This Saturday night, In Your Face Wrestling makes it's debut in Whitehall, NY - the first of 4 announced consecutive events in the Whitehall Athletic Club. When we talked to Drake Evans last week on WrestlefudgeTV, he admitted that this was a bit of a gamble for the promotion. A show more than an hour north of the BACC in Ballston Spa, a venue that has quietly become the defacto In Your Face Arena, has it's risks but banking on creating immediate, new repeat customers in a brand new market is riskier. However... It is worth noting that Whitehall is just a stones throw from Rutland, VT (where the promotion has its roots) and will likely (hopefully) draw in some of those old fans. In addition, the success of the Memories, Moments, and Mayhem event as well as the impressive turnout for the World of Hurt Wrestling REUNION show in Glens Falls has created the air of a bit of an indy renaissance in the area that IYFW is clearly capitalizing on (and whispers of other promoters organizing future local shows abound).
Don't misunderstand me -- this is not all doom and gloom for IYFW, but I *do* know a handful of regular fans south of Albany that aren't interested in making the drive (the lazy, listless bastards!) and won't be coming. However... You can always count on the Wrestlefudge Contingent when it comes to IYFW and we are excited about the Whitehall shows as well as their impressively ambitious Summer schedule!
Let's take the "Brawl", for example...
Four matches announced (yeah, I'm assuming that the teased Vinyer/Wolf bout will go down) and some interesting subtext in the background. First and foremost, there's the Vigo/Evans/Dominguez cluster-F lingering just on the peripheral of the IYFW Championship title scene. I love all of these guys, along with Vachon, but this whole feud needs some kind of closure. Vachon has been positioned well above just about everyone in the promotion since last October (which is why I REALLY dig his opponent on this card) and, to be truthful, the rest of the roster has kind of suffered in my opinion. There needs to be some closure OR if a guy like Evans isn't going to be Champion, he needs to be as far away from the champ (or the hunt) as possible to keep it fresh and to keep him viable (using him as the prime example). I know I'm kind of rambling, but this has been gnawing at me for a while. On the last INTERFACE, Joey made it clear that IYFW was going the "Keep These Three Guys Apart" storyline route, which made the Vachon/Vigo feud last year a little more interesting, but it's also one of those things the IYFaithful have seen before. Recently. Speaking of Evans...
Drake Evans vs "MegaStar" Michael Monroe
I am expecting a really good match from these two! Monroe is coming off a fun little series with the Northern Studd that was capped off with a tag loss at MMM in May and Drake is Drake. As good as Monroe has been at the last few IYFW shows, he hasn't captured the energy and spirit that he seemed to have in the ring when paired with former tag partner, Adam Badger. Hoping to see him come alive in Whitehall against a guy that has a solid match with anyone in Evans.
Paul's Prediction: DRAKE EVANS
"The Wolf" CJ Scott vs Foxx Vinyer
IYFW is billing this feud as stemming from the In Your Face Rumble last month... But let's be honest. This is clearly a result of the last episode of WrestlefudgeTV where Foxx Vinyer called in and "called out" CJ Scott. The Wolf vs the Fox will be interesting! Both of these guys are slick in the ring and have something to prove. Scott has had a tenuous relationship with IYFW of late and wants to show the "office" and the fans that he is as good as he knows he is. We at the 'fudge break his balls a lot, but it's honestly out of respect. This is actually a landmark match for Vinyer in Ballston Spa. This will be Vinyer's first singles match in IYFW and against a solid opponent. Guessing he'll work babyface? Again... Really looking forward to this match and am expecting a Scott promo response to Vinyer before Saturday night. Wondering if we might see an appearance from Syanide? He was all over CJ in the Rumble and we all know their history. Nudge-nudge.
Paul's Prediction: CJ SCOTT
IYFW Tag Team Championship
Blood Money vs The Uprising (c)
The story here is simple. Blood Money has earned a tag title shot... But which members of Blood Money are going to challenge for the coveted straps? Scott Scarsdale, Michael Anthony, Robert L. Coleman and even Guillaume de Sade will be in the building! We know that Anthony is out of the running... I'm expecting one of the two to be Scarsdale. Obviously, you can expect to see another stellar performance out of Justice and Williams. Come on.
...come on.
Paul's Prediction: BLOOD MONEY
IYFW Championship
Pierre "The Beast" Vachon vs Nocturne
This will be awesome. As stated earlier, Vachon has been built up as a beast both in fact and in name. He has beat every name contender set before him and his Mandible Claw has established itself as a dangerous match-winner. WAY excited to see Nocturne pitted against him here. Noc is such an important part of this area's indy scene and this is a nice nod to him. Obviously, he isn't a guy that one might see as an IYFW big title contender, but he absolutely brings something new and fresh to the table. In September, Nocturne will be competing at WrestleJam 9 with his very career on the line. Is this his big chance to walk in with some gold? I would personally LOVE it. Will it happen? I don't expect it to, sadly.
Paul's Prediction: PIERRE VACHON
Make the trip to see this show! IYFW has been on a roll and we have to assume it will continue! I hope the citizens of Whitehall have been warned about what is coming their way. It's going to be a HOT summer and it really begins this Saturday night!
And, hey... Where's Fronz?
