A Friendly Disclaimer

Let me begin by saying how amazed I am by the number of hits the page has received since the weekend and the IYFW Coronation Cup event! Unique visitors have doubled since Sunday and have grown every day. Wild and fun to watch! Thank you for following the site, be sure to bookmark it if you haven't already, and stop back often. Knowing people are into your stuff is a huge motivator to keep things moving forward with it!

I did want to take an opportunity to make a brief, almost self-explanatory disclaimer about this page and my opinions:

I was recently approached via a private message on theburninghammer.com by an IYFW wrestler who took issue with my comments on his performance at the Coronation Cup event. I'm not going to name the guy or go into the details of our correspondence out of respect, but I think the exchange raised a point that should be addressed.

I am simply a fan. I am not at all a trained wrestler. I'm just a "mark" that buys tickets, buys dvd's, merchandise, etc. I get that. That being said, I AM a fan. Fans have opinions. Fans share their opinions with other fans. In an entertainment and performance industry such as Professional Wrestling, there is a certain level of critique that should be expected. I am an aspiring song writer and screw-around musician. When I perform in public, I don't expect EVERY person to LOVE what I am doing. Not every fan is going to feel the same way, or see the same thing, as every other fan. I understand that perhaps his concern was that other fans or his peers or people unfamiliar with him would read MY OPINION and thus their opinion of him might be tarnished.

I get that.

But that is kind of the nature of this blog and of what I do. It's about MY OPINION. I am sure that there was someone in the crowd that night that hated the show. Or thought that this unnamed wrestler was amazing. Maybe they will blog about it. Maybe they won't.

So, to sum it up... I am not here in an attempt to sabotage anyones career OR to act as a defacto arm of an Indy Promotions public relations department. I answer to no one and am basically in this to share my opinions with other wrestling fans - nothing more. If you don't agree with my opinion and are in a position to change my opinion... Have at it.

As always, thanks for reading.

IYFW Coronation Cup 2011 RESULTS/REVIEW

As I mentioned in an earlier post, this In Your Face Wrestling event was going to be my first foray into the very real world since the recent tragedy in my life. I was looking forward not just to the show, and the fun, laid back atmosphere, but also to have an evening where I didn't need to worry about someone coming up to me expressing their condolences or asking me how I was "holding up" or asking me "what happened?!?"...

Please, please, please don't misunderstand me. Since my younger brother's passing I have been overwhelmed with warm thoughts, bowled over with hugs, and concern, and affection. I truly appreciate every single card, phone call, text, email, FB msg, etc that has been sent my way. It's really been a beautiful thing.

But it's also been very exhausting. It really was nice to be among fun people watching a fun show. Hope all of that makes sense. On with the show...

From what I saw, the show drew a slightly larger crowd than their April event in the same venue. It really was close. There were a lot of familiar faces in the crowd, notably the trio I politely refer to as the RiffRaff; three guys who arrive at the show all good and buzzed from an early jaunt to the bars and are usually the most fun fans to watch/interact with. Not sure what the final headcount would be, but I would guess over 100. The Ballston Area Community Center was extremely humid and sticky up until just prior to belltime, when the air conditioning was mercifully turned on. Until then, I have to be honest when I say that I was more than concerned at how bearable it would be in those atmospheric conditions.

The show, of course, featured the annual 8-man Coronation Cup tournament, this time with the IYFW Championship belt up for grabs, and it kicked off with the first of TWO 4-way matches in the tourney. War, Scott Scarsdale, "Loverboy" Ricky Williams, and Drake Evans hit the ring to quality reactions from the crowd, looking to set this show off right. Before the bell rang, War made it clear that he was on the payroll of the "Millenium Millionaire" Scott Scarsdale, much to the chagrin of the fans AND the babyfaces. This match showcased Ricky Williams and his stellar selling ability and the double teaming of Scarsdale and his brutal henchman. Things really went south when Drake Evans was handcuffed to the turnbuckle, outside the ring, unable to save Ricky Williams from succumbing to a sleeper hold by Scott Scarsdale, giving the Millionaire a HUGE win. IYFWrestling.Com heavily pushed Scarsdale as the favorite and, at this point, I was nervous.

Let me be clear... Scarsdale is a fun performer. His character is crafty and generally smarter than everyone else. I can dig that. But he is far from the most exciting or credible performer on the roster. Given his position behind the scenes... you can understand my concern.

I *DID* like Evans being handcuffed. It's been done a million times, but it fit well. Loved the aftermath where, after being unlocked and emancipated by another referee who had appeared from the back, Drake Evans loudly exclaimed, "They've always got the key AFTER the fact!" and went to attend to a hurting Ricky Williams (who sold that submission thru intermission. I love this guy.). Overall... a decent opener that made you wonder how this was all going to play out.

Up next, Walt Ball introduces the Special Guest Referee for the upcoming match (hmmm...), Maxx "The Ax" Burton. Having looked Burton up on YouTube, etc... this is what I know about Burton. He is a great promo guy... and he is generally an asshole heel (?) So, I wasn't sure what to expect. Things got more curious when the match participants came out. Rocco Perrelli would take on Nocturne.

