GCW:Hit Em Up 2024

Broski Jimmy v. Jordan Oliver 

This match should have been better. It was centered around some Long Neck guy. This match was very slow. Even though they were trying to sell Jordan Oliver's knee being injured it was still way too slow for me. 

Jordan Oliver won via pinfall 

2/5

Sandra Moone v. Megan Bayne 

Megan Bayne continues to impress me. Sandra Moone isn't the greatest but Megan Bayne got an awesome match out of her. How is Megan Bayne on the Indies and not signed to WWE or AEW?

Megan Bayne won via pinfall 

3/5

Sidney Akeem v. Jack Cartwheel 

This match served its purpose of showcasing Sidney Akeem. Jack Cartwheel was a great opponent to start him off with and we will see how he does in GCW. 

Sidney Akeem won via pinfall 

2/5

Man Like Deriess v. Viva Van 

This was a fun comedy match that centered around Viva Van putting her ass in Man Like Deriess's face. Afterward, Deriess proposed?

Viva Van won via pinfall

1/5

Bobby Flaco v. Hunter Drake v. Zilla Fatu

This was a squash to get Zilla over as a Killa.

Zilla Fatu won via pinfall 

1/5

Manders v. Mr. Danger v. Jordan Cruz v. Brayden Toon v. Rob Shit v. Sam Stackhouse 

Ok, I decided I'm no longer reviewing scrambles, I get it it's a way to get talent from the area on shows and to give people a chance but I've been beaten over the head with these so I'm done.

N/A

Los Macizos v. The Stoner Brothers 

The Stoner Brothers are a good tag team and I wouldn't mind seeing more of them. It was good to see Los Macizos and they wrestled a good match without the weapons.

Los Macizos won via pinfall 

2.25/5

Kylie Rae v. Danhausen 

This was a nice gimmicky match and both wrestled well. It leaned a lot into the gimmicks though. Not enough for me to hate it but I could have used more action.

Danhausen won via submission 

2/5

Bodhi Young Prodigy and Gahbage Daddies v. Thrussy

This got a little sloppy in spots but this match ended up being good. This was very fast-paced and Alec Price was amazing in this one.

Thrussy won via pinfall 

2.75/5

Mance Warner defended the GCW Championship against Joey Janela 

This match reminded me of a NWA match in the 80's. It was a bloodbath mixed with good storytelling. The story is that Joey Janela is being screwed out of being the Champion by Matt Cardona. Usually, I hate nonfinishes but I did like this one. Blake Christian returning and looking to reclaim the title he never lost adds a layer to this story.

No Contest

4/5

Overall

Other than the Megan Bayne/Sandra Moone match and the finish to the main event this show was pretty forgettable. 

6/10

 

H2O:8 Fn Years Night Two

 

JB Anderson v. Leroy Robinson v. Kayden Monroe v. MM3 v. Mouse in a Hardcore Scramble 

This was a scramble but unlike GCW they don't do this every fucking show. It had some fun people in it like Mouse and JB Anderson but this was short.

Mouse won via pinfall 

2/5

Eeron Wade v. Kody Manhorn 

Well we all know Shiney Shoes can go and I wasn't an Eeron Wade fan from his matches in ICW NHB but him in an actual wrestling match is more suited for him. This was good for a straight wrestling match.

Kody Manhorn won via pinfall 

2.5/5

Bam Sullivan v. Austin Luke 

I was impressed by Bam Sullivan here. I pegged him as a Death Match guy, but he held his own against a great wrestler in Austin Luke. The match itself was just okay but Keep it up Bam.

Bam Sullivan won via pinfall 

2/5

Deklan Grant defended the H2O Championship against Tommy Vendetta 

There was nothing memorable about this match. It wasn't bad but nothing stood out about it. 

Deklan Grant retained via submission

1.75/5

Killdozer v. Brandon Kirk 

The stipulation is if Killdozer wins Brandon Kirk is banned from H2O but, if Brandon Kirk wins the Killdozer is no more.

This was a good match that had a lot of crowd emotion until the Cabinet came out and ended the match in a No Contest. Weird ending to this one but, After the match Tremont iluded to him hanging up the mask for now.

