Review: Pro Wrestling Elite ‘One Wild Night’

Pro Wrestling Elite – One Wild Night

February 16^th – AyrTown Hall, Ayr

 

An introduction to Pro Wrestling Elite

 

This was Pro Wrestling Elite’s first show of 2013 and only there sixth show in total since their inception in July of 2011. You would be forgiven for assuming that a company so young may still be trying to find its groove but nothing could be further from the truth with Pro Wrestling Elite.

I have had the pleasure of attending the last two shows previous to ‘One Wild Night’ and have been continually impressed by the standard of the shows from the match quality to the production of the shows themselves.

 

‘One Wild Night’ Show Review

 

The first noticeable addition to the Pro Wrestling Elite set-up is an upgraded video screen and additional lighting. Small upgrades but they help with the overall feel to the shows.

We’re welcomed to the show by the announcer for the night, Mr Chris Duke and the show gets under way…

 

Liam Thomson vs Joey Hayes

 

The opening match between Liam Thomson and Joey Hayes was a match that intrigued me when it was announced. I have been a big fan of Liam Thomson for a number of years and I believe he is overlooked at times for the quality wrestler he is and always puts on very enjoyable matches whenever I have seen him. Joey Hayes is a wrestler I have only seen maybe a dozen times in total but again is a very talented wrestler.

There was plenty of content in this opening match and was very back and forth for the duration. I always believe that the first match has the difficult task of warming the crowd but Hayes & Thomson were most than up to the task and by the end the crowd was well into the match. Joey Hayes picked up the victory over Liam Thomson in as I said a very back and forth contest which wouldn’t have been out of place higher up the card.

 

El Ligero & Wolfgang vs Kid Fite & Martin Kirby

 

Best way to follow a match that has got the crowd going? Simple, a tag team match with four of the UK’s most charismatic wrestlers. The team of El Ligero, possibly the busiest wrestler in the UK and Wolfgang, one of the best ‘big men’ in wrestling today against Kid Fite, a multi-time champion in single and tag team competition and Martin Kirby, one half of Project Ego and another man no stranger to championships.

This match was filled with plenty of action and a few nice bits of comedy. One thing that Kid Fite doesn’t get noticed for is his comic time with the crowd. The team of Kid Fite & Martin Kirby picked up the victory after El Ligero misplaced an enziguri kick which caught Wolfgang allowing Martin Kirby to take advantage. At the conclusion of the match Wolfgang confronted El Ligero about the kick and they shook hands seemingly brushing off the incident… till Wolfgang hit El Ligero with a Fireman’s Carry Double Knee Gutbuster, leaving El Ligero on his back in the ring.

 

Red Lightning has something to say…

Red Lightning had announced beforehand that he would be at ‘One Wild Night’ as he was tired of being overlooked by management and he decided that now was a good time to have his say.

He spoke about how he was overlooked by Pro Wrestling Elite and TNA GutCheck as there was a conspiracy against him to hold him back. He claimed that he was better than anyone who was on British Bootcamp and that if any of them were in the building he would show them that he was the best… *lights out*

 

…ROCKSTAR SPUD!!! And so we have an unannounced match of Red Lightning vs Rockstar Spud.

 

Red Lightning vs Rockstar Spud

 

The match wasn’t overly long and Red Lightning was in control for a vast majority of the match. Red Lightning is a very skilled performer and this match helped to showcase his talents to those who may not have seen much of him before. Rockstar Spud picked up the victory with a roll-up pin which infuriated Red even more which lead to him attacking the arm of Spud, placing the arm on a chair about to perform a Con-chair-to… *lights out*

 

… GRADO runs to the ring to save Rockstar Spud causing Red Lightning to retreat. Grado challenged Red Lightning to a match then next time Pro Wrestling Elite come back to Ayr (May 11^th). Spud took the mic and said that if TNA ever do another season of British Bootcamp then Grado should represent Scotland. That led to the interval, photo opportunities with Grado & Rockstar Spud and the obligatory raffle.

 

Kris Travis vs BT Gunn

 

This match was originally advertised as being Kris Travis vs Johnny Moss but it was announced prior to the match that Johnny Moss had to leave due a ‘family emergency’. We were told that Johnny Moss had recorded a short video for us to explain. The video turned out to actually be Dave Mastiff who spoke about it was him who had been behind the ‘family emergency’ and he was sick of Johnny Moss being referred to as the best heavyweight in the UK, Europe and the world.

Kris Travis came to the ring to have his hand raised and declared winner by forfeit when BT Gunn stepped in for Johnny Moss. It turned out to be a very entertaining match with a lot of content and the action leaving the ring a couple of times. BT Gunn in the end picked up the victory over Kris Travis.

 

Kay Lee Ray vs Carmel vs Nikki Storm

 

This match was the one I was looking most forward to along with the main event. I was really pleased to see Nikki Storm debut in Pro Wrestling Elite at their last show as she is exceptionally talented and I would love to see her in other companies.

The match was absolutely fantastic and the crowd was very into the match the whole way through. Initially Carmel & Nikki Storm teamed against Kay Lee Ray but they soon began fighting amongst themselves. The highlight of the match was a powerbomb/superplex combo involving all three competitors. At some point during the match Nikki Storm received a cut just above her left eye and it was bleeding heavily for the remainder of the match. The match ended with Nikki Storm gaining a pinfall over Carmel. The match was really good and all three women gave their all.

 

Main Event – PWE Heavyweight Championship – Andy Wild vs Noam Dar

 

This match was a rematch from the last show where Andy Wild became the first PWE Heavyweight Champion. That match was easily one of the best matches I’ve ever seen live so this match had a high bar to surpass it.  It certainly didn’t disappoint.

The match began at a nice, calm pace with plenty of technical skills being showcased. A big back and forth match, the kind that draws you and has you on the edge of your seat… literally.  There were plenty of near calls with both men hitting their signature moves throughout the match. Andy Wild attempted a superkick to Noam Dar which he managed to avoid but the referee didn’t, knocking him out. This led to Noam Dar bringing a chair into the ring and he considered hitting Andy Wild. Ultimately he decided he didn’t want to win that way, turn and dropping the chair back outside the ring. As he turned back Andy Wild hit the Wild Cutter just as the referee was coming round allowing Wild to score the three count and retain the Pro Wrestling Elite Championship.

 

Overall it was another fantastic show from Pro Wrestling Elite and all involved. The crowd was really good and people were well catered for throughout the show. If you can get to a Pro Wrestling Elite show then you really should. You’ll never be disappointed.