Wow, what a match. It was, in a word, epic. Or, if I can have two words: Epically perfect. I cannot fault the whole show. Even the segments worked (and, yes, that’s a shout-out to you two, Amy and Mannie). It’s great to see that Jeff knows how to put a show together too - unlike an unnamed company which puts the match that the freaking show is named after right, smack in the middle of the show.
But ... breaking it down ...
Opening match: Really well done. I know it was a last minute grab for the writer, but it’s still a match that really works. A lot of personalities to get into that match, and sure - maybe not everyone got the rub they wanted - but it’s a really good match nonetheless. Flows, constant action, and some turn of phrases that I loved. It’s great to get new writers into the big shows more often - it REALLY brings a freshness to the whole thing, and something that is very much wanted. Congrats to the writer, and keep it up!
I liked that Jeff put on some reasonable constrictions on the segments that could appear. He said keep them short (which was very much needed and very much appropriate) and he said no ring (which not only makes sense, but combines with the ‘short’ rule to make sure the segments actually mean something). I think, given the tension of the match, a lot of the ‘regular’ segmenters out there held back. Maybe it’s because they didn’t know what/how to do a segment with the S&C match, or maybe it’s because they didn’t have the time and ideas. Whatever it was, I liked it. I liked it a lot. Why? Because it gave a BIG spotlight to the people with the guts to put themselves out there.
I mean, AC Smith and Logan Alexander ... Mannie and Amy ... two segments that get to figure, but not the ‘iconic’ names. Like I said, I liked that these people who might otherwise get lost on any other pay per view stepped up, threw their segment in, and got attention. I liked the potential set-up and tension that AC and LA stir up - gives me something specific to watch for in the big match. I mean, yeah: We’re all watching to see who won, where our megastar finished, and where our friends end up. But, if we’re also able to go “Hmmm, I wonder what happens between AC and LA ...” then there’s just something else to get us excited.
Actually, in terms of the build-up for next year, I’d like to see a little more of this: The forming of ‘personal feuds’. Even if it’s a re-show down of a feud that ended months before. Just a short segment somewhere in the lead up or on the pay per view (but not overloaded) - it adds another level of interest. Just look at what AC and LA did and ... do that! They did it well, and credit to them.
First title match for the night: The KO Champ TJ gets the win over WDWJ. Am I the only one who expects to be seeing WDWJ’s name in title matches a whole lot more? I read these promos and by golly it was close. I felt that TJ did edge out the win, by WDWJ really pushed the finish line further. Well written match. It conveyed the ‘gravity’ of the match, if that makes sense. Both men were really fighting hard in this match, which was back up/drew from the promos because they both clearly wanted it. Good use of the commentary. Some really suspenseful moments, too. TJ gets his second knockout win as champion, and ends like a beast. Not to say that WDWJ doesn’t have anything to take from the match - he has some great material here to use in the next month or two. Good work all round.
Knuckles segment. Yep, I’ve been following this identity storyline since it started. Yeah, it’s going alright. I’ve feedbacked on that previous. But, this segment is a little weird for my liking. I think ... I mean, I might have missed something somewhere ... but I think that to just drop Reginald and Jeff in as wanting an APW winner without any build? Yeah, it didn’t fit to my mind. Yeah, of course they would want an APW winner. But the build towards S&C generally (when there was some - more on that later) wasn’t much framed as ‘APW vs the wrestling world’ more ‘Holy crap! 100 people in a match!? Who will win!!!
” I think to drop this angle into your storyline, Knuckles, you needed to do it in the first show of the year, and then have Knuckles actively trying to help APW talent. Whether it be helping megastars ‘sign up’ ... comedic angles like trying to help people train ... just, a longer backstory to this segment. Then, the segment could have been Reginald ‘reminding’ Knuckles on the night, and then him flipping out. Just my thoughts - I get that it was probably a last minute thing, so I don’t want to be overly critical.
Mannie and Amy get their chance at attention. Not a bad promo - certainly better than in the past. I like the way that Mannie is now working with Amy ... rather than working with himself. You know who comes off strong from this? Both. You know who people are interested in now? Both. You know who is the ‘strongest’ going into the match now? Neither. And that’s EXACTLY what should be going on in these segments. And, a note to you both: You segments over the past two weeks have also been vastly superior to the earlier ones. Well done, both of you.
Dionysus and Envi get their segment. When I first read this ... I got all hopeful that Dionysus was going to win. I mean, it really got me behind the guy that we should be behind, whereas previously I was really going for Envi and thinking this the MegaMegaStar’s ‘final hurdle’. It flipped over on the strength of this promo, and I think we are going to all miss Dionysus on OD now, even if it’s for segments like that.
