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Beyond Wrestling “Go With The Flow”
Melrose, Massachusetts
June 25, 2017
Beyond returns to Melrose for a double shot with EVOLVE. Heading into their biggest show of the year in July, this is the last stop storyline wise before then. With a first time ever main event of Keith Lee and Matt Riddle, it should be a great show as the company has been on a roll in the last few months.
MATCH ONE: The Gentleman’s Club (Chuck Taylor & Orange Cassidy) v. American Destroyers (Donovan Dijak & Mikey Webb)
Lots of comedy early on, as was the be expected. This included Cassidy doing a very slow strut into the ropes followed by a very slow and weak shoulder block that got the crowd laughing. Dijak wasn’t kidding around for long and he took it in a serious direction with some really big, hard hitting moves on Cassidy to get the heat on him.
After some back and forth, Dijak went to the top for their double team finisher (Sunset Flip into a Canadian Destroyer). Cassidy spit orange juice into Dijak’s eyes. Cassidy then took out Webb, then put Webb into the position for the double team finisher. Dijak, not being able to see, hit the move but it was Cassidy hitting the Canadian Destroyer on Webb. Taylor threw Dijak out of the ring and they covered Webb for the win. Clever, well done finish.
WINNERS: The Gentleman’s Club
MATCH TWO: “The Bad Boy” Joey Janela v. “Cold Steel” Chuck O’Neil
Before the last match could even clear out, Janela hit the ring and got on the mic, saying “it’s Bone Sucking Time” in reference to his odd promo from earlier in the week. He called O’Neil out and the match was on.
Janela ran wild early and the crowd was all over O’Neil. He is very much hated in Beyond. The match was in Janela’s control early before O’Neil came back and got the heat on “The Bad Boy.” O’Neil took his time in building up the heat, which in the past has been a weakness for him. It was nice to see the progression.
They traded nearfalls from that point with Janela hitting a big top rope Death Valley Driver and a top rope superplex. The finish came when O’Neil hit a flying triangle. As O’Neil had him clinched on the ground, Janela pushed forward and pinned O’Neil.
After the match, Matt Riddle entered the ring and they had a showdown, as they are set for the main event of Americanrana next month. As they were in their showdown, O’Neil came in and hit a German suplex on Janela. They started to give him a severe beatdown when Penelope Ford hit the ring and instead of going after her, they just left the ring.
WINNER: “The Bad Boy” Joey Janela
MATCH THREE: Shayna Baszler v. Penelope Ford
As they left the ring, O’Neil called for Shayna and the match was on.
Ford jumped Shayna before the match as she knew she was in an uphill battle. It didn’t work very well, as Shayna took control of the match with some impressive deadlift gutwrench suplexes and started to work over the leg of Ford.
It got to the point where the crowd was clapping for Ford to get up and Shayna simply smiled and clapped along with them because she knew she was in control. Shayna was literally tying Ford up in knots in an impressive manner that impressed the crowd. She took her time and did a terrific job in allowing everything to sink in. Very impressive composure given her relative inexperience in the business.
Ford did her best to fight back, but in the end, Shayna finished the match with a modified kneebar. The crowd chanted her name and “Please Come Back!” Really great debut, and Ford was fantastic in selling.
WINNER: Shayna Baszler
MATCH FOUR: Massage NV (Dorian Graves & VSK) v. Da Hit Squad (Monsta Mack & Dan Maff)
Massage NV came out hot and unleashed a flurry of offense on Da Hit Squad, leaving their usual comedy antics behind. It didn’t last long as DHS made a comeback and, in their inimitable style, started tossing Graves and VSK around the ring.
The match was Texas Tornado style, but wasn’t announced that way. Massage NV did really well in this new role of being serious, and didn’t look out of place. They would make occasional comebacks, but mostly, DHS was in control with overwhelming offense.
They were getting into a heated brawl in the middle of the ring when Maff pushed the ref and was DQed. From there, DHS took out Massage NV. They turned their attention toward the ref, but he took off. After the match, Mack declared they are still here and they will destroy everyone.
WINNERS: Massage NV (via DQ)
MATCH FIVE: Wheeler Yuta v. Maxwell Jacob Friedman
This is a rematch from their really great contest in the pre-show in Worcester a couple of months ago. Yuta is on his way for a tour with Michinoku Pro next month.
Really good chain wrestling to start the match. MJF went to shake Yuta’s hand, but Yuta knew better and slapped him instead. Yuta went to backdrop him on the apron, but missed and MJF took a really scary drop to the floor. He was okay, though. Back in the ring his hit a draping Divorce Court on Yuta and started building the heat from there.
MJF kept working over the arm before Yuta fired up and made his comeback. It was full of fire, athletic, and really well done. The crowd rallied behind it and him as they built toward the finish.
They went see-saw from that point going forward, including another really impressive chain wrestling sequence that included the back and forth small packages for two counts. After a double down, MJF almost finished it with an armbar. Yuta got free and hit a big boot. MJF went for a tombstone, but Yuta reversed it and in the tombstone, he packaged Yuta’s legs together for a Package Tombstone for the victory.
I’m not going to say these two are Flair-Steamboat by any means. However, I will say these two have an insane natural chemistry that reminds me of that feud in many ways. If their first two contests were this good, I can’t wait to see the third. Go out of your way to watch this.
