Weekly Watchlist 046 - April 26 2025 - DPW Super Battle

Wrestling fans, welcome back! 

My march through the DPW library brings me closer and closer to current day with each passing week, with this edition of the Weekly Watchlist being all about DPW's biggest event, Super Battle. I go into this event and why it was picked for the spotlight later on in this review, but just know, this show is special.

That, and I have a few other updates some of you may be interested in. Want to find out what those are? Well, you know what to do. Read on and find out!

DPW

Weekly Roundup

Here's what I watched for the week;

Whole lotta green this week!

Patreon

Recently, I created a Patreon account for the blog. My idea for it is to do smaller "day-to-day blog" posts, talking about matches or shows I watch in the week that are note worthy but don't make the cut. Sometimes I have a show or matches already in mind for the week, so I start the week knowing in advance what I'm going to review. It kinda kills my buzz sometimes when I watch a match or show with some really great stuff on it but I can't talk about it at all. Patreon will give my the opportunity to do quick, "Match Bite" reviews as supplemental material through the week. 

Right now, my only tier is the $5 "Safety Deposit Access" tier. My first 10 Match Bites will be free for all members to read, (as in, you you have a Patreon account, you can follow my page, totally free) so you've got an idea what you're getting into if you decide to throw a couple of bones my way. No obligation or anything like that, this is only for those that want a bit more and want to give me some monetary support for my efforts. Enough to buy myself a snack when I'm grabbing the groceries.

 

 

DPW Super Battle 

Second only to Limit Break, Super Battle was one of the DPW shows I was looking forward to the most, it was another checkpoint for me and I'm so happy I finally made it. I already knew the matches and results going into the show, but that didn't ruin the experience for me in the slightest. The shows leading up to Super Battle have been awesome and everything I've been loving the most has been leading up to this show. Shoko Nakajima and Dani Luna in the Battle of the Best tournament finals, FTR making their DPW debut, Tankman and Something finally coming to blows, Hyan coming into her own as a heel, National Title contention, so much of what has been great about DPW and is going to be great in 2025 starts with this show. My expectations were high and boy, were they exceeded. 

I'll give you a quick rundown of the card here like I would for any modern PPV/PLE (now that I'm done with WWE can I stop calling them Premium Live Events? Please?) as this show's two biggest matches are the focus of my review this week.

Manders, Westbrook & Shire vs. Leon Slater & Lykos Gym was a fun opening match. The babyface evolution and acceptance of Westbrook has been a real treat through 2024 and he's fully embraced by the fans here now. Shire and Manders are two brutes that easily throw around Slater and the Lykos boys. Slater soars over the corner from the ring to the floor and is able to somehow land on his feet, just insane shit from some of these guys. In the end, BK gets the win for his team in a fun, fast paced, opening match.

Alex Windsor & Emi Sakura vs. Danni Bee & Hyan is our second tag match on offer tonight, with Sakura making her return to DPW after being gone since April and Windsor making her DPW debut. Hyan has been showing some heelish tendencies lately and is fully embracing her new attitude in this match, comfortably rolling around in the dirt with Dani Bee and making it oh so easy to root against her. Theres really not a lot to write home about in this match, I think all four women are pretty goon on their own, Windsor and Sakura especially, but this match kinda felt clunky at times. Just enouh instances where there's a second of miscommunication to throw things out of step. Hyan is able to pick up the win but the heels get ran out of the ring to leave Sakura and Windsor to celebrate in the ring.

KENTA vs. Kevin Blackwood is a bit of a dream match, of sorts. DPW's resident striker and indie journeyman Kevin Blackwood against a certified 20 year veteran of the sport who became famous for his dangerous striking game. It's evenly contested early on, with Kenta and Blackwood trading seated kicks back and forth, egging each other on to his harder than the last time. Honestly, the whole match is cut right down the middle, any time one man gets the advantage, they're cut off before too long. Kenta picks up the win after a strike-laden finishing stretch and the GTS to seal the deal. Both men look worse for wear after this one, my lord.

