Around 450 pack the American Legion Post #308 in Reseda, California for two nights of hot wrestling action featuring sixteen of the finest talent in all of Independent wrestling and Southern California.

Night One

Prior to the show, word gets out that Chris Sabin is out of the tournament.  According to Alex Shelley later in the night, Sabin’s streak of bad luck finally resulted in his pulling out from having gotten a concussion six weeks ago, swine flu four weeks ago, and recently a nerve pinch in his neck.  Ouch.  Sabin’s spot is replaced by local talent Johnny Goodtime.

Before the show starts, HighSpot promotes that they have officially signed “The Great Muta” Keiji Mutoh to compete on the PWG show of the WrestleReunion 4 weekend January 29-31.  He joins Rob Van Dam and Jushin “Thunder” Liger, who were previously announced months ago.

Excalibur, who is now the Commissioner of PWG, opens the show by laying down the rules of fan conduct before bringing out all sixteen participants for a group picture.  Before the pictures can be taken, however, Brian Kendrick bails in disgust.

1. Non-Tournament Tag Team Match
The Cutler Brothers of Brandon and Dustin vs. Malachi “CK” Jackson and Ryan Taylor
This is Ryan’s PWG debut.  He’s been making a name for himself in some of the smaller Southern California promotions.  All four put on a very good, athletic match with Ryan being able to show off what he can do.  The Cutlers get the win hitting Ryan with their combined double-team Tombstone and Piledriver finisher.
Winners: The Cutler Brothers

2. BoLA Tournament First Round – Block A Match
Jerome “LTP” Robinson vs. Scott Lost
Scott receives the first “Next World Champ!” chant of the night.  This is heard plently throughout the weekend.  A pretty decent match.  LTP seems to rush things a little with Scott getting him to slow down.  Otherwise, both do well in trying to get LTP over as a serious contender.  Lost nails the Big Fat Kill for the win.
Winner: Scott Lost

3. BoLA Tournament First Round – Block D Match
Human Tornado vs. Matt Jackson w/Nick Jackson
Tornado finds himself having to fend off both Jacksons as the brothers play distractions with referee Rick Knox.  The finish sees the brothers try to blatantly put away Tornado with a double-team spot, but Knox LARIATS Nick Jackson!  The biggest pop of the night, I kid you not.  As Matt is arguing with Knox, Tornado nails him with Dat Nigga Dead for the win.  Knox himself gets the “Next World Champ” chants.  Great ending to a pretty good match.
Winner: Human Tornado

4. BoLA Tournament First Round – Block B Match
Colt Cabana vs. Joey Ryan
A nice little comedy match with the two just doing their thing and the fans having a good time watching.  A fairly typical match that comes to an end with Joey countering Colt’s Flying Asshole by nailing a Superkick for the win.
Winner: Joey Ryan

5. BoLA Tournament First Round – Block D Match
Johnny Goodtime vs. Roderick Strong
Roddy is the latest with the “Next World Champ” chants.  Like in the earlier LTP vs. Scott Lost match, there are a couple moments where Johnny is rushing things and Roddy has to slow him down.  Otherwise, this is a great opportunity for Johnny to get some attention with Roddy helping push him into a viable singles competitor for the future.  Good match that ends with Roddy locking in the Strong Hold for the win.
Winner: Roderick Strong

Intermission.  Colt Cabana is at the Merchandise table.  He is joined later by El Generico.  Gillian Jacobs of the NBC comedy series “Community” is sitting front row tonight.

6. BoLA Tournament First Round – Block C Match
Brandon Gatson vs. Nick Jackson w/Matt Jackson
Before the match, a fan hands Nick a boquet of flowers with a balloon tied to it that says “Thinking of you.”  Matt uses this during the continuing desception runs the brothers pull.  Gatson is a very fluid talent and is less willing to rush things like LTP and Goodtime, taking his time so that hitting moves like the Sasuske Special work just right.  He hits a dominator-like finisher for the win and later pops the balloon before the brothers.  Pretty good match.
Winner: Brandon Gatson

