REVIEW: Modern Nomad Pro Wrestling - Frankensteiner’s Monster

Modern Nomad Pro Wrestling: Frankensteiner’s Monster
The Bingo Hall, Cathays Community Centre, Cardiff
Saturday, August 20, 2022
Reviewer: Lloyd Barrett (@LloydB1991)

Modern Nomad returned to the Bingo Hall for the first time since February. The show was headlined by a six man tag team match between Lykos Gym and Experiment In Bowlarama.

The rivalry between the two teams had been stewing for months across several shows and finally came to a head at the promotion's last show in Cheltenham, leading to this match being made.

The card had a few late alterations and unfortunately both Mad Kurt and Chris Ridgeway were pulled from the show. However Bingo Hall stalwarts Dan Moloney and Wild Boar were added to the card, and would go one on one in a match billed as a superfight.

Big Guns Joe vs Myles Kayman vs Leon Slater vs Harrison Bennett

A late addition to the line up, however a welcome surprise with some up and coming talent getting a platform to showcase themselves.

Joe, Myles and Leon were all on Modern Nomad’s Cardiff debut show, with Leon Slater in particular having a standout performance in his match with Scott Oberman.

This was Harrison Bennett’s first appearance at the Bingo Hall for the promotion, however is no stranger to the venue due to performing for both ATTACK! and Dragon Pro.

This was a really fun opener and I felt everyone really had time to really give a strong account of themselves. I am really impressed with Myles Kayman’s character work and would definitely like to see more of him in bigger spots.

Leon Slater once again put in a showing that was very much show stealing and would definitely have been one of the talking points for everyone in attendance.

It was Slater who would pick up the win in this one after hitting a 450 splash on Myles Kayman. Hope to see everyone from this match back again.

Jay Joshua w/Billy Haze vs Skye Smitson

When this was announced I was really curious as to how the match would turn out. I have seen a lot of Jay Joshua since his early Dragon Pro days and he is a talent who I have warmed to over time and as a Cardiff local is someone I would like to see do well.

On the flipside I have never seen Skye perform live and have only seen a little bit of her Progress work. Jay was flanked by his Dead Sad Boys partner Billy Haze for this match, which is the first time I have actually seen them as a duo at a show.

I really liked the dynamic of Joshua and Haze as it was very natural and seemed to bring out a side to Jay Joshua I have not seen in ring before, showing a lot more personality than just relying purely on his wrestling ability.

I would like to see Dead Sad Boy’s get an opportunity as a team in Modern Nomad as I think they could really be an asset.

As for Skye I was thoroughly impressed with her work and am disappointed this is only the first time I have managed to see her. She has been announced for Progress upcoming Tramshed show in Cardiff and I look forward to seeing her in action there.

The match itself was a good mix of humour and hard hitting action and once it got going was a really strong outing from both competitors.

The strike exchanges in the contest were brutal with neither holding back from laying in to their opponent. Skye also played well off Billy being at ringside and this was another fun layer to the contest.

After an evenly matched bout, it was Skye Smitson who was able to pick up the win after hitting Joshua in the crotch with the referee’s back turned, she was then able to the Smitson Effect for the win.

Really good match from two debutants. Would like to see this match again in the future.

Dan Moloney vs Wild Boar

As previously mentioned this was a late addition to the card, and involved two men who are very well acquainted with the Bingo Hall crowd.

Wild Boar made his return to Cathays after a near four year absence after his recent release from WWE NXT U.K and was given a warm welcome.

These two didn’t pull and punches and things got physical from the get go. The contest would quickly spill to the outside and utter chaos would ensue.

We would quickly be told to get out of our seats as the two brawled and Boar would hit a thunderous cannonball on Dan sending chairs flying.

The fight would head towards the merch area with Moloney launching Boar over the tables onto a sofa before slamming him on top of a pool table.

After some more brawling the two returned to the chairs and Boar attempted another cannonball, however Dan dodged this attack and Boar crashed into the chairs.

The action would eventually return to the ring and the two men would pull no punches continuing to knock lumps out of each other.

Boar would gain the upper hand and look to hit his Trapper Keeper finishing move which he was unable to use in WWE.

Dan Moloney however was able to evade Boar’s efforts and hit a piledriver over his own in the form of his finishing move the Drilla and pick up the win.

Following the match Dan told Boar that he knows being let go is rough but he has two choices he can run away or he can come back and be the Wild Boar, Dan then led a welcome back chant and a standing ovation for Boar as we headed into the interval.

Lee Hunter vs Nick Riley

Following the break we would see a contest between Bingo Hall favourite Lee Hunter and Nick Riley. These two have very similar styles and meshed very well for a very efficient wrestling contest.

The crowd were very hot for Hunter during this and sang his theme The Heat is on throughout the bout which led to some good comedy spots and lots of fan engagement.

For what was quite a fun and friendly bout there was a stretch in which the intensity ramped up and would conclude with Hunter hitting Tombstone to the outside.

Both men would not make it back to the ring and the contest would be deemed a no contest. Both combatants would request the match continue and the contest would continue.

The two would exchange roll up attempts going back and forth for some time, and it was eventually Hunter who would keep his opponent down for the win.

Lykos Gym (Kid Lykos, Kid Lykos II & Nico Angelo) vs Experiment In Bowlarama (Splits McPins, LK Mezinger & ELIJAH)

The main event was a match steeped in Bingo Hall history and built on the bad blood that had reached a boiling point between these two units throughout 2022.

At Modern Nomad’s Cathays debut back in February, Kid Lykos took on a returning Splits McPins in an emotionally charged affair between two seemingly good friends.

This is a venue where both men had retired from in ring competition, so to see them share a ring was not only surreal but very emotional.

However after his victory Kid Lykos was far from gracious, as along with Kid Lykos II and Nico Angelo he would ambush Splits.

The save was made by LK Mezinger and ELIJAH two men who have plenty of history with each other as well as Splits and Experiment In Bowlarama was born.

Since then Splits, LK and ELIJAH have not been able to get a fair fight with any member of Lykos Gym, due to questionable antics and interference from the pesky wolves and Nico Angelo.

The only solution, this six man contest. From the get go Lykos Gym would use questionable tactics to gain the upper hand in the bout and would frustrate their opponents.

Just as it seemed that Experiment In Bowlarama had any momentum another member of Lykos Gym would appear and stop it dead.

The match would spread to the ringside and merch areas with a wild brawl and the animosity reached a fever pitch.

Once the contest returned to the ring it was a very balanced contest with neither team able to really get a firm foothold.

Experiment In Bowlarama would finally, for the first time, look to be the team in control, however Lykos II and Nico were able to lure LK and ELIJAH to the outside.

With this lapse in concentration Kid Lykos was able to stoop to a new low, removing the mask of Splits McPins before rolling him up.

Following the match Lykos Gym would celebrate with Splits' mask whilst Splits' partners would console him and cover his face.

Before the match this contest felt like it was the final chapter of this rivalry, however due to the actions of Kid Lykos, this feels like it is far from over and this may only be the beginning.

REVIEW: Modern Nomad Pro Wrestling - Frankensteiner’s Monster

Booking the Ultimate UK vs Australia Indie Dream Card

REVIEW: PROGRESS Wrestling, Deadly Viper Tour, Codename: Copperhead