Labor of Love/SHP Euphoria  

 

NOTE: show is incomplete, will go back and finish it after everything else is done. Apologies but the VOD isn’t up. Full explanation at the end. 

 

April 4, 2024 

 

WRESTLEMANIA WEEK REVIEW #8 

 

Source: Independent Wrestling.TV ($10 per month) 

 

We’re at the Attic brewery again. It doesn’t look as cold today. The tent is way emptier compared to last night.  

 

MAO vs. Matt Makowski  

This is potentially a banger. MAO does flips, Makowski beats people up. MAO decides he’s going to stand up to Makowski. “I’ll show you Japanese strong style”. They click delciously. Is that just because MAO rules and will work well with anyone? Nah, I think Makowski is good too.  

I like that they fight outside the crowd decide not to follow because it’s cold. To be fair, they can see through the panels. Everything in this is good. The brawling, the striking, the mat counters, the rope work. MAO pulls out a win with a German suplex. I could have watched this for ages. A low-key banger. ***½  

 

Gabriel Skye, Jimmy Lloyd & The Chad vs. Ugly Ducklings (Colby Corino, Rob Killjoy & White Mike) 

We have another sighting of The Chad. Colby gets into the whole Ducklings thing by flying, which because Colby, is a double axe handle. Colby vs. The Chad is a dream match (of a dream I only had yesterday for the first time). Sean Henderson booking on point. White Mike neglects to add to his team’s flips because of “sciatica”. I feel you, brrrrrother. They do dumb stuff here, but it just feels fun. Mainly because the biggest, dumbest spot is The Chad doing a springboard 450 and it fucks. I love it. 

 

Normally I just hate this kind of match, but everything lands HARD. The only guy ruining it for me is thigh slappin’ Gabriel Skye. Stop it! He nearly breaks White Mike’s leg too before the Ducklings pin him. *** 

 

9-way Scramble  

I didn’t catch all the names and who really gives a fuck anyway. Creamy World Order leader Stan Stylez is involved. Comms fail to recognise several participants including Kristian Ross. Comms also miss it being announced as “9-way scramble” as they get confused when we go past 6 people. Stylez has three pairs of strippers trousers. His gimmick is getting over with me. The match completely falls apart. Absolute disaster and that’s the end of that run of good matches.  

 

Colin Delaney vs. Sean Henderson 

Colin still coasting on that glorious six-month run on WWE’s ECW TV show. He plays the surly veteran here and lays in the chops. Sean does a decent job of selling his shoulder and making that the focus of the match. It’s a good job they don’t build it around his offence, let’s just say that. This is messy but at least they land the finish; a Henderson Code Red.  

 

Tracey & Jordan Williams vs. Kennedi Copeland & KZT 

Most of the IG matches have been trash this weekend. This is no exception. KZT is at least up for taking a beating. KZT tries to avoid a chop and gets smacked in the face. A pure accident. Right in the face though. The timing goes wonky with both ladies being out of position for spots. Both Williams’ brothers suffering because of it and left looking silly. Jordan goes nuts and bites everyone, including his brother. Hot Sauce is all “fuck this” and he leaves Jordan to lose. This was bad.  

 

Daniel Makabe vs. Edith Surreal 

I was going to eat a slice of cake but Dan Makabe showed up so now I have to pay attention. Dan repping the Vancouver Whitecaps tonight. We’re going super grapply for this one. Surreal bringing some unorthodox approaches while Makabe settles into attempting armbars.  

They both get caught in compromising situations and find ways out. Makabe works slightly heel, as influenced by American Dragon. “I have till five, referee!” While the match is almost entirely mat based, there is plenty of variety in the approach. Surreal develops a leg injury and the blood is in the water.  

 

We go to standing switches and it gets a bit awkward before Makabe gets the Cattle Mutilation. Surreal gets out and gets La Majistral for the pin and win. This was going great until the attempted figure four/double leglock, where Makabe just didn’t quite get what he wanted and it got shaky after that. Makabe claims he kicked out. Haha. I’ll go ***¼. Very, very technically solid.  

 

La Estella & Baliyan Akki vs. Gang Land  

I didn’t catch the names of the boys in Gang Land. Akki is the only guy I know I’ve seen before. He does pretty good. Akki is the kind of wrestler where everything looks fine, and he can just go with the flow with whoever he’s in with. A solid hand. Akki takes it with a big Superfly Splash. This was decent but nothing special and Gang Land were barely there.  

 

HELLO! So, I watched this show live up to this point. However, I was hoping to finish it when it hit VOD. It hasn’t. I’m left with a decision to make and that’s whether to post it now, or wait for the rest of it. Seeing as I’m only missing the last three matches I’m just going to go ahead and post it. It’s sat open, and messing up my review order and numbering system, so fuck it.  

 

The 411: 

A couple of good matches but nothing that you need to go out of your way for. MAO vs. Matt Makowski was particularly good. I’m glad I caught that. Always a pleasure to see Daniel Makabe before his retirement too.