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Full Impact Pro Wrestling started off the year 2007 with its New Year’s Classic show. This show featured the debuts of Jimmy Jacobs, Claudio Castagnoli, Brent Albright, and Shiima Xion as well as the returns of Jack Evans and Jimmy Rave. What would happen as the feud between the YRR and Black Market started to heat up the last time they were in Inverness for the Florida Rumble. Would Erick Stevens get past Steve Madison’s Gun for Hire Brent Albright as he prepared for his Dog Collar Match against Madison the next night?
Here are the results from the show:
Your announcers are Lenny Leonard and Dave Prazak.
The show began with the YRR of Chasyn Rance, Steve Madison, Kenny King, Sal Rinauro, and Daffney coming out to speak to the fans. Chasyn Rance got on the mic and he said that the YRR is what everyone wants to be and that nobody in the crowd deserves to see them wrestle tonight, but they will be in action tonight so they can destroy Black Market. Steve Madison gets on the mic and he says that they delivered what they promised last month as they brought in their Gun for Hire, Brent Albright. Albright comes out and Madison tells him that it is job to make sure that Erick Stevens does not make it to Crystal River for the Dog Collar Match between him and Madison. Daffney gets on the mic and she talks about Allison Danger and how if they meet in the ring tonight, there is going to be a catfight.
Allison Danger comes out and she goes to the ring. Daffney and the rest of the YRR go to the ring as well and surround Danger. Before they can do anything, Erick Stevens, Black Market, and Seth Delay come to the ring. Allison Danger and Daffney fight to the back and the rest of the ring empties until Seth Delay and Kenny King remain.
Match Number One: Seth Delay defeats Kenny King of the YRR
The bell rings and Delay has the early advantage over King as he punches him in the corner. Delay maintains the advantage, but he gets too aggressive and he misses a charge into the corner. King takes advantage of this mistake as he works over Delay. King tries to work on Delay’s back, but he gets too greedy and gets kneed in the lower abdomen. Delay tries to finish off King with a series of rollups for a series of near falls. King with a charge into the corner and Delay counters with the Kool Krush for the three count.
Shane Hagadorn comes out with Mr. Milo Beasley. He points out that the last time he was in this podunk, garbage town, he made a challenge and got stuck with a cougar. Shane says that he showed him what DP is all about and tonight he will show that when you mess with DP, someone is going to bleed.
Match Number Two: Claudio Castagnoli defeats Shane Hagadorn (with Mr. Milo Beasley)
The match starts off with a clean break by each man and then they have a pose down. When Claudio poses a second time, Hagadorn takes advantage and hits a drop kick. Claudio gains control of the match, but Mr. Beasley trips Castagnoli from the apron and that allows Hagadorn to hit a side Russian leg sweep. Mr. Beasley continues to interfere on behalf of Hagadorn while the referee was not looking. Castagnoli is able to get back into the match with an Alpine Water Slide. Hagadorn tries to get back into the match, but Castagnoli is able to take care of Hagadorn with two European uppercuts.
The Heartbreak Express comes out and Sean Davis gets on the mic. Sean says that they are not scheduled to wrestle on tonight’s show, but they wanted to take a few minutes to address the fans. He talks about the Cage of Pain Match last month in Crystal River and he says that it was the toughest match of their lives. He talks about the light tubes, barbed wire, and chairs that were used in the match. He says that Shawn Murphy must be one of the strongest men in wrestling to powerbomb him through a table covered in six thousand thumbtacks. It was the most pain that he ever felt in his life. However, when he was lying there in the ring and he thought his career would be over after the abuse that he took in that match, the fans started cheering for him and Phil. That gave Sean the will to come back for more. While they might not be at one hundred percent and they might not like the fans, they showed the Heartbreak Express and he thanks them.
Shiima Xion comes out and he says that he wants to take a closer look at the Heartbreak Express because they claim to be a couple of ladies men.
Sean gets on the mic and he wants to know who Shiima is to walk in and insult them. He gives Shiima two choices. First, he can get his ass kicked. Second, he can get a partner and get both of their asses kicked.
Shiima goes to the back for a second and he comes out with Pelle Primeau. Phil and Sean attack Primeau and Xion. Phil and Sean Irish whip Primeau and Xion into each other.