No Contest

2/5

Jimmy Chondo Lyon and Hardcore 69 v. Alex Stretch, Anthraxx and Low Life Louie Ramos in All Out War

Even though this was a cool brawl the ending took me out of it. Hardcore 69 and Chondo walked out which looks to be setting up something but I don't know. It was weird. 

No Contest

2/5

Neil Diamond Cutter defended the Danny Havoc Hardcore Championship in a No Rope Bare Board Barbed Wire Match against Kasey Catal

This match was cool and Kasey had no ring rust. Kasey took a bump off of a Ladder through tubes and a sick bump off the apron through a pane of glass that ended the match. I'm enjoying NDC as Danny Havoc Hardcore Champion and I hope he keeps the belt for a bit. 

Neil Diamond Cutter retained via pinfall 

2.75/5

Overall

This night was slightly better than the previous but I didn't like that it had 2 of the featured matches end in No Contests, granted the Hardcore 69/Louie,Stretch story doesn't look like it's finished and the Tremont/Kirk thing isn't finished either both of those kind of took me out of it. But like I said story's not over so I could look stupid later on. 

6.5/10

H2O: 8 Fn Years Night One

 

Killdozer and Jess Moss v. GG Everson and Kennedi Hardcastle 

Other than Kennedi Hardcastle shining in this match I didn't take anything away from it. 

Kennedi Hardcastle and GG Everson won via submission 

2/5

President's Cabinet and Eeron Wade v. TJ Reno, Cecilio Vega, JB Anderson and Kody Manhorn 

For an 8 man tag, this was good. Seeing this got me excited for the Eeron Wade and Kody Manhorn match tomorrow.

President's Cabinet won via pinfall 

2.25/5

The Pillars defend the H2O Tag Team Championship against the 2's 

I wasn't into this one. The Pillars are cool but the 2's do nothing for me.

The 2's won the H2O Tag Team Championship via pinfall

1/5

Jimmy Chondo Lyon v. Alex Stretch

Now the show is picking up. These two went out and had a great Death Match. They used barbed wire and pool noodles on the top rope with nails in them, of which Alex Stretch crotched himself on one. With a performance like this, I think these two can wrestle on a bigger show. 

Jimmy Chondo Lyon won via pinfall

3.25/5

After the match, Jimmy Lyon tied Alex Stretch to the ropes and attacked Stretch and Lady Blakely with a Weedwacker. 

Brian Neil and Duncan Aleem v. Low Life Louie Ramos and Louie Jr.

I enjoyed this match. Low-Life Louie has a future in this business and can bleed like his old man. The only critique I have on Jr. Is he needed to lay in the chair shot he gave Brian Neil harder. Louie Sr. Still took his fair share of punishment though. That gusset to the nads, oof. 

Low Life Louie Ramos and Louie Jr. Won via pinfall

3/5

Neil Diamond Cutter defended the Danny Havoc Hardcore Championship against Anthraxx In a SAW Reborn Death Match

The Rules to a SAW Reborn Death Match are both men start the match handcuffed. The object is to reach their hands into a bucket full of tacks and retrieve the handcuff keys. Once both men are freed the match begins. 

This match was creative but it was also very slow. There were some cool spots and fuckery but the pacing took me out of it and killed my attention span. However, the ending was cool because I will never not laugh at someone getting smacked with a frying pan. You wanna cheer me up? Smack a motherfucker with a frying pan. 

Neil Diamond Cutter retained via pinfall

2.25/5

Austin Luke defended the H2O Championship in a Dog Collar Match against Deklan Grant 

No knock on these guys and Deklan winning was a cool moment but I don't like Dog Collar Matches. They're usually boring and not violent enough. Plus this one was short.

Deklan Grant won the H2O Championship via submission 

2/5

Overall

This was your average H2O show. Not a great undercard, though I understand they're learning. But good second half. The last two matches weren't terrible but left me wanting more which since there's a Night Two makes sense. 

6/10

Big Japan Match of the Week 6-21-24

 

Ryuji Ito v. Abdullah Kobayashi in a 200 Light Tube Death Match

This was brutal. Even though this was more of a Japanese Strong Style Match with tubes on the ropes these two went hard and their backs looked like hamburger meat.  This was simple yet great. 

