PWG Sells Out Volume ONe DVD Review Part 1

Okay, this is the first part of my review of the three disc PWG Sells Out Volume One DVD. Gotta say, on the whole this is a pretty damn good set of matches from the close to eight year history of SoCal's top indy promotion. I'll be posting this review one disc at a time. Otherwise it's a whole lot to digest at once. The review is complete with background information about the wrestlers. This took a lot of time, so stroke my ego and tell me how damn well-written it is. There's plenty of good karma in it for you if you do. ;-P

On the final portion of this review, I'll include the links to all of my online sources for the background information on the wrestlers...which was mostly wikipedia, so if you don't want to wait, you can look them up yourself.

PWG Sells Out DVD Review

Disc 1

Match 1:
Samoa Joe vs. “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson
From PWG The Musical
April 17, 2004

Samoa Joe has eleven years of experience in the pro wrestling game. He was trained by the UIWA (United Independent Wrestling Alliance) West Coast Dojo and got his first titles in UPW (Ultimate Pro Wrestling)--(where he also had a fued with a young John Cena. Since then Joe has gone on to fued with some of the best in the business in the independents and in TNA. He has battled Bryan Danielson, Necro Butcher, Homicide, both Briscoe Brothers, C.M. Punk, Christopher Daniels, Kurt Angle, Sting, Scott Steiner, and more.

Joe debuted in TNA at Slammiversary 2005. He was later signed to a TNA contract. He has had some notable matches in TNA, but lately has been in a bit of a slump. As of now, he is suspended from the active roster due to a backstage incident involving Jeremy Borash.

Among his list of titles are the UPW Heavyweight Title, ROH (Ring of Honor) Pure title, ROH World title, TNA (Total Nonstop Action) X Division Title, TNA Tag Titles, and TNA World title.

Joe is as agile as he is large. He is able to execute a variety of maneuvers, many of which would not be expected from a man his size. He is fond of using a huge jumping kick as well as a vicious back senton to a downed opponent. He also likes to utilize strikes, mostly stiff kicks chops, and headbutts. Joe can finish an opponent with the Muscle Buster, Island Driver (Emerald Fusion), or the Catina Clutch (Rear Naked Choke). Despite Mark Madden's low opinion of Joe (and really, who gives a crap what that fat never-was has to say?), Joe has a varitable legion of fans who love to im him put the beatdown to anyone he steps in the ring with.

Call him “American Dragon”. Call him “The Best Wrestler in the World”. His name is Bryan Danielson and he is one of the biggest independent stars of all time. His viscious kicks and wrenching submissions make him a force to be reckoned with on any level of the professional wrestling game. Born on May 22, 1981 (and yes it is bitchin’ to share a birthday with American Dragon) in Aberdine, Washington, he was trained by four of the best: Shawn Michaels, William Regal, Masato Tanaka, and Rudy boy Gonzalez. In his eleven years in wrestling, Danielson has feuded with some big names, including Samoa Joe and Nigel McGuinness. He has wrestled worldwide and held both the ROH Pure Title and World Heavyweight Title, as well as the TWA (Texas Wrestling Alliance) Tag Titles with Brian Kendrick, The PWG (Pro Wrestling Guerrilla) World Heavyweight Title (2 times), the IWGP (International Wrestling Grand Prix [New Japan Pro Wrestling])Junior Heavyweight Tag Titles with Curryman, and the GHC (Global Honor Crown) Junior Heavyweight Title. He was recently signed to a WWE contract and was part of their NXT show with some other FCW rookies, though his experience probably outnumbers all of theirs combined. Danielson was fired several months ago for doing nothing more than being a good wrestler and selling an angle more superiorly than any of the other so-called Nexus "superstars". Besides, who doesn't want to choke the hell out of that twit Justin Roberts with his own tie? I know I do.

This match was a war of technical skill and striking. Both Joe and Dragon employed stiff kicks and chest-blistering chops. Danielson pounded Joe with European uppercuts and Joe returned with headbutts. They brawled from the ring to the floor and back again. Joe nailed Danielson with the Ole Kick, and Danielson used a rare springboard Tope Con Hilo. At the end of the thirty minute time limit, neither man had gained a pinfall or submission.

