ACW Invades the Nippon Budokan! 1-31-2012 and 2-1-2012

[Seth]

The following results took place over the course of a two-night showing as All-Star Championship Wrestling prepares to bring its brand of wrestling to the Far East. ACW invades the Land of the Rising Sun and does it in style with a special two-night house show at the legendary Nippon Budokan! The following recaps take place from the perspective of two local fans who were more than kind enough to give their take on the dual shows.

ENJOY!

 

[Seth]

ACW INVADES THE NIPPON BUDOKAN NIGHT ONE

The new house show set looks fantastic! The money that All-Star Championship Wrestling probably got from that whole SlySports debacle paid for a brand new set. The set is great and me and my family got to sit at ringside, just behind where the announcers would normally sit. Ring announcer Tommy Vale told the crowd that the Budokan had reached a great capacity of about 8,652, which was great for a house show. This would be the first of a two-night affair and without further adieu, let's get some action put in!


(1) “Too Cool” Chris Hopper defeated Dude In Mask via pinfall


The crowd was hot for Chris Hopper, who was almost a local celebrity to the fans, having completed a few different tours among the place. This was a great match to get the crowd going with several good near falls towards the finish. I guess Dude In Mask is playing a heel now because he was purposely not doing all the things he would normally do to get the crowd pumped up. One great spot was when Hopper was down, DIM teased his “say what” cry and stopped to blow a raspberry before simply dropping a leg drop across the throat. DIM was about ready to put him away with the Dude That Hurt A Lot (Single Underhook DDT) but Hopper reversed and an out-of-nowhere Icebreaker (RKO) sealed Dude's fate. Great way to get the show going.


(2) The Beasts of Prey (Bull, Serpiente, and Wolf) defeated The Squadron ("Captain" Avis Flyfield, "Co-Pilot" Aaron Fetzer, and Adam Nowell) in a six-man tag


The crowd booed the Beasts and Isurus cut a promo telling the world that first, the Code of Honor were dispatched, they would rip through the roster until they stood at the top of the food chain. Isurus is a good talker and got some decent heat. People were WAY into the Squadron and Avis Flyfield and Aaron Fetzer gave out some aviator goggles to some young children in the front row. Match was mostly Beasts of Prey on offense with Avis and Fetzer playing comedy roles well. Funny spot with Fetzer trying to spear Bull only to bounce off him, but Avis caught him with a top rope dropkick and Adam Nowell got him with a flying elbow for a big nearfall. Finish came when Isurus distracted Nowell, who was caught in the grip of Serpiente's Anaconda Choke for the submission win.


Before the third match began, the ring announcer came out and told the crowd that the next match was going to be for a shot at the Spirit of ACW Championship on tomorrow night's show. The participants came out one at a time. KIRU (HUGE POP as the hometown boy), Fever Pitch and Zip Zap of the Night Life, Remi De Rozario, Alex Pure, “Fat Tuesday” Davey La Rue, ACW Gateway Champion Ryan Sully and Billy Law.


(4) KIRU won an eight-man battle royale in order to win a Spirit of ACW Title shot for night two.


The match was every man for himself. Spike Saunders' protege, Billy Law, did very well for himself, tossing out both Alex Pure and Zip Zap in the opening moments. Funny part in the match where La Rue tried challenging Law to a rap battle while the others watched. He could thrown down a beat, but Law just threw La Rue over the top rope. It took a surprise appearance from Jack Harris in order to get Law over the rope, possibly Harris continuing his feud with he and Saunders and the two giants brawled to the back. This left KIRU, Pitch, and Sully. Sully did well by throwing Rozario out, but got tossed over the ropes by both Pitch and KIRU. The crowd was hot for the hometown boy as he and Fever Pitch nearly tossed one another over the ropes several times. Instead, it was finally KIRU who got Fever Pitch over the ropes with a slingshot dropkick to Pitch off the apron. KIRU won the match and a shot at the Spirit of ACW Championship. The NEW Champion Orphan made his presence felt as he watched the match intently.


INTERMISSION


Ruben Ross and Teddy Koontz both made their way out and greeted the crowd, along with The Players, Paul Sanders and Kid Chameleon, who came out to hand out copies of ACW '12 to the live crowd. They thanked the fans for attending the two-night event at the Budokan to kick off their next tour of Japan and Ruben Ross promised a major announcement on the first episode of Courage to air.


(5) Big E. Smalls (Mach 2 and Big E. Stark) defeated The Night Life (Kaus and Aleczander) and The Health Fanatics (Damon Somner and Greg Matthews w/Jim Naysmith) in a triple threat match to retain the ACW Tag Team Titles.


