PWG ONE HUNDRED!!!!

For those of you keeping count, it is time for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla’s 100th show, the suitably titled “One Hundred” (4/12/09), filmed in beautiful Reseda, CA in front of a live studio audience.

-One night after being in the main event of a fantastic show against another of the best teams in the world, The Young Bucks prove that there ain’t no rest for the wicked as they take the opening slot on this card to battle The Cutler Brothers. I don’t know a lot of teams that would be so eager to follow up a brilliant outing with Grade-A talent like the Motor City Machine Guns by battling a team fairly unproven on this stage. The Bucks take that challenge and almost seem intent to prove that they can have a great match with anybody.

Consider it proven. The Bucks and the Cutlers look fantastic against each other, and this bout does a lot to build the Cutlers as that “next big PWG tag team” and put them on par with the Young Bucks as having the potential to explode not just in California but all over the world. Great match.

-Expecting a good match from Scott Lost vs. Roderick Strong is like assuming raindrops will fall from dark clouds – duh, of course that’s going to happen. What you don’t always see coming is an intense thunderstorm from that grey sky. Lightening crashes between Lost and Strong from the word go, and both men toss each other around like there is some money owed between them. My jaw was left ajar quite a few times. Good stuff.

-Not sure I can put into words exactly what Bryan Danielson vs. Kenny Omega is, other than entertaining as all get out. I don’t think I’ve had reason to describe a match as hysterical before now, but there you go. And the actual wrestling, when they get to it, is pretty fantastic too. Omega as PWG MVP continues in the highest fashion here!

-Man, say what you want about Paul London post-WWE, but the man takes a beating here against Joey Ryan. London bumps left and right, in the ring, out of the ring, all over the place, and he has the black and blues to show for it. Ryan is perfect here as well. Generally speaking a really good match that leaves both guys looking battered and bruised.

-Amusing work in the Austin Aries, Chuck Taylor, and Human Tornado vs. B-Boy, Scorpio Sky, and Candice LeRae match. LeRae especially looks impressive given how seamlessly she mixes with the men. The lady more than stands out and that is saying a lot given the caliber of talent in the ring. Plus getting some payoff to the Aries/LeRae interaction from last night’s World Title match was nice.

-Last time I watched Davey Richards battle Tyler Black one on one was in an ROH ring, as the main event of a show, and it was great. This time the two men have somehow managed to make their encounter even better! Not sure if it has to do with the overall quality of the night making them aim bigger than before, but whatever the case, this contest is incredible! Really great stuff, easily reminded me why I admire both men.

-El Generico vs. Sonjay Dutt is unfortunately the first contest of the night that really doesn’t deliver. It has a lot to do with Dutt, who tries so hard to play the heel here and fails miserably. He comes off as annoying, useless, and generally not fun to watch. Generico does his best to keep the match strong, but it simply isn’t enough. Okay contest in terms of wrestling, but would have been a lot better if Dutt didn’t spend so much time trying to sell his bad attitude. And don’t even get me started on the specific heel tactic Dutt uses that Davey Richards did literally one match before! What the hell? Not saying Davey has ownership over it or anything, but it was literally minutes earlier! Lame!

-Main event time as Chris Hero defends the PWG World Title against Colt Cabana. Neither guy is among my favorites, so I was pleasantly surprised by how well they meshed. Their great chemistry leads to a pretty good, if not entirely memorable match. Far from being the best bout of the evening, but this is in an odd way a perfect way to end an incredibly stacked show.