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COMPLETE 2022 WRESTLECON SUPERSHOW BLOG

Welcome to my ongoing blog for the 2022 Wrestlecon Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow from Dallas, Texas!  With David Tees covering play by play, I'll be giving ongoing thoughts from the event.  Thanks for supporting PWInsider.com!

They aired a really nice video tribute to Mark Hitchcock, who sadly passed away a few years ago, well before his time.

The fans will vote on the end of the night on the best match with that bout being bonused $5,000.

The opening bout is Speedball Mike Bailey vs. Bandido.

Not a big reaction for Bailey coming out but a nice Bandido chant.  Bandido had the early advantage.  Bailey drilled him with a series of kicks.  They fired away at each other with chops and strikes.  Bandido held Bailey up for a LONG delayed vertical suplex, with the crowd counting to 60.  This got a big standing ovation from the crowd.  Bandido maintained control until Bailey played Karate Kid with all the kicks.  There was a nice intensity to this the longer they fought with dives actually seeming like they were trying to take the other person out vs. the usual "this looks pretty" leap into the air.  They battled on the apron.  Bailey missed a 450 splash.  Bandido hit his springboard into a back suplex for a close two count.  The crowd chanted, "This is awesome."  Bailey hit a shooting star press into a knee strike, which was nuts, and nearly scored a three count.  Lots of Bandido chants.  They went back and forth with some pretty crazy spots until Bandido nailed a fall away slam off the top for the pinfall.

The crowd loved this, throwing money into the ring.  It was a damn good, hard fought match.  

They introduced a guest ambassador for Wrestlecon...and it was Bret Hart.  Bret Hart said it was an honor to be here and it's going to be a special match.  He wished everyone a great Wrestlemania this week and told everyone "God bless."  The crowd was super psyched to see Hart.

Next up is Mia Yim vs. Athena.  The crowd was excited to see them and there were lots of chants for each of them early on.  They had some nice grappling with Yim controlling Moon's arm.  Moon got a little more aggressive, with some heel-esque tendencies coming out.  Yim pulled out a cool Tarantula.    They battled back and forth.  Athena nailed an awesome sit-down superbomb off the top.  Yim finally scored the pin with an evil package piledriver.  It was very much a coming out party for each of them as their first big independent appearance after exiting WWE.  They were obviously touched by the crowd's reaction.

Keith Lee is in the house, by the way.

Next up is Tomohiro Ishii vs Timothy Thatcher.  STONE COLD PITBULL, BABY!  This was stiff grappling and striking from the start, which is what the audience wanted.  Lots of Dory Funk Jr. style European uppercuts.  Thatcher caught him with a belly to belly suplex and began mauling him on the mat.    Ishii takes control and starts slapping Thatcher in the mouth,  Thatcher is not taking that!  They battled back and forth with forearms and punches.  Ishii goes for a back suplex but its blocked and he's rolled in an anklelock.  Lots of suplexes and strikes and submission wrestling in this one.  Ishii laid in some stiff as hell clotheslines.  Big brainbuster on Thatcher and that was it.  Nice, snug battle.

Toni Storm in the house watching the action.

The next match is well, pretty unique.  It's John Hennigan vs. his wife, Taya Valkyrie.  The story is that Hennigan isn't sweet anymore and doesn't do the dishes.  Taya has a procession of the dirty dishes brought out.  Yep!   The loser will wash the dishes FOR LIFE.  Can't they afford to buy a dishwasher?  They battled back and forth.  Hennigan did a VAN DAMINATOR with a dirty dish and it exploded in her face.  It looked way better than you'd ever imagine.  The crowd chanted, "Johnny Doghouse" after that.  They smashed each other with dishware.  Hennigan poured liquid soap on his wife and used sponges on her.  He then sprayed her with cleaner and kicked her HARD.  This is ridiculous in all the right ways. 

Hennigan smashed Taya down and she did so with a split.  He did the Rick Rude swivel hips in front of her so she punched him in the nether-regions.  Taya nailed a Canadian Destroyer with a bucket on Hennigan's head for a two count.  I don't even know what I am watching here but it's different.  Hennigan blinded the referee with the spray cleaner so there was no one to count the pinfall.  Hennigan said he hit her with everything but the kitchen sink and called for one to be brought out.  Yep!  He teased the skull crushing finale but Taya blocked it, nailed a stunner and LOST IT, smashing him with all sorts of stuff.  She curb stomped him on the sink and that was it.  That was insanely entertaining.

Hennigan told his wife he hates dishes but he loves her.  They reunited and left together.  Ah, romance.

They introduced JUSHIN LIGER who came out and waved to the crowd, posed and bowed, in full costume.  LOVED THIS.  I miss watching Liger perform.

More thoughts on Page 2!

 

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