Into Mania and Gooch. A very left-field match-up, to be fair. I mean, if someone said “Who is Mania going to feud with after Azrael?” I wouldn’t have put Gooch at the top. But, it’s fresh, so I like it. Mania threw up some of the best promos I’ve seen from him; better than Christmas Chaos, I felt. But Gooch put in one HECK of a showing with his. I was legitimately surprised at how good it was. I knew Gooch had it in him, I was just wondering if he had what it takes to pull it out at the right moments. Turns out he can, so I’m sure this won’t be the ‘end’ of Gooch and title matches. But, without doubt, Mania pulled out the big guns in a big way and he gets the win here. The match? As good as every other one on the card, if not the best non-S&C match. Tight action, good flow to the writing, and good spots for both. Gooch comes out of this match not only with a lot of material to write with, but with respect. Great finish - kept the suspense and tension going right to the last minute. Again, great work all round.
Lively segment now. Another good segment with a purpose: Remind everyone that, yeah, there are other matches other than S&C. I’ll be honest; I didn’t really pay attention to the build here. I missed a couple of weeks of OD promos and results, and I just couldn’t get ‘invested’ in the match. But the segment got me excited enough to want to read the match. It reminded me, too, that when he needs to Lively can really deliver a great promo that isn’t deviant as heck.
Now for the NA Championship match. I’m not ashamed to say that the NA title (and the feuds around it that are always of an exceptional standard) is the belt I pay the third most attention to - behind the other two ‘top’ titles. Right now, I see Meltdown in transition. It’s leaving behind it’s original purpose of being a ‘flake tester’/‘in the waiting’ show to being not just a stand-alone show of its own ... but, at times, one of the most interesting. It’s amazing just how much talent APW has attracted that the ‘third tier’ show is putting out feuds and matches and results that beat a whole lot of feds out there. Or maybe it’s the awesome management? Who knows
Anyway, the match. Very well written. If it wasn’t for the ‘fresh’ factor that Gooch-Mania had, this would be my non-S&C match of the night. Kane is one of my favourites at the moment, Logan is always reliable, and bringing them together is just awesome. As I said, the match was wonderfully written: Hard hitting, lots of action, and good flow. The action build on top of each other and there was good attention to detail. Good length, too. Scrolling over it, it might seem long, but it’s well written enough to actually seem a lot shorter. This match is exactly what both megastars wanted, I imagine: BIg show exposure. How long until Alexander is called up is all I’m left wondering after this match.
Next up, a really important match. Who wrote this match? Glorious. It was amazing. It was astounding. It was perfect. I’ve changed my mind: This is the non-S&C match of the night. Heck, it’s the main event of a pay per view right there. No one has the upper hand here, not even after the finish. I mean, Envi wins ... and Dionysus is the one who gets the real cheers. Commentary felt like it was feeding the whole thing steroids: It was really effectively used. Long chunks of action, which was appropriate here. No dilly-dally. Then, varied up with quick-paced. Excellent use of flow and pacing. And then, right after the finish ... I could hear the arena go deathly silent. Truly, the match was the perfect capstone. A great way to go out, too. No big speech, no big gesture, a very demure and simple end to a man who has done a lot for OD.
Straight into the Xtreme title match. Good match - quick pace (very quick action from the start). Good flow, and an appropriate level of action. Lots of blood, and that’s what the match is all about. And to retain in this fashion, on this pay per view, and against this opponent is a real boost to AC. Whoever wrote the match captured the intensity of both (Lively especially) in wanting to win, which really added to it, got me interested. Ending was ok - I think it could have been a bit more ‘comprehensive’. Great work though, for everyone involved here.
Hell-to-the-n’th promo from Envi. And sets up exactly what Envi needed: A declaration that Mania had better watch his ass! Mania vs. Envi at Mania. Can anyone else say: FREAKING EXCITED!? Great promo, and serves a good purpose: Start a storyline. Gloating is a great way to get the heat.
Now, the world heavyweight title match. Poor Atken: He only had another two shows to build a feud here, like with me. But you both worked together really well here and you clearly had an idea (well, one of you did at least) of how you wanted to frame the match. It was a good job getting to the point where you got. Anyway, the match itself was written very well - a meticulous attention to detail (by Callahan, right?). Interesting that they both start off with a high level of actually wrestling, going so far as to have the commentators comment on the chain wrestling going on. I’d never conceptualized these two as ‘technical wrestlers’. Commentary was pretty good. I had no idea who would win this match, not before it or even reading it. Seriously, the promos were close, ad the match was so evenly balanced. Whenever I thought someone had got up and that was a sign they were about to start the end, it reversed and BAM! The other person was up. Really good writing there, tense stuff! The win certifies Atken as not only the champion, but the top tier, main event talent that 2012 showed us he’d come to be. Well done!
