REVIEW: Pro Wrestling East - Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Wrestlers

Pro Wrestling East: Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Wrestlers
Storey’s Field Centre, Cambridge
Saturday, August 27, 2022
Reviewer: Dave Sewell (@davesewell04)

After seven weeks without a show and back refreshed from holiday it was off to Cambridge for my second show in 2 days, Pro Wresttling East with fellow GT reviewer Iwan Mack in tow.

Our host was Frank Fiott, looking resplendent in Greggs vest and shorts, our refs were Lauren Carnall and Chris Hatch.

Scotty Rawk v RJ Singh

Having heard good things about Scotty Rawk I was looking forward to this but unfortunately we missed the start due to me not concentrating and being on the wrong lane for the M25, being East Anglian I still can’t believe I did that as it’s the same route as when I pop back.

We only caught the last five mins but we still had enough time to see a couple of great kicks from Scotty and escaped DDT attempt flooring RJ.

Unfortunately Scotty went for a Senton off the top rope avoided by RJ who then hit the DDT for the win and a place in the Men’s Championship match in November.

RJ then got the mic to put over Scotty followed by a handshake and a hug,on an aside we also saw one of our friends to swell the ranks a bit

Diadem (Tarquin and Kamille Hansen) w/Lady Cordelia vs Fight and Flight (Beau Belles and Skye O. Shure)

The match started with Skye and Beau being jumped but soon after it settled into a bit of a beatdown. Skye does play a good face in peril I have to say.

This is the second time I’ve seen Kamille. I was wincing at some of her forearms and elbows, very impressive particularly when the teamed a dragon sleeper with elbows.

The tide turned where Tarquin missed a Senton leading to the hot tag where Beau went on a bit of a tear. The part where it all went wrong, after the heels regained a bit of control, was Tarquin holding Beau for Kamille to wallop. Skye smacked him from behind and gave Tarquin a hiding, which spilled over outside.

A quick pummelling near the entrance and Tarquin had enough and walked of, leaving Kamille to fend for herself. A big suplex from Beau, a sliding clothesline from Skye, a stomp from Beau and the pin for Skye gave them the win.

Three of these wrestlers (sans Tarquin) are in the early stages of their careers but all did well and told a good little story of the underdogs pulling through against a team of wrestlers who don’t feel they belong there.

Charlie Morgan v Rita Slayworth

This match was for a place in the Women’s Championship final. Rita Slayworth came out on a scooter wearing rubber gloves, thoroughly displeased at the uncleanliness of the place, at one point even spraying disinfectant on the front row.

The match began with Rita slapping Charlie with the rubber glove, which she said is legal as it’s part of her costume. Rita’s character was great, as the cleanliness obsessive who’s, ironically, not afraid the get her hands dirty.

At one point she got referee Hatch to clean the turnbuckles while she ran Charlie over on the outside with her scooter, which was repaid in full when Charlie scooted round the ring to give her a receipt then placed the scooter outside to stop any more shenanigans.

After some impressive kicks and submission holds by Rita, a superkick and Senton got Charlie the win. However, I could see what Rita was all about and I thought the look and the character and her wrestling were all on point so I hope I see a lot more of her down the line.

Why? In the Sky (Simon Miller and Tommy Kyle) vs Jordan Saeed and Oli Peace

This was basically a comedy match, not everyone’s cup of tea but I absolutely loved it. We started off with Jordan and Simon, Jordan being on jelly legs and tagging in Oli and Tommy who picked up the pace flying everywhere at speed and ending with a double dropkick.

That sentence ended with a kip up, which prompted Jordan and Simon to say they could kip up and basically flopped around like fish out of water when they tried it.

The match then they moved onto technical stuff, consisting of eye pokes, Jordan headlocking the ref and dance off calls for Oil and Jordan doing a spinaroonie went unheeded, anyway just watch it on YouTube when it drops like I say I loved this match.

The ending came with a TK stunner, SM Spear on Jordan and a 3D. After the match Oli got on the mic and had a go at the crowd for all the Greggs chants and Spinaroonie he gets - even after years of trying to entertain the fans. He says you won’t be seeing Oli Peace in the ring again, I think Oli is going for a character refresh here as he’s recently turned heel in Purpose as well.

Coming from Ipswich and seeing he was wearing yellow and green he was a heel to me in this match anyway (apologies to any Canaries reading this).

This brought us nicely to the interval and buying of a raffle ticket, I didn’t win so we’ll skip that bit.