WINNER: Wheeler Yuta
MATCH SIX: Lucha Rules - The Carnies (Nick Iggy & Kerry Awful) v. EYFBO (Angel Ortiz & Mike Draztik)
There was a little bit of chain wrestling and a feeling out period in the early going. From there, it broke down into more of the Lucha Style rules match it was advertised as. No tags, guys coming in and out, good high flying and double teaming.
The match was a big back and forth affair that got a standing ovation afterwards. EYFBO finished it with a Blockbuster/Powerbomb combo. Really great stuff as always from the current day LAX, and a solid showing from The Carnies.
WINNERS: EYFBO
INTERMISSION
MATCH SEVEN: Texas Tornado Rules - Tabernak de Team (Mathieu St. Jacques & Thomas Dubois) v. Ryan Galeone & Rex Lawless
Tabernak is a really fun, aggressive tag team out of Quebec that has made a great showing for themselves during their couple of Beyond appearances. This is the first time Galeone and Lawless have teamed in Beyond. To describe this as a Hoss Fight would be an understatement.
Galeone hit a wild springboard senton bouncing from the top to the Old School position that almost snapped the top rope. Galeone was pushed toward the ref. As the ref ducked away, Lawless was kicked low. That allowed Tabernak to toss Lawless out and finish the match. Pretty good big man tag match.
Afterwards, Dan Barry came out in a suit and asked Lawless and Galeone what happened. He then told Lawless that he is the “Pectoral Posiedon” because he doesn’t know how to get over. He then called Galeone a vanilla robot in not so many words. He then said they’re both better than that, a joke, and that they can do so much more. Dan asked if they’re with him or against him, and they both shook his hand. He then told the fans they are the least important thing about the show. All things considered, this was a good, effective promo to start a new stable.
WINNER: Tabernak de Team
MATCH EIGHT: Ace Romero v. JT Dunn
This was not your typical big man/little man match, as Dunn spent a lot of time on top getting the heat on Romero. Ace, who is probably around 400 pounds, spent a lot of time selling which was different.
They traded nearfalls, then went into a flurry at the end. The finish saw Romero turn Dunn inside out with a big lariat for the win. Unexpected finish to say the least given Dunn’s stature in Beyond. Decent match that seemingly gives Romero a big push up the card.
WINNER: Ace Romero
MATCH NINE: AR Fox v. “Shred God” Brandon Watts
Watts has been on a roll as a singles competitor in Beyond since his regular partner in Milk Chocolate (Randy Summers) went down with an injury. This included a big breakout match against Fox last month in Somerville.
Watts got on the mic and told referee Kevin Quinn he’s great and all, but he cost him the match last month in Somerville, so he told him to get out. This brought out Tony P. to take his place. This was after Fox low blowed Watts last month and Quinn missed it.
After teasing some high flying early, Fox actually spent a chunk of the match keeping Watts grounded on on the mat to build the heat. Fox teased a big running spot into a prone Watts in the corner, but instead he stopped and slapped him in the face. Tremendous heel work.
Fox with a big nearfall off a sitting springboard Spanish Fly followed by a 450. Fox was choking Watts on the mat when Kevin Quinn came back out to yell at Tony P. about it. As they argued, Fox kicked Watts low and hit a spinning brainbuster for the win. Very good match that got a little bogged down by the finish.
WINNER: AR Fox
MATCH TEN: Doom Patrol (Jaka & Chris Dickinson) v. The Beaver Boys (John Siver & Alex Reynolds)
Silver has been on an impressive singles run in Beyond, with wins over the likes of Keith Lee and Kyle O’Reilly. Here, he brings in his regular NYC-area partner Reynolds to team against the current EVOLVE Tag Team Champions.
This was a good, solid, by the numbers tag team match (and I mean by the numbers in a positive manner). Doom Patrol took their time working over Reynolds to build the heat to play to Silver’s strength of running bananas after a hot tag.
The finish saw a couple of nearfalls followed by Dickinson hitting a springboard Canadian Destroyer and a double superkick from the EVOLVE champs for the win. Good showing from everyone involved.
WINNERS: Doom Patrol
MAIN EVENT: Keith Lee v. Matt Riddle
First time ever match. Until they rematch in EVOLVE on Sunday in NYC.
After keeping it light for the first few minutes, they got into hard hitting mode, with both guys laying it in. Lee took it in a different direction when he started tossing Riddle around the ring. Riddle, whose selling has gone to an absolutely incredible level, was magical here. With every huge strike and splash Lee hit, Riddle looked more in pain than the time before.
When Riddle made his comeback, it was on a completely different level than anyone on the independents. His insane fire, his intensity in his offense and his charisma has really reached all-time great levels.
After Lee got a nearfall with a sit out powerbomb, Riddle came back and rolled Lee up for the shock win. Not the desired outcome the crowd wanted, but it seems like this was designed to leave the door open for a rematch. Very good for what it was, but the match had the potential to be even better. Hopefully next time.
WINNER: Matt Riddle
A really fun show from Beyond as they head into their biggest show of the year in Worcester next month. They continue to build long term while keeping the short term in mind with good to great matches.
Check them out online @BeyondWrestling
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