Match Number Three: Heartbreak Express (Sean Davis and Phil Davis) defeat Pelle Primeau and Shiima Xion
Sean works over Xion in the corner and hits a stinkface before Xion leaves the ring to regroup. Phil and Primeau get in the ring and before they lock up, Phil has Primeau and referee Paul Turner stand back to back. Phil points out that Primeau is shorter than Turner. Primeau tries to get a rollup on Phil, but Phil uses his size advantage to toss Primeau around the ring. Xion and Sean get in the ring and Xion tries to hit a sunset flip, but he cannot get Sean over and Sean drops down on Xion. Primeau gets back into the match and the Davises work over Primeau. Primeau tries to make the tag but Xion refuses to tag in and the Heartbreak Express continue to work over Primeau. Primeau gets another opportunity to tag in Xion, but Xion leaves the ring. Sean and Phil hit a double flapjack for the three count.
After the match, Sean Davis gets on the mic and he says that they wanted to win their match tonight and they knew that they were going to win the match. On behalf of Pelle Primeau, he challenges Shiima Xion to a match in Crystal River. Sean tells Primeau that he impressed him with Primeau’s can’t die attitude. Sean offers Primeau the opportunity to go out on the town with them.
Jack Evans comes out and he says that last time he was in FIP; he made a mistake by joining DP Associates. He has spent some time in Japan and got to reflect on the situation. He says that he is done with DP Associates.
Dave Prazak comes out with Shingo and Mr. Milo Beasley. He says that Jack Evans did not even quit DP Associates to his face. He says that nobody who experiences DP does not want to come back for more.
Jack Evans threatens Shingo and Jimmy Rave attacks Evans from behind. FIP Heavyweight Champion Roderick Strong comes out to help Jack Evans. Roderick says that it has been a long time and he welcomes Jack back to FIP. He tells Jack that there is one thing that Jack can count on is Roderick Strong as his partner.
Sal Rinauro comes out and he says that they people in Inverness are now having a good night because they are getting to see Daffney for the second time. Additionally, everyone’s favorite wrestler and Sal Rinauro’s favorite wrestler, Sal Rinauro is shirtless. He mentions that he will be facing Seth Delay in a TLC Match in Crystal River. He mentions that he needs a warm up for Saturday night and the women in the crowd want to see his butt.
Match Number Four: Sal Rinauro (with Daffney) of the YRR defeat Gran Akuma
After getting a quick early advantage, Gran Akuma is able to take control of the match. Akuma tries to go up top, but Rinauro is able to recover and hit a drop kick that changes the momentum of the match. While Sal distracts the referee, Daffney chokes Akuma. Akuma is able to take control of the match. Things go back and forth with each getting near falls. Akuma hits a slingshot power bomb and then he puts Rinauro in a submission hold, but Kenny King comes out and he hits a leg drop while Daffney distracts the referee. Rinauro covers Akuma for the three count.
After the match, the YRR attack Gran Akuma, but Black Market, Erick Stevens, Seth Delay, and Allison Danger come out to even the odds.
Match Number Five: Chasyn Rance and Steve Madison (with Daffney) of the YRR defeat Black Market of Shawn Murphy and Joey Machete (with Allison Danger)
The members of the YRR start off with the early advantage, but when things go outside the ring, Black Market is able to take control of the match. Madison and Rance isolate Machete in their corner, but Machete tries to fight out of the corner, but Madison is able to pull Machete out of the ring. Black Market is able to take control of the match when they go outside and they appear to have things under control, but Daffney gets on the apron to distract the referee. Allison Danger chases Daffney around the ring. After a series of quick tags, Madison and Rance work over Machete. Rance tries for a moonsault, but Machete moves out of the way and Murphy is able to make the tag. Murphy works over Madison and Rance and then Black Market hits Black Out but Daffney gets on Murphy’s back. Allison comes in and she pulls Daffney off Murphy, and it is time for Allison and Daffney to have a catfight. Black Market tries to finish off Rance again, but Madison hits Machete with a chair and Rance gets the three count on Machete.
Jimmy Jacobs comes out and he says that he is glad to finally be in FIP. He says that he is here because the love of his life, Lacey, was here. He points out that he heard she was hanging out with some shady characters.
Larry Sweeney comes out and he apologizes for interrupting Jacobs, but he wants to know if he is looking good tonight. He says that he held Jimmy Jacobs in high esteem at one point, but he does not want to hear Jacobs cry. He calls Lacey a hussy and then Jacobs slaps Sweeney. Jacobs challenges Sweeney to a match and says that he is here to kick ass and chew bubble gum, but he just had his last piece. Jacobs goes to the ring and Sweeney calls Jacobs ‘fatso.’
