THE COLD, SHE IS OPEN
Bronson Box had to say no here, obviously. Awesome visual of everyone walking together before the actual open. Really marked for this. Unless I missed it, I was wondering what brought Mushigihara to the team right away. But not everyone can be resistant to join or that would get repetitive. I'm reminded of X-Men First Class for some reason when Xaiver and Magneto go recruiting mutants and Wolverine just says "fuck off" before they open their mouth, but obviously this can't be played for laughs here. Great opening.
THE RUNDOWN
Typical opening banter.
THE CLASH
Good set-up and follow-up from the opening. Good to see Mikey crack, just a little. But he's got everything under control for now lol. Not much to add. It's reasonably academic where things will go later tonight, but it only sets up for interesting outcomes later on.
KERRY KUROYAMA vs. NIGEL KING
Good, basic match to build Kuroyama and have the Reapers show again. I like the mention of BRAZEN being inserted into this UTA vs. DEFIANCE battle, even if it's just a one-off comment. At least it's been acknowledged. I think this is something that can be explored at a later time too, though I know it wasn't the focus of this match. Short appearance overall by the Reapers on this show.
PAPERWORK
I like the idea of this segment, I'm just wondering how it ties in to the whole UTA/DEFIANCE aspect. I could argue DEFIANCE wrestlers were left in the ring at a far worse shape and would warrant more action against them. To me, DEFIANCE is in a state of war by any means necessary so it's anything goes right now. Albeit, Max Billabong channels his inner Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson way of wrestling, so I can understand Dane's concern. Taking a shot at "joining the UTA" makes this segment fit in with the overall story lines. Also I want Max Billabong back.
FROSTING IS THICKER THAN BLOOD
Welcome WrestleUTA Refugees. LOL. The only thing I'd say here is I want to believe Harmen is actually evil. This leaves a bit of doubt in my head and I didn't want that! Great segment and idea with the cupcakes. I laughed when I read the opening lines.
SCOTT STEVENS vs. DAVIS BLOOME
I love the #FUCKDEFIANCE shirt. There are a few sentences that get a little repetitive, which I know is something I struggle with at times such as "
DDK: The crowd tonight is clearly showing who they are not fond of here tonight.", saying "tonight" twice. I catch myself doing this the odd time, primarily when I make edits to what I've written. Otherwise, Scott Stevens came off well. I like that while he was initially distracted, he came back and won the match. If this was WWE, this would never happen and Stevens would already be booked like an idiot lol. Glad that's not the case. Stevens saying he has bigger things to look at, such as the FIST, makes sense with his character but right now Hightower would have his eyes set there. My only other comment would be to make this after-match part a segment with an official title.
THE PERFECT PLAN
lol. Very entertaining. How will they overcome their mentor? I liked the mention of the long internal dialog, too. Once they overcome Harmen, I want PCP to go back to the tag titles.
THROWN UNDER THE BUS
"
What are they doing over in UTAH? Inbreeding?" lol. I was a little confused about the Dibbins Brothers being UTA and leaving the ring for a fight followed by the Hollywood Bruvs (who are also obviously UTA) but maybe this was coordinated between them? In my limited time here, Kendrix has come across as a star to me and Mikey told me Mikey Unlikely wouldn't be wrestling, so to see this transpire was really cool. Given the circumstances things changed but this was a great path to take. Wrestle UTA should absolutely crush DEFIANCE and hold all the titles. Another step in the right direction. However, this did make the Viking War Cult appearance last week seem uneventful.
THE BASTARDS vs. THE HOLLYWOOD BRUVS
There needs to be a huge motherfucking cold open celebration on the next DEFtv because UTA is killing it. Perfect "surprise" on this show, following last week. And I feel like more is coming. Mikey is a talented writer when it comes to putting together dick-less, arrogant/delusional heels (I mean this in a nice way lol). See: Unlikely and Sawyers. The bus comment, heel heat right there.
IF YOU CALL...
Noted on the feedback, boys. I'm just trying to see what sticks. Trial and error period as I find my way with Blackwood. I don't plan to drop the accent completely, but it will be used seldomly from now on to get certain spots and emotions over.
NICKY SYNZ vs. THOMAS SLAINE
Well written match. I second the comment of where this could have gone. Perhaps even on Uncut as it seems a little out of place here and Uncut is this great platform that should be used more now with the cards becoming very big. Again, the match itself was good.
...I WILL ANSWER
Noted on the feedback again. I actually don't mind angles where the lines of black and white, in terms of faces and heels are more grey. Anyone in DEFIANCE is evil! Might as well hit them first.
