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We start off with all 16 of the participants in this year's tournament coming out to the ring for the grand introduction. We take a moment for a ten bell salute for El Hijo Del Perro Aguayo and Cincinnati Red, both of whom recently passed away. The ring announcer introduces us to each of the sixteen participants in the tournament, then we go right into the first match.
First Round Match: Rey Horus vs Lil Cholo
They do some basic feeling out stuff to start and then go into some lucha reversals. Horus and Cholo exchange pinning combinations back and forth and wind up at a stalemate. Cholo backdrops Horus to the floor and follows him out with a diving dropkick through the ropes. They come back inside where Horus catches Cholo with a couple of flying headscissors for a 2 count. We have five minutes left as Cholo goes out to the floor and Horus flies out of the ring like he has wings to dive onto Cholo. Horus rolls Cholo back inside and tries a top rope move, but Cholo gets his knees up and catches Horus. Horus counters a powerbomb to a roll through lucha thing and kicks Cholo in the face for 2. Another try gets another 2 count. Cholo catches Horus with a couple of hard forearms that knock Horus into the corner where he drills him with a diving facewash. That only gets 2, so Cholo goes to the top rope, Horus meets him up there and Cholo thoughtfully waits for Horus to gain his footing so he can hit him with a top rope Frankensteiner for the win.
Winner: Rey Horus
I think people who appreciate lucha more than I do would enjoy this, but it was exciting enough for an opener.
First Round Match: Jeff Cobb vs Rik Luxury
This is a completely different dynamic from the first match, as they go right to the mat, then pop back to their feet and go into a Greco-Roman pummel. Cobb gets behind Luxury and pops him up in a HUGE waist lift and plops him onto the mat, then hits a fireman's carry and cranks on Luxury's arm in a very ugly angle. The stream drops out on me for a moment, and Luxury is hitting a running neckbreaker for a 2 count when it comes back. Luxury takes Cobb down and gets him in a rear chinlock, but makes the mistake of putting the mouth on Cobb, who begins firing back and pops Luxury over with a release belly to belly suplex. Luxury drills Cobb with a couple of headbutts and a neckbreaker for 2, then plants Cobb with an STO for 2. Cobb slips out behind Luxury and deadlifts him into a heavy German suplex. Cobb drills Luxury with a dropkick for 2, but Luxury sidesteps a charge and catches Cobb on the rebound with a German suplex of his own. My Finish Alarm goes off as Luxury goes to the top rope, but Cobb goes up after him for a suplex. Luxury bites Cobb's face and shoves him to the mat, but Cobb dodges a top rope legdrop and hits an inverted powerslam for the win.
Winner: Jeff Cobb
Great match, I'm really impressed with Cobb, he's a totally legit shooter who makes the transition to the pros well.
First Round Match: Adam Thornstowe vs Shaun Ricker
They start off quickly, and Thornstowe quickly clotheslines Ricker over the top and takes him out with a dive. He dumps Ricker back inside and slingshots in with a senton for 2. Thornstowe keeps the pressure up, but Ricker manages to take Thornstowe down and pummel him with right hands. Ricker hits a side backbreaker for 2, but goes for a leapfrog and Thornstowe catches him with a small package for 2. Ricker quickly recovers with a snap suplex for 2 and catches Thornstowe in a rear chinlock. We're at the five minute warning as Ricker hammers Thornstowe with right hands, but Thornstowe starts to mount a comeback with clotheslines and a running shooting star press for 2. Thornstowe with a flurry of strikes, but Ricker pops him up in the air and hits a sitout powerslam for 2. Nice. Thornstowe goes to the top, Ricker follows him up, but Thornstowe drills him with a hard forearm and comes off the top with a double stomp to the back. Thornstowe with a running knee in the corner, a superkick, and a death valley driver, followed by a frogsplash for the win.
Winner: Adam Thornstowe
This was solid, Ricker looked smooth as silk out there but I get the sense that Thornstowe is going to go far in this.
First Round Match: Vincenzo Massaro vs El Mariachi
Mariachi pretty much works Massaro over for the entire first few minutes, outmaneuvering him with lucha stuff and hammering him with chops and other strikes. Massaro finally catches Mariachi with a DDT and tries to stick Mariachi with a cradle. Mariachi won't stay down, so Massaro counters a headscissors to a sitout powerbomb for 2. Massaro with a cross armbreaker, but Mariachi makes it to the ropes to force the break. Massaro backdrops Mariachi to the apron, but Mariachi hits an enziguiri and a belly to belly suplex followed by a hat dance and a splash for 2. Massaro gets a roaring clothesline and the Anaconda Vice to force Mariachi to tap out.
Winner: Vincenzo Massaro
Match was solid but nothing to write home about.
The show continues on Page 2!
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