Match Number Six: Larry Sweeney defeats Jimmy Jacobs
Sweeney claims that Jacobs pulled his hair at the start of the match. Sweeney leaves the ring and he spots a female photographer at ringside and he hits on her, but Jacobs comes from behind and hits Sweeney. Jacobs takes control of the match until things go outside the ring again. Sweeney sends Jacobs into the guardrails and then he uses the rail to work on Jacobs’s arm. The action returns to the ring and they alternate control of the match until Sweeney hits a knee lift and gourdbuster. Jacobs hits a spear, but when he tries for a belly-to-back suplex, Sweeney hits Jacobs with a foreign object. Sweeney hits the Shreveport Smash for the three count.
Match Number Seven: Brent Albright defeats Erick Stevens in a Bounty Match
Albright tries to get into Stevens’s head at the start of the match, but Erick is able to get the early advantage in the match. Albright is able to take over in the match after a hot shot in the corner. Albright tries to choke Stevens out, but Stevens fights back. Stevens hits a lariat and TKO before setting up for a Doctor Bomb, but Albright escapes and he gets the three count with a DDT.
After the match, the YRR celebrate with Albright. Madison gets on the mic while the rest of the YRR hold Stevens. He says that the hired gun took care of business and it does not look like Stevens will make it to their Dog Collar Match in Crystal River. If he does make it there, the Dog Collar Match will be the end of Erick Stevens. Black Market comes out and Joey Machete has a chair with him.
Erick Stevens gets on the mic and he says that he is sick and tired of being jumped by Steve Madison and his group of cowards. All Madison does is hit him and run when the odds are fair. Stevens says that he will make sure that Madison cannot run and he will not rest until Steve Madison is finished. He says that their match in Crystal River will not be for the squeamish and it will end.
Match Number Eight: Jack Evans and Roderick Strong defeat Jimmy Rave and Shingo (with Dave Prazak, Mr. Milo Beasley, and Shane Hagadorn) of DP Associates
Both teams try to get the early advantage, but all attempts are neutralized. Evans and Strong are able to get the advantage as they work over Rave including a number of double team moves that showcase Evans’s aerial skills. Shingo gets involved in the match to allow DP Associates to get back into the match. Shingo and Rave work on Evans while keeping Strong out of the ring. Evans is able to recover and him and Strong work over Rave until Shingo gets back into the ring. Shingo and Rave work over Evans, but Evans and Strong are able to hit a belly-to-back suplex/blockbuster combination on Shingo. Strong uses Evans as a weapon as he throws Jack into Rave in the ropes. Shingo holds Evans, but Rave hits Shingo with a forearm when Evans moves out of the way. Strong gets Rave on his shoulders and Evans goes up top and hits a double jump moonsault off Rave onto Shingo for the three count.
New Year’s Classic DVD Thoughts:
The DVD runs approximately two hours and twenty minutes.
The lighting and sound was the same as the Florida Rumble 2006 DVD and other DVDs from Inverness. It does not take away from the action in the ring. They also had the same issue with any wide shots of the ringside area because it showed that the crowd was a little sparse. Even though the crowd was not as much as other FIP shows in the area, it was still a loud crowd.
I thought Prazak and Leonard did a great job to push the matches for Unfinished Business the next night in Crystal River.
Dave and Lenny might be the Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler of the independent scene since they work together so much on Ring of Honor and Full Impact Pro DVDs that they have great chemistry together.
I was a little surprised that they did not bring in Jake Cerone to do commentary during the main event with Lenny Leonard.
It was hard to hear Shane Hagadorn during his promo.
I thought the opening match was a good way to start the show and I was a little surprised that Delay got the victory because of the roll that the YRR had been on over the last few months.
Chasyn Rance has become one of the better promo guys in the company and I think he has benefited the most in the YRR.
This was the first time that I saw Claudio Castagnoli live and I was very impressed with his work. He has a lot of charisma and I can see why he was one half of the Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champions. He has a lot of agility for a big man and I hope he will become a regular in FIP.
