Weekly Watchlist 032 - January 19 2025

Whats happening wrestling fans?! 

The review train just keeps chugging along here, even if it seemed like I'd be struggling to find matches to review this week. All it takes is one bad show to kill your vibe for the entire week. Combine that with feeling under the weather (again, I know) and it makes for a tough week of deciding on stuff to review.

But fear not, dear reader! Have I ever let you down before? Wait... don't answer that question, actually.

Weekly Roundup

Here's what I watched for the week;

Boy, what a mixed bag of matches this week folks

The People vs. GCW

First and foremost. Best wishes to Allie Katch. If you want to send her some cash to help her with surgery and recovery, here's the link to her GoFundMe.

If you were to ask me about this weekend's GCW show, I could give you about a dozen different thoughts about this show. But I think my prevailing thoughts would be "it was certainly a show that happened." A lot, and I mean A LOT, of people are shitting down this shows throat. Last I checked, it was the 6th worst rated show on CAGEMATCH, that's some special company to be a part of GCW, kudos. Do I really feel like it was as bad as December to Dismember '06 or Heroes of Wrestling? No, I don't. Do I think it was a good, or even a great show? No, I can't say that either. I think what it really boils down to is this; unfortunate circumstances, a bloated card, and a lack of interesting matches.I won't go blow by blow for this card because I value my own sanity, but I did make some notes while watching the rest of the show the morning after. 

-In the pre-show rumble match, TNA's PCO made a surprise entrance and won the match. In a promo that he claimed was meant to further a storyline for TNA, he trashed his TNA Digital Media Championship with a sledgehammer. He then started ranting about how much money he's made the company and merch he's sold until he gets cut off with a video package. It became very clear, very quickly, that this was not in furtherance of any actual story. PCO's TNA contract came up the end of 2024 and he verbally agreed to a new deal. Things obviously changed since the deal he agreed to and this show, as PCO has all but burned the bridge with TNA by shoot destroying their title and badmouthing the company. 

-The opening match was exciting enough and got people hyped for the rest of the night but it didn't get me hooked. When you have at least half a dozen chances to just grab the titles when you're already climbing a ladder to do a crazy dive, it takes me out of the match. That, and a lot of the weapon shots were bad. Camera work didn't help their case. 

-Effy vs. Katch was one of two matches I was excited for and, unfortunately, it's where the show really falls apart. Not even 5 minutes in the match, Katch suffers a horrific injury that takes her out of the match and puts the entire show on hold. Look, I understand that you can't plan for something like this and they were doing the best they could in this horrible situation, but when the next match doesn't start for 30 minutes, it really takes me out of it. Story goes that they needed to transport Allie with the rental ambulance after her injury and no match could start without the ambulance being there. So they were literally on hold until another ambulance showed up. 

-Hammerstein felt a bit too big for GCW. From the limited shows I've seen of GCW, they really thrive when they're in smaller arena's with a more intimate crowd. I understand the reason for running Hammerstein and why you'd want to book a bigger venue if it was available to you, but when the show is already struggling to get the crowd energized, the last thing you need is a big empty room where all the crowd sound dies before it can be picked up on mic. Also, why in the blue hell was this show 6 hours long?! Are you actually insane?! Sure, I watched the entire thing, but I literally had to stop in between to make it even halfways watchable. You could have cut out a bunch of matches quite easily. Not like you had a great show on paper that you were at risk of ruining! 

 

Lady Frost vs. Vertvixen - DPW Live 5 - 03/10/2024

A cool breeze blows through the Berwyn Eagles Club. DPW

Marching our way through the DPW library this year has brought me to DPW Live 5, a show headlined by Bryan Keith defending his National Title against The Workhorsemen's Anthony Henry in a hard hitting main event. I debated about giving that match the spotlight this week but when I was looking through my spreadsheet and weighing all my options, this match between Lady Frost and Vertvixen stood out to me. I did see some less than favourable reviews towards this match and I really don't know what match they watched, because it wasn't this one!

This is the second match in DPW for Lady Frost and the third match for Vertvixen, with Frost challenging the new DPW Women's Worlds Champion Miyuki Takase in her debut match. 

