wXw AMBITION 15 (3.9.24)  

 

March 9, 2024 

 

We’re in Oberhausen, again, at the Turbinenhalle. I’ve always enjoyed AMBITION. I like shoot style and I like it when it’s done well. AMBITION can be hit and miss in that respect, but I like how the fans treat it more like a sport than normal wrestling. It’s strange having everyone sat down for it though. It felt like an underground Fight Club before. All seating makes it feel sanitised.  

 

 

Jaden Newman vs. Axel Tischer 

After his performance at Inner Circle, I’m not convinced Newman should be in a shoot style tournament. Maybe the style will suit him better. I’m more than a little surprised Tischer wasn’t in 16 Carat this year, especially given his MVP performance last year. This is a smartly put together contest. They base it around grappling and Newman gives a much better account of himself. Until they decide to throw in some kicks and Newman’s are not good. Tischer gets a mount and it’s pounding time. Newman defensively rolls onto his stomach and gets choked out. Signs of life here from Newman. The grapplefuck stuff worked.  

 

Matt Makowski vs. Patrick “Cy” Bork 

Makowski is a former MMA fighter with a 6-2 record and a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu. Bork is also a shooter but he’s much smaller. You could have had this as the final, I’m sure. The stand up is excellent between these two as they immitate an actual MMA fight better than most of the normal wrestlers would do. Bork had a blowaway good match against Icarus at AMBITION last year. This isn’t on that level, and I think it’s because they overthink the authenticity of the style.  

Makowski does pull out a shoot Sharpshooter, which is a delight. Makowski takes it with a Chaos Theory right into an armbar. My first time seeing Makowski. It won’t be the last! *** 

 

Jay Joshua vs. Luke Jacobs 

Joshua is a big lad, making the barrel-chested Jacobs look small. Luke throws some great foreams in this, a marked contrast to the shitty ones Newman was throwing in the opener. The whole match is big bombs as these two beefy boys look for the KO. Jacobs lands a headbutt and finishes with some ground and pound. Delightful! *** 

 

Thomas Shire vs. Mochizuki Jr 

Shire baits Mochi Jr into a ‘take turns’ strike duel, using his defiant Japanese mentality against him. They do a lot of silly big strikes and thighs are slapped. Mochi Jr eats a big powerbomb and this didn’t even make it to 3:00. A disappointingly dim-witted match but at least they kept it short off those big strikes. 

 

That’s the end of the first round. Next is a ‘first ever’ tag match under AMBITION rules. It is explained that double team moves are illegal and an instant DQ.  

 

Laurence Roman & Icarus vs. Oskar & Liam Slater 

Slater comes in with a heavily taped left leg, injured in a match on the We Love Wrestling show taped before this. Roman and Oskar fight again but this time they’re swinging for the fences with uneducated punches, and it makes no sense at all. Roman, who wrestled a smart match on N1, should know better than to attack a bigger man head on. Eventually he switches back to the leg, which he injured on N1. Oskar struggles with the selling aspects of this. Slater shows some good fire but Roman piles in and blindsides him, without tagging. Surely that’s a DQ. Get a fucking grip, Tas. Icarus beats Slater with a kneebar. This sucked. Icarus has been in the worst two matches of the weekend so far, although this one wasn’t his fault. Hopefully wXw learns from this and never does a shoot tag again.  

 

And now, the semi-finals of AMBITION.  

 

Axel Tischer vs. Matt Makowski  

I’m surprised Makowski hasn’t gotten more joy on the US Indies. I think I’ve seen him before, but I don’t recall him.  

Tischer brings sportsmanship to the fight. The story here is that Tischer fancies his chances on the mat, so he survives the stand up to get a takedown. Makowski considers himself equal down there, so he seems indifferent to the tactic. They switch to stand up with Axel gaining in confidence and it feels very awkward. Axel gets trapped in an armbar and should tap out, but they do a powerbomb out of it instead. Makowski gets KOed with a lariat immediately afterwards and it is game over. This worked some of the time. I was hoping for more.  