Mike Bailey vs. LaBron Kozone was just about as evenly matched as you could expect a match between two of DPW's very best to be. This match is to determine the new number 1 contender for Adam Priest's National Championship, with Baily looking to add more gold to his collection as half of the tag team champions along with Jake Something, and Kozone seeking his first piece of gold in DPW. They leave nothing on the table and go for broke right from the opening bell, it's an amazingly intense match with every near fall feeling like "surely, this has to be it." Kozone picks up the win after crushing Bailey with a rope rebounded Ballgame, and finally a standing variation of the lariat. In a backstage video, Bailey congratulates Kozone and says he's not upset about this loss. Moreover, he's proud of how hard he made Kozone fight. With LaBron training the future stars of wrestling, he hopes the extra effort he made Kozone dig for in this match will be extra knowledge he can give his students. In losing to Kozone, Bailey made his opponent better, and hopes to have set the future of wrestling on a better path. Now that is how you cut a promo.

Shoko Nakajima vs. Dani Luna is a Battle of the Best tournament final with two recent faces going all the way to the finals to determine who will get to fight for the DPW Women's World Championship. Luna's strength and toughness is her X factor, while Nakajima is quick both in the air and on the ground, and can easily get a string of offence going if you aren't careful. Luna catches a Tiger Feint kick and turns it into a side slam back breaker and a powerbomb, showing how quickly she can turn the tide of battle. With a suplex from the apron to the ring, Luna quickly pulls Nakajima in for the Luna Landing and scores 3, winning the tournament and celebrating with her trophy. Her celebration is broken up by Hyan and Bee, with Hyan taking particular exception to people "cutting in line" after travel issues removed her from a Women's World title match a couple months back. They break the trophy over Dani's back and head for the back when Windsor and Sakura come out to make the save.

Masato Tanaka vs. Adam Priest was for Priest's National Championship and was fought under relaxed rules, which should come as no surprise with his opponent being Masato fucking Tanaka. The same Masato Tanaka that had some of the most hard hitting wars with Mike Awesome in ECW all those years ago. To say Priest had his work cut out for him in this match would be an understatement, but calling yourself "any style" means you'd better be ready to back that claim up in the ring, especially when Tanaka has free reign to use whatever he can get his hands on. There's weapons and brawling galore, but Priest is able to target the legs of Tanaka and wear him down to the point that the living legend was forced to dig for the ropes on a few occasions to break the hold. In the end, Priest actually makes Tanaka tap out in a finish I was not expecting. A pin, sure, but someone as tough as Tanaka doesn't give in easily.

 

 •  •  •  •  •

 

FTR vs. Violence Is Forever - DPW Super Battle - 10/13/2024

A dream match made real. DPW

Initially, this match was supposed to be FTR vs The Workhorsemen, another dream match and even more of a mirror match than FTR vs. VIF is. Henry's deadly strikes and vicious attitude would have paired against Cash's brute strength and insane speed so well, and Drake and Dax could go chop for chop and hold for hold on the mat for hours. I really hope we still get that match somewhere down the line. But, with Henry out with a last minute injury, DPW's most trusted tag team steps in to fill the role and boy, does this match just feel right. Pairing them against, who I believe to be, the greatest modern tag team on God's green? Sign me up.

From the opening of The Cranberries "Zombie" as Ku and Garrini make their way to the ring, the energy level in the building has shifted considerably. Everyone is going insane knowing what's about to come next. Two of the very best teams running today are about to lock horns and make magic in the ring. Be still my heart. FTR come to the ring and man, these guys are fired up.  Dax is composed but you know he's loving every second of this reaction, and Cash can't contain himself as he goes to the front row of the audience and walks across the first row of chairs, high-fiving people as he walks. 

Inside the ring, Cash and Garrini start things off. You can tell right away that this is a big moment for VIF from how they're trying to stay composed, but just an other day in the office for FTR. Despite this, Garrini doesn't shy away from locking horns with right from the start, taking him down with an early hip toss and side headlock takeover. Doubting a team like VIF will cost FTR if they aren't careful, and Dom is looking to prove that as he stays in the ring after Dax gets tagged in, trapping him in a side headlock and pulling him to their corner to tag Ku in. The hold is broken quickly and they rest in the middle, with Ku pushing Dax to the ropes and firing off a kick that Dax barely ducks. 

About as close as you can get. DPW

 The statement from VIF is clearer than ever. Doubt us at your own peril.

