Here's the report for Ohio Valley Wrestling's Saturday Night Special show for January 7th, 2012, from a jam packed Davis Arena in Louisville, Kentucky. When I say jam packed I mean just that, as the show was legit sold out, with several people having to stand. I'd say close to 500 in the building. Interesting too because this was a one match show, one legged Iraq war hero Michael Hayes vs Mohamad Ali Vaez in a cage match, with the stip that Hayes will quit wrestling if he loses.
Hayes and Vaez feuded for 7 months in 2011, and it seemed to culminate here tonight in early 2012. The only other match announced for this show was Paredyse vs Brandon Espinosa, every other match tonight was probably made before the show tonight, plus neither of the announced matches for this show were title matches, and it sold out. A lot of that is due to Michael Hayes, he gets a lot of his people to come out to shows like this where he has big matches. Those Michael Hayes supporters tend to be real casual wrestling fans at best, but their reactions for him are super strong. I enjoyed this show tonight.
Dean Hill, Gilbert Corsey and Kenny Bolin were the announcers for the upcoming DVD release of this show, that will be called "Steel cage Apocalypse". Ron Hed and Brittany DeVore were the ring announcers. Bobcat, who is Al Snow's wife, was in the arena tonight in an interesting, Playboy Bunny-esque outfit.
The show opened with a cool video for the Vaez vs Hayes cage match.
1. Ted McNaler beat Raphael Constantine
McNaler is going solo since he and Adam Revolver have broken up their "Elite" tag team, after arguing for the better part of 2011. Constantine got the better of things early. Constantine hit a superplex on McNaler. McNaler finally got untrapped, and unfurled some big moves on Constantine, including a nice top rope crossbody block. McNaler slammed Constantine off the top rope, and then hit his spear finisher to beat Constantine. McNaler gets a shot at the OVW Heavyweight title, currently held by Rudy Switchblade, and this coming Wednesdays TV taping.
2. Dylan Bostic, Elvis Pridemore, Jimbo Onno, Joe Coleman, Pete Patton, and Randy Terrez beat Nick Dumeyer, Lennox Norris, Tony Gunn, American Assassin, David Osborne, and Chris Silvio w/Mo Green in a 12 man tag
Yeah that's right, a 12 man tag...Heh. Sivio and Terrez started out together doing fast paced spots. In came Tony Gunn and Elvis. Gunn took off Elvis' beloved red hat, and put it on his beloved stuffed bear, Ralphie. Bad mistake as Elvis fired up and beat on Gunn. Lennox Norris got in the ring with Jimbo Onno. Disco music started playing, so Norris started disco dancing. This started a long dance off spot. I think everyone ended up dancing a solo, including Mo Green, with the exception of Elvis Pridemore. It was funny stuff. Norris hit Dylan Bostic from behind in mid dance, to finally bring it back to a wrestling match. Everyone started hitting big moves on each other, real big moves. Finally Elvis hit his reverse stunner on Dumeyer, and Onno gave Dumeyer a tree slam to pin him to win it for the good guys. This was a silly match in many ways, but it was also fun.
3. Taeler Hendrix beat Taryn Shay to retain the OVW Womens title
This was the only title match of the night. Hendrix beat Shay in about 10 seconds a few weeks ago on TV, after Shay ran her mouth for awhile. She didn't fare that much better tonight. Shay again took the mic before this match, as the fans again chanted "slap that ho" at her. Shay seemed to lose momentum on the mic tonight, but finally hit Hendrix with the mic, and choked her with the mic cable. Hendrix fired back with some blows, and kinda sorta hit her leg drop finisher on Shay to beat her quickly again, and retain the womens title.
4. James "Moose" Thomas w/Prince Bolin beat Raul Lamotta
This was first announced to be a 6 man tag, but Prince Bolin took the mic and said he has a challenge for Raul Lamotta to leave Matt Barela in the back, and face Moose one on one right now. Lamotta came out alone to accept the challenge. Lamotta in control early, beating Moose from pillar to post. The referee ejected Prince Bolin from ringside fairly early in the match. Moose took over, beating on Lamotta in the corner. Lamotta and Moose had a slugfest back and forth. Moose went for a Vader bomb, but Lamotta rolled out of the way. Both guys on their knees exchanging chops. Lamotta with a top rope bulldog. Both guys fighting up on the turnbuckle. Lamotta gave Moose a sloppy sunset flip of sorts off the turnbuckle. Prince Bolin started to run back out, but had to go to the back, then come back out again, as things clearly got screwed up near the finish here. Bolin came back out and put Moose' foot on the ropes on a Lamotta pin attempt. Moose then rolled up Lamotta for a clean pin. That didn't appear to be the finish they wanted to do here. Even before that, this match had something off about it, it lacked a certain energy or something, though both guys were working hard. Just didn't feel like it really connected in the ring, or with the crowd.