After the match, Joe suckered Danielson by pretending to want five more minutes. Instead Ricky Reyes and Rocky romero (friends of Danielson and fellow members of the NJPW (New Japan Pro Wrestling) Los Angeles dojo) attacked Danielson for teaming with Teddy Hart and Jack Evans in Canada a few weeks earlier.

After being beaten into the mat for a while , Danielson got up and went on to cut a promo on Joe and Reyes, in which he declared Joe a scumbag, Reyes a pussy, and himself a far superior dancer than Joe. Hilarious.

Match 2:
Super Dragon vs. CM Punk
From The Reason for the Season
February 12, 2005

Super Dragon trained with Martin Marin, the owner of WPR (World Power wrestling). In 1997 he had his first match. Also in the late 90s, he and friend Blitzkreig wrestled a dark match for WCW (World Championship Wrestling), but only Blitzkreig went on to be used again. After a reconstructive surgery, Super Dragon returned in 2001 to win the Revolution J tournament in RPW (Revolution Pro Wrestling), competing with wrestlers like Excalibur and Disco Machine (or as my friends and I like to call him...Ass Tassle). He defeated B-Boy in the finals of that tournament. Around this same time, Super Dragon and Excalibur wrestled some matches for Rob Blacks XPW (Xtreme Pro Wrestling) promotion. During his time in RPW, Dragon evolved his style from high flying to more of a brawling style. From 2002 to about 2006 he competed in CZW (Combat Zone Wrestling) and participate in the CZW vs. ROH war. He also claimed the CZW World Heavyweight Title.

In 2003 Super Dragon, Disco Machine, Excalibur, Joey Ryan, Scott Lost, and Top Gun Talwar founded the PWG promotion in Los Angeles. Since then PWG has become the largest promotion in southern California.

With his array of devastating maneuvers like the Psycho Driver, Psycho Driver II, Psycho Driver III, Psycho Driver IV, Violence Party, and Curb Stomp (which Super Dragon innovated and many have since stolen) Super Dragon has captured the PWG Heavyweight Title once and the PWG Tag Titles five times.

On May 17, 2008 Super Dragon suffered a concussion which he has not returned from.

Since he first began his training in Chicago with Ace Steel, Danny Domain, and Kevin Quinn in the late 1990s, CM Punk has worked and turned himself into an international superstar. He earned his first independent titles in SDW (Steel Domain Wrestling) in Chicago and went on to hold gold in numerous indy federations, including the IWA-MS (Independent Wrestling Association Mid Soutbh) Heavyweight Title many times by defeating wrestlers like B.J. Whitmer, A.J. Styles, and Eddie Guerrero (yes, that Eddie Guerrero). He has also held the ROH Tag Titles with his friend (and former WWE colleague) Colt Cabana. He had one of the most controversial runs of all time as the Ring of Honor World Champion. In calendar year 2003, Punk had a fantastic fued with former ECW star Raven. The fued spanned multiple promotions and continents. Punk and Raven shed blood in both the United States and England. Their fued spanned MLW (Major League Wrestling), ROH, FWA (Frontier Wrestling Alliance) in England, and TNA.

Also in 2003, Punk wrestled several dark matches in WWE. In 2005, Punk signed a developmental deal with WWE. He wrestled in their OVW (Ohio Valley Wrestling) developmental federation for over a year before premiering on ECW. On June 24, 2006—while he was still OVW World Champion—Punk debuted in ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling [the new Vince McMahon owned version])defeating Stevie Richards at a house show. Since his debut in ECW, Punk has gone on to hold the now defunct ECW Title, WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) Intercontinental Title, WWE Tag Titles (with Kofi Kingston), and WWE World Title.