Resetting in the middle, Dax goes for a sharpshooter early but Ku grabs the bottom rope to break it before he can be turned over. Dax holds on for a few extra seconds and pays for it, with Ku shooting his foto up into the jaw of Dax. The receipt is quick and sharp, with a boot to the side of Ku's head firing him up to his feet as he gets in the face of Dax. A shoving match ensues as tempers flare up briefly until they reset in the middle once again. With Dax backed in the corner, Ku fires off with chops that serve only to fire up Dax, who responds with chops out of the corner before shooting Ku off the ropes and tagging in Cash, dropping down to for him to change his gait before Cash flies in with a shoulder tackle to take Ku down. 

He's not down for long however, as he gets back to his feet and drives Cash back into his corner. No tag is made as Cash fights his way out against both members of VIF, with Garrini getting in the ring to back up his friend and Dax follows suit. A four man brawl ensues in the middle with Cash and Ku falling out one side of the ring, with Dax and Dom out the other side. Chops, kicks, guts driven into ring aprons, whatever they can use to damage their opponent in that moment is used and used effectively. With Ku seated in a chair against the barricage, Cash literaslly throws himself into Ku and crushes him against the barricade. It's not pretty, but it works a treat. 

Coming to the aid of his partner, Dom makes his way around the ring and VIF send Cash into the barricade to soften him up before sending him back inside the ring, with Ku and the freshly tagged Dom keeping him away from Dax. With frequent tagging and limb work that would make The Revival blush, Ku and Kom wear down Cash in the centre as Dax watches helplessly. He gets close after leathering Dom with european uppercuts and trying to dive ober him for the tag, but Dom is still to fresh and far too strong, catching Cash on his shoulder and dumping him back in enemy territory. 

Able to react before being crushed, Cash jumps over a charging Dom and sprints across the ring, tagging in Dax who comes in with his signature Dusty punches to the jaw of Ku. He gets sent into the ropes and counters a back body drop attempt by snatching the head of Ku and pulling him down for a tight pin but Ku escapes. Back on their feet, Ku gets his arms wrung this way and that before Dax cracks off a vicious lariat. Dom gets one for his troubles too but remains standing, shouting in the face of the 7 time tag team champion, begging for more. Dax obliges, cracking off another lariat but it's still not enough! Dom fires back with a barrage of forearms until Dax fires off a final lariat that sends Dom to the canvas.

Gonna take a bit more than that, Axe. DPW

With Ku still the legal man, Dax returns his attention to him and tries to send him off the ropes, but Ku holds on. A chop to the chest of Ku wakes him up, gesturing to Dax for more as he lets go of the ropes, telling him it's time to exchange strikes in the centre of the ring like it's 1994 and we've sold out the Nippon Budokan, again. Chops back and forth with their left hands tied up brings the crowd to their feet, with Dax eventually getting the better of the back and forth and sending Ku into the ropes. To his credit, Ku almost gets Dax up with a german suplex, but Dax switches position with him at the last second and takes Ku up and over with a german of his own. 

Dax goes for his take on the three amigo's, keeping the grip as he rolls through for a second german suplex and then a third, but Ku is able to do a standing switch to get behind Dax and take him up and over this time! He, too, gets Dax up for a second but Dax retakes the back and we go back and forth one more time! With Ku in control one more time, Dom charges in to try and help take Dax over but he ducks the charge and Dom gets back body dropped before rolling to the floor. Dax is able to drag Ku along with him to his corner and tag in Cash, who pulls Ku in for a powerbomb before Dax rolls him through for a huge german suplex, holding the waist long enough for Cash to fly over his partner and fold Ku for a pinfall attempt. 

Slick trick, Cash. DPW

Taking Ku into their corner and seating him on the top, Cash tags in Dax again and moves to the corner south of theirs and starts to climb, setting up for Power and Glory but Dom saves the day, sending Cash crashing to the floor with Dax unaware he's all alone. Ku fights the grip of Dax with chops and a headbutt, sending Dax stumbling back to the ring and into Dom. Dax nearly fights out and drills Dom with a piledriver but with Dom bent over and Dax preoccupied, Ku flies with a crossbody but Dax rolls through and pulls Ku into a piledriver posisiton this time. Cash is back on the top rope just in time, as Dax pulls Ku up for the piledriver and Cash flies, drilling Ku in the ring with a disgusting spike piledriver. Dax goes for the cover but Ku survives. 

