Reviewing the replay of the free iPPV event from last weekend in the handy TWB format:
Highlights:
General Observations:
Match of the Night: Jaka vs. Gran Akuma - Going into the event, I thought that Jaka/Akuma might be the best match, and it turns out my feeling was validated. It's a good feeling to have when a match lives up to expectation. Then again, when two opponents match up as well as the former Johnny Mangue and the current ronin of the Chikara roster (I refuse to acknowledge Wink's bull-doodie Chikarametrics), it's not hard to see why this match would be so good.
So, why was it destined to be a great match? It was a case where two guys with similar styles got together and meshed well to create an ideal atmosphere. Both are among the hardest hitters on the circuit, they aren't afraid to take the big hit, and they both love submission wrestling. They provided all of that and then some. My personal favorite part of the match was the reeducation on old-timey wrestling tropes, especially the "guys from the jungle have hard heads" one. That might be a bit racist, but at the same time, it's in a Chikara-style promotion, not WWE. Jaka wasn't cast as a dumbass. There was style in his game.
I'd also say that between this and the excellent main event, that WIF! has found a way to provide a gateway for young kids into appreciating what we consider as good wrestling. For that reason alone, this match is not only must-see, it's must-watch with your kids as well. Trust me. I'm a father.
Overall Thoughts: I have to admit that at times, I struggled to see where the line of demarcation was between Chikara and any entity that was running under a different banner. Gavin Loudspeaker was the ring announcer, Bryce Remsburg led the familiar cast of characters both as referees and Commentation Station denizens, the rosters both had significant overlap, and the atmosphere was very similar to that of a Chikara show. Even though it has been a year since its opening, it also has only been seven shows. If the same people are behind both, I can probably understand why it's taking long to find its own identity.
However, I will say that it seems like they are at least trying. They are featuring their own new wrestlers like Jaka, JFDC, and the ESTONIAN THUNDER FROG. They're giving chances to guys like assailANT and Mr. Touchdown to have bigger roles, wrestle longer matches, and have bigger spotlights. Even if the tone is the same, I feel like WIF! is worth having around because one, it's wrestling, and two, it provides a ground for stuff to happen that wouldn't normally get time on the big, nationwide canvas.
Besides, why judge in comparison to another show? On its own merits, Bananaversary was, as the name on the marquee says, fun. It had colorful personalities, weird yet amusing absurdities, and of course, great wrestling. I would definitely pay money to see this company in the future after getting this taste for free.
Highlights:
- Kobold used outside interference and a grab of the tights to roll up and defeat Fire Ant.
- The Devastation Corporation left Robert Backlund, Jr. and James Garvin, Jr. as grease spots on the Allentown canvas.
- Even though assailANT was especially game, Hallowicked was able to eke out the victory in a close match with the Rydeen Bomb.
- In the hardest-hitting match of the night, Jaka remained untamed by man or beast, tapping Gran Akuma with the Jaws of the Jaguar.
- Dasher Hatfield scored a victory over the cantankerous Icarus with a leaping Oklahoma Roll from the top rope. After the match, Icarus attacked Hatfield.
- Juan Fernando de Coronado scored a submission victory over Green Ant with the standing front chancery.
- The Estonian Thunder Frog paid a steep price for his disqualification victory over Kodama by getting beaten up by the entire Batiri. Luckily, his friend, the Latvian Proud Oak was there to make the save.
- In the main event, Mike Quackenbush delivered a superplex to Mark Angelosetti, but the crafty Mr. Touchdown locked Quack's legs in the floatover attempt, nabbing the surprise victory and retaining his Banana Championship. After the match, Hatfield, who was at ringside to ward off interference from Veronica, got into it with Angelosetti over his cheating ways.
General Observations:
- Gavin Loudspeaker's pre-show song was written by Sidney Bakabella and dedicated to the Devastation Corporation. It actually sounded like an old-school wrestling theme.
- Kobold suffered a direct hit from the toilet paper shower the Batiri usually receives pre-match and slipped as if he got shot.
- Possibly sensing that trouble was afoot, Fire Ant got a head start on the shenanigans also pelting Kobold with a roll of toilet paper before the bell.
- I feel far more comfortable with the fans participating in chopping the rudo at a Wrestling Is Fun! show than at most others, even if it's still more real to the kids than it is to us.
- DevCorp's original opponents were supposed to be the Flames of Love, but apparently they skipped town. Not sure I blame them.
- Bakabella is great. Awesome on the mic and his character is stuck in the '80s. I have a soft spot for time-lapsed characters.
- I also have to wonder if the people who came up with the names Max Smashmaster and Blaster McMassive were BAKED OUT OF THEIR GOSH DARN MINDS when they did.
- Bakabella, spotting a fan with a smartphone upon exiting: "They have POCKET-SIZED COMPUTERS in Allentown!"