Abdullah Kobayashi won via pinfall 

4/5

GCW:Lights Out 2024

 

Hunter Drake v. Gino Rivera 

This match did a good job showcasing Hunter Drake but did nothing else for me. This was a throwaway match.

Hunter Drake won via pinfall

2/5

Effy and Dark Sheik v. Fuego Del Sol and Sam Stackhouse 

This was an okay match. It was a little clunky in spots but didn't detract too much from the match.  

Effy and Dark Sheik won via pinfall

2.5/5

Broski Jimmy v. Danhausen

While this match was just okay I was entertained by it. Both people are good at their gimmick and it made for a fun match. 

Danhausen won via pinfall

2.75/5

JKM v. Joey Janela 

This was a good match. JKM is a good High Flyer. I would like to see him around more. Joey had another outstanding performance here and he continued his story from Cage of Survival by saying" Mance I'm gonna kill you" I'm interested in the Mance/Joey story and I can't wait to see where it goes.

Joey Janela won via pinfall

2.75/5

8 Man Tag

This was okay but I just don't like 8 man tags unless there is elimination. To add to this Clusterfuck I was unfamiliar with the talent and it was not made clear to me who most of them were. So since the match type sucked and I didn't feel like I had to know who the people in the match were I didn't care.

I don't know who won

1.75/5

Zilla Fatu v. Cole Radrick

This was a cool match where we finally got some doors. I like that Raddy is seemingly getting a main event push and Zilla has big things coming his way.

Zilla Fatu won via pinfall

2.75/5

Man Like Deriess v. Allie Katch 

I honestly expected more from this match. It wasn't terrible, but both wrestlers are good and this was more of a comedy match that didn't do either of them Justice.

Man Like Deriess won via pinfall 

2.5/5

Mance Warner defended the GCW Championship against Jordan Oliver 

This was a good main event pro wrestling match. Mance is known as a Brawler but holds his own in a straight-up match and Jordan Oliver is great in the ring. This had good storytelling and good action so I can't ask for much more.

Mance Warner retained via pinfall 

3/5

Orin Veidt v. Nick Gage 

This was an okay match. Both men worked hard and Orin Veidt's back was all fucked up from taking back bumps onto glass and Tacks but the pacing was a bit slow for my liking and the spot where Orin Veidt fell off the concourse through the table/Chair stack was a bit sloppy. 

Nick Gage won via pinfall 

3/5

Overall

This was a pretty good show for a new market like Denver. It had some nice matches my favorite being Mance Warner/Jordan Oliver. Plus the venue looked cool so Denver might be a cool spot for GCW.

7/10

GCW: Tournament of Survival 2

Jimmy Lloyd v. Nick Gage in a Round 1 Match

To me fresh or off the Penn Nick Gage was the best. He was on a warpath and the whole match was MDK taking out Jimmy Lloyd. I wouldn't call this a squash but Jimmy Lloyd got very little offense in. I still enjoyed it though. 

Nick Gage advanced via pinfall 

2.5/5

Marcus Crane v. Masashi Takeda in a First-Round Match 

This has to be one of the best T.O.S Matches Ever. Both men took some brutal spots like Marcus Crane taking the Mysterio/Sabu bump from the Apron to the outside onto a board with tubes and the signature Takeda saw board spot was nuts. The only thing that hindered this match was the glass not breaking when Marcus Crane splashed onto Takeda but it didn't hinder it that much.  Great stuff that reminded me of why I love Death Match Wrestling. 

Masashi Takeda advanced via pinfall 

4.75/5

Danny Havoc v. Masada in a First-Round Match 

While the pacing here was slow for me, I do appreciate how every time they did a spot it meant something and had an impact. Masada is good at ring psychology.

Masada advanced via pinfall 

2/5

Matt Tremont v. Zandig in a First Round Match 

The angle here was cooler than the match. There was a CZW/GCW feud going on at the time and Shlak came to fuck with Zandig. The match started with Zandig hanging Shlak with meathooks.

As far as the actual match. It had some cool spots and was Zandig's farewell match but it was slow and the ending with the weedwacker didn't go well. 