With Ku back on his feet and fighting his way out of another sharpshooter attempt, he's able to drop Dax with a kick to the back of the head while he's on his knees, dropping him face first to the canvas. Dom rolls in and this time, VIF have Dax all alone, with Garrini picking Dax up to his feet as Ku charges out from the corner. A leg sweep and running knee Eliminates Dax, Totally, but he kicks out just before the three count. 

Suddenly, we hear through the speakers, "15 minutes has elapsed, 5 minutes remaining."

Time is running out.

Dom tries for the muscle buster on Dax but he slips out and sends him shoulder first into the corner, allowing him to focus on Ku who is sat on the top rope. Cash is back on the apron and tags Dax, slipping around the ringpost and climbing to the top. Dax takes Ku off the top with a huge superplex, the Power, while Cash comes flying off the top and crushes Ku with a splash, the Glory. Cash tries for a pin but Ku hangs on.

Possibly Sour and Gory? DPW

FTR decide it's time to stop fucking around and end this match, getting into position for the Shatter Machine as Ku struggles to pull himself up on the ropes. Behind Dax, Cash gets taken out by a boot from Dom. Turning to take on Garrini, Dax instead gets shoved into Ku and held in an abdominal stretch. cash crawls out from under the rope and runs to try and break the hold, but Dom catches him in a standing sleeper. It's not too long until Dax picks the legs of Ku and Cash slips free, snatching an ankle and twisting Dom around. Now, both members of VIF are trapped in simultaneous FTR Sharpshooters. 

Dom and Ku twist and crawl in the holds, trying to get to each other as Dax and Cash keep the hold on tight. Ku looks ready to tap but Dom grabs the arm and slaps his partner across the face, trying to beat some sense into him in the final minutes of this match. This gives Ku enough strength to crawl anf grab the bottom rope, with Dom shifting around to his side enough to force Cash to fall forward and break the hold as well.

Again, FTR tries for the Shatter Machine with Dax sending Ku into the ropes but Dom, now on the outside, yanks Cash out by his ankles as Ku transitions into a sunset flip, taking Dax over in a pin but Dax breaks free. Back on their feet and with Dom in the ring, Ku sticks out his chin and waits for Dax to swing. Both Ku and Dom duck the lariat of Dax as he charges forward, his momentum carrying him forward as he crashes into Cash on the apron, sending him flying to the floor. The miscommunication gives them enough of a distraction for Dom to get Dax up vertical, taking him down with Chasing the Dragon for a pinfall attempt but still! Only two!

Another Dragon, Chased. DPW

"18 minutes has elapsed, two minutes remaining"

It's do or die.

With all four men in the ring, it's back and forth bedlam until Ku gets knocked down and out of the ring. Dom tries to take Cash up and over in a back suplex but he lands on his feet. Thinking quickly, Dax does the same to his partner with the full intention of Cash landing on his feet, waiting for Dom to turn around and walk right into the Shatter Machine. Dax rolls over for the pin but Ku pulls him out to break the pin.

His Machine? Shattered. DPW

 "60 seconds remaining"

Cash sends Ku into the barricade outside and tries for a tornado DDT, but Ku lands on his feet and takes him down with a DDT of his own on the concrete floor. Dax climbs back in the ring with Dom prone on the canvas, walking right into a tight pinfall but it's still not enough. Keeping close, Dom rolls over and onto the back of Dax, pulling back in a crossface as Dax looks dangerously close to tapping out. He tried to power up as Cash tries to break the hold from the outside-

and then the bell rings. 

20 minutes later, we've reached a time limit draw.

On the one hand, I usually don't like time limit draws, but when the action is as unrelenting and crisp as this is, I can't be too mad. Sure, there's a few missteps here and there, but by and large they make up for any boo-boo's with some slick tag team work and clever psychology. These are two of the very best tag teams in the world right now (FTR is far and away the best tag team in the world, I'd say) and this was just as exciting as I could have hoped it would be. Hopefully these two teams get the time and space to really let this match play out and see who the better team is.

•  •  •  •  •

 

Calvin Tankman vs. Jake Something - DPW Super Battle - 10/13/2024

My recommendation? Reinforce the building. DPW

 

From the video hyping up this match to the entrances and energy in the building, this match feels well and truly massive. And I'm not just talking about the size of the two men in this match. For a year now, Jake Something has been on a tear in DPW, coming close to being a National Champion, winning tag gold and having some of the best tag matches of 2024 with Speedball Mike Bailey, and finally winning the Carolina Classic a year after he debuted at that event in 2023 only to lose in the finals. Tankman, on the other hand, has been a force of nature during his 308 day reign, with this being his 13th defence of the title, more than anybody else in company history. To some, Something is unstoppable, to others, Tankman is unbeatable. Tonight, we find out which of these two titans falls first. 