Nocturne Flies At Night

Perrelli was fun to watch at "Defy the Odds" in April and I was excited to see him again. His over the top Italian gimmick is nothing all too new, but he does it well and has his own take on it. Nocturne impressed me also, interacting and jawing amiably with the fans throughout the match. Only bad thing I can say about this match is that they set the Indoor Record for Most Armdrags in a Wrestling Match. Otherwise, the pacing was good and told a solid story. Nocturne would pick up the win following a cradle-style piledriver that didn't land quite right. It felt strange to me that there was no pay off with Burton as referee. Weird that he wouldn't make an impact. Unless... the impact would happen LATER? Hmmm...

Up next was a tag bout between the Celtic Crew and the returning Killer Steves. The Crew are IYFW's resident Irish tag team. McKinger is the ground and pound wrestler and McFerrin is the immovable muscle man. I thought these two were fun to watch back in April. To be honest, they looked a little weak compared to the Steve's. When I heard the Killer Steves would be in Ballston Spa, I was pumped... and they did not disappoint.

Steve Takes a Tag From Steve

Steves WIN~!

They worked the match as heels, yet I was fortunate enough to be sitting with Steve Supporters who cheered them on. Fun moment where, when Salt N. Pepper of the RiffRaff heckled one Steve, calling him X-Pac, that same Steve replied: "I'm Hep C Free." ... wherein I would attempt, in vain, to start a "HEP C FREE!" chant. Steve's carried the Crew to a decent match, got the win, and teased a post-match handshake. SWERVE~!~! We get a post-match FISTBUMP instead!

Next was the second 4-way of the night, the better of the two, I felt. Ian Daniels, Superbeast, Justin Fox, and Vigo all would vie for the final slot in the IYFW Championship Main Event later on in the evening! If you recall, I had held out hope for a push for Superbeast but it was apparent that that wasn't in the cards on this night.

Superbeast About to LEVEL Ian Daniels

He had a good performance but it was overshadowed by other moments. Take Ian Daniels for example. Clearly loves what he does. Has a great time out there. Outside the ring, during intermission, he seems like a cool enough guy... but he is going to hurt somebody out there.

Cover your eyes.

There was a scary moment or two in this match that had me wondering if tonight was the night. Justin Fox was actually a lot of fun in his role and pulled off a few fun spots. Clearly, the star of this match was Vigo. The crowd just RESPONDS to him. Again, not the flashiest or fastest guy on the roster... but he knows how to work the room and is a lot of fun to watch. Vigo would pick up the win following a spinning elbow drop off the ropes on Superbeast, advancing to the IYFW Championship and Coronation Cup Finals against Scott Scarsdale.

There was a quiet buzz among the fans around me as they realized that the main event was set. Not the most engaging or kinetic Championship main event possible. However, I was confident it would be entertaining. Between the long list of enemies Scarsdale has amassed and the ongoing feud raging between Vigo and Pierre Vachon, I was confident that they would pull something fun out of it. And that they would... but I am getting ahead of myself.

Next up was intermission. An eventful intermission! First, I had some popcorn with a Steve.

Popcorn Break.

Then... I dropped $6 on some raffle tickets and won myself 2 tickets to the next IYFW show, "Summertime Bruise" on August 13, back at the BACC! Very cool! My only gripe is that they're not front row seats. I will maybe politely reach out to IYFW officials and see if I could pay the difference and upgrade them to VIP. I have sophisticated tastes and, thus, can't fathom sitting with the little people. I'm sure you understand.

When the show resumed, new authority figure type, Harold Touch'ole would interrupt ring announcer Walt Ball, bringing the brand spanking IYFW Championship belt with him.

It's Pronounced....

Touch'ole reiterated the proper pronunciation of the last name before being interrupted himself by an appearance by Vigo in the crowd. Vigo would take a seat with the RiffRaff in the bleachers, taunting Toush'ole and eventually getting in the ring with him.

Vigo and the RiffRaff

This would bring out Scarsdale who, it quickly became apparent, had already bought and paid for the allegiance of Management Representative, Harry Touch-hole. This raised more questions on how this was going to go down for the big title...

First match following intermission was an anticipated rematch from "Defy the Odds" between young fan favorite, Shiloh Robinson, and IYFW New Breed Champion, Roman Dominguez. Last time it was non-title and Robinson captured his first win. For the sake of full disclosure; predicted a title change for this match (and the champ wasn't pleased). This was another hard hitting encounter between the two, with a lot of stiff kicks and relentless forearms. Robinson had a shining moment with a series that led to Dominguez getting uncerimoniously dumped on his head to a nice pop from the crowd.

Not As Storybook a Finish As Last Time

 Dominguez held on and would pick up a submission victory, retaining his title and silencing his one critic (who, as it happens, cheered the Pillar on the whole match, despite sitting in front of the family of Shiloh Robinson in the crowd. You try sitting in front of the kids giant Dad(?) and cheer on the guy who is dismantling his alleged son's leg. Awkward!) Both men required assistance of IYFW officials to be brought backstage and Dominguez has been all over the interwebs   selling a knee injury. Can you say... rubber match?