MUSHIGIHARA vs. OSCAR BURNS
The opening line made me buy into what was happening. "
Why are these guys fighting each other?" that's what I said too when I read the title, but calling it out made me nod my head and follow along. That said, I think Mushi should have joined the DEFIANCE Fight Team (for lack of a better term) after this match. Very well written. Nothing else to say other than that.
AND STILL...
I like how it's written, the crowd knew something was wrong... then you explain Scott Stevens is there. I like how e-wrestling can really convey the perception of the wrestler, instead of what everyone else sees first. The Stevens attack is brilliant. The "win" over Burns is brilliant too. Makes perfect sense to me. Real prick move by Stevens. This is WCW's Chris Jericho beating Goldberg on numerous occasions but actually doing it (while still not doing it, lol).
WRESTLEUTA'S CROWN JEWEL
I liked how Lance Warner stood up for DEFIANCE. Everyone in DFE should be on the same page. Crimson comes across well. Just the simple "more" upon booing is really well done. For someone with a lot of short, concise sentences, Crimson Lord makes his points loud and clear.
SOHER: SCOTT DOUGLAS (C) vs. THE JAY HARVEY
At first, I say to myself put this on the PPV but it only makes sense to do this here given the titles that have already switched hands. Also, I had convinced myself the title was changing here, even though typical wrestling knowledge would say otherwise. Surprisingly, I did not see Bronson Box running in. Works for me. Great stuff. Box actually "saving" the title for DEFIANCE. Though that's certainly not the reason he got his revenge...
IN-FIGHTING INNIT?
Well, shit. I thought Harvey would be able to knock them both out and that's it. However, a brawl takes place. Good clusterfuck fight. Incredible line by Kendrix "
Kendrix: THIS RIGHT HERE... IS TRULY... THE FUTURE... OF YOUR COMPANY! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS... IS... DEFIANCE!" Bloody perfect. This is show-ending segment worthy stuff right here.
THE IS HUGE...
There's a lot to like right now in DEFIANCE. Mikey Unlikely and Jamie Sawyers have to be right there. At first, I figured both with be delusional idiots but Mikey's serious tone puts this is an entirely different direction for me. Great stuff. This is a big fight coming up. Sawyers doesn't need to be all over-the-top.
JACK HARMEN vs. PCP
Some very good lines this whole show. Loved the back and forth with Elise cutting her head open and tossing Harmen the chair. Very Eddie-like but it outsmarts the mentor who "out-smarted" them. I also like how this is still technically DEFIANCE vs. UTA, but feels more natural in terms of a story line that was built way before the InVasion.
ANOTHER PROPOSAL
I'm intrigued..................
ANDY MURRAY vs. DAVID HIGHTOWER
Jamie Sawyers jumping up and down on the apron, then reacting to the win like he's won the lottery, great stuff. Andy Murray was beaten coming into this and it took a cheap shot to take him down for good. Hightower comes across like a monster with blood frothing from his mouth. A huge put-over too, allowing Murray to take the pinfall.
MY GOD...
Jesus. Hightower overcomes a triple-team. More shit WWE would never do with their heels lol. An absolute monster. This was really well done and I love how everyone remains 100% committed to putting UTA over... even if this was written by one of the guys in charge who's directing us to do so.
WRESTLE UTA: CRIMSON LORD (C) vs. BRONSON BOX
I might have ended DEFtv with the segment above and saved this for the next show, given the in-house fighting and Kendrix's comments leaving a great impact in my mind. However, just my opinion there. Also was Box getting cheered at the beginning? I was a little unclear but this was clarified later on. However, my thoughts would be a mixed reaction at best... with the crowd wanting to cheer for Box, wanting to commit to him... but ultimately him not giving in right now. Seeing Box lose like that... stings for me lol. I'm on his side now.
OVERALL
Something struck me in the Stevens/Burns beat-down segment. "
Angus: Where the hell is.. I dunno, anybody? We gotta stick together against these guys!" That made me think. Maybe this is a direction a future DEFtv show can go, because it makes sense. UTA is killing everyone and unless there's a DEFIANCE "committee" out there to make some saves, it might continue. Anyway just a thought. Great show. Not as great as the previous one, but that was going to be tough to match regardless. However, some very, very good impact on this show too. New Tag Team Champions. New number one contender. Lots happening. And that's even when a guy like Impulse takes a back seat on DEFtv. Hell, Calye too, to a point. Focus has been on UTA as a unit and what they've been doing.