The bell sounds and neither man is too ambitious to be the first to make a move. They circle the ring, barking back and forth at each other until, all at once, Jake and Tankman charge for the middle, locking up like a pair of Kaiju's. Back and forth they push, around the ring without separating for a breath. Jake drives Tank into the corner and forces the referee to get between them, forcing his way in like a wedge between two buildings. Slowly, they break, but Jake is quick to get a shot in once distance is made, shoving Tankman in the chest. Of cource, the champion doesn't let this slide, slapping the challenger across the face with Jake retaliating in king. Thankfully, the referee is still between them and is able to force Jake back to centre, trying to restore a moment of peace in this war. 

Tankman joins Jake in the middle, a smug grin on his face as he offers up a hand for the classic test of strength. Jake locks knuckles with his right hand, bringing his left up to complete the test but Tankman drives a boot into Something's gut, taking advantage of the window created to try and bring Jake down. He locks in a side headlock but gets driven back into the ropes, shot off by the challenger as he stands waiting in the centre of the ring, bracing for the shoulder tackle and stumbling back only a step. Pounding his chest and bellowing with rage, Something charges forward with a series of shoulder tackles to the champion, driving him back and back until he's leaned against the ropes. Taking off for the opposite side of the ring, Jake is unaware of the Tank following close behind, cracking him under the jaw with a forearm when he turns to take the ropes. 

Jake crumples to his knees, being brought to centre by the confident champion who pulls Jake in for a back suplex, but Something lands on his feet! Without skipping a beat, Something charges fot the ropes, running through Tankman over and over, finally able to send the champion to the canvas on his third charge. With Tankman back on his feet to try and slow the monster, he gets crushed with a Something press, Jake rebounding off the impact and into the ropes, roaring like Kong at the top of the Empire State building.

Never. Stop. Moving. DPW

 Backing Tankman into the corner, Something drives his shoulder into the midsection of the champion and tries to shoot him out of the corner, but he holds fast, refusing to budge. Jake tries to out-muscle Tankman until the champion allows himself out of the corner, driving forward with a forearm that drops Something in a heap. Each strike, each impact, everything these guys do has match-ending potential. But against each other? It's just softening the other man up, a lot more is needed before either of these men are going to be beaten. 

Showing insane agility, Tankman gets sent into the corner and pops himself up, chest first, on the top turnbuckle, anticipating the charging Something and allowing him to slip underneath. Landing on his feet, Tankman rolls through with incredible grace for a man his size, shoving Jake into the ropes and sending him halfway across the ring with a pounce! He's the champion for a reason, folks. He'll hit you harder than you've ever been hit before but can dance circles around you if you aren't careful.

"Jake who?" Tankman shouts to the crowd, "Jake who? There's a reason you can't remember his last name, he ain't shit! "

Tankman feels this match is over before it's even started, slashing his throat to call for the Tankman Driver. He's able to pull Jake in and up in position, but Something slips behind and catches the champion unaware. In a feat of strength that hasn't been seen since March 29th, 1987, Something bodyslams Tankman with insane ease. Tankman probably can't remember the last time he was slammed that easily. Buckle up, champ.

"I run this shit, motherfucker!" Something yells in response.

With Tankman slumped near the corner, Something charges in and drives him back, clubbing him with punches and forearms on the ground. Tankman rises up to meet each shot, absorbing them until he's vertical once again. Something sends Tankman into the ropes again but he holds on, using Jake's own momentum to propel him into a seated position on the top rope. Mocking the referee, Tankman asks "you want me to bring him down?" a smirk lighting up his face. Unfortunately, he takes too long and Something comes alive, driving a forearm into the throat of Tankman. Pulling him to the middle rope, Jake tries for a powerbomb but struggles to get him up. This time, it's Tankman who comes alive again, using his position to grab Jake around the neck and take him up and over with a disgustingly huge superplex. 

The North Carolina fault like was created after this impact. DPW

Filled with fire and venom, both men rise to their feet to continue the battle. Something uses the ropes to pull himself up in the corner, urging Tankman to charge forward, unafraid of his adversary. Tankman stands in his corner and shouts across at Something, indignant and in disbelief.