CM Punk has the distinction of being the only wrestler in recent history to wrestle under the gimmick of being Straight Edge. He has used this gimmick throughout his indy and corporate careers. He has been known to say during promos that “being Straight Edge means I’m better than you”. His current Straight Edge Society gimmick in WWE is regarded as great by some and vehemently hated by others.

Punk is a consummate technical wrestler, as well as a submission specialist of sorts. He employs devastating kicks and martial arts strikes . His Devil Lock Lariet (Hammerlock Lariet), Springboard Clothesline, Welcome to Chicago (Double Underhook Backbreaker), Anaconda Vice submission, and Go to Sleep finishers are all able to put out any opponent that steps into the squared circle to face him.

Some people have said that Super Dragon is not a “real” professional wrestler. This match should prove them wrong. For the first twenty minutes of this twenty-five plus minute match, Dragon and Punk tried to put each other out with brute force. The chops and kicks hit hard and fast. It was a brawl, with a few intermingled technical or flying spots thrown in. Each man pulled out many of their signature moves to try to put the other away. Punk played heel hard in this match, using Super Dragon’s own Curb Stomp maneuver on him three different times. Dragon reciprocated with three Curb Stomps of his own, including one into the bottom turnbuckle that made my face hurt just watching it. The ending spot was well-placed and executed. Punk went for a Shining Wizard and Dragon reversed it into a Supernatural Driver, dumping Punk right on his head and picking up the victory in devastating fashion.

Match 3:
“The Future” Frankie Kazarian vs. “Scrapiron” Adam Pearce
PWG Heavyweight Title
Steel Cage Match
From The Reason for the Season
July 10, 2004

Frankie Kazarian is aptly referred to as “The Future”, because it is wrestlers like him that will make up the future superstars of the business (if guys like Hogan and Flair ever decide to finally hang it up). His arsenal of amazing maneuvers, including the Flux Capacitor (Top Rope Backflip Sidewalk Slam), Future Shock, and the Wave of the Future, make him an exciting and formidable competitor. Frankie has wrestled in the independent and corporate wrestling circuits. Kazarian has friendships with both Samoa Joe and John Cena that date back to their days in UPW (Ultimate Pro Wrestling). Kazarian has held both
tag and singles gold in the independent circuit, including the UPW Tag Titles with Nova, the EWF (Empir Wrestling Federation) Heavyweight title, and the JAPW (Jersey All Pro Wrestling) Light Heavyweight Title. He was also the first ever PWG Heavyweight Champion. Frankie wrestled in TNA and obtain the X Division Title before he signed a deal with WWE. His time with Vince McMahon’s promotion was short-lived. He wrestled some dark matches for the Smackdown brand, but then asked for his release.
After his WWE release, he returned to TNA and wrestled with Raven’s Serotonin faction. He also won the TNA Tag Titles with Eric Young, but was immediately stripped of the belts. Most recently, Frankie wrestled in TNA under the mask and moniker of Suicide, but has now dropped the mask and is wrestling again as himself. He is currently one of the wrestlers along with A.J. Styles that are getting screwed in Ric Flair's Fortune faction. Though I have not confirmed this fact formally, I believe that Kazarian may have been a student at the ECW House of Hardcore, and even competed in the company a few times before it's 2001 demise.

“Scrapiron” Adam Pearce was trained by Sonny Rogers and former TNA employee “Rockin” Randy Ricci. From 1997 to 1999 Adam Pearce appeared numerous times on WWE television as a jobber named Adam O’Brian. Adam has made the rounds in the United States indy circuit. He has wrestled in SDW in his hometown of Chicago, as well as in the Northeast and West Coast scenes. He has held The UPW and PWG World Heavyweight Titles. He has also held the prestigious NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) Heritage and World Heavyweight titles. Adam has also been involved with Ring of Honor in both a wrestling and booking capacity. He is known for his old school style, but can hang with wrestlers that employ a more fast-paced style as well. His devastating Rack Powerbomb and Jumping Piledriver finishers, combine with his size (6’2, 232 pounds) make him an opponent not to be taken lightly--pun intended.