7. BoLA Tournament First Round – Block B Match
Austin Aries vs. Brian Kendrick
Aries has the ROH World Championship with him and points out Gillian Jacobs in the audience.  Both Austin and Brian do not want to wrestle, since they don’t give a damn about the fans, but Excalibur informs them that they won’t get paid if they don’t wrestle.  So they wrestle in a match where they try to out heel one another.  Low blows, pulling of hair, pulling of tights, feet on ropes, the works.  Both are trying to be the baddest heel in the room.  Some fans did not register this and probably thought of it as a disappointment, but a couple of us feel this is the funniest match of the night and a really good one to boot.  The finish sees Aries try to use the ROH belt on Kendrick, but Kendrick also has a loaded object.  They connect on each other and collapse with Kendrick getting lucky with his arm over Aries to get the pin.  Both try to get Knox to carry them to the back before they both end up hitting the bar.  Kendrick orders beer, Aries orders white wine.  Awesome heels.
Winner: Brian Kendrick

8. BoLA Tournament First Round – Block A Match
Kenny Omega vs. Kevin Steen
As expected, Omega gets the “Next World Champ” chants.  This is Steen’s first match in PWG in fifteen months.  In spite of a broken voice, Steen cuts a promo that both gets Omega over as a competitor and puts him down as his opponent.  Steen and Omega go back and forth on the mic over who had the lowest moral fiber amongst them before they finally get into action.  Just a great match with both playing to their strengths, working around the idea that Steen is too heavy for Kenny.  Even the fans are split in who to cheer for.  The finish sees Steen nail Omega with the Package Piledriver, but when he goes to pin him Omega rolls him in a crucifix pin for the win.  Rating: *** 1/2
Winner: Kenny Omega

9. BoLA Tournament First Round – Block C Match
Alex Shelley vs. El Generico
Solid, fluid, simple, yet excellent match between two of the probably the finest athletes in the tournament.  Both just went out there and showed every one what a great match looks like.  Shelley appears to have taken some pointers and advice from CIMA when they teamed two months ago as he uses the frog splash, the corner assisted back cracker and the Schwein during the match.  The finish sees Shelley counter the Top Rope BRAINBUSTAAAH with a Super Sliced Bread No. 2 for the win.  Shelley puts over Generico and PWG to end the show.  Rating: ****
Winner: Alex Shelley

Night Two

1. BoLA Tournament Second Round – Block B Match
Brian Kendrick vs. Joey Ryan
Joey gets on the mic and says that to counter Kendrick’s anger was happiness and he went to “The Happiest Place on Earth,” Disneyland and bought Kendrick Mickey Mouse ears with Brian’s name engraved.  Brian stands there, wearing it for a few moments before jumping Joey in great anger.  An extremely physical match that is well constructed before Joey puts Kendrick away with two Superkicks for the win.  A very good match indeed.
Winner: Joey Ryan

2. BoLA Tournament Second Round – Block A Match
Kenny Omega vs. Scott Lost
The crowd is split on who to cheer for as Kenny and Scott go out and wrestle an incredible match.  What I really like about the construction of this match is how it made it really hard for fans to figure who is going to win.  The finish sees Scott escape a Super Croyt’s Wrath and attempt the Big Fat Kill, but Omega ducks and catches him in a regular Croyt’s Wrath for the win.  Just a great match from start to finish.  Rating: *** 1/2
Winner: Kenny Omega

3. BoLA Tournament Second Round – Block C Match
Brandon Gatson vs. Alex Shelley
Brandon Gatson is the break-out star of the weekend.  It really shows that everyone from the Southern California talent to the independent stars think real high of him, especially with a match like the one with Shelley.  This is just an amazing series of great wrestling from two really extraordinare talents.  Shelley did his part to make Gatson look goo and Gatson took full advantage.  The finish stuns everyone when Shelley attempts a third Superkick, only for Gatson to duck and roll him into a jack-knife pin for the win.  Shelley graciously accepts defeat and further puts Gatson over.  Gatson is going to be a star.  Rating: ****
Winner: Brandon Gatson

4. BoLA Tournament Second Round – Block D Match
Human Tornado vs. Roderick Strong
Tornado immediately strikes, leap frogging over ring announcer Jon Ian to hit a missile dropkick.  Tornado goes all out, but it’s not enough as he soon finds himself just getting abused by Roddy.  Roddy’s strike are brusing Tornado and everyone can see that he’s really hurting.  Roddy connects with a Yakuza Kick for the win at the end of a really good match.
Winner: Roderick Strong

Intermission.  No Gillian tonight, although independent talent Christina Van Eerie is about.

