Week four for 5 Star Wrestling and they’re in Plymouth. I caught a little of the opening bout of Mark Haskins versus Matt Riddle for the Tap Or Snap Championship. From what I saw it was amazing with quick counters and hard strikes which you would expect. Riddle won with the Bromission and captured the Tap Or Snap Championship.

I came into the show properly about an hour in to see Eddie Ryan pin HT Drake, in his second match of the show according to Hendry and Lambert. Hager had set up the 5 Star Gauntlet for Ryan and his third opponent was Timm Wylie. Hager caused the disqualification leading to Ryan to win and face Big Grizzly and Dave Mastiff in the final stage. Mastiff and Grizzly battered Ryan but he somehow fought back with two superkicks and won the 5 Star Gauntlet. Hager looked stunned and raised Ryan’s hand and granted him a title shot before attacking him himself before revealing that the title match would be tonight.

As soon as I put the tv on I saw Bram and Jack Jester hanging about near Hager so had a thought that this was like, an alliance, but the commentators made no mention of the duo so let’s put that down to *WILD BRAM AND EVEN WILDER (or unpredictable) JESTER SPOTTED* the crowd were well behind the hometown favourite Ryan and were loud throughout Ryan getting beaten down.

I came into this one too late to see the foundations but seeing Ryan lift Big Grizzly up for the George Cross was mighty impressive considering he’d already faced Markus Burke, HT Drake and Timm Wylie beforehand.

The crowd looked more compact in the smaller venue and the atmosphere was clearly improved because of it.

Nathan Cruz once again faced BT Gunn, this time in a Tap Or Snap Beat The Clock Challenge Match…of Doom. Cruz worked on the leg of Gunn, employing a Figure Four Leglock to punish Gunn. Gunn fought back to apply the Coatbridge Crossface. Cruz went after the leg again but Gunn twisted an armdrag and applied the Crossface to win in 9:21.

A fine match, it didn’t feel as long as the time given which is a good sign. There wasn’t a lot of submission focus in the early stages really and the match was run of the mill with the odd submission thrown in. Not bad by any stretch but I think I expect a lot more from a BT Gunn match.

A huge eight man tag team match followed with Zack Gibson, Rampage Brown, 5 Star Wrestling Tag Team Champions Charlie Sterling and Adam Maxted teamed up to face the super team of Rey Mysterio, Rob Van Dam, Moose and Grado. Not sure where Colt is… but having Moose makes sense since he was piledriven by Rampage Brown a couple weeks back.

The crowd were so ready for this one, throwing the chants towards the fan favourites. We got some nice combinations like Van Dam against Sterling. A bit of a throwback with Van Dam and Mysterio double teaming Rampage. Turning back the years. A fairly standard affair until the match broke down into a brawl. The crowd exploded for the 619 set up on Sterling but Gibson pulled out his teammate as another brawl erupted on the outside. It got back on track with the BritWres alliance cornering Grado on their side of the ring. Grado fought back to tag in Moose who hit some stiff dropkicks. There was some hesitation when Mysterio got tagged in but it got down to Grado hitting the r-Grado on Sterling, a stunner on Gibson who then ate a 619 along with Maxted. A super splash from the shoulders of Moose onto Gibson saw the pinfall while RVD hit the Five Star Frogsplash on Maxted as the crowd went crazy.

It ran a little longer than I would’ve hoped as they peaked earlier in the match then had to work back up to another peak on the way to the finish. Everyone looked good in their part. Van Dam is especially excelling in the multi-man environment. It got a bit stuttering towards the finish with some clear miscommunication but a big fun match overall. Mysterio looks to be in better shape each week.

The story continues though, Gibson’s foot was under the rope in the pinfall. So Gibson still has legitimate right for complaint.

SoCal Val awkwardly waited for her cue with Zack Gibson who ripped into the referee for missing his foot under the rope. Gibson said that next week he will show them the real 5 Star Wrestling Champion.