Matt Tremont advanced via pinfall 

1.75/5

Masashi Takeda v. Nick Gage in a Semi-Final Match 

For as short as this match was it went hard. Both men suplexed the fuck out of each other and Takeda's back was cut up good. I just needed more of this match though.

Nick Gage advanced via pinfall

2.75/5

Masada v. Matt Tremont in a Semi Final Match 

This was slow. I did enjoy the Skewer spot Masada usually does but this did not do it for me.

Matt Tremont advanced via pinfall 

2/5

Joker v. Joey Janela 

This was a decent match that served its purpose of killing time before the finals. 

Joey Janela won via pinfall

2.5/5

Nick Gage v. Matt Tremont in the Finals

This was an amazing match and one of the best Tournament Finals matches I've ever seen.  Both men at the time were on top of their game and annihilated each other. Go watch this match. 

Nick Gage won Tournament of Survival 2

5/5

Overall

This was up there for best Death Match Tournaments for me. Nick Gage fresh or Off the Penn had 2 classics in the Tournament and the finals were perfect. 

8/10

 

Big Japan:Match of the Week 6-14-24

 

Kota Sekifuda and Kazuki Hashimoto v. Kosuke Sato and Satsuki Nagato

This was your run-of-the-mill tag match. Paced Japanese style with a slow start but then having the action pick up. The be honest nothing stood out for me. It was fine it just had nothing memorable. 

Kota Sekifuda and Kazuki Hashimoto won via pinfall

2/5

GCW:Zandig's Tournament of Survival 2016

 Bryant Woods v. Masada in a First Round No Rope Barbed Wire Match

The match was okay. It started off a bit slow for my taste.  Then the match got sloppy and had a scary spot where Bryant Woods went to go through the Barbed Wire but the Barbed Wire didn't give so he got his back caught in it. Then once Masada used the Kenzans the match picked up for me and it was an absolute bloodbath. Bryant Woods took some punishment here and I have no idea why it took me so long to hear his name. 

Masada advanced via pinfall

3 25/5

Joker v. Scott Summers in a Round One 1001 Thumbtack Death Match 

As a wrestling match, this was good. As a Death Match not good. This was billed as a Thumbtack Death Match, which they did. But I needed more than a suplex or two into Tacks. Slow and Boring. 

Scott Summers advanced via pinfall 

2/5

After the match, I saw Summers had to be carried to the back and couldn't walk. I missed the injury spot so that may have something to do with the match quality.

Viking v. John Wayne Murdoch in a First-Round Fans Bring The Weapons Match 

I love Fans Bring The Weapons Matches because of the creativity of the weapons in those. We Had Tube TVs, Box Fans and Anything you could stick a Tack or Skewer in. This match was great because both men bled buckets including Viking getting a pretty good Gash under his right arm. There was a spot where they went outside, got on top of a truck and Viking threw JWM off of the top through some wood planks below. And the finish was great with the Vertabreaker onto tacks. That's how you do Tacks. 

Viking advanced via pinfall

3.5/5

Marcus Crane v. Danny Havoc in a First-Round Match 

This was the antithesis of the 2nd match. These guys only used Tubes in this match but they made it exciting. These two kept it moving and beat the fuck out of each other and Marcus Crane busted out the biggest bundle of Light Tubes I've ever seen. Great stuff and we lost both of these geniuses way too soon.  

Danny Havoc advanced via pinfall

2.75/5

Masada v. Zandig in a Semi Finals Match

Due to Scott Summers's injury he couldn't compete.  Masada was gonna get a Bye but Zandig came out and declared himself in the Tournament. Zandig then put Masada through a pane of glass and that was it.

Zandig advanced via pinfall

0.5/5

Viking v. Danny Havoc in a Semi-Final Match

Danny Havoc is the master of short matches. This was short but they made it count. We had spots through glass, a Bed of Nails and the finish used a Weedwacker. Short and sweet I love it and I'm mad I will never get to see a Danny Havoc match live.

Danny Havoc advanced via pinfall

2.75/5

Zandig v. Joey Janela 

This was an insane match. As it should be it's remembered for the bump off the roof onto the back of the truck. Other than that Zandig through Hornswoggle and Put Penelope Ford through a glass pane. And he and Joey bled all over the place. That bump though. Fuck that was high up. If you haven't seen this seek this out on Triller.