It's an even contest at the start, with both ladies trading wristlocks out of the tie up, each of them showing a different way to escape the hold. Vixen uses the ropes to give herself the extra momentum to reverse the hold, while the "Queen of Murder Gymnastics" flips out of the hold with a one handed cartwheel and arm drags her to break the hold. It's a game of one upping the other now, with Frost arm dragging Vixen out of a wheelbarrow to send her back to the corner again. 

Frost is taken off her feet first with a shoulder tackle from Vixen but the advantage is short lived as Frost kips-up and locks eyes with Vixen. There's a wordless exchange as they both take off for the ropes, with Vixen halting her momentum to let Frost go back and forth as she tries to catch her with strikes and roll ups. It's Frost who gets the better of this exchange again, flipping back into a headscissors to Vixen that sends her into the corner. 

Vixen walked right into her trap! DPW

The first strike of the match comes after Vixen catches Frost out of the corner, taking her feet out from under her with a low kick. Frost rises to her feet, catching her breath as Vixen rebounds off the ropes and collides into Frost with an uppercut under the jaw. She folds her up for a pin but she easily escapes at two. Frost is on the backfoot now, rising to her feet against the ropes as Vixen chops her across the chest. Frost stumbles back into the corner and takes another chop to the chest, recoiling from the damage and marching out as she does so. Not wasting any time, Frost turns and snatches Vixen by the neck, forcing her into the corner to give her a pair of chops of her own. 

With Frost seated in the corner now, Vixen tries to pull her up by the head but Frost shoves her off, trying to stand on her own. Using the space that was created from the shove, Vixen charges in with a low dropkick to the face of Frost, rolling her out for another cover but it's still only good enough for two. 

Frost finds her second wind now, fighting her way out of Vixen's control with knee strikes to the gut. She's able to make her way to the apron, still fending Vixen off as she looks to climb the top rope for a big dive. Instead, Frost plants her head on the top turnbuckle and flips out, catching Vixen on the shoulders with both legs and swinging out with a big headscissors! Frost is able to use her gymnaist background to great effect here, coming up with offence that is rarely, if ever, seen in a wrestling ring. I love it.

The Queen of Murder Gymnastics shows her skills. DPW

With Vixen in the corner, Frost charges in but gets caught with a roll up from Vixen. She's able to get out of the pin with little issue, but it turns out that Vixen had other plans aside from pinning Frost then and there. Holding her legs after the kickout, Vixen takes Frost to the middle and locks her into a deep sharpshooter. Frost goes for the ropes but Vixen walks her back to centre. The lack of pressure from the walkout proves to be enough for Frost to mount a comeback, rolling through the legs of Vixen to take her down and catching a leg to pull Vixen back in a single leg crab. Vixen is able to get to the ropes and break the hold.

Fighting to the middle of the ring, Vixen hooks Frost up for a suplex but Frost is able to slow her momentum going up, pulling Vixen down with an armdrag to break the hold. Vixen ducks a kick from Frost and sends out a kick of her own, catching Frost on the side of the skull. Frost spins out of the impact, falling forward with a lucky lariat to send both women crashing to the canvas. 

Lariatoooo! DPW

Both ladies struggle to their feet but make it before the referee's ten count. Vixen crawls to the corner and Frost is in the middle, charging in with a kick that takes Vixen back to a seated position. Lining her up in the opposite corner, Frost charges out and flips through with a cartwheel, crushing Vixen with a cannonball senton! She tries for a pin but Vixen is able to escape at two. Frost ascends to the middle ropes as soon as Vixen escapes the pin and tries to put her away quickly, but Vixen fights to slow her down. With Frost now seated on the top, Vixen charges in and boots Frost in the jaw, halting any momentum she hoped to gain from her position. 

Vixen grabs Frost into a firemans carry position and walks to the centre of the ring, but Frost slips out and sits out with a quick pin attempt but Vixen escapes. Going back into her bag of tricks, Frost catches Vixen with a wheelbarrow and transitions into a bulldog attempt but Vixen holds on. With Frost horizontal across the shoulders of Vixen, she spins her around and down with a huge blue thunder bomb, folding her up for a dangerously close two count!

