*** FIP DVD Reviews by Brad Dykens ***
September 29, 2007 – Crystal River, Florida
FULL IMPACT PRO – CAGE OF PAIN II
TRIPLE THREAT MATCH
Jake Crist w/Dave Crist vs. Seth Delay vs. Scott Commodity: This was just your basic preliminary match featuring three guys that are desperately working their way towards the top but will never get anywhere near the top. Seth Delay, the guy who has been around FIP the longest, walked away with the victory when it was all said and done.
RINGSIDE SEGMENT
Roderick Strong + Dave Prazak & Mr. Milo Beasley + Larry Sweeney: Roderick Strong came out and cut a loud promo, followed by an appearance by Dave Prazak & Mr. Milo Beasley. Prazak ran away and Strong gave Beasley a sick-looking Uranage onto his wheel-chair that made me cringe. Larry Sweeney popped out from behind the curtain and got the best of the FIP World champion to hype their match scheduled later on the card.
SHIMMER MATCH
The Minnesota Home-wrecking Crew (Rain & Lacey) vs. Daizee Haze & Sara Del Rey: Before the match, Daizee Haze cut a promo about the triple threat match that took place the night before between herself, Lacey, and SHIMMER champion Sara Del Rey. The Haze said that Rain stuck her nose in the match, adding that Rain gave her a black eye when she interfered. So Daizee was out for personal revenge, and Del Rey was out for professional revenge. Revenge is revenge. Rain’s gimmick now is sort of half Age of the Fall, half Miss Payton Banks (her TNA gimmick). Daizee Haze used the Heart-punch/Yakuza-kick combination to gain the victory over Lacey. Great showing by the cream of the SHIMMER crop in the Sunshine State.
MATCH
Jay Briscoe vs. Gran Akuma: While little brother Mark was off nursing his latest head injury, Jay is carrying on the Briscoe name with a singles match against Chikara-based wrestler Gran Akuma. Jay Briscoe, who is still holds one half of the FIP Tag Team championships scored a nice little victory over Mr. Akuma.
FIP FLORIDA HERITAGE TITLE ANYTHING GOES MATCH
Erick Stevens (Champion) vs. Necro Butcher (w/Dave Prazak & Mr. Milo Beasley): He is Mr. Intensity, he is Mr. Mo-hawk hairdo, he is Mr. Florida Heritage champion – he is Erick frickin’ Stevens! The Florida star was challenged by Necro Butcher, who is apparently now a member of DP Associates, in an Anything Goes match. It was just another day at the office for the Necro Butcher, but Erick Stevens had to take his game up a level to dispose of the Hardcore maniac and retain his Florida Heritage championship.
DRAGON GATE RULES MATCH
Jack Evans & BXB Hulk & Yamato vs. Delirious & Hallowicked & Jigsaw: Buckle your seatbelts fans and put down that sandwich. This match will get your adrenalin pumping with a high-impact lightning-fast experience of a lifetime. The bizarre masked combination of Delirious, Jigsaw, and Hallowicked is perhaps one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen in wrestling. It reminds me of the old Best of the WWF Volume 1 video tape featuring Tiger Mask vs. Black Tiger from Madison Square Garden – minus the legendary MSG atmosphere of course. American high-flier, Jack Evans, was joined by Dragon Gate stars BXB Hulk and Yamato, who provided fans with something fresh from the Eastern hemisphere. Jack Evans and the Dragon Gate boys were victorious in this very entertaining Trios match. The hooded threesome were gracious losers, congratulating their opponents in a great show of respect after the match.
FIP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH
Roderick Strong vs. “Sweet & Sour” Larry Sweeney (w/Dave Prazak & Mr. Milo Beasley): Larry Sweeney was dripping with confidence as he made his way to the ring with Dave Prazak & Mr. Milo Beasley bringing up the rear. If there is one guy in independent wrestling who DOES NOT need a manager it is Larry Sweeney. I have a feeling the gold-digging Prazak is just latching onto anybody who is in line for a title match. If you’ve never seen Mr. Sweet & Sour compete in the ring, you will probably be quite surprised as to just hot impressive he is. Sweeney gave the FIP World champion a tough run for his money, but Sweeney had no choice but to submit to the Stronghold to end the match. After the bell, manager Dave Prazak took a fit claiming that Larry Sweeney did not tap out – obviously not realizing that the whole thing was caught on video tape.
CAGE OF PAIN II MATCH
Black Market (Joey Machete & Shawn Murphy) & The Heartbreak Express (Sean & Phil Davis) vs. The YRR (Chasyn Rance & Salvatore Rinauro & Kenny King & Jason Blade): The YRR won the pre-match coin toss to earn the “advantage” throughout the Cage of Pain match. It was basically War Games rules, with two men starting out, with a new man entering the Cage of Pain at intervals. Just after the coin toss, The YRR’s Sal Rinauro cut an intense promo on the opposing team, and told the YRR groupies, Rain & Lacey, to stay in the back for the match. The cage itself was set up over one right, and had various weapons attached to the inner walls of the structure. Oh, there will be blood – and I’m willing to bet Sean Davis will spill at least half of it! Sal Rinauro and Joey Machete started the match for the opening period. There was a referee in the ring, but don’t ask me why. Kenny King entered the Cage of Pain next to give the YRR a brief advantage. Bo blood, yet. Machete shattered a light tube over Kenny’s backside. Sal Rinauro became the first to bleed. Sean Davis waddled quickly to the ring to even the odds and beat up on the YRR punks . Rinauro and King turned the tables and smashed Sean Davis into the cage – thus opening the gates of blood flowing from Superstar Sean’s forehead. The YRR guys then cut Machete’s forehead, causing him to bleed. Jason Blade joined the carnage, giving the YRR a 3-on-2 advantage. More weapons came into play, such as chairs, trash can lids, and a stiff metal chain. The ring was covered in tiny shards of glass from several shattered light tubes. Phil Davis entered the cage and sprayed the YRR with a fire extinguisher! I always wonder if that is safe. The Heartbreak Express and Joey Machete took the fight to the spoiled little brats who were fighting for their lives. The announced expressed their surprise that the HBE and BM were working so well together, considering they were opponents in the first Cage of Pain match twelve months earlier. Chasyn Rance was the final member of the YRR to enter the match, and was clearly out of his element in this hardcore environment. Finally Shawn Murphy entered the cage and the “match beyond” began, where the match could end via pinfall or surrender. The term “match beyond” comes from the original NWA War Games, except they were a little more dramatic with their use of the phrase. The YRR looked like they were near death, but managed to mount a comeback over their violence-addicted opponents. All eight wrestlers had blood on them; some of it their own, some of it not. The YRR tried to escape the cage, but they were brought down by light tubes smashed over their backs. I hope the front row brought their goggles. Sal Rinauro, who was perhaps the bloodiest participant in the match, was launched like a lawn dart through the door to the floor. Jason Blade tried to climb over the top, but was knocked off and he crashed through a table at ringside (ouch!). Black Market set up a table in the ring with light tubes all over it. Black Market flipped Kenny King off the ropes back-first through the table and through the glass for the victory! They tossed Kenny and Chasyn out the door and celebrated their violent victory in the ring. The lights suddenly went out and the Heartbreak Express threw fire-balls in the eyes of Black Market – thus turning back to the heel side and reigniting their feud with Joey Machete & Shawn Murphy!! Bastards!!!!!
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