saw an opportunity after a great 360 splash from Man like Deriess on Beano by removing Deriess from the ring and capitalising by scoring the pin. Great opener with Babic not accepting defeat too well, spitting at Deriess postmatch as a potential feud may be in the works. As for Jordan, the heat magnet somehow continues to hold on to that belt!
KAMIKAZE PRO LIVE CHAMPIONSHIP
LUKE DOUGLAS def. CHANTAL JORDAN(c) *TITLE CHANGE*
Unfortunately for Chantal, her Roulette Rumble cash in from the previous ‘Relentless Rules 2’ show which saw her take the Pro Live title was short lived. If this however was an advertisement for Kamikaze Pro Live’s roster then this match put Kamikaze’s trainee’s brand on the map! To be fair both Luke and Chantal could be considered main roster members, topping the Pro Live ranks, fighting over the Pro Live title has really elevated both of these and this match pushed them a notch higher. Douglas was accompanied by fellow ‘Bled’ member Elliott Jordan who would be a difference maker throughout the match, interfering during Chantal’s dominant start and giving rest-bite to a poor Luke Douglas who had taken so many of Chantal’s kicks leaving him with a crimson chest. Jordan’s interference enabled Douglas to punish Chantal and a spinning Discus punch barely had Chantal raising an arm at the pin attempt. Chantal rallied back enthusiastically destroying Douglas and seemingly had the match won until Elliott pulled the referee on a pin count. Chantal felt a chair and Luke’s finisher as Douglas recaptured his title. Excellent match with Colin Russell-Ames announcing due to Elliott Jordan’s interference, a rubber match for the title will headline Kamikaze Pro Live 19 on 30/6.
ROBBIE X def. MATT CROSS
If a match could be classed as a perfect match, then this comes close! Robbie X a long time Kamikaze Pro favourite faced the American Matt Cross, who I saw open up at last autumns ‘All In’ show and an impressive showing there had me highly anticipated for this match. What stood out for me was the way both wrestlers complimented each other, in such a way that they both put each other over in the process, something I don’t think is that easy to do! The offence from Cross was methodical, not in a heelish way, but just slow paced, clean and crisp with perfect execution, and controlling Robbie from the early part of the match this style of wrestling was just sublime to watch. Robbie’s style sped up the Match a touch which made this match standout just that little bit more. So underrated, Robbie was the perfect opponent for Matt, fast paced, high spots executed well saw Matt speed up too with a great closing stretch that had the crowd somewhat subdued, intrigued at the match and in awe of what they were watching. Cross no selling Robbie’s ‘Exclamation’ finish at the first attempt was great. Robbie however got a second opportunity to hit his finisher and this time Cross was done. Great match, hope Kamikaze use Matt Cross again! Perfect way to enjoy wrestling.
MOOSE defeats DAN MOLONEY
Fans were divided at the beginning of this match and credit to Moose who took the opportunity to turn on the fans enabling Moloney to get the crowd backing which pushed this contest into another league. This was my favourite match of the night, two big men battling for ring supremacy! Moloney has not been around much of late, well not for me anyway, this is my first viewing of him for a while and it certainly is a welcome return for Dan to be at a Kamikaze show. Both wrestlers went for it from the bell, hard hitting action with Moose the slightly bigger man although you may not have noticed as Moloney, with no doubt a lot to prove these days was pound for pound with Moose, nailing big moves, and keeping Moose at his level nailing a superb performance. Moloney nearly wrapped up this match with a tilt of the world slam that had followed some big spots, however Moose speared poor Dan so hard that there was no way he was kicking out and the Impact Wrestling mainstay takes the win. Super contest, Moose far exceeded my expectations from previous times I have seen him live and really made Dan Moloney looking back to his best.