Before the match, Pearce cut a prime indy heel promo. He ragged on the crowd mercilessly. He added a very funny touch when he put his face directly in front of the camera and said, “And fuck you at home on DVD too.” It was great heel work.

This match was a bloodbath, as you might expect from a Steel Cage Match. It was the culmination of a year long fued between Frankie and Adam Pearce over the PWG Title. The match started out as a brawl. The two men fought all over the arena and eventually brought the fight back into the cage. Since the cage had no door, the only ways to win were by pinfall, submission, or climbing out over the top of the cage. Pearce took the beating to Kazarian early and made an attempt to climb out, but Kazarian recovered and hit him with a Flux Capacitor. Adam Pearce turned to his trademark Jumping Piledriver but could not put Kazarian away. After twice hitting The Wave of the Future and three times nailing Pearce with Piledrivers, Kazarian picked up the win. By special stipulation, not only did Pearce not win the title, but he had to leave PWG forever.

Match 4:
“The Prince of P-Town” Jack Evans vs. “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels
From Free Admission (Just Kidding)
November 13, 2004

Jack Evans is without a doubt one of the most impressive high-flying wrestlers in the world today. He was trained by Brian “Chico” Alverez, Tim “Street Fighter” Flowers, and also trained alongside T.J. Wilson (Tyson Kidd), Harry Smith, and his long-time tag partner Teddy Hart at the Hart Family Dungeon. He has wrestled as himself and as the masked Blitzkrieg 2 . As far as I can find, Evans has held only two titles to date: the JAPW Tag Titles with Teddy Hart, and the Pinacle Wrestling Heavyweight Title. While his title history is very short, Jack Evans proves himself everytime he sets foot in a wrestling ring. He has competed in JAPW, MLW, CZW, WSX (Wrestling Society X), ROH, and even TNA. He and tag partner Teddy Hart were part of TNA’s World X Cup in the past as part of Team Canada. With incredible high-flying maneuvers like the Corkscrew 630, Standing 450, Reverse 450, and Phoenix Splash, Jack is not only great to watch, he is an opponent to be taken seriously.

Though he was born in North Carolina (so-called Flair country), Christopher Daniels got his professional wrestling start in Chicago. He was trained by Sam Deciro, Mike Anthony, and Kevin Quinn in the Windy City Championship Wrestling promotion. He has wrestled and held gold all over the world. The list of federations he has competed in includes WCCW (Windy City Championship Wrestling), 3PW (Pro Pain Pro Wrestling), ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling [the original Paul Heyman owned version]), WWC (World Wrestling Council), NWA, Zero-1 MAX (Japan), NJPW, MPW (Michinoku Pro Wrestling [in Japan]), ROH, and TNA. He also wrestled as a masked wrestler in WWF (World Wrestling Federation [now WWE])called Conquistador Dos and in TNA and Japan as Curryman. Daniels also occupied the role of Suicide for a time while Frankie Kazarian was recovering from an arm injury. His time in the wrestling business has seen him hold independent and corporate gold. He has held the EWF Heavyweight Title, UPW Heavyweight Title, NWA Florida title, ROH Tag Team Titles, FWA heavyweight title, TNA Tag Titles, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Titles (as Curryman), and the TNA X Division title. Most recently, he was released from his TNA contract (not surprisingly) and is back in Ring of Honor.

As should be expected, both men were extremely impressive in this match. Jack Evans threw out a great performance in his debut match in PWG against the ring veteran and PWG regular, Christopher Daniels. Jack Evans was able to counter many of Christopher Daniels’ intended maneuvers, as well as hitting some outrageous diving moves of his own. However, Daniels had some great reversals of his own. At one point in the matchup, Evans went for a Sky Twister Press from the top buckle to the floor, but Daniels caught him in a Powerbomb. Jack Evans looked to be in prime position to end the match with his 630 Splash, but missed the move and Daniels capitalized with a wicked backbreaker leading into his double jump moonsault, known as the Best Moonsault Ever. After the BME, it was all O-V-E-R for Jack Evans.