Kicking Vixen out of the corner now, Frost lines up the dazed Vixen in the middle and cartwheels through to try and pick her up but Vixen doesn't let herself go up for the move. Keeping Frost's head between her legs, she hooks both arms and drills her with a pedigree! Sensing the end is near, Vixen pulls Frost in for her version of the sit out brainbuster, "Game Over." She is able to just get Frost off her feet, but Frost is able to pull Vixen down for another pinfall attempt, only to score a two. 

Rising to her feet first, Frost nearly takes the hed off of Vixen with a spinkick across the jaw. Out on her feet now, Vixen is alone in the centre of the ring as Frost cartwheels through for a spinning air raid crash, the "Chiller Driller," pinning Vixen for the three.

Flashy AND effective. I like it! DPW

 This was a great sprint of a match, a lot different from stuff I tend to watch or review. Less heavy strikes or huge moves, but a lot of really slick athletic stuff that was really fun to watch. It's a shame that these two don't get a lot more time in the spotlight in DPW, sorry to say. Frost has been working Ring of Honor matches the last while and hasn't been blowing people's hair back in the few minutes of squash time she's given. Just goes to prove why indies are so important. Sure, they may not give people the huge paydays that these big companies will, but you can't ask for a better environment to show people just how good you can be than an indie. Especially something like DPW.
 

 

Jordynne Grace vs. Tessa Blanchard - TNA Genesis 2025 - 01/19/2025

Wonder who the crowd will be behind for this one. TNA

 Alright, full transparency, I really wasn't sure if I wanted to review this match this week. It was far and away the best match on the entire Genesis card and easily the match of the weekend, when you factor GCW's show into the mix. That said, it's a tricky match to be positive towards when you've got a figure as controversial and polarizing as Tessa Blanchard in the match. 

For those not in the know, which is probably like, 2 of you, Tessa was outed as a racist after her historic victory over Sami Callihan to win the IMPACT World Championship at Hard to Kill 2020, being the first woman in history to win a men's world championship. In an alternate timeline, Blanchard's victory could have permanently changed how people view intergender wrestling and gender-specific championships. Instead, she's remembered for her (allegedly) deplorable behaviour behind the scenes. Since then, she's been blackballed from wrestling and has only been able to get bookings in Mexico. Even when she worked for WOW in 2021 in what seemed to be an effort to rebuild her image and reputation, she burned that bridge and had a falling out with the company. 

Despite knowing all of this, TNA still decided it would be a great idea to sign Tessa Blanchard after the banner year they've had. Like seriously, 2024 was a fantastic year for TNA. Sure, they didn't pull the trigger on Hendry when he was at his hottest and I think that his reign is going to suffer a bit as a result, but signing Tessa Blanchard? Seriously? I'm legitimately curious what value they think she adds that is worth all the backlash they're getting. If anything, this match only proves that she was let go purely because of her alleged attitude and beliefs, and not because of her wrestling skills. Because those are on point in this match. 

Right from the bell, Grace is all over Blanchard. The story going into this match is all about how Jordynne wants to protect TNA from Tessa, claiming that she has cemented herself as one of the greatest Knockouts in the history of the company (she's not wrong!) and that Tessa doesn't belong in TNA anymore. If she needs to drive her out by force, she will, and she's proving that at the start here, completely dominating Blanchard in the opening moments of the match. She hurls her from corner to corner with a pair of biel's, then sending her to the floor before flying through the ropes with a huge dive. Pulling Tessa up seconds after impact, she drills her into the floor with a Juggernaut Jackhammer.

Short drive into the ground. TNA

 It's also hard to not point out the elephant in the room, so let me address him real quick. This crowd is loud and very direct with their chants tonight. Hurling such zingers as "fuck you Tessa!" and "you're a racist!" chants the entire match. I kinda feel bad for Grace here, as this is seemingly her last match with TNA before WWE inevitably backs the money truck up to her front door later this month, and it's filled with venom and hatred from the crowd. They legitimately are upset with Tessa, and for good reason! Grace honestly deserved to have her big sendoff match against someone less controversial. 