I thought Sean Davis’s promo was very good. While it was not a complete face turn, it did a lot to set the stage for it to happen. It showed that Sean appreciated what the fans did for the Heartbreak Express after the Cage of Pain Match to acknowledge the effort that all four men put into that match and the risks that they took were appreciated by the fans; and not a situation where the fans wanted to see carnage and did not care about the people in the match.
I also liked how Sean Davis’s promo after the match put over Pelle Primeau’s performance in the match.
I liked the Gran Akuma and Sal Rinauro match. Even though Akuma lost the match, he stayed strong because it took interference from the other members of the YRR to lose the match.
With two strong heel factions in the YRR and DP Associates, it is good to see some of the faces in the company joining forces to take on those heel factions. The unity of that portion of the locker room gives a solid heel/face dichotomy in the company.
I like the new direction in the sense that the Ring of Honor storylines are followed in FIP. This has led to Austin Aries and Jack Evans leaving DP Associates and Jimmy Jacobs continuing his storyline with Lacey.
Larry Sweeney is amazing on the mic and a great addition to this company. He has that Adrian Adonis/Randy Savage feel to his promos. He comes off as a star and he can back it up in the ring.
I liked the Albright/Stevens match and I was a little surprised that it was a clean finish and I was expecting to see Steve Madison run in during the match to help Albright. With Albright’s run in the WWE, it was good as a fan of the Florida independent scene to see someone like Erick Stevens hold their own against someone like Albright. It only helps someone like Stevens to hang with a guy with a national reputation.
The main event continues the tradition of great matches on January shows from FIP. In 2005, Roderick Strong and Samoa Joe had two match of the year candidates (available on the New Year’s Classic and Unfinished Business DVDs which can be found at Ring of Honor Website ). In 2006, Roderick Strong and Jack Evans had their own match of the year candidate (available on the Strong vs. Evans DVD which can be found at Ring of Honor Website ).
After spending time away from the company, Jack Evans and Jimmy Rave jumped into things with both feet. Jimmy Rave took a beating from Roderick Strong and Jack Evans while Jack was hitting his usual arsenal of high impact moves. All four men were on the same page during the entire match. I have been impressed with Shingo Takagi since his debut in FIP and this was his best match in this company.
Full Impact Pro Wrestling returns to action on Friday September 28, 2007 at the National Guard Armory in Brooksville, Florida at 16386 Spring Hill Drive. Appearing on the show will be FIP World Heavyweight Champion Roderick Strong, FIP Tag Team Champions Jay and Mark Briscoe, FIP Florida Heritage Champion Erick Stevens, The YRR of Sal Rinauro, Kenny King, Chasyn Rance and Jason Blade with So Cal Val, Delirious, The Necro Butcher, Dave Prazak, Mr. Milo Beasley, Black Market of Shawn Murphy and Joey Machete, The Heartbreak Express of Sean and Phil Davis, Sweet and Sour Larry Sweeney, Modern Miracle Steve Madison, The Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew of Lacey and Rain, Jigsaw, Kool Seth Delay, Hallowicked, Gran Akuma, Irish Airborne of Dave and Jake Crist, and Scott Commodity.
Full Impact Pro Wrestling returns to the National Guard Armory in Crystal River on Saturday September 29, 2007. The Crystal River show will feature the second Cage of Pain Match with the YRR facing Black Market and the Heartbreak Express. Also appearing are FIP World Heavyweight Champion Roderick Strong, FIP Tag Team Champions Jay and Mark Briscoe, FIP Florida Heritage Champion Erick Stevens, Delirious, The Necro Butcher, Dave Prazak, Mr. Milo Beasley, Sweet and Sour Larry Sweeney, Modern Miracle Steve Madison, The Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew of Lacey and Rain, Jigsaw, Kool Seth Delay, Hallowicked, Gran Akuma, Irish Airborne of Dave and Jake Crist, and Scott Commodity. For more information on Full Impact Pro Wrestling, check out Full Impact Pro Wrestling Website.
For information on Full Impact Pro Wrestling DVDs, including the newest releases Unfinished Business 2007, Dangerous Intentions 2007, In Full Force 2007, and Evening the Odds 2005 featuring DP Associates (Austin Aries, Samoa Joe, Bryan Danielson, Adam Pearce, and Jimmy Rave with Dave Prazak) versus Roderick Strong, Sean Waltman, Tony Mamaluke, Sal Rinauro, and Jerrelle Clark in; check out Ring of Honor Website
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