COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING SUPERSTARS IN TORONTO LIVE COVERAGE
By Mike Johnson on 2012-04-14 21:25:00
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of Pro Wrestling Superstars' debut in Toronto at the Doubletree Hilton as part of www.wrestlereunion.com

Pre-Show Notes: The Bruno Sammartino-Larry Zbyszko faceoff tonight is off as Zbyszko didn't get a renewed passport in time to make the trip to Toronto. There was some heat on Zbyszko as he was asked to order the passport with expedited shipping but didn't so. Zbyszko will be replaced by Shawn Blanchard....Smith Hart is here visiting, as are a ton of Canadian independent wrestlers.

PWS started with Sal Corrente welcoming everyone to the event and thanking them for their support this weekend. Corrente said that before they get started, he wanted to bring someone special. Out came WWE Hall of Famer Howard Finkel. Howard said that this was his first time here and he loved being here and thanked everyone responsible. Howard said that he's been coming here for years and he knows that Toronto is A Plus. He hopes everyone has the perfect end to their day and night and said, "On with the show."

Michael Elgin vs. El Generico.

They locked up and Elgin manhandled Generico into the corner. He then shoved Generico down. The crowd chanted, "Ole Ole Ole!" Elgin shoulderblocked Generico down. Generico came back with a running boot to the face in the corner. He charged but Elgin moved. Generico drilled him with an elbow then came off the ropes with a leaping rana.

Elgin rolled to the outside. Generico faked a dive but bounced back into the ring. Elgin missed a clothesline and was drilled with a series of chops then beaten in the corner with a series of punches. The crowd chanted along in Spanish. Generico came off the top with a bodypress but was caught and slammed. Elgin worked him over on the back. Elgin whipped him hard into the corner.

Elgin continued working over Generico as the fans tried to rally him. Generico drilled Elgin with a series of rights but was cut off. He came back with several chops and clotheslines but Elgin didn't go down. He finally took the big man down with a leap into a dropkick. Elgin went to the floor, where Generico hit a flying dive over the top to the floor. The crowd chanted, "That was awesome."

Back in the ring, Generico went for a tornado DDT but was caught and turned into an over the knee spinebuster for a two count. Elgin drilled him with a running cloithesline in the corner. He went for a back suplex but Generico escaped and landed on his feet. Generico nailed a sit down powerbomb for a two count.

Generico missed his running boot in the corner. Elgin nailed him and drilled him with a sitdown driver for a two count. Elgin caught a running boot and whipped Generico into the opposite corner. Generico caught him on the charge and nailed a t-bone suplex into the corner. Generico nailed the big boot, then drilled Elgin with a brainbuster for the three count.

Your winner, El Generico!

Really good opener.

Shawn Spears with Jimmy Hart vs. Tito Santana with Rick Martel.

Spears was Gavin Spears for a short time in the WWE version of ECW and was never really given a chance there, although he's a strong worker. The crowd chanted "Tito" as Strike Force came to the ring.

They locked up and Santana backed Spears into the corner. Hart went nuts on the megaphone and people chanted for him. Spears controlled Santana early. When Santana came back, Spears claimed that he was hooking the tights and the hair. Spears began stalling and went to the outside. When he returned, Santana controlled him in the ring, leading to another retreat.

They locked up again. Santana was backed into the corner and when the referee broke them up, Spears cheapshotted Santana. Spears worked over Santana's back as Hart implored him to stay on Tito. He worked over Santana with a series of right hands. Tito fired back with a number of punches. Santana whipped him into the corner and charged but Spears pulled him knees up.

Spears locked Tito in a side chinlock. Tito started to fire up but was cut off. Spears went to the top for a splash but missed. He still cut off Santana. Hart tripped Santana when he fired up, so Rick Martel chased him out. Spears was distracted, leaping to Santana catching him in a small package for the pin.

Your winner, Tito Santana!

Pretty elementary but for this audience, it was fine nostalgia. Spears looked really good.

They introduced Brooke Tessmacher, who said hello to the crowd and said she was here to support some damn fine wrestling.

The Super Smash Brothers vs. The Great Outdoors (Jake Manning & Grizzly Redwood) vs. Asylum & Adam Page vs. Rhett Titus & Caleb Konley with Lia Von Dutch.

Page and Redwood started off. Redwood was nailed with a armdrag. Redwood tagged out to Rhett Titus. The fans chanted"Hepatitus" at him. Titus and Page went face to face. Page tagged Titus' partner, Konley. They tried to tag out but no one would let them and dropped down to the floor, pounding the mat. They "faked" wrestled. Konley covered Titus so everyone broke it up.

Page worked over Titus and then tagged out to the Smash Brothers, who worked over Titus for several near falls. Player Uno worked over Konley, chopping him. Manning and Redwood came in and drilled Konkey with a series of bulldog takedowns. They doubled on Konley for a two count.