The IYFW Tag Team Championship would be on the line in the next contest as the crumbling International EgoTrip would attempt to hold off Adam Badger and Michael Monroe. Both teams played the heel in this match, which I think confused the fans, but it had to be done. Badger came to the ring wearing a white mask with the word "CENSORED" taped across it's mouth; a clear play off of his potty mouth on display at April's "Defy the Odds", when he dropped many an F bomb on some small children.

...I'm just talkin' 'bout Shaft!

This was a borderline hot topic over at theburninghammer.com after I'd posted my DtO review and was obviously in my glory when I saw the mask. Too awesome. His mouth may have been censored, but his middle fingers flew with abandon. Monroe put on another great performance in this tag bout... but enough about them. Let's talk about Fronz.

"Finally a fan with some sense!" - "MIGHTY" FRONZ RODDY

This match  simply served as a vehicle for Fronz Roddy to shed the considerable dead weight of the Northern Stud. Roddy put on another great showing on the ring apron, avoiding tags, turning his back on his partner to argue with the fans, all of that fun stuff.

"Shut Up!"

Stud worked hard, but not hard enough - clearly not up to Fronz Roddy's Standard of Excellence - and fell victim to the onslaught of the young team, Adam Badger and Michael Monroe. Monroe, in particular, stood out on this event.

Split-leg Moonsault from Monroe

Post-match was the obligatory tag team melt down where Roddy would lay Stud out and in his dust.

Looks like there will be a short-term(?) Stud vs Roddy program that could be fun to watch, as they are trying to position the Northern Stud as the babyface. And also, I am hoping the new tag champs will face some opposition from Ricky Williams and Jamar "Magic" Justice.

Time for the Main Event! Before things could begin, out came Touch'ole who wanted to add some flavor to the match. He barred Vigo's valet from ringside and named a Special Enforcer for the big match... Maxx Burton. This smelled fishy to everyone and it appeared to all that the fix was in. The crowd was instantly all over Scarsdale and way behind Vigo. Even *I* was cheering on the good guy here! A lot of early lock ups and low impact power moves early. Some stalling on the part of Scarsdale. Things finally got cooking in the ring when young referee, Adam Brunton, would take a stiff bump in the corner. Crowd hit their feet as out came the new IYFW Tag Team Champions, "The Enemy", Adam Badger and Michael Monroe. Are they on Scarsdale's take? They beat Vigo down in the corner... out comes my hero, Fronz Roddy, and he convinces Badger and Monroe that he is with them and joins in the beatdown on the Force from the North. The crowd is white hot when Ricky Williams comes out, followed by the Northern Stud! Things degenerate quickly on the outside when Scarsdale (finally) returns to his feet -- roof comes off the tiny BACC when Drake Evans hits the ring and goes after Scarsdale and company!

Damn you, Scarsdale!

Scarsdale gets back in the ring with a steel chair and has bad intentions towards Vigo. Burton gets in the ring and GRABS the chair from Scarsdale! Vigo DRILLS Scarsdale. Hits a running elbow and gets the pin.

...pssst. Turn Around.

Was it, quote-unquote, overbooked? Sure. Was it fun? Absolutely.

A new champion is crowned to end the show and the fans go home happy. All in all it was another good show. Winning the raffle was fun and, again, the fan/wrestler, fan/fan interaction at these shows make the experience second to none. Bring your kids. These guys all work hard and clearly love what they do.

As Walt Ball would point out in the ring just before the main event, the only thing we know about IYFW Summertime Bruise in August is that *I* am going to be there! And I look forward to it! I'd like to thank In Your Face Wrestling for providing a much needed distraction for the evening.

Thanks for reading and thanks for enduring my blurry pics. Feel free to leave comments below!

IYFW Coronation Cup 2011 is TONIGHT!

After weeks of speculation (at least on my part) and build up, the IYFW Coronation Cup tournament is just a few hours away. Headlined, of course, by the tournament finals which will crown a brand new IYFW Champion with a brand new IYFW Championship belt. Clearly, this is a big night for the promotion and, one might imagine, a major shift in direction.

On a much more personal note, this is an important night for me because a week ago today, I lost my younger brother. As you can guess... It has been a very long, very exhausting and painful week. This will be my first real outing and my first genuine attempt at "fun".

I bought 2 ringside seats because I intended on asking my brother if he'd want to join me -- he was never a wrestling fan, but I would argue you don't need to be a wrestling fan to enjoy an IYFW show, based on my experience. Chances are, knowing him, he would have declined anyway... But that was my intent. Well... My girlfriend is going to be working late, so I will be attending solo once more.

If my horrible phone cooperates, perhaps that will allow me to live-tweet during the show.

Follow me @paulbrisbin -- thanks!