The 87 (Alexander Roth and Roy Johnson) vs Tim Lee and Kharnage

The second half began with The 87 coming out to cut a promo, which wasn’t properly heard (later confirmed there will be tag team belts up for grabs in PWE next year, which the 87 will be in the tournament for).

The crowd on the far side kept calling for the raffle, which if I’m honest, I’m all for a bit of banter but when they’re trying to still say it after five mins let them speak - I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt as Tim Lee and Kharnage, who were hosting the raffle, were there so it could’ve been planned.

The 87 were peeved, wanted to fight them, but as Kharnage didn’t have his wrestling gear Tim declined except he stripped to reveal he actually had his gear on and the match was on.

The early going was the speed of Roth and power of Johnson being too much for Tim Lee to handle, though he did hit an impressive standing moonsault.

Later on Kharnage came in when the 87 got tired of beating Tim and chucked him over. He came in and was met with a Spinebuster for his troubles.

Though Tim and K nearly won it with a two-man Styles Clash on Roth, which Wavy just broke, eventually 87 gained control back and finished it with a double stomp on Kharnage who was on Wavy’s shoulders after Tim was taken out outside, fun match this with the 87 looking strong.

Nightshade (w/Lady Cordelia and Tarquin) vs Jetta

This was the second semi final of the Women’s tournament and Nightshade constantly having a go at us throughout was fantastic.

At one point she was arguing with Lauren while pointing at us three as the reason for her frustration, one grumpy look she gave us was top stuff.

The match was Nightshade hitting power moves with Jetta using her wrestling prowess to keep fighting back, there was plenty of Diadem sneak attacks while Nightshade kept the ref busy.

At one point Tarquin was using his fur wrap to strangle the Princess Diana of BritWres, this brought a Poundland Trivet chant from us which to be fair he had a good comeback for with ‘actually I’m a Waitrose essential Trivet’.

The match ebbed and flowed, eventually Tarquin went to the well too often and deservedly got turfed out, nearly tripping over into the entrance way post as he went.

Just as it seemed Nightshade had the upper hand (I would hate to be on the end of her corner hip attack) Jetta came back strong.

At one point she seemingly had it won with the Jetta Lock but Nightshade just managed to get her feet on the ropes. The ending came with Jetta in position for Lights Out, managing to reverse it into a victory roll with Nightshade pinned.

Lady Cordelia jumped on the apron to argue with Lauren, Lauren threw the good lady out who was sent on her way with a wallop from Jetta.

While this was going on Nightshade slipped on a version of the Dynamite Diamond Ring that my Grapple Theory fellow columnist Iwan Mackenzie dubbed the ‘Cambridge Crystal’, she hit a big loaded right hand shouting at Lauren to count the pin and a place in the final against Charlie Morgan, who came out to prevent any further attacks and to help her fiancée to the dressing room.

This was my match of the night as both woman brought their a game to this one Nightshade in particular excelling.

Peter Nixon vs Gene Munny

Peter Nixon made me laugh at this, trying Gene’s trademark body flop into the ring, he jumped up and landed tangled in the ropes from the shockwave.

This stated out as a slow burner, with plenty of sportsmanship until Gene hit a rolling senton and big splash. Nixon came back with a corner splash followed by a running bulldog.

After this, Gene started a bit of heel work, turning the hometown crowd against him and asking them what do they expect him to do - which I agreed with, still we were backing him which he acknowledged.

Moves in this involved Gene being bodyslammed on the outside, a few jumping kicks while Gene was on the ropes, a top rope codebreaker and a top rope hurricanrana.

Gene speared Peter through the ropes, there was a thunderous Spinebuster and a frog splash. Peter hit his finisher first, which is a variation of a reverse DDT, Gene kicked out at 2.99.

Gene came back on hit a big slice of Ainslie (Lariat) got a rope break, when he went for a second Nixon collapsed, Gene picked him up only to be caught with the small package for the win.

RJ Singh, Nixon’s opponent in the final, came out to cut a quick promo to say he’s looking forward to it and proving Singh, which was refreshing to see.

All in all a good night at Pro Wrestling East which was a very good show. Hopefully it will go from strength to strength as there were a few empty seats to start and a few people seemed to leave at the interval which was a shame as everyone there is very friendly and does deserve to thrive

Thank you for reading, you can follow me on social media @davesewell04

REVIEW: Pro Wrestling East - Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Wrestlers

REVIEW: Riot Cabaret - The Grand Slam

REVIEW: No Mercy Wrestling - Send It To The Internet