With Blanchard on her shoulders, Grace climbs the steps to bring them both back in the ring but Blanchard fights out, ripping Grace down by her hair onto the steps. Blanchard takes the opportunity to taunt the crowd with a big 'ol grin on her face, which strikes me as odd, as she obviously knows why they're booing her. This is a different kind of heat. With Grace stumbling on the floor now, Blanchard jumps off the apron for a headscissors but the powerful Grace halts her momentum and walks her over to the barricade. She swings Blanchard into the barricade and goes for a second swing, whiffing the barricade and nearly losing her as she continues to swing around. She's able to hold on and walk to the apron now, trying to powerbomb Blanchard on the floor but as she lifts her up, Blanchard grabs the ropes and stands back on the apron. Not wasting a second, she jumps up and drives through Grace with a double stomp to the chest. 

With Jordynne dazed against the apron, Blanchard stomps the TNA gatekeeper in the head, goading her into fighting back. Using the bottom rope to springboard herself higher, Blanchard attempts to stomp through the head of Grace but her foot gets caught. Puller her leg down and around, Grace holds Blanchard in a version of the stretch muffler but Blanchard proves to have more leverage, pulling Grace around with her leg and driving her face first into the apron. 

Back in the ring, Blanchard has full control over Grace. Taking her from the ground to the corner, to the ropes, and back to centre for a dragon sleeper to keep the Juggernaut down. Blanchard's expertise and skill in the ring is undeniable, even in these quick exchanges. They trade dragon sleepers until Blanchard drops Grace with a reverse DDT. With Jordynne stunned in the corner, Blanchard runs in and catches the boot of Grace, shoving it to the side to get caught up in the ropes only to crack Grace across the jaw with a snug right hand. 

"Maybe this wasn't a great idea, actually." TNA

 Grace positions Blanchard on the top rope trying to take her out with a superplex, but Blanchard sunset flips out and tries a powerbomb off the middle rope. Realizing she can't out-muscle Jordynne, she kicks the boot of Grace and knocks her down to a seated position. Utilizing this height advantage, she snakes her arm around the throat of Grace for another dragon sleeper. Thinking on her feet, Grace grabs Blanchard behind the head with her right arm and drives Blanchard head first into the top turnbuckle. Eventually, Blanchard is forced to break the hold and let Grace go, neither woman coming out of that exchange any better. 

Back on the top now, they've climbed a step higher than before. This time, Jordynne is able to get Blanchard in a bodyslam position. She holds her on the top for a brief second before falling back as if to moonsault from the top rope, taking Blanchard back and down with a huge fallaway slam. Slowly rising to their feet in the centre, Blanchard and Grace tee off with forearm shots back and forth. Grace is able to get the better of the exchange, taking Blanchard down with a pair of bodyslams before scooping her up for a third time, running her into the top turnbuckle with a huge lawn dart.

Look out below! TNA

 Further showcasing her insane power, Grace pulls Blanchard in for what looks at first glance to be a package piledriver. Pulling Blanchard in for the hold, she hoists her up extra high for the driver as if to spike her through the canvas, not into it. Changing mid air, Grace is able to shift Blanchard and plant her with a huge powerbomb, keeping Blanchard down for a close two count. Back on their feet in the centre of the ring, Grace has Blanchard locked in a full nelson hold. Blanchard drives her elbows down to try and break the hold but the Juggernaut holds tight. She's eventually able to break the hold and get some distance from Grace. 

Catching and flipping through a lariat attempt from Grace, Blanchard double underhooks her arms and tries to get Grace up for some high impact move of her own. Grace keeps herself grounded as Blanchard struggles to get her up. Changing tactics, Blanchard leaps over Grace and drills her with a Destroyer, holding Grace down for a pinfall but it's only two. Blanchard pulls Grace up from the canvas and tries to lock her up for her hammerlock DDT but Grace turns through and breaks the hold. Catching Blanchard off the rebound, she flattens her with a huge spinebuster but it's still not good enough for a three count. 