Zandig won via pinfall 

3.25/5

Danny Havoc v. Marcus Crane v. Bryant Woods v. John Wayne Murdoch in the Tournament of Survival Finals 

So Zandig was supposed to be in this match but due to the injuries he sustained in the Joey Janela match he couldn't compete so Marcus Crabe, Bryant Woods and John Wayne Murdoch were added. 

Even though this match was good it was a lot of chaos. Every time you looked over someone was getting smashed with a tube or getting put through something which is cool but I'd like to see it and process what I just saw. The right person won and the more I see his stuff the more I appreciate how good Danny Havoc was.

Danny Havoc won the Tournament of Survival via pinfall

2.75/5

Overall

Great way to start the legacy of TOS. It has now become the most prestigious Death Match Tournament in the U.S. but this laid the groundwork.  The low points of the show were the Thumbtack match and even though it was supposed to set up something Zandig/Masada. The High was Danny Havoc doing what he did and Zandig ending his career on a high note.

8/10

Kumite Championship Wrestling:Surprise You're Dead 2024

 

Luke Douglas v. Dante Durden v. Henry Faust

This was a normal indie match

Henry Faust won via pinfall

2/5

Act 2 and Joseph Cardinal v. BDK

Both BDK and Act 2 impressed me. Lucia Lee impressed me. 

BDK won via submission 

2/5

Harley Harris v. Alfiee

Now we have some weapons. Nice creativity on the Sign with the JAWS poster. Both ladies were great here. 

Alfiee won via pinfall 

2.25/5

Blue She v. 

Blue She has a lot of charisma and is over with the crowd. The match was okay.

Blue She won via pinfall

2/5

Lou Nixon defended the Kumite World Heavyweight Championship and the RPW Rust Belt Championship against Franco Fate 

Right now Lou Nixon is the man in Europe and he carried Franco Fate to a decent match. This was kind of a straight hard-hitting wrestling match in which both men did well. We also had some doors and chairs but these guys for the most part just stuck to strikes.

Lou Nixon retained via submission 

2.75/5

Big Fn Joe v. Tommbie

Joe is always great and this guy is the master of creativity when it comes to using tubes but Tommbie impressed me here. This dude bled buckets, took a beating from Joe and somehow not only kept coming back, but won.

Tommbie won via submission

4/5

Clint Margera v. Alton Thorne 

While the match was slow for my liking the finish with the Razor's Edge through a Cross was great. 

Alton Thorne won via pinfall 

2/5

Jack Bennett v. Micheal Caden 

This was a match with two people I want to see more from. Micheal Caden is at least in the conversation for best in the UK right now and Jack Bennett will do anything you need him to in the ring. From getting stabbed in the face with syringes to wrestling a straight-up match. This was an enjoyable match I thought.

Micheal Caden won via pinfall 

2.75/5

Danny Darko defended the Kumite Championship against BA Rose 

This match was great because these two went out there and had a huge fight. Darko was selling the injuries he sustained over Mania weekend, I was at a lot of the shows he was on and can vouge that he went hard. BA Rose is a talent that I still haven't seen much of but he keeps impressing me now and more. Weapons we had tubes, signs, and barbed wire. The spot where Darko was thrown into the barbed wire board was nasty by the way. 

Danny Darko retained via pinfall 

3.25/5

Overall

The first half of this show was eh, but the second half was pretty damn good. The UK has a strong Death Match scene right now and I hope it continues to grow stronger. 

6.5/10

Rise Underground:No Ring No Rules 4

 

Micheal Caden v. Franco Fate

How has Micheal Caden not been to America yet? The finish with the Tube Star was sick too.

Micheal Caden won via pinfall
2.25/5

Lou Nixon defended the Rise Underground European Championship and RPW Rust Belt Championship against Dara Diablo

Lou Nixon is quickly becoming one of my favorites and they used bottle caps here.  Good stuff.

Lou Nixon retained via pinfall
3/5

Danny O'Doherty v. The T.W.A.T Officer

This was too gimmicky for me.