Match 5:
Super Dragon bs. Samoa Joe
PWG Title Match
From All Nude Review
February 12, 2005

Super Dragon came into this match as the PWG Heavyweight Champion, but was out to avenge a previous countout loss to Samoa Joe. He attempted to attack Joe preemptively and take an early advantage. He was unsuccessful. Joe stopped Dragon’s momentum by taking his legs out with a sweep. From there, Joe went to work on Dragon’s back, trying to make sure Dragon would not be able to get him up for the Psycho Driver (not that anyone thought that such a thing was very likely to begin with). The momentum shifted back and forth during this match, with each man hitting very impressive high-impact maneuvers. Both men hit suicide dives. Joe hit a series of vicious boot scrapes in the corner and Dragon returned the favor with a Curb Stomp to Joe. Super Dragon even broke out an old school Senton Bomb (Back Senton off the top rope) on Joe. In the end, Super Dragon was incredibly able to lift Joe onto his shoulders (despite the seventy plus pound weight difference between the two men) and blast him with a Psycho Driver. Joe had the presence of mind to roll out of the ring onto the floor. Super Dragon was unable to get a near unconscious Joe back into the ring before the twenty count finished and the match ended in a countout. Super Dragon retained his PWG Heavyweight Title and though he was not able to pin Joe, he showed his critics once again that he is able to hang with the biggest and best in the indy scene.

After the match, an imposter super Dragon came out and attacked the real Super Dragon. This imposter hit Dragon with a Curb Stomp. The imposter was later revealed as Kevin Steen, who had been contracted by Excalibur to take out Super Dragon.

Match 6:
“The Phenominal” AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe
#1 Contenders Match for the PWG Heavyweight Title
From All Star Weekend Night 1
April 1, 2005

AJ Styles has been deemed “The Phenominal One” in his eleven years as a professional wrestler, and for good reason. Styles hails from and was trained in Georgia. He began his career in NWA Wildside in the year 1999, after being trained by Rick Michaels. He earned his first title in NWA Wildside as well, defeating K-Krush (Ron Killings). He lost the belt but later regained it by beating Air Paris. Styles also held the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title during his time in NWA. Later, he and Air Paris went to WCW (World Championship Wrestling) and worked both as a tag team and in a singles fued against one another. After WCW folded, Styles worked for WWA (World Wrestling Allstars), becoming their Cruiserweight Champion after defeating Nova. In 2002, Styles became one of the founding members of the TNA X Division. He had incredible matches with Jerry Lynn, Psicosis, Low Ki (now known as Kaval on WWE’s NXT show), and many more. At that time TNA was associated with the NWA and Styles won the X Division Title, the NWA Tag Titles, and NWA World Heavyweight Title early in TNA history. He would later go on to hold the TNA Tag Titles and World Heavyweight Title after TNA split from the NWA. He would regain the X Division Title multiple times as well. While wrestling during the early days of TNA, Styles would also capture the ROH Tag Titles and the PWG Heavyweight Title.

Styles fueds have been numerous, including a great one with Crristopher Daniels in TNA. Styles is well known for wrestling a series of matches with former WWE talent Paul London. Several of these matches lasted 45 minutes or longer. He has also feuded with Kurt Angle, Jeff Jarrett, Abyss, Sting, and many more. He uses his phenomenal (hence the nickname) agility and unexpected power to humble his opponents. Styles is best known for his Pele Kick, Styles Clash, Spiral Tap (Corckscrew Legdrop off the top rope), and Superman (Springboard 450 Splash) moves, though his arsenal is certainly not limited to these moves, or to any one style of wrestling.

Aside From his prowess in the squared circle, Styles is also touted as one of the nicest and most humble men in the wrestling business today. He is said to hold strong to his Christian roots and to regard others as his equals on all levels. This, as you may know, is a rare occurance in the wrestling business.

