RAW review 07/19/2001 -- Maritime Pro Wrestling Forum

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Date Posted: 12:52:03 07/20/01 Fri
Author: BMN
Subject: RAW review 07/19/2001

Real Action Wrestling at the North Sydney Forum
July 19, 2001

Now we're going to see just how quick I can work. I have about 20 minutes to write up an articulate review. Good thing that Col. Carlos went over some of the details.

Show started late, around 7:40 P.M.

Show began with the Kardinal Sinners. What a surprise. First, they run down Chi Chi Cruz and Joe E Legend and how they pummeled them the night previous. They then basically tell Massive Damage to buzz off and announce Acadian Giant's heel turn. That sets the table for the next few weeks. A bit of a surprise move to take one of the draws and alter him like that. We'll see how it pans out.

1. Eddy Watts vs. Custom Made Man (** 1/2)

It was almost exactly the same match I've already seen twice until they baited and switched us. Watts went for his trusty stun gun and got the pin except this time he got greedy and put his feet on the ropes. Y'know, he didn't need to do that the last two times I saw him wrestle, why did he feel the need on this night? Oh well, that's about a star.....

But wait, Cathy has evidently traded in her wildgirl career for a life of ringside judging. She notifies the ref of the foul and we're back in business. Hot finish which brings the match way up from the one star doldrums. Good work by Custom Made here, especially at the end, but the saggy ropes hindered this match somewhat.

2. Flesh Gordon vs. Cpl. Chaos (* 1/4)

I give it an extra 1/4 * over the Kingman squash from two weeks ago because Chaos' bumping improved thus making this squash even more effective.

3. Acadian Giant vs. Massive Damage (** 1/2)

Maybe Col. Carlos and I were in a different arena but this match surprised the hell out of me. Giant's heel turn made this match more interesting because Damage seems to work better as face. Plus there was a few decent false finishes. Match lagged a bit with restholds at times but it built to a good finish, and- get this- the face jobbed cleanly, got Giant over as a monster but still got over himself. See, Giant is better than we give him credit for.

4. Wildman Williams vs. Bobby Rude (** 3/4)

Give these men 15 minutes! What could have easily been a **** (or more?) match ended up under *** because it finished too soon and the finish was terribly blown as Williams shoulders weren't even close to being pinned with Rude's cradle suplex. I still have to give them major points for the heat of the first five minutes, though.

Chi Chi Cruz emerges, bad leg and all, to challenge Rude and Hughes to a tag match because of Hughes' interference. Uh, wasn't that match supposed to be the headliner anyway? Well, guess what, it is...again!

Four matches and two interview segments, and finally an intermission. More action than you can shake a stick at!

Our RAW owner (?) informs the audience that RAW will be making one more Thursday visit before making North Sydney a weekly Sunday jaunt. Ouch! Take that, Emile Dupre! Big pop from the smark side of the audience. I'd advise the crew to make their Sunday start time 6:30 to allow for maximum travel time back home to watch pay-per-views.

The announcer then brings Joe E Legend back to the North Sydney Forum. Most of the crowd is polite in their response but this tepidness is made up for by the "Joe E fanclub" cocooned on the far end. While we basically go hoarse by cheering his every word, Joe E runs through some familiar promo territory and basically runs down the WWF by saying that it's nice to be back where matches "last longer than eight freakin' minutes!" A-frickin'-men brother! Joe E boasts of his 1999 legacy (way to cite precedent) which brings Kingman out to dispute Joe E's claims. "I run this place now!" With that, we have the bell...

5. Joe E Legend vs. Kingman (** 1/2)

Minus 1/2 * for the weak ending. Same as Whycocomagh except this time, the ref calls it a "no decision." Joe E rags on the announcer which I feel is a bit premature given it was the ref's decision (which the announcer agrees with). Joe E spouts his catchphrase and returns to the locker.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, six matches. And none of them DUDs. This is an entirely different promotion that will be running Sunday nights...

6. Chi Chi Cruz and Wildman Williams vs. Bobby Rude and Mike Hughes (** 1/4)

I only give it that much because there was little give-and-take before Cruz got to playing Ricky Morton and because there were a few too many restholds. But I think this match was viewed too harshly by many because it was technically sound and kept everyone involved emotionally. Williams gets the pin and then things get raucous. Cruz continues to sell the bad leg, taking a nasty bump to the floor right on the knee. Double-ouch!

Hughes and Rude absolutely DEMOLISH Cruz and Williams afterwards, tying Williams up and busting him open. Chi Chi's leg continues to be battered. A lot of fans miss this because they leave (the show obvious ran long) but even still, the rest of the crowd eats it up with a spoon. Unfortunately, the tie-up job of Williams is a little too good and it takes a ringside fan's knife to free him up. The young fans, especially, really got into this angle. I can't imagine them not wanting to come back and see the heels get the crap kicked out of them.

Highest match ranking: ** 3/4 (Williams v Rude)
Lowest match ranking: * 1/4 (Caos v Gordon)
Avg. match ranking: over ** 1/4
Event ranking: *** 1/4

Col. Carlos didn't seem to have overwhelming praise for the show but when you really step back and look at it, this was a damn good show. In fact, this is probably the best card I've seen in North Sydney save for the famous BMN's B-day show by Grand Prix last year. The angle at the end of the show certainly put it over the top, the Sinners were over like a million bucks. The only thing that would have been better is for Joe E to have made the save only to have been overwhelmed by Kingman and Giant. But a little at a time, I suppose. No classic matches but only one match under ** 1/4 (a reasonably effective squash), solid angles and almost everyone getting over like gangbusters.

What's even better is that we know RAW will give us an attempt at a payoff, unlike GPW.

BMN

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Replies:

Re: My review -- S-Man, 22:22:40 07/20/01 Fri
- Oops, sorry... -- BMN, 01:24:23 07/21/01 Sat