MALACHI vs MASATO ISHIMARU
Nice little match here, appropriately short. I like the idea of having a DEFtv pre-show... but I have to admit it does throw off the flow of the card when you start with a match, with full commentary by DDK and Angus, and then we have to make a hard shift as the actual show kicks off. I almost wish there were B-team announcers to do this part, if commentary was necessary, or do it summary style, or even have it in a separate link (nod to Lindz) where your pre-show stuff can sit on its own and not just feel like an awkward extention of the main show.
THE EDWARD WHITE STORY: EPILOGUE
I wasn't a huge fan of dropping the Ed White coup angle like a hot potato without a satisfactory conclusion, considering how much untapped potential there was in it. But seeing as that's the way we went, I'll say Evan did a fantastic job of selling the swift downward spiral of White with his sequence of newsposts and RPs, and now here we are with a new regime under Kelly Evans: moving on. Expedient under the circumstances, if a bit disappointing that we couldn't do this hard reboot AFTER blowing off the takeover angle in a big match.
WHAT'S NEXT
Troy Matthews feeling lost, Jake Donovan looking on the bright side, and Curtis Penn being his usual annoying self. Backstage interactions like these are interesting in how they can lead to conflicts and drama down the road. Looking forward to it.
JAKE DONOVAN vs TYRONE WALKER
A match between teammates because why not? I liked Ty still fighting dirty even though Jake is his boy, with Angus fully behind him; but any appearance of Donovan bending the rules got Angus's derision. The Curtis Penn pledge drive interruption is so in-character for him, great stuff. I'm surprised this didn't end up affecting the outcome of the match in any real way, but you get the feeling that will happen at some point. Respect spot after Ty gets the pin on Jake. A good match.
NEW BOSS, SAME PLAN
I guess it's for the best that killing off the Ed White angle is going to have minimal side effects on other ongoing angles, or there'd have to be a LOT of rebooking for this arc. With that said, I'm glad Griffith vs Ryan is still happening... but if there's no WarGames anymore, why is this not being set for Aftershock? I liked the bit with Kelly sorting through White's stuff as she moves in.
IN SAMUEL WE FEAR
I liked this. STT2 explains his heel turn in a way that is completely logical and understandable, holding true to Mick Foley's philosophy that a heel's motivations should always make sense in his own mind. And then you've got space cadet Henry Keyes who is such a fun and unique character, and you bounce these guys off each other. This should be very entertaining.
SAMUEL T. TURNER JR vs DON HOLLYWOOD
The new vicious side of Sam on display, and it is good. Henry Keyes threatens to give Sam THE CLAP! What? I mean the BELL CLAP! This move is blowing up bigger than the Worm, the People's Elbow, and the Five Knuckle Shuffle combined. Wrestling doesn't have to be complicated. This is a great start to this rivalry!
WHAT YOU KNOW
I always kind of assumed "Guerilla Position" was a deliberate choice after the series of Guerilla Grindhouse shows we did. Anyway, here's where the "backstage world of DEFIANCE" really pays dividends because we (who did not know these characters from their previous feds) now understand that Lindsay Troy has a protective relationship with Mary-Lynn Mayweather, and David Noble has an adversarial relationship with LT. Is MLM putting herself back into a misfortunate position by getting close to Noble again? STAY TUNED! I liked the seg BTW.
A-TISKET, A-TASKET II
Tyler Rayne IS Homer Simpson in: "Mmm, Mysterious Gift Basket! Arrrrgggggle (drool)". Because what's not to trust about some free soda and bourbon in a wrestling promotion full of prankster types?
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS
Non-title match between Eugene Dewey and Alceo Dentari gets upgraded to a FIST Title match. Sure, why not? I always love the LBC interacting with pretty much anyone, and this was solid stuff. I wonder how Kelly Evans feels about champs making their own title matches? Serious question, I genuinely don't know.
DAVID NOBLE vs FRANK HOLIDAY
Big props to Craig for writing this, and I did some minor cleanup after. MLM is having quite the impact on Noble lately, and now David has a SoHer Title match against Frank Holiday at Aftershock. To the doubters: yes, the PPV match is going to rule.
HOSS GON' GIVE IT TO YA...
Another great Team HOSS interview segment where Junior Keeling promises vengeance on Dan Ryan for the fall of Ed White, and we hype the Elliott/Trinidad match. Seth always delivers with these. Great stuff.
PRESS X TO NOT DIE
Look out! There's a Mushigihara coming through! The rampage that Eddie Dante promised to Ed White is continuing, and poor Tony Davis takes the brunt. Good news though: THE 3DS IS OKAY. With Kelly Evans replacing White at the helm, though, I wonder if Dante should go talk to her before this carnage carries on.
ANGEL TRINIDAD vs WADE ELLIOTT
A pretty darn good brawling match leading to predictable shenanigans by the other HOSSes, and we get a Trios Title Match booked for the next show. CAN. NOT. WAIT!
A BOSS'S WORK IS NEVER DONE
That's a heck of an apt title, because Kelly has been all over this card, and with good reason. Interesting wrinkle with Jane Katze trying to maneuver her way back into the fold after the Fall of White. The Kelly-Jane dynamic is a pretty interesting one and I hope to see more of it to come.
FIST OF DEFIANCE: EUGENE DEWEY (c) vs ALCEO DENTARI
I really liked this match. There were some funny meta jokes in the commentary (e.g.: Angus googling stuff at will; "Jesus Christ: Yes I did, Keebs."), and Vinny Rinaldi getting so caught up in Eugene's energy that he tried to slap hands with him was classic. Mark Shields being a useless lazy ass about enforcing the rules until absolutely forced to eject Tony Two-Hands and Big Vinny from ringside for blatant interference. And lots of solid action between the champ and challenger. WHAT? Jonny Booya, you bastard! The Meathead wants him some of Eugene's FIST. A good non-finish to set up this rivalry for the belt. Good stuff.