Welcome to the first-ever recap of Wrestling Society X. This show marks the official debut for this new league, so sit back, relax and enjoy.
Before we get to the action. let's set up the scene for you. WSX's ring area
looks something like an abandoned warehouse, with graffiti and other such teenage
effects around the area. It gives a feel of a cinematic underground, almost
a Fight Club atmosphere. The rows of fans don't look that deep, but in a way
it adds to the desired effect.
We kick things off with Black Label Society seemingly mid-song, as they run
for all of 1:20, which I guess is understandable when you only have 21 minutes
or so of actual broadcast time.
Quickly, we're introduced to our announce team, which is Bret Ernst and Kris
Kloss. A quick check of Wikipedia and imdb.com reveals that he's a standup comic
who has had roles in Beer League and appearances on shows like Weeds
and CSI: New York. Kloss, meanwhile, was a commentator for XPW, so we
have someone with a bit of background here, which is always a good thing. Later,
the lead singer from BLS joins in on the fun.
Match 1 - Matt Sydal (w/Lizzy Valentine) vs. Jack Evans
On the way to the ring, each wrestler is given a brief bioline, which is
a good effect to help educate fans on who each wrestler is. Hopefully WSX will
do this for the first couple weeks.
Sydal, of course, is a Ring of Honour veteran, while Evans, who's also been
in RoH, is probably best known north of the 49th for his time in Stampede.
As one might expect for this youth-oriented show, Evans and Sydal have a very
fast-paced match with lots of high flying and innovative moves. The closest
thing I'd relate this to would be the pre-Russo days of TNA's X Division, with
the biggest difference being that the wrestlers actually have a bit of personality
to them.
The action is extremely quickly paced, but sorely lacks ring psychology. Still,
the action is incredibly hot. At one point, Valentine tries to trip up Evans,
but gets dragged in to the ring and becomes part of the action. Nice little
spot. The end result is she inadvertantly helps Evans, who quickly gets the
win with a 630 Splash.
Winner: Jack Evans
Post-match, Evans hits on Valentine and, well, she doesn't exactly push him
away, but stays with her man.
Next up is a quick look at the tag teams in WSX, including Keepin it Gangsta',
D.I.F.H, Trailer Park Boyz (because, just like the Hardy Boyz, a "z"
will keep you free of a lawsuit) and Team Dragon Gate.
Next up we get a quick look at the combatants in the WSX Rumble (potential
lawsuit #2) and I mean quick - maybe 10-15 seconds each at most. The highlight
of these is a feud build-up between New Jack and Chris Hamrick. Too bad they
can't get along like the other ECW Originals...
Match 2 - WSX Rumble
The rules are pretty simple here - go over the top and out to the floor/table/livewire
pit/explosive bed, you're eliminated. Once all 10 entrants are in (a new wrestler
comes in ever 45 seconds), two contracts for the WSX Title bout next week will
be lowered and ladders will be added to the fray. A bit far-fetched, but at
least they don't have to try to climb in the ring then try not to be sent out.
One other snide remark - the ring announcer seriously needs to take some Ritalin.
Seriously, it's like watching Don West during his trading card shilling days.
We kick off the bout with Teddy Hart and Justin Credible (lawsuit #3). Not
surprisingly, Credible gets an ECW chant. Kaos is next in (former XPW champ)
and gets double-teamed. Hart hits a beautiful Small Package DDT on him. Vampiro
is in next and makes an immediate impact. During a commercial break, Puma, known
from the World X Cup, comes in and gets the Bushwhacker treatment, sent out
immediately by Vampiro through a table. Alcatraz (not sure of his background,
so please e-mail me with any info) also comes in during the commercials.
Back to the broadcast and 6-Pac is the next entrant. Ernst then makes his first
error of the night, calling Pac an original DX member. Oopsie. Chris Hamrick
is next in, followed quickly by New Jack, who doesn't wait the required 45 seconds.
New Jack brings his guitar with him and before long, sends Hamrick out through
a table. New Jack then somehow eliminates himself by going through the ropes
to the outside. Meh, even the Royal Rumble misses the rules every so often.
Anyways, New Jack isn't done, hitting a ref with the guitar, then getting the
balcony dive on Hamrick.
Meanwhile, in the match, Kaos goes into the livewire pit and Alcatraz goes
through a table. Youth Suicide, apparently in his first-ever match, is the last
entrant, and brings in a bucket of thumbtacks. Almost simultaneously, Teddy
Hart is eliminated and eats a table on the way out.
We're now down to our final four - Credible, 6-Pac, Youth Suicide and Vampiro.
Suicide tries to climb but gets powerbombed by Vampiro into the tacks. Meanwhile,
6-Pac grabs one of the contracts. Suicide tries again to get the contract, but
is thrown off the ladder and into the explosive bed. After a short back-and-forth,
Vampiro gets the contract.
Winners: Vampiro and 6-Pac
As we fade to black, 6-Pac and Vampiro continue their fight.
Well, it was certainly an interesting half-hour of wrestling, and it should
be interesting to see how WSX develops from here on in.
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Jon Waldman has been with SLAM! since 2000.