 

Luke Jacobs vs. Thomas Shire 

Luke Jacobs should consider a cowboy gimmick. Both guys went for big strikes in their opening round matches but switch to mat work here. Both guys do a good job of trying to impose themselves on the other. Both trying to be the alpha male. That’s a proper fight. Two guys who think they’re better than each other. Jacobs continues to throw keen forearms but adds in some knees too. For me, Jacobs is the standout in this tournament. The finish is awesome. Shire escapes a waistlock with a little trip move and, on the way down, takes control of the arm for the quick tap out. Just a gorgeous, subtle bit of wrestling. I love it so much I’m going ***¼. MOTN so far and at 4:37 is one of those wonderful sub five-minute bangers that you just need in your life.  

 

Superfight 

Bobby Gunns vs. Fast Time Moodo 

Is “Fast Time Moodo” the worst gimmick name this weekend? Easily, I’d say. I know some seriously dodgy names come through in Eurograps but what does it even mean? He’s made some fashion choices here too. Wearing normal wrestling gear with a black belt tied over the top. He should have worn one boxing glove, just to nail down that look.  

 

Better gimmick names for Moodo; 1. Black Belt Moodo. 2. Man Bun Moodo. 3. Thigh Slap Moodo. 4. Green Boots Moodo. 5. Lord Moodo. 6. Darth Moodo. 7. Sexy Time Moodo. 8. Emerald Moodo. 9. Rope Break Moodo. 10. Chigger Moodo. 11. Greasy Jim Moodo. 12. Rootin’ Tootin Moodo. 13. Jake Steakhouse. 14. Skidmark Steve. 15. Downtown Moodo. 16. “The Serial Killer” Samuel Moodo. 17. Hercule “Buttocks” McGhee. 18. “Marmalade Fancier” Mark Smith. 19. Hammer “The Hammer” McHammerstein. 20. Bad News Moodo. 21. Bam Bam Moodo. 22. “Jittery” Dave Higgins. 23. Colt “The Shooter” Luger. 24. “The Alcoholic” Corky Breadbin. 25. “Rock Hard” Beef Stroganoff. 26. “Brain Candy” Peter Pussywillow. 27. “The Gardener” Brian Greengrass. 28. Chewbacca Brown. 29. Longbranch Jackson. 30. Bobby Gunns. 31. Cleet “The Modern Athlete” Wallbanger. 32. “The Model” Horatio French. 33. Big Dohmi. 34. Mike “Big Cake” Kilby. 35. Brother Pain, the Mad Monk. 36. “All Business” Alan Boogerbottom. 37. “Superstar” Steven Snoobs. 38. Lyndon “Bullshit” Johnson. 39. Westside Xtreme Moodo. 40. Huckleberry Fox.  

 

Oh shit, there’s a match happening.  

Moodo gets a bit sloppy and busts Gunns with a kick to the head. Gunns leans into it and it’s a shame they can’t improvise more head attacks. Mainly because the injury coincides with Bobby’s comeback. They go after some ambitious double KO business, which doesn’t quite work. Moodo keeps trying for KO kicks, having landed a few during the match, but gets caught in a kneebar and tapped out. The hardway blood helped the match a little bit but they didn’t capitalise on their good fortune and both guys looked a bit awkward at times. In previous Superfights they’ve had two great wrestlers going head-to-head. This wasn’t that.  

 

AMBITION 15 Final 

Axel Tischer vs. Thomas Shire 

Axel has a win by submission and KO. If he gets a count out win here, it’s the perfect hattrick. Both guys look tired, by design presumably. There’s a lot of selling for a short match. Especially under shoot rules. Fatigue selling is such a pro-wrestling thing. Axel hits a piledriver and we’re done. Ah, it was under Mexico rules? It was ok but not on the level of the better shoot style matches on this show.  

 

The 411: 

This was underwhelming. I don’t understand Tischer winning again. I didn’t like the superfight and I didn’t like the tag match. On the plus side, this was a good field, but they didn’t make the most of it. I do normally dig AMBITION but for whatever reason, this year’s didn’t land with me at all. Keep in mind last year the Superfight was Tischer vs Jacobs, and it ruled. Why not have that as the final this year? Also, I would have put Jacobs over. It felt like the timing was right.