With unreal strength, grace deadlifts Blanchard up from the canvas and into a vertical suplex position. She holds her in the air for a second too long as Blanchard is able to squirm her way out, landing on her feet and catching Grace with a neckbreaker to even the fight. Back to the outside Grace goes, with Blanchard following close behind with a twisting crossbody to the outside to drop Grace where she stands. They fight their way up the stairs with Grace able to get Blanchard back on her shoulders again. Unlike last time, however, Grace is able to crush Blanchard with a huge Death Valley Driver off the stairs!

Both ladies struggle to make it back inside the ring before the count of 10, but when they are able to make it, it's Grace who's up first. She pulls Blanchard up and gets her set up for the Juggernaut Driver but Blanchard stops Grace from getting her up off the canvas. They fight back into the corner again with Blanchard up on the shoulders of Grace this time, squirming out of the grip of an attempted superplex. Using her weight and position to her advantage, she pulls Grace down and drills her with a huge crucifix driver off the middle rope!

Back on their feet, Grace has an answer for just about everything Blanchard is throwing at her. Her luck runs out when Blanchard rebounds off the ropes and goes for a headscissors. Grace slows her momentum to try and reverse the move but Blanchard is able to turn it into an octopus hold, wearing Grace out on her feet. Fighting through the pain, Grace pulls Blanchard around into position for a tombstone piledriver. Instead of going for the obvious, Grace pops Blanchard up and uses the top rope to springboard her back for a huge slam! My god, that looked insane!

This makes no sense to me. I love it. TNA

Looking to end the match, Blanchard climbs to the top for her flying codebreaker. Taking flight, Grace is on her feet and quick to avoid the move, leaving Blanchard to roll through her landing. Fighting for position, it's Blanchard that's able to get the waistlock, but Grace is able to push back and drive them both into the corner. With Blanchard stopping a charging Grace with double boots, Grace catches those as well and drapes her legs over her shoulders, turning to centre and trying to walk Blanchard out to the middle. Blanchard fights for her life, grabbing hold of the middle turnbuckle and refusing to let go. Eventually, her grip weakens and Grace carries her to the middle, spinning around for a few rotations before planting Blanchard with a reverse Alabama Slam!

Backed into the corner now with Grace stunned in the centre, Blanchard starts ripping at the bottom turnbuckle, trying to remove it or, at the very least, expose the buckling beneath. She doesn't get it off all the way before Grace is back on her, planting her on the top rope. Pulling Blanchard down off the top by her hair, Grace walks out with Blanchard on her shoulders, ready to drill her with a Muscle Buster but Blanchard is able to escape in time. Pulling Grace into a front facelock, Blanchard walks back to the corner with the exposed turnbuckle and spikes Grace head first into it with a DDT. She pulls her away from the ropes for a pinfall but clearly not enough, as Grace is able to grab the bottom rope before the three.

Exposing the middle turnbuckle completely, Blanchard grabs Grace again and drives her face first into it with a bulldog. Stumbling and falling back in the centre of the ring, Grace is all alone as Blanchard climbs to the top rope. Waiting for her target to rise to her feet, Blanchard takes flight and catches Grace by the back of the head, pulling her down face first with Magnum for the decisive three count. 

Maximum impact. TNA

This was a fantastic match, absolutely loved it. There was a serious intensity in everything they did and it really felt like Grace was fighting Blanchard with everything she had. Blanchard, to her credit, once again proved that she's more than capable in the ring and won't be lot go anytime soon if we're grading only on in-ring skills alone. She was tenacious and fierce, pulling out slick reversals and moves on Grace that caught both her, and everyone watching, off guard. Great stuff from both of these ladies. I hope Jordynne has a successful future with WWE, as I'm near certain she'll be signing with them very soon.

 

There we have it folks, another Watchlist down! Took a bit of digging and thinking to find some matches I wanted to watch this week but I'm more than happy with the ones I picked. Let's hope next week's matches are easier to come by. If you guys have any suggestions for matches or general feedback, I welcome any and all emails! cliffmorganwstl@gmail.com is where you should send them. I'll be waiting. 

Until next time, take it easy friends.

Cliff Morgan