IYFW Coronation Cup 2011 Tournament Preview/Predictions

IYFW's return to the Ballston Area Community Center is just a few weeks away. The 2011 Coronation Cup is upon us. This will be my second IYFW live event and I am, first of all, predicting that I will have an awesome time no matter the outcome of the tournament. As I mentioned in an earlier post, one of the major appeals of being at one of their live shows is just how much fun the crowd is. There's that one weird, old guy who loudly shouts out random things that people tend to laugh at; whether funny or not. There's the trio of dudes who generally sit in the back and arrive at the show loaded and ready for fun; they know the wrestlers and the wrestlers remember them. They keep things interesting. The kids are always adorable. IYFW's wrestlers do a great job connecting with the kids. Adam Badger's F bomb aside, they appear to be a kid friendly company that push the envelope when they need to. But back to the fans... They know the product, they play off the wrestlers and vice versa. And then there's you, in the middle of it all, watching a young group of performers busting their asses and living out their dream. If you've never gone or haven't in a while, I urge you to attend. It's a good time.

A while back I hyped and previewed the announced undercard of this 2011 Coronation Cup event so, for now, let's shift gears and focus on the main attraction. The proverbial meat and potatoes, if you will.

I WAS initially hoping the 8-Man tournament to crown a NEW IYFW Champion would be a true 3 tier tourney. Not the case. There are 2 Four-Way matches that leads to a one on one match for the big title. I am actually fine with this, however. It allows for longer matches and room for OTHER guys to get on the show, which is always a plus.

Let's take a look at the 8-Man IYFW Championship Tournament, the wrestlers involved and MY take on THEIR odds of leaving Ballston Spa with the IYFW Championship:

DRAKE EVANS - 2 to 1
I would call Drake Evans the favorite in this whole thing. He is currently the baby face of the company and is way over with IYFW faithful. When you add in his standing in the company, he's almost a shoe-in... Personally? I would prefer to see him chasing the belt. I thought he did a great job against deSade in April, really conveying his hunger for the belt and never say die attitude towards claiming it. Evans was recently featured in a promo, "staking his claim" on the IYFW Championship and putting the other competitors on notice; while it wasn't the greatest promo I have ever seen, it showed some intensity and really gave you perspective on Evans' drive (and also did a nice lil' job of promoting the event and tournament set-up). I will say this... It would be a feel-good moment were he to win.

WAR - 20 to 1
Not all too familiar with this guy. Last appeared in a 3 on 3 losing effort in "Controlled Chaos'" opening match. I don't see him shocking the world here. He may be the second coming of Mark Calloway and I don't know it, but I can't see him winning the new gold here. He is what we call a long shot. Recently featured in a column on the IYFW site focused on Scott Scarsdale, indicating that WAR is likely to be considered still on the payroll of the Millennium Millionaire -- could that play into how things unfold? Let's hope. My guess is he will be in the same 4-way as Scarsdale, with the story being that he is there to assure Scarsdale advances. That could be fun to watch the baby faces have to overcome. Hmmm.

SUPERBEAST - 3 to 1
The Inhuman Monstrosity is an interesting case. He put on a physical showing at "Defy the Odds" and, with his "top contender" status, seems to have his stock on the rise in IYFW. I have to admit, I really like the idea of an unstoppable juggernaut running roughshod over the promotion, a stranglehold on IYFW's biggest prize, fending off all comers. Pair this monster up with a talented manager and he could be VERY successful. He would be a good man to bet on... The payoff would be big and it is a feasible way for things to go.

Monster heel + Talented Manager (hello, Maxx Burton! Are you busy?) + Title Belt = Cash Money

But I digress...

"Loverboy" RICKY WILLIAMS - 10 to 1
I will say it now: Ricky Williams will absolutely be the star of his Four-Way match, from a performance stand point. This kid flies through the air and takes risks that dazzle the crowd. He was constant motion (before eventually being knocked unconscious) on April 30th and I am sure it will be more of the same. I foresee Williams to, along with partner, Jamar Justice, continue feuding with Adam Badger and Michael Monroe and that is absolutely fine with me. Great choice to be in this tournament. He will shine on June 25th.

IAN DANIELS - 8 to 1
Here's another interesting case. At "Defy the Odds", Daniels came across as a muttering, borderline schizophrenic - intentionally or not. I split time watching that 3-way by trying to figure Daniels out and trying to block out Scott Scarsdale's trademark back hair. Daniels is one of only TWO IYFW Superstars that has a t-shirt for sale through the IYFW's merchandise page. Which begs the question... No Fronz Roddy t-shirt?!?!?! No, but seriously... Does the company see something there that I don't? Daniels doesn't "look" like you're typical wrestler and, I feel, would be an odd choice as IYFW Champion. On the plus side, he works hard and pulls off some innovative moves from what I have seen.