Titus and Konley took over and worked over Redwood with a series of moves. Titus nailed a German suplex for a two count. The babyfaces tried to rally Redwood but Konley matained control. Titus catapulted Redwood's throat under the bottom rope. He choked Redwood against the ropes. Titus went for an over the shoulder move but Redwood dropped down. He went for the tag but Manning was nailed off the apron.

Player Uno tagged in, as did Konley. Everyone tagged in and did a crazy succession of highspots and reversals. It was really good and fun, but too fast paced to recap. You'll have to buy the DVD. Player Dos hit a twisting dive off the top to floor. They then hit a double team Buff Blockbuster on Konley for the pin.

Your winners, The Super Smash Brothers!

Fun eight man.

Sal Corrente introduced Gene Okerlund. Okerlund said it's been a great evening with more to come. He introduced Roddy Piper for Piper's Pit.

Piper said it was his first time here and said, "Holy cow." The crowd chanted for Piper. He told the crowd that he loved them. He said that he was supposed to fight Terry Funk tonight. He said Funk is one of the greatest guys he's ever known. Piper did some Funk impressions and talked about being hit by the mic in LA.

Piper talked about WrestleReunion and said that it gives a place for the younger guys to appear. He said that there's no place for guys to work anymore. He said that WWE is doing great and said that he just did Smackdown, then made a spitting noise, joking he's been fired there five times. Piper said that he saw the last match and it was amazing so he thought maybe he should let someone else do the Pit.

Piper said that he wanted the guy who got pinned to come out and host his own Pit and then Piper will tell him how he did. Konley came to the ring, As he did, Piper joked about Legends House and said, "Ha, my career is over." Piper said that in WWE, you get told you have three minutes to tell people who you are and told Konley to tell Piper who he is. Konley cut a good heel promo about hating Piper when he was a kid and then realizing that he wanted people to hate him too. It was good.

Piper said that was giving Konley some advice and that was to never let go of the microphone. Piper told him to introduce his guest and whispered a name in Konley's ear. Piper said that if he messes this up, he'll club him like a baby seal. Konley introduced Bruno Sammartino.

Bruno came to the ring. Piper said it was a pleasure to have him here and joked that Bruno still scares him. Piper said that this is a legend, since the word gets thrown around way too much. Konley asked Bruno how he is doing and Bruno said he was great. Konley asked him about where he was born and when he came to the United States. Konley said that he thought he could benchpress more than Bruno and Bruno talked about his own benchpress records. Konley asked him if he was on the juice. Piper took over and set the stage for Bruno to talk about doing 38 reps of 330 pounds. Piper then led the crowd in a Legend chant.

Konley asked Bruno how he thought he would fare against Caleb. Bruno said he was an old man and retired. Bruno said that he may be talented but in his day, he picked up and slammed Haystacks Calhoun. He still runs 5 miles several times a week and pumps iron every other day. Sammartino said that if Konley tried something, Bruno would face him and give him a little spanking.

Piper said that Konley did a good job and told him that when he had that chance, people smacked him and pushed him around. He started hitting Konley, who fired back. They slapped each other and finally Piper got the better of him and ran Konley off. He told Konley to work on winning matches and go back to kindergarden. Piper then raised Bruno's arm.

A little long and while I liked the idea of Konley getting the rub here, I think fans would have been just as happy with Piper and Bruo.

Dave Finlay vs. Harry Smith

They had some nice back and forth wrestling early. Finlay spotted a short woman in the crowd (about 4'6") and played off of her. The fans chanted "Mrs. Swoggle." They actually brought her into the ring for a comedy spot. The crowd loved that.

After that, they went into some good back and forth wrestling on the mat. Smith controlled Finlay on the mat with a side headlock. Finlay fired back up but was cut off and brought back to the mat. Finlay finally backed him into the corner, forcing a break and broke clean.

They locked up again with Harry grabbing a side headlock. Smith was sent into the ropes and shoulderblocked Finlay down. Finlay sidestepped a charge, sending Harry to the floor. When Harry went back into the ring, Finlay kicked the ropes and crotched him, turning heel (I think). He attacked Smith on the floor and rammed him backwards into the ringpost.

Returning to the mat, Finlay controlled him with knees to the back and pulled him into a surfboard position. Finlay drilled him and covered him for a two count. He fired with shots to the back and uppercuts. Finlay tossed Smith to the floor. When Smith returned, Finlay worked over his arm and drilled him with a short arm clothesline. He dropped a knee and covered him for a two count.

Smith mounted a comeback with a series of clotheslines and right hands. Finlay kicked him off a charge but when Finlay tried to come off the ropes, Harry nailed him and turned him over into the Sharpshooter. Finlay made it to the ropes but was caught with a running powerslam for the pin.