Noble-Hart brawl. Because, that’s what it was, wasn’t it? It was hardly a match with rules and ... stuff. Look, I feel bad reviewing this because half the parties involved was suspended and couldn’t contribute to it. It was excellent for what it was. But, obviously the build wasn’t idea and the long-term ‘input’ into it isn’t there either. The descent of Noble is redeemed though ... which I found odd. Are we getting a role-reversal at Mania (assuming they both survived the night!?)? Where Noble is realises how wrong he was, and Hart is now the one going off the rails? Yeah, this match wasn’t ideal ... but I feel that it has laid the groundwork for something even better than what we would have gotten. The actual match itself: Very well written. Clearly channels the emotion-charged atmosphere, has a good use of the characters actually talking, and then a complete and utter domination by the end by Noble. Yeah, for what it was, it was great.
First ad for Rasslemania. It seems to get earlier and earlier every year!
And now ... Rumble match. Sucks with the first, what? 4 people no-showing. Really means the match starts on a downer. I liked that Dangerous came in and filled the void - very appropriate. I liked that Jeff was in the commentary to give us some details as wrestlers came and went. How anyone can keep track of that much action ... wow! I had to read very slowly to make sure I didn’t miss anything, and writing it would need even more attention to detail. Not sure how I feel about this new policy of ‘if you promo’d you get an elimination’ because now a whole HEAP of people have got a single elimination, and no one can really adopt an ‘eliminator’ role out of the match. The ironman role, yeah that lives on (and congrats to Rex for getting that!), but there’s no clear ‘strong’ showing which should be a reward for some of the standout promos that don’t make it to the final 10. But that’s the writer’s and organiser’s prerogative.
Constant eliminations kept the match from getting bogged down though, kept the match moving, and made it better. Interference by Level-One; who’d have thought it was to take Biggs out!? Some people I thought would make the top 10 at least went out pretty early, which threw me off and got me more excited for the ending. Some of the no-shows were VERY disappointing. I enjoyed the fact that later on (probably when Biggs took over), the eliminations got less frequent and the action gets more sustained. Liked that Sally got to work with CJ a LONG time since we last crossed paths! Anyway, a really good part to the match: The part that we’re all looking forward to (other than the ultimate ending!). Great work, Jeff. You have no doubt earned the respect of everyone who can appreciate the hard work that goes into this.
The final four: Great mix. After reading it ... yeah, I think I can see how it ended up this way. That’s not to say I disagree with it at all. The match goes to a WHOLE new level here! I loved the rumble, I truly did. But the final stages, I felt, really capped off the whole thing AND made the match. I think, as the Rumble got to the final four ... I was a little ‘over’ the rumble part and wanted to see this go to the next parts. And who doesn’t love a steel cage match? Anyone notice that the order of elimination was the final order of the match? Great action, great flow, great intensity.
The final three: I was wary of the street fight element. I wasn’t sure if that would really work with the whole match. I mean, in between a cage and a cell match ... a street fight? But, it worked in the end, if at least because it was seriously brutal and a great display of wrestling AND non-wrestling. Great job there (Biggs again?) in getting across that balance. I was surprised at how well all these wrestlers were holding up by this point haha! Some good use of the commentary here. Rex gets a great showing here, seriously. Big rub here, lots to take out of it.
The final pairing: I was shocked to get there in the end. I only wrote something that entertained me, and it was the first promo I wrote that was actually fun since ... wow ... I don’t know, Rasslemania last year? So to get to the final against the guy who dominated APW last year was an honour. Great display of wrestling in a cell match. Really, whoever was writing these latter stages really knows their stuff and really knows how to get it into a match. Great psychology in the match, great use of all the elements (the cell, the crowd, the order they came in) - it was really tight, really interesting and unique. Big finish, too, but comprehensive. No faults in this stage at all. Great up and down action for both, but Terry comes through with the big strength, all but destroys Sally, and gets the big win. A huge congratulations to you there, Terry. It caps off a year where you’ve won, well, everything worth winning!
And that, as you say, is that!
” I think to drop this angle into your storyline, Knuckles, you needed to do it in the first show of the year, and then have Knuckles actively trying to help APW talent. Whether it be helping megastars ‘sign up’ ... comedic angles like trying to help people train ... just, a longer backstory to this segment. Then, the segment could have been Reginald ‘reminding’ Knuckles on the night, and then him flipping out. Just my thoughts - I get that it was probably a last minute thing, so I don’t want to be overly critical.
