My 2 Freakin' Cents - KMA Jackson
Monday Night Brawl has a storied history in the EUWC, and now with it's return to Fox Television on Monday Nights, I thought I would give my thoughts on the most recent episode...
Monday Night Brawl Review - October 24, 2005
- We open the show with a recap of last week when Fire & Ice defeated STEALTH & Lockhart for the World Tag Team Titles. After that is finished we are greeted by Keith & Roger and MNB is underway.
- The first match of the night is quite an odd tag team match as T. Waring & Cuchulain team up to face Lt. Hawkeye & Michael McCormick. Both teams do a good job of mounting an offense in the early going, but a mis-communication between McCormick and Hawkeye allows T. Waring and Cuchulain to capitalize. As Cuchulain keeps Hawkeye at bay, Waring pins McCormick following a Commander Slam. Match Rating: 6
-Up next Rocko Daymon is delivered a message. It seems Darius Hunter wishes to meet with Rocko next week. What could this be about?
- Next the number one contender to the International Championship Samuel Roundtree takes on Lord Antharg. Both men start this one off wildly as it quickly becomes an all out brawl. Eventually, Roundtree takes control and lays a beating onto Antharg that was quite vicious to watch. Antharg would make a slow and small comeback, eventually resulting in him applying a sleeperhold to Roundtree. Roundtree counters into a modified choke and gets the tap out victory. After the match, Roundtree holds onto the choke and will not release it. The ref disqualifies Roundtree, and overturns his original decision. This infuriates Roundtree who continues to kick and stomp Antharg until King Buxton makes the save. Nice way to show Samuel's inner monster. Guess he is ready for Daymon after all. Match Rating: 6.5
Next up was a World Tag Team Championship match as the New Champs Fire & Ice defend against EUWC Newcomers Celtic Pride. Before the action can even begin, Fire & Ice set up a table at ringside. In the early going, Xavier Marshal shows Woad his power and takes him down with several European Uppercuts and kicks, followed by a choke with his boot. After the ref breaks it up we get a test of strength. (Haven't seen that in a while....) Predictably, Marshal gets the upper hand and brings Woad to his knees, but Woad manages a brilliant counter into an armbar. Marshal would be tossed outside where Damien would rush to his side. Celtic Pride both leap over the ropes onto the Tag Champs on the outside. Marshal is able to tag DDS who manhandles Woad inside the ring. After a few moments DDS tries for a pin but MacKeegan interrupts the cdount. MacKeegan would drag Woad to the corner and make the tag. After a flurry of attacks on both DDS and XXX MacKeegan hits a moonsault on DDS for a two count. DDS soon counters a DDT with a Northen Lights Suplex leaving both men down. Both manage to make the tag and Marshall takes the beating to Woad once again. Marshal manages to set Woad up on the table and X-Bombs him through it for the pinfall victory. Exciting match and could prove to be a major feud down the line. MacKeegan can hold his own with Fire & Ice, but Woad lacks the power and needs to find his niche in this team. Match Rating: 7.5
Tony DeLucci returned to Monday Night Brawl to take on Nick Elliot. This match didn't take long to escalate as DeLucci tosses trash cans and a 15 foot high ladder into the ring. As DeLucci sets the ladder up, Elliot labels him with a kendo stick. Elliot manages to climb halfway up the ladder and deliver a sick legdrop onto DeLucci. Tony fights back with trash can lids and takes control. DeLucci then sets a table up but Elliot nails him from behind with a kendo stick. Elliot places DeLucci on the table. From the top rope, Elliot leaps off and positions a chair underneath his legs, but DeLucci manages to move sending Elliot crashing through the table. DeLucci covers and gets the victory. Good to see DeLucci back. If anything was wrong here it was that this one was way too short and the hardcore stipulation should have been announced beforehand. Nick Elliot in my opinion doesn't belong on Monday Night Brawl and he brought the match down with a few botched spots. Match Rating: 4
Paul Doom made his return next to challenge Rocko Daymon for the International Championship in tonight's main event. Haven't seen Doom in a while and kinda hopes he sticks around this time. Actually a nice feud with Daymon would probably be a great thing for MNB. Surprised this match was given away on Free TV. Back and forth for most of the match, several great spots stand out in my mind. Doom delivering a superbackdrop to Daymon. Daymon nailed a nice looking Belly to Belly Brainbuster on Doom which looked sick! What surprised me even more, was seeing Doom leap off the top turnbuckle and connecting with a thunderous clothesline onto Daymon who was on the arena floor. The end came when Doom attempted the Doomstone only to have it reversed by Daymon into the Brain Rocker Redux for the pinfall. After the match, Samuel Roundtree hits the ring and trades blows with Daymon. Samuel hits Daymon with a snap powerslam, and follows it with a skullcracking chair shot, busting Daymon wide open. Adding more insult to injury, Samuel nails Daymon with the Brain Rocker and then poses with the International Title... However The Noblemen hit the ring and assault Roundtree but Samuel manages to escape before taking too much damage. Excellent match up with a nice exchange with Roundtree and Daymon at the end. Not sure where the Noblemen - Roundtree feud is headed, but I am intrigued for now... Easily this made match of the night. Glad to see Doom back and look forward to what will happen next for the former World Champion. Match Rating: 8
Overall Show Rating: 64%
Good show. Liked the development of the feud between Daymon and Roundtree. The Tag Title match was exceptional and Paul Doom's return was great as well. Looking forward to next week where hopefully we get a little more Blood Bath build up as it pertains to the Blood Bath match itself and the North American Championship Match. There is lots of room for improvement for Brawl, and the possibilities are endless. But for now things are looking good.
Next week's main event is listed as being Daymon & Roundtree vs The Noblemen. Should be quite interesting to see Daymon's reaction to tagging with the man who assaulted him last week. Damien Stone, T. Waring and Tony DeLucci in a Triple Threat offers up a great change of pace with many possibilities. Nice to see Woad vs Xavier Marshal... Perhaps Woad will manage to mount more of an offense. Cuchulain & Tommy MacKeegan will take on Hawkeye and McCormick in tag action. And as an added bonus, two EUWC Supertsars return to take each other on one on one as Chill battles Neighborhood Sniper. I look forward to that.
Till next time
-KMA Jackson