"You wanna do this?! Huh?!" Tankman balls up a fist and takes a step forward.

"Nah, fuck this" changing course and climbing through the ropes to the floor, not giving Something the satisfaction of meeting him head on. The champions advantage favours a move like this, with Tankman grabbing his title from ringside and walking around the ring to the entry way, not even acknowledging Something as he goes. With the crowd heckling Tankman as he marches off, he stops at the end of the entrance way to argue with fans, taking his attention away from the ring. With a window opening for only a moment, Jake rebounds off the ropes and takes flight over the top rope like an Airbus, crushing Tankman on the floor. 

The referee is outside with the two, trying to tell them to get back inside but offering them some leeway to make sure a championship match has a definitive winner. Tankman hurls Jake into the guard rail and lins up his target, digging in his heels and charging for Jake. Something comes alive at the last moment, sending Tankman up and over the guardrail and into the crowd, landing on someone's half-eaten hot dog and the someone who was halfway through his meal. Ripping the barricade out of his way, Jake takes the fight into the crowd with Tankman, clubbing him across the back as they brawl around to the bleachers. 

Chops from Tankman, forearms from Jake, he tries to take Tankman over with a vertical suplex but fights out to save himself from certain disaster. Now by the entrance ramp, Something has Tankman set up for a powerbomb, but Tankman stands and sends Something up and over to the floor, landing flat on the bare concrete floor. Dragging Jake to the entryway, he sets Something up as if to powerbomb him, instead letting him go limp as he swings him back and forth into the guardrail. With Something dropping limp, Tankman pulls him in again and drives him into the floor with a piledriver,. Content with the damage done, Tankman starts ripping chairs from the audience, taking ones offered to him and throwing them in a heap on the corpse of Jake. 

A pendulum, or Something. DPW

Marching back up the entryway to the ring, Tankman grabs the referee by the collar and takes him to the ring, grabbing his title and circle the ring in assumed victory. By the count of 6, Something is stirring, pushing the heap of chairs off himself. By 8 he's crawling, still a distance up the entrance way. By 9, he charges forward with whatever energy he has left, diving under the bottom rope. Tankman has his back to the entrance way, realizing that the reason the referee's count has stopped is not because he's won, but because Jake is still alive.

Grabbing Tankman by the wrist, Something whips him across the ring and catches him with a lariat on the rebound, dropping the champion as Jake feels a surge of adrenaline flow through his veins. He charges at Tankman in the corner, crushing him with a shoulder block and trying to take him down with Into the Void as he stumbled forward, but he can't get Tankman off his feet long enough. Tankman fights out with elbows across the shoulders and back of the head, but Something roars in defiance and comes back with a forearm of his own, staggering the champion as he connects. 

Running for the ropes, Tankman follows close behind but Something is a step ahead, stopping his momentum after the rebound to catch Tankman's rebound and use his momentum to send him Into the Void! He covers the champion but he kicks out! His best shot wasn't enough! Something lays in the ring in disbelief as Tankman catches his breath for as long as he's able. Something is to his feet first, fighting through the pain and exhaustion and gesturing for the powerbomb. 

He pulls Tankman into position as the champion struggles to his feet but Tankman drives Jake into the corner, still not about to let himself be taken for the ride. He drives his shoulder into the torso of Jake but gets shoved away.

"You still in it?" Tankman shouts, getting his answer as Something runs out the corner and meets him in the centre of the ring, both men firing off lariats that have little effect. They stand in the middle with lariat after lariat, neither man giving an inch but fighting for everything they can get. Tankman tries for a combination of strikes but Something ducks the backfist and snags Tankman by the throat. The champion fights to tear the hand from his throat, fending off Jake before spinning around with a back elbow to the jaw of Something that drops him to his knees. 

Pulling Something to his feet, Tankman gets the challenger up off his feet and cracks him in half with a backbreaker, taking him down with a massive lariat, laying across the chest of Something for the cover but he gets out. Set for the end, Tankman slashes his throat and goes to pull Something to his feet, but the challenger shoots his hand up and catches Tankman under the throat, stopping him in his tracks. Tankman tries to break the grip but Something refuses to let go, clubbing Tankman with a lariat that staggers him long enough for Jake to rip him up and drive him into the canvas with a massive chokeslam!

