It should prove to be another quality show as The Briscoes square off against the team of Jeff Cobb and Willie Mack in the main event, the winner qualifying for NWA's upcoming Crockett Cup. There's loads of other stuff to unpack, so let's get to it.
Shane Taylor vs. Luchasaurus
The two trade rest holds for a bit before resorting to strikes. Taylor flips Luchasaurus onto the ring apron and counters his offense with a rope-hung stunner. Taylor remains dominant throughout while Luchasaurus tries to fight back with a strike combination culminating in a shining wizard. Taylor kicks out and the two trade clubbing forearms before Taylor hits Luchasaurus with a lariat. Quickly recovering, Luchasaurus nails a kick combo before planting Taylor with a chokeslam.
Taylor blocks a standing moonsault attempt from Luchasaurus, then connects with a uranage/running knee strike combo. Taylor finishes him off with his Greetings From 216 finisher to pick up the W.
A good match and a decent way to start off the show. Fairly quick, but entertaining nonetheless. Both competitors displayed decent chemistry and delivered some entertaining sequences in the process. Above all else, it proves two things: 1) Taylor is legit underrated, and you should really be keeping an eye on him, and 2) Luchasaurus is most definitely "boy" material (watch OSW Review). Aside from that, not much else to say.
Katie Forbes & Mazzerati vs. Mayu Iwatani & Sumie Sakai
Iwatani and Mazzerati start the match, exchanging in a quick series of hold, Iwatani display her trademark athleticism in the process. Sakai and Forbes are then tagged in, and Forbes manages to ground Sakai with a series of hip attacks, then a stinkface in the corner. Mazzerati is then tagged, their tandem in control for the time being as Sakai is worked over. Sakai manages to halt the punishment with a fisherman's neckbreaker to Mazzerati.
Iwatani gets the hot tag and immediately goes to work, connecting with a tandem springboard somersault arm drag, then a running basement dropkick to her opponents. Mazzerati whips Sakai into Iwatani as Forbes gets them both up for a double samoan drop. Iwatani fights backs, hits a couple of kick on Forbes then connects with a superkick to Mazzerati before Sakai hits her with a rolling cutter for the victory.
Despite the detail I put into the recap, I really didn't think much of this match. Iwatani showed off her GOAT status as per usual, and Forbes displayed some impressive strength in the process. That's really about it.
Willie Mack & Jeff Cobb vs. The Briscoes (Jay and Mark), Crockett Cup qualifier
Mark and Mack start this match off throwing a series of hard knife-edged chops. They bounce off the ropes for a bit before Mack hits a Thesz Press, tagging in Cobb who works Mark over with a series of shoulder charges then a delayed vertical suplex. Jay is tagged in and he employs some surprising technical prowess in an effort to wear down Cobb. The Briscoes employ various quick in an effort to further weaken the World Television champ.
The brothers continue their punishment on Cobb as they send him to the outside, where Mark hits him and Mack with a top rope corkscrew senton. They continue their isolation of Cobb before he hits Mark with a desperation dropkick; Mack gets the hot tag and he flies in like a bat out of hell, throwing in as many strikes and kicks as he can muster at the brothers. It's to no avail, as they halt Mack's momentum with classic tag team fundamentals.
Mack eventually fights back with a pop-up flatliner to Mark; Cobb gets the hot tag and he goes to work tossing the brothers, eventually suplexing them both at the same time. The brothers try to halt their opponents' momentum once again before Cobb superkicks Jay and Mack gets the hot tag. Jay is sent to the outside and Mack teases a somersault tope; Jay eggs him on to come outside the ring and Mack takes the bait as Mark hits him with a wrecking ball dropkick, then connects with a blockbuster off the apron to Cobb.
Back in the ring, the brothers plant Mack with a Doomsday Device. Cobb helps Mack fight out a Redneck Boogie attempt as they subsequently hit a stunner/german suplex/frog splash combo on Mark. Trying to conjure up some more tag offense, Cobb is sent to the outside where's he met with big boot from Jay. Mack trades hands with Mark for a bit before Jay is tagged in; he hits Mack with a snap hurricanrana/Jay Driller combo to get the win and secure a spot in the Crockett Cup.
A damn fine match and a great way to cap the show off. While not an all-time classic, you could definitely use this match as an example of what tag team wrestling should look like. The chemistry these teams had with one another was second to none; it really didn't feel like this was the first time they'd ever faced off. The counters and psychology employed in this match is second to none, especially from The Briscoes. Say what you want about them as people, but as wrestlers, they're the cornerstone of modern tag team wrestling and I will hear no argument to the contrary. But that's nothing to take away from Cobb and Mack, as they also displayed excellent cohesion as a team.
While it was a decent show overall, the only must-see match here is the main event. Then again, if you're up to witnessing the power and glory of Luchasaurus, watch the opening match as well. I can definitely tell you one thing: this episode has helped build my hype for the Crockett Cup, which is coming in almost two weeks' time. And that's about it. If you like some good old-fashioned tag team wrasslin' with a modern twist, then give the main event a peep.
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