The post match saw Lamotta chase Prince Bolin around, but in doing so, he fell victim to Thomas' "Moose kick". Prince Bolin took off his belt, and was preparing to whip Lamotta, but Matt "Anarquia" Barela made the save. Anarquia then took the mic and talked about the match he and Lamotta, as the reformed tag team of Los Locos, have against James "Moose" Thomas and ??? this coming Wednesday at the TV taping. If Los Locos win that one, Prince Bolin gets 15 lashes.
5. Jason Wayne, "Smooth" Johnny Spade & Shiloh Jonze beat Marcus Anthony, Jessie Godderz & Rudy Switchblade w/Christian Mascagni in a six man tag
Well, we did get a six man tag after all tonight. Jonze and Spade are the current OVW Southern tag team champions. Rudy Switchblade is the current OVW Heavyweight champion. Jason Wayne took the mic on the floor before the match and said this was supposed to be Jamin Olivencia and Mike Mondo teaming with him tonight, but neither of those guys could be here, so he got Spade and Jonze to team with him instead. Godderz with a high elevation dropkick on Wayne early. Wayne with a sidewalk slam on Rudy Switchblade, and then dominated Switchblade, as did Spade and Jonze. Anthony and Godderz pressed Jonze and Spade over their heads, but Jonze and Spade broke free and knocked Anthony and Godderz into each other. A Jonze and Spade double shoulder block knocked Anthony out of the ring, to end a nice exchange. Shiloh Jonze ended up taking the heat. Marcus Anthony turned Jonze inside out with a huge clothesline. Jonze back with an enziguri on Switchblade. Two big young bulls, Jason Wayne and Marcus Anthony went at it. Wayne took Anthony down with a flying clothesline. Wayne threw Rudy Switchblade over the top rope, right in front of referee Chris Sharpe, and it wasn't ruled a DQ. Sharpe's expression clearly revealed he wasn't supposed to see that. Oops! Heh. We got a big tower suplex/powerbowb pyramid spot involving 5 guys out of the corner. Switchblade hit his frog splash finisher on Jason Wayne. Jessie Godderz tried to pin Wayne, but Johnny Spade came off the top and hit Godderz on the back with a Swanton. Spade and Jonze hit a double kick on Godderz, causing him to be pinned to end a wild one. This was unwieldy, but was the best match of the under card, and the crowd was into it.
6. Paredyse beat Brandon Espinosa
This was the only match, other than the cage match main event, announced in advance tonight. This one has been building for awhile. Espinosa does not like the "Gay" antics of Paredyse. A video aired before this match from a segment on OVW TV that aired today of Espinosa finally accepting this match, after much goading from Paredyse. It was interesting that Espinosa doesn't like Gays, because he wrestled here in pink trunks, that had a heart on it with shiny silver beads around it. A section of the crowd here actually had pro Gay signs supporting Paredyse. Wow. Never have seen that before, pro Gay signs at a southern pro 'rasslin show. lol Espinosa attacked Paredyse before he was finished with his elaborate entrance. Paredyse was wearing new trunks. Espinosa with a low blow, but Paredyse took over with some hard hitting offense. The pace was fast from both guys here. Espinosa with a big over the knee back breaker, and then kept control for awhile. Paredyse tied to the tree of woe. Espinosa missed a second rope leg drop, then went to the tree of woe well once too often, missing a dropkick on Paredyse in the corner. Paredyse came back with a claw to the groinular region of Espinosa, and then got the win with his spinning neckbreaker.
Espinosa with a sore loser attack on Paredyse after the match. Paredyse came back though and drove Espinosa out of the ring. This was an important match for Espinosa in OVW. He has beaten jobbers, but has never garnered a big win over a key player here. This was his golden chance, but he lost. So not sure what that means for his future here, but from the post match, it appears to be heading for a rematch with these two.