SCOTT SCARSDALE - 4 to 1
Scott Scarsdale was recently featured in a lengthy piece in IYFWrestling.com's Rumor Control, focusing on his buying power and thirst to be at the top at ANY cost. When his name was announced for this tournament, he was promoted as "the favorite". For the sake of full disclosure, Scarsdale is the promoter of IYFW and is one of the trainers at their Wrestling School in Cohoes, NY. I would be VERY shocked to see IYFW take the belt off of an underhanded heel just to put it on another, so while he may be pitched as the front runner, I just don't see it. In addition, he has always been a guy that was pushed as more of a tag team specialist and hasn't fared as well in singles matches (though he did pick up a Triple Threat win at "Defy the Odds"). Again, I am putting him at decent odds more due to the work IYFWrestling.com has done to promote him as such, it is not indicative of my faith in him actually leaving Ballston Spa with the IYFW Championship.

JUSTIN FOX - 50 to 1
I will be 100% honest and say I know nothing of Justin Fox (less than I do WAR)... Other than I think I bought my raffle ticket from him at their last show. Seemed like a nice enough guy! Beyond that... He is not their next Champion. I *will* say that I look forward to seeing him in the ring. Always love watching young wrestlers get a chance, and this is a pretty big stage. He is billed by IYFW to be a youthful up and comer. Look forward to seeing what he can do.

Big Vigo OR Pierre "The Beast" Vachon - 100 to 1
IYFW Officials have yet to disclose who the last entrant will be, but have confirmed it is down to either Vigo, or his current nemesis, Pierre Vachon. I don't think it matters who it ends up being. Their odds of winning are the same. Naturally, the one will cost the other their respective match and their blood feud will sort of continue. Until their match is FINALLY signed. Can we HOPE for the bout to headline IYFW's August event at the BACC, "Summertime Bruise"? I can. But, yeah... Neither of them will win the belt on this night. I still dig that they're in the mix, however.

So in short, I think that Drake Evans will win and won't be disappointed if he does. My HOPE is to see Superbeast come away with it. I think that that could be a lot of fun to watch, if paired with a great manager.

I have high expectations for June 25th and zero doubts. These guys all work very hard, putting on a tremendous live show and there is no question in my mind that it will be well worth the price of admission.

Also announced for July 25th:
The Killer Steves return to IYFW to take on the Celtic Crew. I was impressed by the showing of McKinger and McFerrin in April and have heard good things about The Steves so I am really looking forward to this. I love the tag division in IYFW and look forward to seeing what The Steves bring to the table.

Be there or be someone other than me. July 25th in Ballston Spa. Get yo' tickets, son.

I Heart Feedback

So, it's very quickly become a fun journey here in the pages of wrestlefudge! I have received a fair amount of feedback and "buzz" in the IYFW community amid my first 3 posts and I absolutely appreciate the feedback, etc. Lets start off with the not-so-complimentary type of feedback. Within a few minutes of posting the text to my "Defy the Odds" review on theburninghammer.com, actual and factual IYFW officials posted a reply, correcting a few of my facts.

I'll be the first to admit. Not the most sought-after responses, but hey... I was more than appreciative they took the time and genuinely honored they even read my review.

Soon after that I connected with a few IYFW wrestlers and personalities, past and present, via Facebook and email. A few IYFW guys even passed the link amongst eachother. Always honored to know ANYONE wants to read what you write, but when your subject(s) are quasi-aware, and in some cases VERY aware of your writing - I have to say... It adds a very real sense of weight to the page. Your average pro wrestling "newz-site reporter" can't say with any certainty that John Cena knows when he or she speculates on him dropping the belt.

When a wrestler, no matter what level, basically cites your blog, in kayfabe, in his Facebook status... I am sorry but that is pretty sweet.

In yesterday's IYFW Coronation Cup preview (pt.1), I made a bold prediction and picked Shiloh Robinson to win the IYFW New Breed Championship from reigning champion, "The Pillar" Roman Dominguez in a highly anticipated rematch. The Champ didn't like that.

Well played, sir.

Let me say this. I found myself cheering for Roman Dominguez in April and I am sure his energy and performance will lead me to cheer for him from the front row again on June 25th. That being said; I stand by my prediction and hope to be surprised.

So, anyhow... I do like feedback and would like to thank those who have reached back so far and encourage any other lurker to get in on it.

Bookmark the page, follow me on the tweet deal, rss feeds, blah blah blah. I am confident my opinions will unintentionally get under the skin of someone else sooner rather than later. Until then...

IYFW Coronation Cup 2011 Event PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS

Shiloh Robinson takes to the sky.
Photo: IYFWrestling.com

Back once more with some In Your Face Wrestling previews and thoughts heading in to their next big show. On June 25th, IYFW returns to the Ballston Area Community Center with the return of the Coronation Cup. In this here post I plan on covering the announced line-up of matches that AREN'T the 8-Man IYFW Championship Tournament. The tourney will be covered in a separate post to come, soon after Joey LaRoque announces the FINAL THREE competitors in his next edition of the Interface on IYFWrestling.com.