5. Non-Tournament Six-Man Tag Team Match
Austin Aries and The Culter Brothers of Brandon and Dustin vs. Colt Cabana, Jerome “LTP” Robinson and Johnny Goodtime
This is a fun match that makes great use of the ring veterans giving the young talent amble opportunties to shine.  Colt and Austin do their part, working up the comedy and their solid wrestling abilities, while the Cutlers, LTP and Johnny do their part in showcasing what they got.  It spills into chaos rather quickly as everyone is doing everything on each other before LTP hits one of the Cutlers with the head-scissor spike driver for the win.  Fun match.  Rating: *** 1/2
Winners: Colt Cabana, Jerome “LTP” Robinson and Johnny Goodtime

6. BoLA Tournament Semi-Final Round Match
Joey Ryan vs. Kenny Omega
Not quite a comedy match, but then that’s a good thing.  Both really put forth a great singles encounter.  Once again, the fans were split, which obviously shows that Omega, while the overall fan favorite, is going up against a lot of other great favorites in his run in the tournament.  Action goes back and forth with great intensity and heat before Omega counters a Superkick with Croyt’s Wrath for the victory.  Great match.  Rating: *** 1/2
Winner: Kenny Omega

7. BoLA Tournament Semi-Final Round Match
Brandon Gatson vs. Roderick Strong
I’m not kidding, Gatson is really well liked.  Roddy once again goes out of his way to help get Gatson over further as both shoot headlong into one another for a really good match, albeit one that lasts about ten minutes.  There are a couple moments where the fans gasp at the thought that a pin attempt by Gatson could get him the win.  In the end, it is a Yakuza Kick from Roddy that puts away the youngster.  The length is the only issue with this otherwise great match.
Winner: Roderick Strong

8. Non-Tournament PWG World Tag Team Championship
The Young Bucks of Matt and Nick Jackson © vs. El Generico and Kevin Steen
I don’t think I need to say much else when I say that this is just an awesome match.  All four really put it all out there to give the fans another classic from perhaps two of the finest tag teams on the indpendent circuit right now.  Everything is constructed with the right amount of pacing and an excellent set of moves that had the fans on their feet for the final several minutes of the match.  Each kick out a heart-stopper, causing fans to literally explode with astonishment.  The finish sees the Young Bucks just nail Superkick after Superkick after Superkick on Steen before nailing a double Superkick for the win.  Steen appears to have busted his nose, but gets on the mic to say how proud he is to be in PWG.  The feeling is mutual.  Rating: **** 1/2
Winners: The Young Bucks, STILL Champions

9. BoLA Tournament Final Round Match – PWG World Heavyweight Championship
Kenny Omega vs. Roderick Strong
This is it.  The finals.  As with all Omega matches this weekend, the fans are split because he’s going up against equal favorites.  Both receive “Next World Champ” chants during their entrances and they pose with the belt before the match.  They both go all out in this match, hitting all of their moves at just the right moment.  At one point, Omega hits a moonsault from the commentary table, which is on the Legion Post stage, onto Roddy, who is on the floor.  Amazing.  They go back and forth with the action and then with the finish, each doing all they can to counter or escape their signature moves.  Omega has to hit two Croyt’s Wrath to win the tournament and the championship.  Great ending to a great weekend of wrestling.  Rating: ****
Winner: Kenny Omega, NEW Champion

Omega is on the mic, and says this is a “Once in a Blue Moon” moment as he expresses his humbleness.  He and Roddy shake and embrace before the latter leaves.  Kenny notes PWG has become the only reason he hasn’t moved out to Japan full time.  He puts over the locker room and asks the Young Bucks out so the champs coule be together.  As Omega continues to put everyone over, the Bucks jump him and they are quickly joined by Brian Kendrick.  They put the boots to Omega until El Generico and referee Rick Knox hit the ring with Colt Cabana joining from the commentary table.  Omega notes Generico, “What are you still doing in my town?” playing up to the great storyline the DVDs have been doing all year.  He then offers to put differences aside and join forces as they have a common enemy.  He shakes hands with Generico and Knox, giving Colt a high-five, as they announce a faction war with Kendrick and the Bucks.  Generico puts the belt on Omega’s waist to officially end the show.

PWG returns on January 30, 2010 at the LAX Hilton during WrestleReunion 4.

Once again, the Battle of Los Angeles shows why it is one of the elite wrestling events of the year.  The star power may seem muted, especially with more Southern California talent infused, but it is no less amazing.  Kenny Omega comes full circle as the superstar he has been since making his PWG debut last year.  Brandon Gatson is a star in the making, having had an incredible weekend of great matches with top tier talent like Alex Shelley and Roderick Strong.  Everyone brought the best of themselves and delivered for another weekend of great wrestling action and wonderful memories.  Here’s to next year.

Dan Short
dan@ifight365.com