Intermission, during which time they set the cage up. This is a big cage here too, looks to be a legit 15 feet high. Elvis Pridemore was the hero of setting it up, standing seemingly effortlessly on the top ringposts. He took the bull by the horns, and did much of the work. Randy Terrez did quite a bit too.
Michael Hayes' Mother won the 50/50 raffle. Could this be an omen??
Before the main event started, they played a very well done music video of the Michael Hayes vs Mohamad Ali Vaez feud.
Mohamad Ali Vaez beat Michael Hayes in a cage match, so Hayes must now quit wrestling per the stipulation
Vaez came out in a new white outfit. White turban, robe, and trunks. Hayes came out ready for medieval battle, wearing a helmet with a metal face covering on it, and the midsection thingy, not sure what it's called, sorry. Three referees came out for this, Chris Sharpe in the ring, two others on the floor, one in charge of the locked door. Both guys had a long stare down after the bell rang. Hayes in total control early once the action started. After several failed attempts, Vaez finally threw Hayes into the steel mesh. Vaez tried to climb the cage, but Hayes cut him off. The crowd was very hot for Hayes here. Both guys made diving attempts to get out the cage door, both failed. Vaez tried to climb out yet again, but Hayes gave Vaez the Electric chair. Vaez came back and worked on the one real leg of Hayes, the right one. Vaez then tried to take the fake leg off of Hayes. Vaez got the fake leg off, but this was nearly a fatal mistake as Hayes very nearly slipped out of the door on him on one leg. Vaez was hanging on by a thread. Vaez came off the top rope on a prone Hayes, but Hayes got his one leg up. Hayes with a back suplex on Vaez. Vaez tried to give Hayes a top rope DDT, but Hayes fought out of it with headbutts. Hayes went to the top rope on one leg, but missed a top rope elbow drop. Both men crawling towards the cage door. Hayes hit his knee to the face drop down finisher on Vaez. Hayes put his fake leg back on. Vaez hit his neckbreaker finisher on Hayes, but Hayes kicked out at two. Hayes hit his finisher again, and then went for the door again. Vaez shoved referee Chris Sharpe into Hayes, which stopped Hayes from escaping, and Sharpe took a double bump when he hit Hayes again as Hayes rebounded back. I missed it, but I think the ref on the floor by the door was bumped on this spot as well. Vaez with a low blow on Hayes. Vaez again trying to climb out of the cage, but Hayes shook the cage, causing Vaez to be crotched on the top rope. Hayes tried to go out the door, and the loud crowd got even louder, when out ran Christian Mascagni, who was channeling Terry Gordy circa 1983, and slammed the cage door on the head of Michael Hayes, who was playing the Kerry Von Erich role. Vaez then pinned Hayes to win it, as referee Sharpe made the groggy three count. So Michael Hayes must now quit wrestling per the stipulations set up before this match. The cage door was slammed so hard by Mascagni it was actually stuck shut for awhile.
The post match was insane with Mascagni and Vaez locking the cage door, and Vaez keeping the key, with a chair in the ring at this point. Hayes came back though, and sent Vaez into the cage, causing Vaez to bleed. Blood isn't allowed by the athletic commission of Kentucky, and I think this was actually theatrical blood. Whatever it was, in addition to being on his head, it was all over Vaez' hands, and seemed to freak him out a bit. Things got even more nuts when close to one of the corners, the mat opened up, and Christian Mascagni's men, Marcus Anthony, Jessie Godderz, and Rudy Switchblade all came up thru the hole into the ring! Shades of Kane from last Monday night on RAW, but this is impressive for an Indy to do. They don't have a budget even resembling that of the WWE of course. They certainly pulled out all the stops on this match. With Vaez, Anthony, Godderz and Switchblade all beating on Michael Hayes, all the OVW babyfaces ran to ringside, desperately trying to climb the cage, or break the lock off the door. Dean Hill was on his feet here telling people Vaez had the key to the cage door on him, after Vaez and Mascagni's men climbed out of the cage and made their escape. They finally cut the lock off the door or something, as the babyfaces tended to the fallen Hayes. Dean Hill cut a promo putting over Hayes to end the show. Is Michael Hayes really done wrestling in OVW? Stay tuned. A wild way to end an interesting show for sure. Easy thumbs up show tonight.
PWI
Seems like a good OVW show. I'm glad they are doing ok, as I used to be a big fan