Showtime Allstar Wrestling TV Review - Episode 56

Courtesy of Larry Goodman:

Airing August 2, 2008 in Nashville, Tn on Comcast 74
Taped July 11 and July 25, 2008 in Millersville, Tn at the Saw Mill

Michael St. John did a solo opening this week without a live crowd. He said the SAW International Champion, Kid Kash was in Germany on MMA business but the number one contender, Jerry Lynn was in the house. St. John said the show would open with matches taped last week (July 11 with Reno Riggins on commentary) and then Paul Adams would be joining him on commentary.

1 – DAVID YOUNG (with Paul Adams) vs. DREW HASKINS

MSJ said Young reminded him of the Von Brauners. Young brutalized Haskins early. Riggins said Young had put on 20-25 pounds since he had last seen him and was putting it to good use against Haskins. Haskins sparked a comeback with a springboard twisting crossbody for a two count. Haskins got two more near falls – with an O’Connor Roll and a sweep kick/jumping forearm – before Young abruptly ended it with his signature spinebuster.

WINNER: Young with the spinebuster in 4:23. Haskins offense looked good. Way too good. With Young being billed as Adams’ hired gun, he should have killed the rookie in his debut match.

MSJ came to ringside for word with Adams and Young. Adams said Young was his problem solver to take care of that troublemaker Arrick Andrews. Young gave St. John his business card. “One more problem solved,” he said.

2 – SIGMON vs. JEFF JAMISON

Jamison came out of the box with high energy flying. He went for Sliced Bread Number 2, and Sigmon brought him back to earth with a rude kick to the spine. They mentioned Sigmon’s Middle Eastern descent. The highlight of Sigmon’s offense was a snap powerslam. Sigmon won it with a top rope headbutt “with that huge cranium of his.”

WINNER: Sigmon with the Colossal Camelback Headbutt in 2:27. This was totally fine for what little time they were given. Sigmon work is consistently solid. He’s learned the importance of doing fewer things and making sure they all looks good. Jamison has improved greatly.

Postmatch, Sigmon did his first interview with MSJ. Sigmon (with a southern accent) said he was raised in a strict, disciplined environment that southern people don’t understand. Sigmon said he would dominate with his actions and his mind.

3 – TJ HARLEY vs. LARRY COOTER

Harley hit his slingshot elbow drop for a two count, and Cooter took over from there. MSJ pointed out Harley’s penchant for allowing lesser opponents to take advantage of him. Adams was curious about the nature of the relationship between Harley and Miss Worthington, as to why she is so distressed. Cooter scored a series of near falls capped off by a Hoganesque legdrop. MSJ called it a Hogan Jr. and compared it a Whopper Jr. Harley won it with a flying forearm. Adams said they needed to inspect the brace on that forearm.

WINNER: Harley with a flying forearm at 2:19. An OK match. If Harley is so motivated, why can’t he squash a winless jobber?

A Marc Anthony vignette was next. This had aired previously in the syndicated version (see my episode 54 review) but was left out of the Nashville version. It was the one where Anthony came from under water to address his “army” and then physically abused himself.

4 – CHRISJEN HAYME vs. JOSH HENDRIX

Hayme’s search for the Perfect 10 made great material for Adams.

Let’s face it, Michael, if he’s looking for the perfect 10 around here, he’s going to have to be grading on one hell of a curve…Look at some of these women. They all get together and go swimming, it’s like the bay of pigs.

Hendrix got off to a fast start with a push up dropkick. He went for a wheelbarrow and Hayme countered with a sidesaddle backbreaker. Hayme hit another backbreaker and broke out the brawling tactics. Hendrix reversed a powerbomb with a huracanrana. Hayme started into what looked like an Alabama Slam, but somehow ended as a spiral slam deal.

WINNER: Hayme in 2:27. Nothing special, but it sure came across better on TV. Live, the crowd was completely disinterested.

Hot Rod Biggs interviewed Hayme about his search for The Perfect 10. Biggs urged female fans to submit their entries at the SAW website. Hayme was disgusted by the lack of progress. He read a lame poem sent in by a contestant from Kentucky. Haume held up a photo of this fat, ugly woman carrying a rifle. He said it was an impossible search and set a deadline of one more week.

MSJ announced Andrews vs. Sigmon for next week’s show.

MSJ said the match between Kash and Lynn was delayed until next week because Kash was out of the country. He introduced a video highlight package on Kash. It showed the exploits of the Notorious K.I.D. since his arrival in SAW, including some great interaction with Jerry Lynn.

Biggs introduced Lynn to the live crowd. He got a nice pop. Lynn said Kash wasn’t in Europe after all.

You’re right here in Nashville sitting at home eating your pork rinds, watching Maury, and wondering who the baby’s father is.

5 – HIGH SOCIETY (Sean Casey & Chris Michaels with Fallon) vs. CHASE STEVENS & ADAM ARMOR MSJ the winning team figured to be in line for a title shot against Tribal Nation. Adams said the other freak squad members, Lexi Pillman and Tiana, were on vacation but High Society had to keep Fallon on a short leash. Casey stalled. Stevens got a quick two count with a shoulder block. Casey scampered for a tag. Stevens and Armor hit some nice combo moves on Michaels. At 4:00, Armor mounted the ropes to rain down the 10 punches, but Michaels cut him off after 5 by dropping him face first on the top turnbuckle. Double teaming and ref distraction shenanigans ensued. Commercial break #1. More of the same. Casey hit a spinebuster and Stevens made the save. Crowd really got behind Armor here. He responded with a back suplex, but Michaels ducked the enzuirgiri and dropped a barrage of elbows. Commercial break #2. Armor planted Michaels with a big DDT to set up the hot tag. Stevens hit a great flying forearm. Stevens let up on a pin attempt, allowing Michaels flying elbow to land on Casey. High Society came back with a double flapjack on Stevens. Armor pulled Casey out, as Stevens kicked out of the pin. Armor hit a flatliner on Michaels, but Casey hit a middle rope diamond cutter to take out Armor. Stevens pulled the ropes down to send Casey out to the floor. Casey got pissed at Fallon and yanked her by the hair. This distracted Stevens, who walked into a superkick from Michaels.

High Society forced a distraught Fallon to do their lewd catch phrase after the match.

WINNERS: High Society at 11:17. An unexceptional main event. Two commercial breaks made it seem a lot longer than it was in actuality. The work was solid. Stevens’ offense continued to look crisp and explosive. The use of two finishers from earlier in the show was unfortunate, particularly since they looked better than said finishers. Most of the crowd didn’t have a good view of the stuff with Fallon, and they were flat as the show went off the air.

Closing Thoughts: This was a rather bland and missable episode – a rare occurence for SAW. Setting aside the huge difference in production quality, I can see why Trent Van Drisse and Tommy Stewart favored NWA Main Event this week on Jerkin the Curtain. There was nothing of major significance either in terms or action of storyline advancement. The holding pattern feel was somewhat related to circumstances beyond SAW’s control. It was pieced together from two tapings with different rings and different announcer teams. Neither Reno (out sick) or MSJ were available for July 25, so the commentary was added after the fact. The new ring looks great on TV. Lynn’s mic work continues to be a pleasant surprise. The video package on Kash was yet another nice piece of work by Timmy Thompson. Relieved to see they’re steering clear of the maniacal, turban wearing anti-American cliché with the Sigmon character. On the down side, the featured talent were back to being too generous with opponents they should have been squashing. This show also lacked the characteristic climactic final moments.