Some great action. Health Fanatics heeled it up with Jim Naysmith telling the crowd to put down the fatty fried rice and get into shape. Night Life turned the place into a rave with their entrance, but the crowd went wild for Big E. Stark and Mach 2, who have gelled very well as a good big-man little-man team. Lots of nearfalls were exchanged between the three teams until it was Big E. Smalls who nailed Kaus with The Big Guns double-team finisher to retain. Good match and just like most of the shows, the crowd was pretty into it.


(6) “The Finely Tuned Athletic Machine” David Race defeated Fight Man.


Crowd reacted well to Fight Man, but were unsure of how to take to David Race, who at least had a pretty cool entrance. By the end, though, they got into the match. Brief, but fun sprint where Fight Man tried to turn it into a brawl, but Race played it smart and eventually won the match in about four minutes with a sweet Snap Double Arm DDT. Race won the match and promised that despite what happened at the PPV, big things would be in his future.


(7) MAIN EVENT: Andy Sharp, Spike Saunders, and Tyson XL defeated Omega, The Amazing Gabriel, and Keith Scott Zimmerman via disqualification.


It was a wonder at all that the heel team even got along especially the new developments with The Amazing Gabriel and Omega that ended the Pay Per View, but The Amazing Gabriel must've tried to talk himself out of a corner before the match. Sharp and Gabriel did some great counter-wrestling with one another and they've wrestled a few times. Saunders and Omega had a nice brawl and Tyson XL briefly mixed it up with the BS Champion, KSZ, but the match broke down when Omega suddenly snapped and went postal on TAG, then attacked Tyson XL. The show ended with a huge brawl as KSZ left the ringside area during the ruckus and Tyson XL and Omega brawled to the back. This left Saunders and Sharp to attack The Amazing Gabriel and lay him out with both of their finishers. The crowd went home happy and both Saunders and Sharp thanked the fans for coming and wished them well.

 

[Seth]

ACW INVADES THE NIPPON BUDOKAN NIGHT TWO

Me and my youngest daughter had a great time! These were her very first wrestling shows so this was a real treat to get a two-day package deal. They announced the crowd was at even bigger capacity for this show, reaching just a shade over 9000. Heard that was some stupid American internet joke. Sorry, I'm really liking their culture. It was time for some action!


(1) The Players ("The Jock" Paul Sanders and Kid Chameleon) defeated The SOBS (Sheamus and Selby O'Brien)


Before the match, Sheamus got on the stick and told his brother that he was tired of his constant screw-ups in making him look bad. So he threatened that he'd beat the crap out of him if he lost the match. The crowd responded very well to the Players and this was a great way to get the crowd all pumped up for some action. Kid Chameleon was loved by the crowd and his antics really set the tone for the match. The SOBs took over with some nice twin double-team attacks and Chameleon eventually made the tag to Sanders. The Jock was kicking butt and taking names, using some sweet power moves on both brothers. Eventually, Sanders nailed his Trialblazer (The Rocker Dropper) on Sheamus for the 1-2-3! Big win for the Players, riding high on a wave of momentum.


(2) The Night Life (Kaus, Fever Pitch, and Aleczander) defeated Remi De Rozario, Fight Man, and Carrachio Salfuego


After a major setback for the Night Life at Revival, they were able to get back on track with a big win. Fight Man beat down Pitch in the opening moments of the match, but a cheap kick form Kaus set the tone for the rest of the match. They took turns teeing off on Fight Man with Fever Pitch doing some brawling, Kaus using his kicks and Aleczander muscling him around. Eventually Aleczander missed a corner splash and made the tag to Salfuego, who lived up to his fiery reputation. He ran circles around the Night Life and got a near fall off a big cross body on Pitch until Kaus broke up the fall. In the melee, De Rozario tagged in and almost finished off FP, but Fever Pitch turned it into his Scoop Brainbuster (the Rock And Rolla), Aleczander killed him with his Big Brother Bomb spinebuster and Kaus topped it off with the K-Cutter leg drop for the win. Good six-man match.


(3) Spike Saunders axemurdered “Fat Tuesday” Davey La Rue


Spike Saunders came out and greeted the crowd, who took to the giant very well. Davey La Rue came out and rather than challenge the big man to a wrestling contest, he wanted to challenge The Colossus a sake-drinking contest. He shrugged and actually said yes. They... actually prepared to throw down some drinks, but when the referee told them that there was no drinking on the job, Saunders nodded and hit a Big Boot to the head of Davey to kick off the match. The bell rang and Saunders ran roughshod over La Rue. La Rue got in some offense after Saunders missed a boot and he took him down with the Party Boy Lariat for a near fall. He tried to get him up for the Morning After powerbomb, but that wasn't happening. One Boom Headshot punch and his SPIKED finisher and Saunders was the victor. The least technical match of the night, but still entertaining.


