So here's my feedback. I know it's long, but I want to do my best to give everyone some feedback. I still don't know everybody's stories yet, so if there are bits I don't understand let me know.
Pre-Show Special: A pretty solid little opener. I don't have a ton to say. There were some odd bits of grammar. “Causing her to reel” for example, was a weird choice of words. You don't hear the word “reel” used like that a lot. “Causing her to reel back” maybe? I dunno. Anyway, this was a nice simple opener with simple heel v face psychology. I like it. Good way to start the show.
Mac Mercer & Areano vs Asphyxiator & Chris Ghensi: So, Mac's a brand new guy who needs to be established right? He's not part of the scene yet. But the immediately interesting thing about him is his size. So how do we make him immediately something? Put him on the same level as our other monsters. So the best part of this match is the opening when he has this big face moment, grabbing the chair. Loved that. Real “big brother” moment which is what you want out of a face monster. Solid stuff.
Gav Promo: He's such a classy guy, that Gav. You know, the LAST time he came out and demanded a match...I'm just sayin'. God, Stella is the dirt worst. Everything she says is just so condescending and douchey. I can't stand her. This was just to set up Ace coming out, which is awesome, but mostly I can't help but point out how much I hate Stella. Which is a lot. In case you were wondering.
Ace vs Gav: So the thing I really loved in this was Ace's big comeback with the forearms. I've always seen Ace as this stocky, pitbull of a dude who just gets in your face and wrecks you until he can get you in a hold. Probably a product of him using Tom Hardy as his picbase in VOW for a while. But yeah, this was just an intro but still had a cool spot. Those wicked forearms until he just throws him across the ring with an arm drag. Awesome. Good stuff. Welcome to the fed Ace.
Salem Cartier vs Hazel Overton: Two matches in a row starting with someone immediately getting jumped at the bell? Three if you count the opening tag? DAMN IT D'LO. Nah, in all seriousness, this was a good way to play off the way the first two matches started. Clever. That is as solid a countout tease as you're going to see. I actually liked this match a lot. Mostly because it felt like a desperate, rough fight. Good shit. Awesome match.
Neal Durden & Lowri Moss vs The Divas of Dominance: Once again, someone immediately gets jumped at the bell. A lot of that going on tonight. The best part of this match is that AWESOME denied tag. It's just written so well. Really comes across how stunning it is when Lowri goes to make the tag and Neal is nowhere to be found. Dang good stuff, and I like that we use DQ's a good amount. They're a useful tool.
Stella and Magdelena Promo: Jesus fucking CHRIST, Magdelena is terrifying. It's not so much the obvious setup, setting there in the dark and the cloak. It's the way she speaks. All this corpses and “You will give me MJ Bell” talk. Yeesh. This was HEAVY, and hopefully there's consequences to it down the line. I mean, it will sort of undercut New Management is they just accept Mags breaking Stellas fingers. Pretty goddamn hyped to see Mags and MJ though. Awesome stuff.
Cross v Valkyrie: Hey! A test of strength! No jumping at the bell. It's also smart character psychology, just like the Mac Mercer thing from earlier in the night. Valkyrie is new right? And her whole thing is that she's big, and powerful. This real warrior type. So you need to establish that and a test of strength over a dude is a smart way to get things going. Valkyrie also gets the coolest spot in the match, by the by, ripping Cross away from the ropes to hit that german suplex. Good match!
Valkyrie Promo: Aggggh, I love thiiiis. Okay, so there's tons of awkward little sentences in here that sound kind of weird right? But right away we know why. English as a second language! It's awesome! It's real. Have you ever watched Vikings? The TV show? Listen to the robotic, stilted way they talk and compare it to Valkyrie. Perfect. This could have used a stronger closing, in my opinion, but otherwise it was a great intro to a character I want to learn a lot more about.
The Maaaaaaain Eventaaaah~1!: This is a big, clubby, nasty fight. As well it should be. I would have liked to see the leg drop to the floor get played up more. It's a big, brutal spot that doesn't get played with much. After such a fantastic count out tease earlier in the night, it stands out a lot more that this just kind of gets blown off you know? I would have liked to see at least a few words about how much it took out of her, and it's easy to fit in there while she warns the Masters not to get involved. I liked the escalating series of nearfalls at the end, and Ayano's involvement is really cool.
TLC Challenge: Again, would have loved a bit more description in the opening of this. The first thing that happens is an amazing heel moment, spitting on your opponent trapped in a ladder? That's AWFUL. That's SO shitty. And there's a bit about how the crowd reacts but I don't know...could have been stronger. A TLC match is a big, huge challenge that was built pretty well in the last segment but there's not as much play to it as their should be. Announcers freaking out would be nice. Maybe I want this to be sold more as a big, violent horrorshow than the kind of stunt show TLCs normally are. I dunno. This could have been stronger in my opinion.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Match of the Night: Salem vs Overton
Wrestler of the Night: Magdelena
Segment of the Night: Valkyrie Promo
OMG/WTF Moment of the Night: Magdelena breaks Stellas fingers
What are you excited for moving forward? Magdelena vs Bell
What would you rate the show (??/10)? 7 out of 10
Comments/Concerns/Bitches/Gripes? A lot of matches started the same way, folks immediately rushing each other at the bell. That's a minor issue. A nitpick. But I noted it.