Danny O'Doherty won via pinfall
1.75/5

Darko v. Jack Harrop

This was great and brutal. These two beat the fuck out of each other and that barbed wire net spot off the stage was insane. Jack Harrop is another one I need to see in the states and Darko is in the top 5 of the best in the UK currently.

Darko won via pinfall
4.25/5

Overall

Good no ring show.  Don't make the same mistake I did, don't sleep on the UK Death Match scene.

6/10

Big Japan Match of the Week 6-7-24

 

I realized I was in over my head reviewing full Big Japan shows so until I'm familiar with things I'm gonna just review the free matches on YouTube

Masashi Takeda and Takumi Tsukamoto v. Masaya Takahashi and SAGAT in a Light Tube Death Match

This was phenomenal. Masashi Takeda is a special talent and anything he touch turns to gold. Takeda's use of the metal pipes was amazing and the way Masaya Takahashi took the bumps on the pipes popped me huge. Go out of you way to watch this if you like Blood, Tubes, Takeda and Metal Pipes.

Masashi Takeda and Takumi Tsukamoto won via pinfall

4.75/5

GCW:Cage of Survival 3

 

I started the day off going to Tony Boloney's to get a pad Thai Sub(that's not what it's called but I forgot what it was called) after that I walked the Boardwalk and went to the show 

Mance Warner v. Effy in Cage of Survival 3

This was insanity and exactly what this match should have been. These two blew off a blood feud Mance suplexing Effy off the top rope onto the Cage with glass on it, and Effy spearing Mancer through the cage onto a barbed wire net and then proceeding to piledrive Mancer onto the barbed wire net were both insane spots. The ending was perfect with Effy suplexing Mance Warner onto the Pile of flaming fuckery. These two went all out and reminded me of what it is to be a Death Match fan.

Effy won via pinfall

5/5

Megan Bayne v. Speedball Mike Bailey 

I went into this thinking Megan Bayne was already growing on me but this made me a for sure fan of hers. Yes, Speedball is amazing and can and has wrestled a 5-star match by himself but Megasus kept up well with him and she is strong. She picked up Bailey and threw him all over the ring. A great straight-up wrestling match. 

Megan Bayne won via pinfall 

3.25/5

Gahbage Daddies v. Yuki Ishikawa and Hideyoshi Kamatani 

This was for the most part a straight tag match. The Japanese contingent did put Cole Radrick through a Barbed Wire door but other than that this was a tag match that was filler.

Gahbage Daddies won via pinfall 

2.5/5

Matt Tremont v. Big Joe

These two kept this thing short and sweet. This was violent with a lot of blood and a lot of cool car crash spots with the tubes but I needed this to be a few minutes longer. 

Matt Tremont won via pinfall

3/5

Gauntlet of Survival for the vacant GCW Championship 

John Wayne Murdoch and Kasey Kirk started the thing off and had a nice Death Match with Gusset bats and we saw John Wayne Murdoch get the W and advance. Then we had  John Wayne Murdoch against Manders which was pretty slow and JWM advanced there then we had John Wayne Murdoch against Microman with Microman doing a bunch of entertaining rope spots and getting the win. Then It was Microman against Shane Mercer and they did the David v. Goliath story which was fun and Shane Mercer got the win. Then it was Shane Mercer v. Jordan Oliver which was a very good match that Jordan Oliver won it was Charles Mason v. Jordan Oliver and I like the character of Charles Mason but his matches are boring so this did nothing for me. Here's where things get complicated

Matt Cardona announced Charles Mason as the new GCW Champion but Nick Gage's music hit and he came in, Carved up Charles Mason with a pizza cutter, gave him the choke breaker and Nick Gage was the new GCW Champion except there's more.

Broski Jimmy and Steph DeLander attacked Nick Gage and Matt Cardona said Jimmy Lloyd was the final entrant and he pinned Nick Gage and Broski Jimmy was your new GCW Champion but there's more.

Joey Janela's music hit and he came out and pinned Broski Jimmy so your new GCW Champion was Joey Janela then...

