Helloween show, Saturday October 24th 2009
Stew's Review
In results from Helloween...
1. "Shooter" Steve Quintain and "The Dandy Highwayman"* Phil Bedwell fought to a double DQ
2. "The Underdog" Alex Young won a three way over Victor Dale & Kiefer Knowles
3. "Pure Athlete" Aron Frost pinned T-Bone
4. Brad Slayer pinned "Delicious" Danny Blaze with a schoolboy and handful of fights.
5. Zebra Kid & Faith Lehaine defeated Brett Meadows & Britani Knight.
Quintain vs Bedwell was a rematch from Towerlands Inferno. The HEW incarnation of Steve Quintain is weird. Far more aggressive than he would be in WAW, but it has the unfortunate side effect of making him considerbly less likeable as a babyface because he's on top most of the time and you can't get behind him when he's being a bully. For example, the old dear who was sitting near me was getting increasingly appalled that Bedwell was just getting tee'd off on both inside and outside the ring that she started openly cheering for Bedwell. The finish of the match was a double DQ after both men had pushed down referee Dave Finch. HEW Commissioner Miss Cox came out post match and basically wrapped up the match nicely by saying "I'm not sure I like the finish of this match. In fact, I'm not sure I like the way this match went down". Anyway, she explained that at the earliest opportunity, there would be a third match, with no DQ.
Got a first chance to see Victor Dale on this show. He's another Norwegian import, and he's very good based on this performance. I didn't particularly enjoy the three way, but that's more because I'm sick of three way matches with the usual "heels beat up babyface, then pull each other off pins" and the "move, pin, other guy breaks it up" spots. Kiefer is working on his look, which is good. I got a semi Tenzan vibe, and why not. Anyway, Alex Young pinned Victor while Kiefer was outside the ring - so Kiefer wasn't able to pass this second Devils Playboys test.
Aron Frost and T-Bone was on a different level to the rest of the stuff up to now, and main event aside, was the best match on the show. A combination of Aron being genuinely beloved, T-Bone being a great antagonising heel, and both men having a physical style. My only complaint is that it may have gone a bit too long.
Never seen Brad Slayer before, but he was quite good in there with Danny Blaze. It was funny because he came out looking fairly nondescript, but then declared himself to be the sexiest man alive (or words to that effect) which meant that he immediately had some sort of dispute with the flamboyant Blaze. Fairly decent match, with a shocking finish as Slayer won via pinfall after a low blow, schoolboy and handful of tights. I assume he'll be back.
Main event was by far the hottest match on the show, and was match of the night as it continued the overarching storyline that has run through HEW for the last two years. Faith Lehaine was replacing Sweet Saraya in the match, and while I said she looked a bit lost with Britani last month, I have to give her credit for her performance last night. She did well, and she took her lumps and bumps, as she was the subject of an extended beatdown both by Britani AND Brett Meadows. When Zebra eventually did come in, the match went into overdrive, as he beat the crap out of both opponents. Finish came when Sweet Saraya turned up unexpectedly, and hit Meadows (who had Lehaine across his shoulders). This resulted in Lehaine being dropped across Britani for the pin.
The big news coming out of the end of the show came when challenges were laid down between Sam Knee and Sweet Saraya to conclude their two year feud at the Christmas show in Takeley with loser leaves HEW stipulations. Commissioner Cox came out and laid out the following two big events...
At Towerlands on Friday 13th November, Brett Meadows will put the HEW Title on the line against former WWE/WCW Tag Team Champion Chuck Palumbo!
Back at Takeley on Saturday 19th December, Sam Knee faces Sweet Saraya in a no DQ, loser leaves HEW match, with Commissioner Cox as special referee, and The Devils Playboys are banned from ringside.
Acknowledgment and thanks to Stew.
