FEEDBACK:
Really good show, I thought. Nice balance of action and vignettes. There's definitely a number of interesting storylines being developed, and it was good to see some fresh blood make a showing in the opening matches.
MATCH OF THE NIGHT:
I'll give it to the main event. The outcome, though not necessarily clean, was pretty fitting given the situation. It really put over Stalker as the next major competitor to Anarky, and opened some doors for the return of Dis. Tact had a very impressive showing, and Copycat's involvement was a good call-back to past angling. There was a lot that happened in this match and the aftermath, but I didn't really feel it was overwhelming. The Intercontinental Title match I feel was a good runner up, with what I felt was a really decent finish.
BEST SEGMENT:
I will give props to Justin for making some decent segments with Stalker and Caitlyn for this show. It really set things up well for the storytelling in the main event, and really gave some insight on Jason Reeve's growing madness over his obsession for the World Title. The was the character has evolved, looking back over the past three years since his debut at Wrestlestock, it's really impressive how far he's come and how his madness is coming to fruition. Segments by Dis and The First also deserve some recognition.
FACE OF THE NIGHT:
I'll give the nod to Stephen Shane. Though it cost him a win, the decision not to use the IC Title when he had the chance was a really telling gesture. Show after show, this character continues to grow on me.
HEEL OF THE NIGHT:
Stalker, primarily for his assault on Caitlyn VALENTINE-Daymon. Every week, you wonder, what's the crazy bastard going to do next?
BEST MOMENT: I have to admit, I'm REALLY happy to see The First back. His leaving seemed really abrupt and without explanation, and the federation seemed to be set back with the loss of a major star. But the return speech was well delivered and true to the character, and this opening moment of the match was truly the biggest surprise from my persepctive.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BETTER:
That being said above... I felt The First's return to Empire Pro could have been built up a little more over time. Opening the show with The First in the ring after a few months of being gone with no explanation was a little sudden. Again, it was the biggest surprise for the show for me, but I almost feel it could have been a total mark-out moment if it had come at some point later in the show, like suddenly stepping out during the main event when everybody least expects it. Then again, The First's message seemed pretty direct that rather than just jumping right back into the spotlight, he's adamant on showing he can climb the ranks again, starting with the tag division... so that's probably not that big of a deal. Again, while it was my closest mark out moment on the match, it just seemed a little out of left field for me. Anticlimactic, perhaps.
I will also be the first to admit that the six-man tag match I wrote was much longer than it should have been. When I agreed to take on a match, I seemingly forgot my tendency to go a little overboard with things. Such is the burden once faces when trying to give a decent amount of exposure to at least six characters involved in the same match while trying to involve an angle of mine. At any rate, I hope it was at least a decent match, even though I realize it's unnecessary length seemed to overshadow other matches that could have used a little more exposure.
MISC. THOUGHTS:
In terms of the angles and storylines taking place right now, everything is really solid. I might have one concern about the Dis storyline. While I like the way a seminal and iconic Empire Pro character is back and making an immediate impact and a swift rise to the main event, I'm hoping it doesn't inadvertently undermine the long-developed push behind Stalker using terrorism to get his bid at the World Title.
The new and returning talent in Rich Mahogany and Adrian Willard is good see, and both new talents made decent debuts. Welcome to the fold, gentlemen. With Willard's non-title win over Cruise especially, the TV Title division seems like it will continue to thrive after the departures of Michael Bastard and Donovan Astros.
Also... call it a hunch, but I think here by the end of the year, Empire Pro might have the best tag team division in FWrestling.
Good show, everybody. Keep up the good work.