In a match that very well might steal the show, Shiloh Robinson gets a shot at the New Breed Championship and another shot at defeating "The Pillar" Roman Dominguez. When these two last faced off in April, this was an aggressive match that really showcased both wrestlers conditioning. Shiloh impressed with his youthful confidence, taking the match to the air and to the outside like, somehow, a veteran. Dominguez impressed by stretching Robinson, smothering him. On that night, Robinson defied the odds and defied all expectation. My prediction? You might as well call this Defy the Odds: Part 2. Sorry, champ... But I think your days with that pretty belt may be numbered. Rome wasn't built in a day, but 3 seconds may be all it takes to burn to the ground. Paul's Pick: Shiloh Robinson

The only other announced match (again, other than the main attraction 8-Man Tournament) is a highly anticipated tag team match featuring the team of Adam Badger and Michael Monroe challenging for the IYFW Tag Team Championship against the reigning International Ego Trip, The Northern Stud and Fronz Roddy. Both of these teams were so much fun to watch last April in the BACC and, again, I anticipate bell to bell action and a TON of intensity. Much has been made on IYFWrestling.com about the dissention in the ranks of the tag team champions, and it was more than evident at "Defy the Odds" that Roddy and the Stud are clearly not on the same page. However, Badger and Monroe are a VERY new team. Wanna also see if Badger keeps up the potty mouth routine, or if that was just a one off. My instincts tell me that the differences between the two tag champs will be a deciding factor in the outcome of this match... We will see the young team take the tag belts and perhaps continue their feud with The Uprising, Jamar Justice and Ricky Williams while also seeing the end of the Ego Trip and, one can hope, the Rise of Roddy. The longest reigning IYFW Champion in history is just too good for the Northern Stud and I think we will see that on June 25th. Paul's Pick: Adam Badger and Michael Monroe

With the final 3 competitors in the 8-Man Tournament still unannounced, I can only speculate on other matches, but I imagine we will see some form of continuance of the issues between Vigo and "The Beast" Pierre Vachon. I am actually kind of hoping that they are the final two "top contenders" in the title tourney, but compete in opposite Four-Way matches - costing each other spots in the title bout.

Another angle I expect to see furthered would be the influence of IYFW's new Management Representative, Harold Toush'ole, within the promotion. I had mentioned in an earlier post that I had some questions as to his motivations and alignment (for lack of a better word) after his debut in April. I imagine we will have a much, much clearer on what this dude is about after the Coronation Cup.

Other Wrestlers I Want on the Card:
Liam McFerrin: this dude impressed the hell out of me at DtO.
Shockwave: is he still in the promotion? Saw him in the ECWA Super 8. Enjoyed him.
Rocco Perelli: had a funny exchange at the April show. I was being myself and generally cheering on the heels... Perelli and Superbeast picked up the win and were celebrating in front of me. Perelli barked at me: "You love me, huh?" ... I yelled out "Sure!" ... He replied: "So does yer motha!!! OHHH!" ... The crowd shared in the OHHH and it was a funny moment.
Guillaume deSade: I think it was said on IYFW's INTERFACE a few weeks ago that deSade wouldn't be in Ballston Spa for the Coronation Cup out of protest. But I would LOVE to see him make a surprise appearance, perhaps involving himself in the IYFW Championship match. Perhaps seeking retribution on Toush'ole for stripping him of the title? When he DOES make his return to IYFW it should be interesting, to say the least.

Again, I will post my preview/predictions for the big 8-Man IYFW Championship Tournament after all of it's participants have been announced. Currently the following have secured a spot: Drake Evans, WAR, Superbeast, Ian Daniels, and "Loverboy" Ricky Williams. Thanks for reading and preorder your tickets for the big show!

"Defy the Odds" - April 30, 2011 - Review

And so the journey began...

I walked into the Ballston Area Community Center and bought my front row ticket. A $15 price tag that I found to be more than a value. The venue was probably 3/4 capacity with around 100 fans in attendance. When I arrived I quickly made the assumption that this was a more kid friendly promotion than what I was hoping for, based off of the number of youngsters running around before bell time and the "kids under 5 get in free" deal and was just as quickly proven wrong by the time the show ended. Yes. In Your Face Wrestling is kid friendly. But it's not just kids stuff. I should also make clear before digging into the play by play that the other huge appeal of In Your Face Wrestling events are the other fans. It seems the promotion has gained a loyal and rabid, mature following. Wrestlers I had never heard of got huge reactions. The interaction between wrestler and fan was just so much fun to be a part of and I will freely admit to getting swept into the fellowship of the crowd. There were more than a handful of front row seats open throughout the show -- and I have to admit to liking having a few seats to myself and a little extra breathing room. Well worth the extra $3 asked for.

Some gripes to also get out of the way; the BACC's audio system took away from the presentation in some places. The in ring promos, at times, were unintelligible and the crowd wasn't afraid to let the workers know it, with "We Can't Hear You" chants drowning out the crackling, muffled PA. Intermission was a miss also. Once the woman (no way i could catch her name) got on the mic interviewing wrestlers and fans and working the raffle it, again, was a painful experience. I wouldn't have known if I had won anything if I had. My only other gripe would be the ring apron. It sorta looked like giant trash bags hanging from the mat. Plain black cloth would have looked better, if that becomes an option. It, in my opinion, is an eyesore that should be an early priority to remedy.

But now I guess I am being picky.