- assailANT tried to offer his hand to Hallowicked in sportsmanship before the match, but 'Wicked refused. Cross-promotional synergy?
- assailANT worked the leg all match. I was really impressed with him in this match, more so than any other time I've seen him. At one point he busted out a quadriceps claw. Wut?
- Head blows don't affect Jaka, which drew notice from Bryce Remsburg, asking if Akuma ever watched pro wrestling.
- The "savage" character can be pretty dicey to play in 2012, but I have to say that Jaka treats it as well as anyone can.
- I love that Akuma's cartwheel Death Valley driver is called the "MP4" because it's better than a Blu-Ray. Old grudges die hard.
- I'd have been annoyed at Icarus if he DIDN'T steal that girl's hat.
- Reasons why Dasher Hatfield is awesome: He used the athlete-platitude butt-slap as an offensive maneuver. Reasons why Icarus is awesome: He sold it like he got sodomized.
- Juan Fernando de Coronado came out to a "My Heart Will Go On" knockoff and had a manservant with him. Not lying, it was hard for me not to root for him in his match.
- I will never get tired of wrestlers doing elbow/knee/fist drops to their opponents' paraphernalia before the match. Green Ant gave a knee drop to JFDC's sign before the match.
- "Johnny Ego" chants were off and on all match long. Allentown has a long memory.
- I admit, I laughed when JFDC SCREECHED when Greenie put the keylock on him.
- ESTONIAN THUNDER FROG! He was all I could have ever hoped for and more.
- Haha, the Banana Security couldn't lift his hammer.
- I loved how much ETF's offense was based around leapfrogging.
- LATVIAN PROUD OAK! YES!
- I have to wonder what anthropomorphic Lithuanian avatar will complete this trio.
- The Banana Championship is an actual banana. I repeat, it's an actual banana. I love this promotion already.
- Quack made a very obscene gesture during the match. Okay, maybe it wasn't "very obscene." Okay, maybe it was a great PG substitute to flipping the bird.
- Quack busted out an apron DDT, and I thank the great wrestling Jesus that PWG exists to influence these kinds of things.
- Can we talk about the finish to the main event? Yes, we can. It was swell. Absolutely swell. It involved a superplex, one of the oldest moves in the book, but it had such a unique twist on it with Angelosetti grabbing the cradle out of a reverse of it. Holy crap, it may be my favorite finish of the year.
Match of the Night: Jaka vs. Gran Akuma - Going into the event, I thought that Jaka/Akuma might be the best match, and it turns out my feeling was validated. It's a good feeling to have when a match lives up to expectation. Then again, when two opponents match up as well as the former Johnny Mangue and the current ronin of the Chikara roster (I refuse to acknowledge Wink's bull-doodie Chikarametrics), it's not hard to see why this match would be so good.
So, why was it destined to be a great match? It was a case where two guys with similar styles got together and meshed well to create an ideal atmosphere. Both are among the hardest hitters on the circuit, they aren't afraid to take the big hit, and they both love submission wrestling. They provided all of that and then some. My personal favorite part of the match was the reeducation on old-timey wrestling tropes, especially the "guys from the jungle have hard heads" one. That might be a bit racist, but at the same time, it's in a Chikara-style promotion, not WWE. Jaka wasn't cast as a dumbass. There was style in his game.
I'd also say that between this and the excellent main event, that WIF! has found a way to provide a gateway for young kids into appreciating what we consider as good wrestling. For that reason alone, this match is not only must-see, it's must-watch with your kids as well. Trust me. I'm a father.
Overall Thoughts: I have to admit that at times, I struggled to see where the line of demarcation was between Chikara and any entity that was running under a different banner. Gavin Loudspeaker was the ring announcer, Bryce Remsburg led the familiar cast of characters both as referees and Commentation Station denizens, the rosters both had significant overlap, and the atmosphere was very similar to that of a Chikara show. Even though it has been a year since its opening, it also has only been seven shows. If the same people are behind both, I can probably understand why it's taking long to find its own identity.
However, I will say that it seems like they are at least trying. They are featuring their own new wrestlers like Jaka, JFDC, and the ESTONIAN THUNDER FROG. They're giving chances to guys like assailANT and Mr. Touchdown to have bigger roles, wrestle longer matches, and have bigger spotlights. Even if the tone is the same, I feel like WIF! is worth having around because one, it's wrestling, and two, it provides a ground for stuff to happen that wouldn't normally get time on the big, nationwide canvas.
Besides, why judge in comparison to another show? On its own merits, Bananaversary was, as the name on the marquee says, fun. It had colorful personalities, weird yet amusing absurdities, and of course, great wrestling. I would definitely pay money to see this company in the future after getting this taste for free.