Your winner, Harry Smith!

Solid back and forth match with some really nice matwork. Finlay is just out of this world as a worker.

They embraced after the match to a loud round of applause. Big Finlay chant.

Vader vs. The Necro Butcher for the first time ever.

I don't know about you, but I think Lou Thesz is on the edge of his seat watching this one from above! OK, maybe not.

They locked up and Vader muscled him into the corner. They locked up again with the same result but this time, Vader drilled him with a series of punches in the corner. He whipped Necro into the ropes and drilled him with a double arm clothesline and continued battering Necro in the corner.

Vader drilled Necro with another chest bursting double clothesline, then peppered him with punches. He choked Necro against the corner and drilled him across the chest with hard shots. Necro poked him in the eye to back Vader. Necro backed him into the corner with uppercuts and chops. Vader fired back with punches and they battled back and forth.

Necro was shoved off but was fired with a series of punches. Vader slammed him and nailed the Vader splash for a two count. Vader chokeslammed him and scored the pin.

Your winner, Vader!

OK but disapointing given the aura of the brawlers in the ring on paper. It was probably an unfair expectation but I was hoping for something a little more out of control.

Shane Douglas and Dominic DeNucci with Bruno Sammartino vs. Lord Zoltan & Shawn Blanchard with JJ Dillon.

Gene Okerlund handled the ring announcements.

There was a nice "Franchise" chant. Douglas took the mic but it wouldn't work. They ran him another to the ring. He asked Toronto how they were doing. He said that he heard a few people asking for a few shoot comments. He said that he sees the target right before him. Douglas said that he's known JJ Dillon for a long time and he represented a jackass named Dick Flair. Douglas said that he's brought a real legend to be in their corner and gave a hell of an intro for Bruno Sammartino.

Blanchard is replacing Larry Zbyszko.

A really nice "Thank you Bruno" chant. Blanchard and Douglas started out. They locked up and went back and forth in the ring. They locked up again and Blanchard sent Douglas to the mat, then started celebrating. They locked up again and this time Douglas was whipped into the ropes. Douglas reversed and hit a clothesline and several hiptosses. He locked in an abdominal stretch.

DeNucci tried to stop Zoltan from interfering but was admonished by the referee. They allowed Douglas to be hit but he regained control and went back to the stretch. Douglas was sent into the heels' corner, where Zoltan worked him over. DeNucci and Zoltan almost got into it.

Douglas made the hot tag to DeNucci, who covered Blanchard for a two count. DeNucci nailed him with punches and weak chops. Zoltan tagged in and worked over DeNucci. The crowd chanted for Dominic. They worked him over in the corner. Zoltan began working over DeNucci's arm for a long time. Douglas tagged in and backdropped Blanchard. Zoltan used a claw to work him over but Douglas made the comeback, slamming him into the turnbuckles.

Zoltan attacked him and worked over Douglas. DeNucci returned to the ring and all four brawled. Douglas nailed the belly to belly suplex.

Your winners, Shane Douglas & Dominic DeNucci!

WAAAAAAAAY TOO LONG. This should have been short and sweet and while the crowd was really, really forgiving, this went nowhere and it wasn't good, but really, you gotta understand the

Douglas did a nice speech after putting over DeNucci, which was classy.

LuFisto vs. Kalamity.

They started hot with some really good back and forth wrestling and kicks. Lufisto grabbed an anklelock of sorts but Kalamity made it to the ropes. Kalamity took control and charged, drilling a knee into Lufisto into the ropes. She drilled LuFisto with a stomp, then cinched in a rear chinlock.

LuFisto nailed Kalamity after avoiding a charge. LuFisto worked over Kalamity with a series of chops in the corner. Kalamity cut her off and then drilled Lufisto with a pair of driving knees. They went back and forth with forearms and punches. They began nailing each other at the same time, then charged and collided. Both went down.

Kalamity drilled her with a series of chops but Lufisto fired up with a series of senton splashes and a running double kick in the corner that propelled her outside to the floor, landing on her feet. Kalamity cut her off with a jawbreaker and a series of kicks for a two count.

Lufisto slipped out of a DVDR and nailed a sick looking back suplex. She ascended to the top but was cut off. They battled on the ropes. Kalamity went to the top and they exchanged headbutts. LuFisto nailed her and hit a top rope double stomp. LuFisto speared her several ties and locked on a front guillotine choke for the submission but Kalamity broke free.

They began kicking and stiffing the hell out of each other. LuFisto got the better of it for another near fall. They got a "This is awesome" chant. Kalamity hit a DVDR for a two count. Lufisto rolled her up for a two count. They did a series of near falls before battling back and forth with strikes.

LuFisto nailed a spinning backhanded fist and went to the top. She nailed a top rope splash but Kalamity came back with a Michinoku Driver for the pin.