The show began with a title match. The IYFW New Breed Champion, "The Pillar" Roman Dominguez took on young Shiloh Robinson in a non title match. This was a surprisingly hard hitting match, with both men displaying some impressive skills inside and outside the ring. It ended with Robinson shocking Dominguez with a roll-up and a victory - his FIRST victory.

Shiloh Robinson has his arm raised for the very first time. Can he do it again on June 25th?

The crowd literally erupted in unison at his win and Dominguez was visibly angry. Livid even. At intermission, some time later, Dominguez could be seen milling through the small crowd dressed in a shirt, tie, blazer, and shredded jeans with the belt over his shoulder. His face was a scowl but I still offered, "Good match, champ." He barely acknowledged me and pressed on. I am pumped for June 25th when the two will face off again, this time with the IYFW New Breed title in the line. But that's a column for another day.

Up next was a tag match featuring the mammoth Super Beast in an unlikely pairing with the very italian Rocco Perrelli against CJ Scott and fan favorite Big Vigo. This match was so-so. I was impressed by Superbeast and dug his gimmick of simply barking at people, although the sweat stain left on his ring tights was ultimately distracting. Vigo was way over with the kids. The heels worked CJ over most of the match, building to a hot tag for Vigo who quickly cleared the ring and took control... Until Pierre Vachon made his way down to ringside and took Vigo's valet and dragged her down the aisle. This distracted Vigo long enough for Superbeast and Perrelli to steal a win. Apparently, Vigo and Vachon have been embroiled in a simmering feud for months with the storyline being that IYFW officials won't book the one on one match between them due to the liability involved. They despise each other THAT much. Hmmm.

Following the tag match the PA system issues came into play as announcer. Walt Ball, got in the ring and introduced the company's new authority figure, Harold Toush'ole.

IYFW Management Rep, Harold Toush'ole. Not sure what's up with the light-up necklace.

Toush'ole quickly made it clear that a.) it's pronounced toosh-olay not touch-hole, b.) he hates women's wrestling and IYFW fans won't be seeing any under his watch, and c.) he has no tolerance for the title defense methodology employed by reigning IYFW Heavyweight Champion, Guillaume deSade. Apparently the champ likes to get dq'd in order to retain his belt. At a recent show in Saratoga Springs, deSade retained by getting counted out of the ring AND the building. I guess he ran through a fire door, hopped in a car, and sped away into the night with the coveted title in hand, leaving challenger, Bobby Fish stunned in the ring. Toush'ole announced that fan favorite, Drake Evans, would get his title shot tonight... And that he had ordered the referee to NOT DQ deSade if he's clearly looking for it.

Again, the mic issues came into play during this exchange, but I enjoyed it for what it was and look forward to being the first person to start a "HARRY TOUCHHOLE" chant at the next show - which is clearly what they're looking for. I'm gonna give it to 'em.

After some research, I learned that Toush'ole is played by former IYFW wrestler, Good Lord Willing, so I imagine we will see him get physical at some point. His role is interesting to me because it isn't clear yet what his intent is. He came across as a heel with the name schtick and the "no women's wrestling!" deal... But his attitude towards uber heel deSade surprised me. Maybe he's just a dick who likes real competition? I could get behind that.

Another tag match was next pitting major asshole, Adam Badger and his mystery partner against The Uprising; the team of fan favorite "Loverboy" Ricky Williams and Badger's nemesis from wrestling school, Jamar "Magic" Justice. I call Badger a major asshole because it needs to be said. He played his role perfectly and had the crowd DESPISING him, shocking them with his loud F bombs dropped to little kids and flying middle fingers. This was a fun, fast paced match that saw Badger try to avoid an interaction with Jamar Justice as best he could. His partner surprised the crowd in former fan favorite turned meanie, Michael Monroe. Monroe was slick in the ring and also played the heel role well with great reaction when the crowd (yes, on my prompting) chanted "tighty whiteys" at the appearance of his underwear showing under his wind pants. It was good stuff. The vulgar Adam Badger and his fruit of the loom wearing new friend picked up the surprising win after Ricky Williams was taken totally out of the match, getting knocked out outside the ring, leaving "Magic" to fend for himself, to no avail. A good match that showcased Williams and Monroes in ring quality and the bad blood between Badger and Justice.

Ricky Williams ducks under a wild lariat from the returning Michael Monroe.

Next was hugely over Bobby Ocean taking on the brother of the late Luna, Pierre Vachon. This was clearly a battle of mismatched style, with the quick, fluid Ocean against the powerful brute Vachon. The vocal (and drunk) fans behind me were all about Bobby Ocean, which made this more fun to watch. I've heard mixed reviews on Ocean's ring work but I found myself impressed with how well their styles meshed on this night. Of course, this match would end early with an appearance by Big Vigo, who drew Vachon out of the ring long enough to earn a count out loss, which kept the fans happy.

Intermission followed, giving me a chance to stretch my legs, interact with a handful of wrestlers who circulated through the venue, and get in on the raffle that offered prizes including cash, some dvd's, and ringside seats for the "Coronation Cup" event at the end of June. (Update: I didn't win jack.)