He tries for a powerbomb again but Tanmkan stays planted. Jake then tries for a vertical suplex but this allows Tankman to try and get him up and over himself. Tankman succeeds in taking him up but again, Something slips free, cracking Tankman with a forearm before taking off for the ropes. Rebounding straight for Tankman, the champion pops him up into the air and twists around with a back elbow to the jaw of a falling Something. He folds in half, out on his feet, with Tankman taking advantage and getting Something up on his shoulder, drilling him with the Tankman driver!

Driven, Tankman style. DPW

Tankman pulls the leg of Something for the cover, but he kicks out at two! Into the Void, not enough. Tankman Driver, not enough. What will it take.

Tankman rolls to the outside and grabs not only his World Title, but Jake's Tag Title, his face like stone as he rolls back into the ring with both sets of gold, lining up to cave Something's head in. He's ready to swing but the referee gets between them, snatching the gold from his hands and yelling at him for attempting to use a weapon. He calls for someone at ringside to take the title back, but it's only one title. With the referee's back turned, Tankman shoves Something into the ringpost and grabs the other title off the apron, crowning Something with the title as he charges out. He tosses the title out of the ring and falls into the cover, the referee turning just in time to start the cover.

His hand falls for one, two, th-

Something kicks out! Something survives!

He pulls himself to his knees as Tankman shoots to his feet, screaming in disbelief. "No! No!" He wastes no time, driving a Hidden Blade-like elbow to the back of Jake's head. Best protect your neck, kid. 

"I'm not losing this!" he shouts as he rips Something up for another Tankman Driver. He rolls over for the cover of thr- No! Something gets out again!

Surely a desperation move, Tankman climbs to the middle rope but pays for it instantly, as Jake something has enough life in him to meet him up there. Tankman shoves him off as he climbs a rope higher, channelling Vader as he flies with a planet-sized moonsault, but Something rolls out of the way just in time! Now, Something charges in with a forearm to the back of Tankman's neck and covers, but Tankman kicks out at one!

Back in the middle again, a slap to the face of Jake is all it takes, as both men start slugging with lefts and rights, a hockey fight breaking out in the middle of this match. Something's strikes prove more effective as Tankman drops to a knee, then to his back, Jake crushing him with double axehandles across the spine. 

This is it, now is the time. 

A MOAB sized powerbomb. DPW

 

He pulls Tankman into position, rips him off off the cavnas, and back down with an earth-shattering powerbomb. 

Something shakes the ropes, awakening the animal within, marching around and beckoning Tankman to rise to his feet. The champion is stunned, stumbling forward on autopilot, walking right into the arms of Something as he drives him Into the Void.

The Void takes you. DPW

 

He falls into the cover, laying across the chest of the champion as the referee's hand falls three times.

Jake Something is your new DPW World Champion.

Mother of god, what a match. The sheer size of these two made everything in this match intense, edge of your seat type shit. Strikes hard enough to make your dentist a millionaire, slams that test the very foundation of the Grady Cole Centre, kickouts that are beyond belief. This is what big boy wrestling is all about. I've made it no secret that Jake Something is one of my favourite wrestlers on the planet, and Tankman is no slouch either, he's been a favourite of mine since his first match in DPW. This was a real DPW dream match that got the build it needed and the payoff it deserved. Even though I knew the result going into this one, I couldn't help but get emotional when Jake knelt down with his new World title for the first time. Much deserved.

 

•  •  •  •  •

 

There you have it folks, another week down, another batch of matches watched. I haven't been doing too well lately, if I can be really honest fir a second, but this blog is one of the few things that really brings me a lot of joy. Watching the greatest sport on the planet all the time is one thing, but having an outlet that gives me validation for how much I watch but also challenges me creatively is so, so nice. Since creating the Patreon, I've been brainstorming new post types to try out for the blog and for patrons as well. Even if nobody reads a word I write, having somewhere to dump my brain and my passion day after day, week after week, helps keep both me and my fiance sane. 

If you guys have any ideas for stuff you'd like me to talk about, be it matches, post types, companies, feuds, anything in wrestling, cliffmorganwstl@gmail.com is where you send it. I keep sitting by my mailbox waiting for the mailman to bring me something but they just keep walking by. One day, they'll have something for me. I'm sure of it.

Until then, take it easy friends, and be well.

Cliff Morgan