MK MCKINNAN defeats SHANNA
Not the advertised match which was to be a ‘Fighting Females’ championship match for Shanna against Chakara who unfortunately had to withdraw from the show having injured herself the night previous. Replacement came in the form of McKinnan, who had not been in a Kamikaze ring for over five years, and had only been wrestling for Fight Club Pro until he made more of an in ring return in 2018, enjoying some success in Rev Pro too amongst others. From my viewpoint, the crowd had little interest to begin with, and maybe some of the on-lookers may not have known who McKinnan was? Of course I may be wrong, but if the Kamikaze faithful have not seen McKinnan before then it was going to take a little time for them to appreciate him. This match was very fast paced, which was to the credit of both, a back and forth match that had Shanna removing her shoes, possibly due to the pace. They both enjoyed some back and forth chops, they both used the ringside area for their offence and as the match went on Shanna found herself able to double stomp Mckinnan, following with a snap German and this seemed all over! Mckinnan however had other ideas, kicked out, barely and actually went on to take the win! Full credit to both as they simply won the crowd over who really seemed to enjoy this match. Great to see Shanna again and here’s hoping Mckinnan makes Kamikaze part of his wrestling schedule.
KAMIKAZE PRO TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
ANTI FUN POLICE (DAMIAN DUNNE/LOS FEDERALES SUPER SANTOS JR) (C) def. GABRIEL KIDD/NIWA
Gabriel Kidd’s persona for Kamikaze seems to get nastier every time I see him. This cocky, arrogant dick that he portrays is simply brilliant! Gone is the fan loving Kidd that debuted in Kamikaze pro some time back, now we have a character that has an edge, despises the fans and for that, his wrestling as benefitted from this character change too. Teaming with Niwa, this attitude adjustment as rubbed off on him too, and although Niwa still smiles a little too often for someone in a heel tag team, the unity that these share is building into a pretty great team. The current tag champs the ‘Anti Fun Police’ on the other hand are having a little too much fun of late! A team built on not having any fun are enjoying their title run, and the on-looking fans are enjoying this team too. What Dunne and Santos did was too simply make Kidd and Niwa looked even more of a pair of obnoxious dicks which was to their credit. Kidd and Niwa took their opportunity to work Santos during the earlier stretch of the match until Niwa’s inability to pick up Santos Jr gave the aforementioned the opportunity to tag in Dunne who unleashed as both teams went back and forth, raising the tempo with both teams getting near falls until Dunne took an opportunity to roll up Kidd to win the match and another successful title defence. The roll up win may have seemed a little naff way to finish, for me though it was perfect as this gave Kidd and Niwa an excuse (if needed!) to beat down the champs postmatch.
KAMIKAZE PRO CHAMPIONSHIP
SEAN KUSTOM def. CLINT MARGERA(c) *TITLE CHANGE*
Sean Kustom’s title opportunity came from his ‘Over the Top 6’ Battle Royal victory back in March. Margera, now a two time Kamikaze Pro champion was really up against it, and considering Margera’s background in wrestling, you may have thought that a cage match would be up his alley! This was set up to prevent his fellow ‘Bled’ colleagues interfering, however, considering that Margera was locked inside the cage, both Elliott Jordan and Luke Douglas made an attempt to assist their leader after Kustom had dominated most of the match up until their arrival. Kustom was awesome throughout, using the cage has his friend from the off, climbing the steel mesh nailing a cutter on the champion to stop him making an early exit! Kustom was not afraid to fly from the cage, one Spanish fly later, followed by a frog splash almost had this won! That is when Jordan and Douglas showed themselves as Kustom sought freedom, however this only brought out Dan Moloney and Man like Deriess who fought with Jordan and Douglas and all four went fighting to the back! Kustom’s momentum took him to the top of the cage, determined to finish of Margera with another frog splash, but Margera moved and this opened up an opportunity for the champion to exit via the door. Margera however wanted, no ordered Ring Announcer Colin Russell-Ames to open the locked door, and after a mouth full of abuse, Colin, to the pleasure of the crowd slammed the door into Margera. Kustom climbed the cage and fell into championship victory! Superb main event, such a feel good moment and well deserved for Sean.
This embarks a new era for Kamikaze Pro after six great years, a new championship belt to go along with a new champion and the only way is up for this terrific promotion. Nice speech from Lawrie Neal before the main event telling the story of Kamikaze Pro and his involvement with the company that really put the main event over to begin with, but also the promotion to all watching, whether you are new to Kamikaze Pro or a long standing fan such as myself. Feel good show, well worth your time.
For further information on Kamikaze Pro check out @KamikazeProUK
Thank you to Wrestleography for the imaged used @wrestleography
