Jeff Cobb & Matthew Riddle vs. Timothy Thatcher & WALTER (PWG 1/12/18)
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla is typically not my cup of tea. The promotion seems to have only gotten more self-indulgent as time has gone by and Meltzer appreciation became omnipresent over every show. When folks in the crowd direct their eyes toward Big Daddy Meltz after a match to see if he’ll throw up the FIVE STAR FINGERS you know the wrestling isn’t aimed at you. Then you have a match like this where your lid gets flipped in the middle of the night because Super Danny has decided to throw a super shooty match onto his annual mystery card show.
Man, RINGKAMPF brings out the best from their opponents. I mean that generally and also in this specific instance where Chosen Bros. could easily work a highspot heavy hoss tag. Instead, we get Riddle and Cobb embracing their backgrounds, a former UFC fighter and Olympic wrestler respectfully. You probably didn’t need those details, if you have ever watched one of their matches you probably have heard those talking points ad nauseam but I’m jotting it down for flavor text, okay?
Structurally the match isn’t going to blow your mind. Neither team seems to be bringing in complex strategies. RINGKAMPF and Chosen Bros. both want to grind out the other side. Early on Chosen Bros. are the ones to do just that, wearing down Thatcher. Riddle starts targeting the ribs and I’m sucker for throwing them money in the bank strikes. Not always necessary to aim for the dome when midsection is a lot bigger of a target.
WALTER is an incredible hot tag. Brother can just come in and hoss it up with nasty lariats and mean throws. Like the good lord intended.
The RINGKAMPF control segment is less flashy than Chosen Bros. but so deliberate. Again, back to the story of both team wanting to grind the other one out. An incredibly hulking tug of war. Once they get ahold of Cobb RINGKAMPF ain’t letting go baby. Riddle want to look pretty on the apron? Eat a boot from WALTER. No one wants to eat a boot from WALTER. Cobb wants to tag out? *Extreme Lee Corso voice* NOT SO FAST! Thatcher pulls Riddle from the apron. What a hoot.
The ending stretch puts a lovely bow on top of it. Both teams had pulled each other to the edge of the water pit at various points (my understanding of tug of war comes completely from Saved By The Bell). Each time a hot tag was made and momentum was swayed. Once momentum is started in a lovely rendition of tug of war all you can do is try and stick your feet into the earth and hope you can stop the flow. The ending isn’t either team going on this incredible rally. Chosen Bros stuck their feet into the ground and the units have to use whatever they have left in their presumably gassed out bodies (not to be confused with gassed up) to seal the deal. Oh, and there’s a BIG BOY DOOMSDAY DEVICE that I’m still salivating over.
PS I finished this review without mentioning that Cobb got his nose busted open which is how you know that it was indeed a shoot. How did I forget to type that? Dang, alright, Cheerio.
Spandex Are Still Cool 