This match began with Styles trying to show Joe and the PWG crowd that he is more than just a high-flier. He hit the 280 pound Samoan Submission Machine with a body slam, suplex, and backbreaker in short succession toward the beginning of the match, giving him an early advantage. That advantage was short lived. Joe retreated to the outside and Styles went to follow him, but Joe kicked Styles’ legs out from under him on the apron and that was all Joe needed to gain the advantage. From that point, Joe pressed his advantage hard, taking it to Styles with strikes, power moves, and even an Elbow Suicida. The match continued this way for several minutes, until Styles was able to hit a Pele Kick and stun Joe. Momentum swung back and forth between Styles and Joe, with Styles uncharacteristically avoiding the usage of high-flying maneuvers. Joe attempted to make Styles submit via an STF, but AJ escaped and came back with an incredible Torture Rack Powerbomb on the Samoan giant. As the match finished up, Styles was able to reverse Joe and hit him with the Styles Clash for the pin.

This match showed an entire different side of AJ Styles than many people had seen at the time it took place. People were used to seeing AJ flying around the TNA ring as a star of the X Division, but he showed that he was a much more complete wrestler than may have been thought. With the exception of one spot in this match, every move was executed crisply and succinctly.

Match 7:
“The Phenominal” AJ Styles vs. James Gibson
PWG Title Match/NWA title Match
From Guitarmageddon
June 11, 2005

James Gibson may be better known as Jamie Noble. He began his training with Bill Weaver, but was then signed to WCW. His first run in WCW saw him receive more training, this time with Dean Malenko. That run was short lived. Gibson did some work in the indy scene but later returned to WCW to be part of the three man team The Jung Dragons with Jimmy Yang and Kaz Hayashi. During his second run in WCW, The Jung Dragons feuded with Three Count—Evan Karagias, Shane Helmes (The Hurricane), and Shannon Moore. Later Karagias split from Three count and Noble split from The Jung Dragons. The two formed their own tag team and participated in what was undoubtedly the greatest ladder match in WCW history at Starcade 2000.

After WCW fell apart, Gibson—along with many former WCW stars—was signed to WWE. He wrestled under the name of Jamie Noble, as he had done in WCW after splitting with The Jung Dragons. In WWE, Gibson feuded with Billy Kidman, Yoshihiro Tajiri, and Rey Mysterio Jr. He went on to win the WWE Cruiserweight title in 2002. However, he would later lose the belt and be released from WWE.

After his WWE release, Gibson went back to work on the indy circuit, wrestling in promotions like PWG and ROH. In fact, he gained his only other major title when he became Ring of Honor World Champion on August 12, 2005 by beating CM Punk. He would hold that title for over a year, proving to wrestling fans everywhere that James Gibson was more than what they had seen in WCW or WWE.

Throughout the years James Gibson’s style evolved from a Japanese/Lucha style to a more technical/scrapping style of wrestling. As a member of the Jung Dragons he regularly used maneuvers like the Hurricanrana and Flying Headscissors. When he went to WWE, he began wrestling a more ground-based technical style of wrestling, though he also employed some lucha style moves at times. He continued to use this “ground and pound” style of wrestling for many years, through his run in ROH and on into his second run with WWE.

Gibson later returned to WWE, but was not used as anything more than a jobber for several ears. As of today, James Gibson has retired due to a nagging neck injury.

This match was a contest of technical skill. It was a match of both old school nuances and new school impactful maneuvers. The match started out with both men very much even. Styles and Gibson traded holds on the mat and countered one another time after time. Gibson controlled the head and neck of AJ with a wrenching headlock for severl minutes. Eventually, AJ’s size and height advantage put him in control of the match, but James Gibson was not to be counted out. Gibson was able to avoid a baseball slide dropkick on the outside and slam AJ’s chest into the ring apron to switch the momentum back in his direction. He then went back to work on Styles’ neck. The pendulum of momentum continued to swing back and forth in the match. AJ would hit an impactful move. Gibson would counter him. Gibson would go for a move of his own and hit it. Gibson blasted AJ with his signature Fireman’s Carry Gutbuster, and Styles utilized the Pele Kick. The match closed as Gibson went for his own version of the Tiger Driver. Styles reversed the move into a Styles Clash and picked up the three count.