(4) Orphan defeated KIRU to retain the Spirit of ACW Championship


This match was the result of a match where KIRU won an eight-man battle royale to earn a shot at the new Champion. KIRU came out to a HUGE ovation. Orphan received a big mixed reaction himself as he was pretty popular when he competed as Seymour Almasy. Before the match started, he told KIRU since he wanted to prove his worth, he would waive the stipulation of his title reign for tonight's match only, contesting it under normal rules.


The match started off fast and furious with the two men exchanging kicks and counters for the first several minutes. Orphan took control with some flashy maneuver and slowed it down with KIRU. KIRU came back with a couple unique counter moves and scored a MAJOR nearfall off the Lightning Spiral. The crowd was on edge of their seats as he nearly upset Orphan with the Cutdown, but Orphan got a foot underneath the ropes. He tried a second time but Orphan stopped him and caught him with Orphan's Cradle (top rope small package driver) for the win. A SPECTACULAR match and possibly the best of the weekend. Orphan patted the fallen KIRU after the match and headed on his way back up the ramp. KIRU left to a big ovation from the crowd as he was helped to the back.


INTERMISSION


Just like the night before, Teddy Koontz and Ruben Ross came out to publicly thank the crowd for attending the show and helping to kick off what they hope to be a very successful tour of Japan. Coming out with them at that time was none other than ACW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION Tyson XL. Tyson singed several of his t-shirts and baseball caps that have been selling well at ACW merchandise stands. He tossed some free shirts into the crowd. Fun surprise meet-and-greet with the champion and I can see why the company has put stock into him as one of the major faces of the company.


(5) "The Unit" Jack Harris defeated Billy Law via pinfall


The current match was the total opposite of the last match, which was a great technical masterpiece. This wasn't master-class wrestling, but a short and fun big man brawl. As Billy Law was coming out, Jack Harris attacked Billy Law and slammed him around the ringside area. Ramming him head first into ring post, steel steps and the barricade. Law slumped into the ring, but didn't want to stop the match so he agreed to go throguh with it. Harris teed off on the big rookie for several minutes including a nearfall off a sick Whirlwind Backbreaker. Law fought back and beat down on him before even getting his Checkmate Chokebomb for a nearfall. He tried for a finish, but the pain was too great and his head was still sore which allowed for Harris to connect with a Twisting Powerslam variation for the win. After the match, he grabbed a chair and tried to finish what he started, but Spike Saunders came to the aid of his protege and fought Saunders off with a solid punch to the head. Harris limped away, but showed this wasn't the end of their affair from Revival.


(6) Arkady defeated Alastair Smith via submission


For those who watched the show, Arkady made his return to Revival under the guise of Britannic. Both Teddy Locke and Alastair Smith of the Locksmiths praised Japan for real wrestling and threatened to be able to submit anybody in the back. Almost immediately, Arkady answered the challenge. The two men exchanged holds for barely two minutes when Arkady submitted him with his Jigsaw Death Trap (ankle/Nagata Lock combination) fpo the win. Teddy Locke declared that he cheated and he challenged him.


(7) Arkady defeated Teddy Locke via submission.

Second verse, same as the first. Submitted him no problem in just under a minute. Arkady simply stood up and dusted himself off before heading back up the ramp without so much as a word.


(8) Hank Wright and GoldenHAWK defeated Khristian Keller and David Race


A rather unique team, but Race looked right at home with the bigger stars of the show. GoldenHAWK and Wright took the fight to them early while Keller couldn't be bothered too much to do anything unless Race did some of the work. Meanwhile, HAWK was beat down between Keller and Race until he avoided an elbow off the top by Race. HAWK made the tag to Hank Wright and went to town all over Keller and Race. Keller ate Where The West Begins (Western Lariat) until Race broke it up. He tagged himself in and tried for the same DDT he beat Fight Man with the night before, but Wright reversed it and scored with the Wright Way (Keene Hammer) for the win.


(9) ACW World Heavyweight Champion Tyson XL retained his championship in a triple threat steel cage match over Andy Sharp and The Amazing Gabriel.


Great match up to close out the two night show! The three men exchanged some crazy spots for several minutes including The Amazing Gabriel sunset flip powerbombing Tyson off the top rope, Andy Sharp hitting a crossbody off the top of the cage on both Tyson and TAG, then TAG killing him with his double underhook piledriver, only for Tyson to powerbomb him with his XL bomb for the win. After several minutes of cleaning up the ringside area, Tyson XL raised the title for the crowd and thanked them for enjoying the two night event.


All-around these were a great set of shows in order to kick off their tour and they have a great loaded roster. One notable absence was that of Jesse Ramey, but rumor has it that will be addressed on the next edition of Courage regarding his sudden reappearance. All in all, very great show by all involved.
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