The recap of Joey Axl using the Ayers Rock Stretch Muffler just goes to show how far 5 Star have come in production in the last four weeks. The darkness of the first show to the increase in lighting and quality, you have to give 5 Star some credit.

Joey Axl entered for his Tap Or Snap Beat The Clock Match of Doom bout against Ricky Knight Jr. Axl had the unique mohawk mullet that you just don’t see in society these days. Looking like a wrestling figure you’d find half open in Poundland. Axl went straight for the Ayers Rock but Knight dodged it and was in the air, busting Axl open at the eye following a moonsault from the top rope. Axl looked to be rushing which made the match looking rough and a bit sloppy. Ricky Knight Jr looked really good in this, some lovely dropkicks. After missing a 450 Splash, Knight tweaked his knee. Knight hit a fireman’s carry onto the edge of apron with two minutes remaining. As they made it back into the ring, Knight missed an enziguri which lead Axl to slapping on the Ayers Rock Stretch Muffler. Knight held on as the time expired before tapping out. Axl put the submission on again to punish Knight.

I thought Joey Axl was a bit sloppy, rushing and he stumbled about. Ricky Knight Jr was fantastic though. 17 years old and looks to have a huge future in wrestling. The match was solid enough but I’m not impressed with Axl at all. Quite glad that he isn’t facing Riddle.

Gunn will now face Matt Riddle for the Tap Or Snap Championship which is going to be a very exciting match to see.

Back from the break, Pure Dead Brilliant were in the ring. Sharp announced that they were back with a new game plan. Lou King Sharp announced that they were given time to talk but they wanted a match and brought out three blokes referred to as The Pilgrims. Before the match could start Tor Atter-Hagen was seen marching backstage before entering the ring. Pure Dead Brilliant bailed once again as Tor smashed The Pilgrims. A double spear onto two of them. He then awkwardly lifted one of them up…but then couldn’t lift the boy further…so instead just whipped him over onto the canvas, punching the wee lad in the face for good measure.

I mean…not the best start.

Zack Gibson was announced as the next guest on The Modcast next week, which should be cracking.

The main event was Eddie Ryan against Jake Hager for the 5 Star Wrestling Championship. He looked knackered…which is understandable after four matches back to back to back to back earlier in the show. The crowd were well behind their hometown boy Ryan. Ryan fired into Hager from the get go as the champion was on the back foot. Hager soon took over and punished Ryan, slamming him to the ground. Ryan was busted open above the eye as Hager laid in punches. Ryan battled back as the crowd roared. Ryan lifted Hager up and hit the George Cross but a rope break saw the pinfall broken. Hager jumped on Ryan on the outside, Hager distracted the referee while Jack Jester appeared and grabbed Ryan which allowed Bram to smash a bottle into Ryan’s face. Hager rolled Ryan back into the ring for the easy pinfall.

When Eddie Ryan was on offense the crowd was well into it, it almost looked like the hometown boy was going to do it. Glad to see that the subtle build up to Bram having an interaction with Eddie Ryan paid off. The whole Jack Jester being “unpredictable” thing, yeah I fell for it hook. line. and sinker. 5 Star Wrestling might’ve got this social media thing figured out and played a blinder.

These reviews are starting to get boring now that I’m actually enjoying the show on the most part. The smaller venue was hugely beneficial to the overall show, from the sound of and the aesthetic of the full crowd. Once again the show was focused on a British wrestler, this week it was all about Eddie Ryan. The continuing feud of Zack Gibson versus imports is still interesting, no doubt that Nathan Cruz will appear during BT Gunn versus Matt Riddle to continue that story and we’ll get to see the fallout of Bram and Jack Jester turning up. Quite excited for next week to be honest. Maybe we’ll actually get a Pure Dead Brilliant match?

Another really great show from 5 Star Wrestling. What did you think of this week’s show?

Next week: Bristol.