Your winner, Kalamity!

The Honkytonk Man came out and lip synched his theme song. That never, ever, EVER gets old for me.

Roderick Strong vs. Jushin "Thunder" Liger.

Nice Liger chant when he hit the ring. I never get tired of getting the chance to see Liger live. I mean, it's freakin' Jushin Liger!

They had some good back and forth wrestling early and then faced off. Liger took Strong to the mat and tied him up. Liger pulled him backward hard into a chinlock but Strong grabbed the ropes. They faced off again, this time with Strong working over Liger's arm and leg.

They faced off again and shoved each other. Strong sent Liger into the ropes but he was shoulderblocked down. Strong chopped Liger hard. Liger threw him to the outside, nailed a dropkick through th ropes and hit a flip bump off the apron to the floor. Strong staggered around the ring, trying to regain his composure.

Back in the ring, Liger tried to avoid a charge but was caught in a Strong backbreaker. Strong stomped the hell out of Liger and chopped him hard in the corner. Strong suplexed Liger over for a two count. Strong chopped Liger hard. Liger fired back and finally nailed a nice back throw suplex. Both men were down but fought to their feet. Liger continued to control Strong and locked on the bow and arrow.

Strong came back with a lift into a sideslam for a two count. He peppered Liger's chest with chops and nailed a running clothesline. Liger was locked in a Boston Crab. Liger fought his way to the ropes. Strong went for a suplex but Liger broke free and nailed a series of chops. Strong cut him off with a running knee to the gut and a gutbuster. They continued to battle back and forth until Liger nailed a superplex.

Liger went back to the top but Strong attacked him. Liger went for a sunset flip off the ropes but Strong held on. Liger held onto him and rose, nailing a running Ligerbomb for a two count. They exchanged near falls. Strong ducked a clothesline and used a landslide for a two count. He drilled Liger and nailed an over the knees backbreaker for a two count.

Strong nailed a sitdown powerbomb and scored the pin.

Your winner, Roderick Strong!

Very, very good back and forth match. The crowd seemed legitimately surprised by the finish.

Strong helped Liger up and raised his hand after.

Hardcore Rules: Raven & CW Anderson vs. Tommy Dreamer & Rhino.

As you would expect, there was a big ECW chant at the bell.

Dreamer and Raven started out face to face and circled each other. Raven backed off and tagged Anderson. Anderson and Dreamer locked up. Anderson grabbed a side headlock but was sent into the ropes. Each missed punches and clotheslines and faced off.

Dreamer got in Raven's face and spit at him. He and Anderson then locked up again. Dreamer went for a sunset flip but Anderson rolled through and they went back and forth. Rhino tagged in. He and Anderson locked up. Rhino shoulderblocked him down and clotheslined Anderson hard.

Rhino sent Anderson into the corner and workd him over with a series of punches. He and Dreamer double teamed Anderson. CW cut him off and tagged out to Raven, who worked over Dreamer and choked him in the corner. Raven ripped at Dreamer's face and distracted the referee, allowing CW to choke him against the ropes. Raven went to grab Dreamer who pulled him into an inside cradle for a two count but was nailed.

Anderson tagged back in and continued to work over Dreamer on the mat, running his elbow over Dreamer's throat and chest. Anderson nailed him with a elbow to the back of the neck but was drilled with an elbow as Dreamer charged. Dreamer made the tag to Rhino, who cleaned house on both Raven and Anderson. Rhino drilled Raven in the corner with a shoulderblock and then sent Anderson into him. He nailed a belly to belly suplex on Anderson and teased the gore but was pulled out of the ring.

Raven and Anderson worked on Rhino with stomps. Dreamer joined the fray and finally went facr to face with Raven. He was about to drill Raven with a punch when Anderson blocked it. Dreamer kicked him and went for a DDT. Raven could have made the save but walked out. Dreamer let him go and chased Raven up the aisle. They brawled back to the ring. All four brawled through the crowd. Rhino and Raven beat each other over a few ringside tables that vendors were using.

On the other side of the ring, Dreamer rang Anderson's nether-regions with the ring bell. Dreamer and Raven finally met in the center of the ring and battled back and forth with punches. Rhino and CW battled into the crowd. Dreamer brought a chair and a table into the ring. Raven nailed a drop toehold into the chair for a two count.

Rhino drilled Raven and went for the pin. Anderson broke it up and superkicked Rhino. Dreamer and Anderson battled back and forth until Anderson nailed an awesome spinebuster. Anderson set up a table in the corner. He whipped Dreamer into it but was caught and nailed with the Spicoli Driver for the pin.

Your winners, Tommy Dreamer and Rhino!

Solid ECW style match.

After the match, Raven tried to blame Anderson, who superkicked him in the face to close the show.

The crowd chanted "Awesome weekend".

[source = pwinsider]