Cole Radrick came out with his brass ring and wanted to cash in but was stopped by Steph DeLander and Broski Jimmy and out came Mance Warner and attacked Joey Janela and pinned him so your new GCW Champion is Mance Warner

Honestly, this was fun and the ending was a roller coaster of emotions but the rest was filler and very slow so the match was bleh but the story was cool.

Mance Warner won the Gauntlet via pinfall

2.75/5

Afterwards I went to the After party then the next day I went to Philly did touristy shit,then flew back. 

The Showboat is a magical place. If you're on the fence about going you have to go. 

GCW:Tournament of Survival 9

 I made the pilgrimage to the luxurioud Showboat for this one. The trip started with a Torn Ligiment in my Knee and a 2 and a half hour delay, Frontier Airlines can get fucked. But after that I met up with my boys Jake and Ferelli and we got some Cheesesteaks and walked around the city of Philadelphia. 

The next day we went to the Showboat and got the party started 

The show started with A tribute to Clem. I never got the privilege of meeting him but this is very sad. Clem, there were a lot of people who care about you there and you are now forever at the Showboat. 

Ultramantis Black v. Yuki Ishikawa

This was a decent way to start the tournament. There wasn't too much outside of light tubes and a Barbed Wire Board but the cool thing about this was how much Ishikawa bled. 

Yuki Ishikawa advanced via pinfall

2.5/5

Big Joe v. Hideyoshi Kamatani

I enjoyed this match. It had some cool brawling and a lot of tubes and blood. There was also a nice spot where Kamatani took a bump from the top rope to the outside through a TV. This was one of my first times seeing Kamatani and I was impressed and look forward to seeking out more of his stuff. My only gripe was I wanted Joe to go farther in the Tournament. 

Hideyoshi Kamatani advanced via pinfall

4.5/5

Shunma Katsumada v. Brandon Kirk 

Again Katsumada was a guy I wasn't that familiar with but he impressed me here, Brandon Kirk was the star here. For a while, he was overshadowed by Kasey but he had his breakout performance in this Tournament. That PSYCHODRIVERFUCKYOURLIFE through the doors and pane of glass had me pumped.

Brandon Kirk advanced via pinfall 

4/5

John Wayne Murdoch v. Slade

So there was a surprise entrant announced For TOS and it was the recently returning Slade. This was a decent match, the return of Slade was cool and Slade's back was torn to shreds but other than that there wasn't anything that stood out to me.

John Wayne Murdoch advanced via pinfall 

2.5/5

Marcus Mathers v. Jordan Oliver v. Alec Price v. Cole Radrick 

This was more manageable than your average scramble and it had great workers in it, but again I'm just tired of scrambles. 

Cole Radrick won via pinfall

2.25/5

Hiroyoshi Kamatani v. Yuki Ishikawa 

It was cool to see the Japanese talent work with each other however other than a few cool tube spots this was a bit slow for my taste. Not bad just slow. 

Yuki Ishikawa advanced via pinfall 

2.5/5

John Wayne Murdoch v. Brandon Kirk 

This match was awesome. The story of this to me was how well Brandon Kirk was showcased. John Wayne Murdoch could not beat Brandon Kirk. That's a simple yet good story. Brandon Kirk did fall victim to a submission from JWM. He may have lost but he won respect from the GCW fans. 

John Wayne Murdoch won via submission 

3.25/5

Yuki Ishikawa v. John Wayne Murdoch in the Tournament of Survival Finals

I thought this was a great way to end the Tournament. These two pulled out all of the crazy stuff like going off of a scaffold through a tube and door structure and going off the scaffold again through a flaming table this time. John Wayne Murdoch was a good choice to win the tournament and Ishikawa won me over in this match by saving his best efforts for last. 

John Wayne Murdoch won the Tournament of Survival via pinfall

3.75/5

Overall 

Great Tournament. The Big Japan crew was great, Brandon Kirk was established as a main event player in the GCW Death Match Division and John Wayne Murdoch cemented himself as a legend in the era of Death Match Wrestling. Again, my only gripe was Big Joe didn't go further but I guess someone had to lose.

7.5/10

After the show I got to see Abdullah The Butcher and Marcus Crane get there rightful spot in the Death Match Hall of Fame. Then went to the suite party which is always great.