Action resumed with a lack-luster 3-way bout featuring mini-ninja, Vyper, squaring off against "The Millennium Millionaire" Scott Scarsdale and the very odd Ian Daniels. Daniels is a weird dude, to say the least. He runs with a straight edge type of gimmick, yet appears to be strung out on something stronger than cough syrup. The action in this match was hit or miss and ended with Scarsdale, who spent 80% of the match outside the ring waiting for his moment, picking up the win. As I have mentioned, I have done some research on the company and it appears that Scarsdale (along with Evans) are the promoters/bookers for IYFW so I suppose it's no surprise he got the nod here. My only critique of the match is that I'm not sure what story they were trying to tell with it. But, again... This was my first exposure to the promotion, so what do I know?

Next was my favorite match of the night. The International Ego Trip, IYFW Tag Team Champions, Fronz Roddy and The Northern Studd, took on the Celtic Crew. I couldn't tell you how this match went. I was entertained through the whole match by the antics of heel Mighty Fronz Roddy on the ring apron. Simply put: he is my favorite performer in this promotion, bar none. He and I had more than one verbal exchange during the match that had my section of the crowd laughing our collective asses off. On top of his performance I was TRULY impressed by the Celtic Crew's athleticism. Liam McFerrin is a big, heavy dude. And he moved with ease and confidence. Loved, loved, loved the vibe of this match. These four guys literally swept the crowd up and took them for a ride.

As an aside, I have since found Fronz Roddy on Facebook and friend requested him. He hasn't accepted it yet but, wildly enough, it's pending and I still have moderate access to his profile and wall. He seems like a genuinely good dude. If he ever reads this... Big fan... Big fan. Accept my request, holmes! I promise not to be creepy about it. Ha.

Finally came the Main Event. I was intrigued to finally see deSade in action, as I had seen him on and off advertised for IYFW appearances over the years on TV (very effective tv spots that air during WWE and TNA programming) and was the one guy who's name I recalled. The IYFW Heavyweight Championship title was on the line with fan favorite Drake Evans getting another deserved shot. The story of the match was simple. DeSade was determined to get disqualified no matter what. Constant low blows. Not breaking submissions while Evans was tied into the ropes. Closed fists, ignoring the referees warnings. But the ref stuck to Toush'ole's earlier decree, ignoring deSade's flagrant attempts to manipulate the rules to his own end. The match wore on and finally Evans gained the upper hand, which caused deSade to duck out of the ring and head for the exits. But THIS time the fans weren't having it! No shit, a handful of die hard IYFW fans got out of their chairs and BLOCKED the EXITS! So awesome.

That allowed Evans to get his hands back on deSade, bring it back to the ring, and try to secure the win. But, damnit, deSade grabbed his belt and BLASTED Evans in the head with it. The referee finally had seen enough and called for the bell. Apparently, he'd seen enough. DeSade celebrated... Until out came Harry Touchhole himself, IYFW's new man in charge. He promptly stripped deSade of the prized belt to a huge pop from the crowd. DeSade, for lack of a better word, lost it in the ring, effectively destroying the coveted title belt before leaving like a child.

In the following weeks it was announced that the 8-man tournament held at the June 25th Coronation Cup will decide a NEW IYFW Heavyweight Champion, the winner if which will also receive a brand new title belt! Other matches announced include the return match for the New Breed title between Roman Dominguez and Shiloh Robinson and appearances by the International Ego Trip, the return of The Killer Steves, and more. They've also recently announced some participants in the big tourney, but again that's a column for another day. You can check out the lineup and more over at In Your Face Wrestling's official website.

Have I mentioned I am psyched for June 25th yet?

You Know the Story.

IYFW's Ricky Williams wasn't able to "Defy the Odds" on April 30th
Photo: Paul B.

Not sure what i'm hoping to accomplish with this blog, if anything. I suppose i'm looking for an outlet. I've been a quiet, diehard fan of professional wrestling for twenty years and have never really ever felt comfortable talking about it. You know the story. My family laughs it off. The friends who were into it with me in high school now chuckle about those "crazy days" when we would waste our Sunday nights watching dudes in tights sweat on eachother.

You know the story.

I'm not ashamed of my love for pro wrestling... but there are times when WWE/TNA make it extremely embarrassing to call yourself a wrestling fan.

Having recently discovered a local indy fed that runs shows just fifteen minutes from my house, my passion for the game has been rekindled. After attending just one show, I was struck by how hard the wrestlers worked and by the fun, simple storytelling. I have a feeling a good portion of my first few blog posts will be about In Your Face Wrestling, it's story and stories, and along the way I hope to meet like minded wrestling fans -- maybe even a few IYFW fans.

It will be impossible for me to ignore the day-to-day stories and scandals of the behind the scenes "mainstream" wrestling biz but don't see myself being one of those guys who recaps every show -- WWE/TNA frustrate me far too much to put myself or my two readers through that. I encourage conversation, debate, and all of that fun nonsense...

...if anyone ever even READS any of this tripe :)