REVIEW: FutureShock Pro Wrestling 190 & 191

FutureShock Pro Wrestling: 190 & 191
Guildhall, Stockport
Sunday, December 11, 2022
Reviewer: David South (@DavidSouth1980)

With trains working in my favour for once, I decided to take in one more show this year, crossing the snow topped Pennines again for Futureshock’s last shows of the year.

And what a pair of shows they promised to be; all four championships on the line, a rubber match between two of the North West’s best and the Futureshock Trophy Tournament Four matches, with the victors going forward to the four way decider, with the winner receiving a both the trophy and a title shot at a time of their choosing.

Having secured a seat, the afternoon show began with the first qualifying match.

Big Guns Joe vs Tu Byt

It was a technical mat-based start to match one, between two competitors who are usually quite popular in the local scene, but the kids in this audience took against the Rat King, who revelled in the frequent and high-pitched abuse he received. It inspired him too, he applied a single leg crab, which Joe could only escape by rolling to the floor.

A dropkick on the apron return Joe to the wooden ringside area and Tu Byt waited for a count out victory, with Joe only just making it back to the ring in time.

Tu Byt went back to the crab. This time though, B.G.J “hulked up”, powered out of it and hit a deadlift Gut Wrench Suplex. He got near falls from a standing Senton and a German Suplex but finally overcame Byt when he tapped to a Boston Crab.

Brian Aidenson vs Keinen Krishna

Danny Proper “having something better on” would have several effects on this show, the first of which was the need to find a new opponent for Keinan Krishna in their Trophy qualifier.

The very capable replacement was Brian Aidenson, a markedly different type of challenge for Krishna to overcome. The pair shook hands before the match began, but Krishna then decided that a quick start was the order of the day and, following an immediate shotgun dropkick, he used his speed to keep Aidenson on the defensive.

The first near falls would go to Aidenson though, first after a big spinning beal and then the second after a standing moonsault. He’d go onto to further close calls after winning a Suplex exchange and following a GTS.

Keinan would progress though, after two brutal knees from Aidenson, he’d capture the third and transition into a diving elbow to his prone opponent for the three count.

Lily Winter vs Leah Raven

A break from the tournament now, as Leah Raven looks for a stern test against the larger Lily Winter. The early exchanges were fairly even as they battled for wrist control. Raven, perhaps naively, agreed to a test of strength which Winter cut short with some knees to the midsection.

More knees and a backbreaker off the ropes kept Winter in control and she soon dumped Raven to the floor and asked the ref to begin the count.

Raven would return to the ring in time, and this would kickstart her fightback. She hit a stunner for a two count and a trip to leg drop combo for another – she appeared to have the match won when Oscar Byron, dressed in full French attire to further irritate the crowd, pulled referee LK out of the ring.

The distraction was enough for Winter to rally, hit her T.K.O finish, and claim a tainted victory.

Joey Hayes vs Ashton Smith

Back to the tournament now, and two former Futureshock Champions colliding here. Hayes made the bold decision to send his tag team partner, Danny Hope, to the back for this clash.

This was an excellent match between two evenly matched competitors and the start saw them go hold-for-hold and move-for-move for a long time. Hayes would eventually start to focus on Smith’s legs, a chop block and a leg submission that Smith would escape, then immediately leave the ring for some respite.

Hayes would follow though and with a target to aim for continued to kick his legs. Back in the ring he applied a figure four. Smith would not submit, but how much damage was done?

Smith’s offence would come after a clothesline on the apron had both men down. He’d hit a risky leg clothesline off the top rope and reversed a G.T.S into one of his own for a near fall.

Hayes would start to remove the protection from his knee, to inflict further damage and then tried for the figure four again, but Smith rolled him up and held on for the win. The pair eyeballed each other as Hayes left the ring.

Danny Hope vs Soner Dursun

Having already lost one shot at the Futureshock Trophy, the Models decided to do all they could with their second chance, Hayes this time staying at ringside whilst Danny Hope faced off against The Turkish Wolf.

It wasn’t long before Hayes was involved, with his distraction allowing Hope to snake eyes Son on the top rope. This wouldn’t last though as Dursun hit a forearm off the second rope and a snapmare for a near fall. Hayes would get involved again, tripping Dursun behind the referee’s back allowing Hope for some more offence this time.

Hayes third distraction would be spotted by Referee Greenwood and this time he sent him to the back. Without his partner to help out, Hope eventually succumbed to his opponent, who pinned him after a running drop kick and a Five Star Frog Splash.

Sinergy vs The Worst - FutureShock Tag Team Titles

Sinergy came to the ring and took the mic, they said that though this was an open challenge, they felt there was a tag team in need of some Christmas cheer and offered the opportunity to The Worst.

Despite seemingly thankful of their opportunity, they still started the match with eye pokes. They would isolate Ryan Bartram and work him over, with frequent tags and double team moves.

Eventually though Bartram would clock Gorgon, and Vinnick, before making the hot tag to Anderson Daniels.

Though it wouldn’t be one way traffic from here on out, with Vinnick reversing a press slam into a DDT for two and Gorgon attempting a victory roll for another near fall.

Sinergy would retain the titles following the Electric Chair ‘Doomsday device’ style clothesline. The teams would shake hands afterwards and Sinergy would leave their opponents for some unlikely applause.

It wouldn’t last long though, as Max Brooker and Rizman Khan would attack them from behind. This drew Sinergy back to the ring to chase them off, but the threat of the new challengers has been made.

Damon Leigh vs Tony Wright - FutureShock Heavyweight Championship

This was due to be Leigh against Chris Egan but Tu Byt’s attack, earlier in the week, meant he was unable to compete. Leigh though is ready to defend his belt against anyone in the back and issues an open challenge, which is answered by Tony Wright, on the one-year anniversary of his first match.

Wright gets the early lead though, including an inventive pin combination from a headlock. Leigh responds though with suplexes, vicious Irish Whips into the corner and a Sidewalk Slam.

He looks to end the match quickly hitting his flip-off-the-ropes knee drop but Wright manages to get his foot on the ropes.

A double Clothesline has them both down, but Wright would recover faster and hits an Olympic slam for a two count. The Futureshock faithful are beginning to believe a shock might be on the cards.

Lance Revera, Wright’s scheduled opponent for the evening show, comes to ringside. His distraction doesn’t work though as Wright attempts two roll up pins on Leigh both of which come close.

His third attempt at the move though would prove to be his downfall as Leigh would catch him and turn it into a brutal piledriver and retain his title. Leigh leaves, but he knows he’s been in a fight.

Wright gets genuine applause from the crowd and some ironic claps from Revera.

That concluded the afternoon show. The evening show would start with . . .

Taonga vs Harley Hudson - FutureShock Women’s Championship

This was an awesome match and would grace any card in the country. Having cut off Taonga returning to the ring, Hudson would achieve a series of near decisions. She got four near falls in a row, with a legdrop off the top, a neckbreaker, an elbow drop following kicking her leg out and a Fisherman’s Suplex.

In her frustration Hudson struck Referee Greenwood but convinced him that she didn’t mean it and avoided disqualification. The distraction was the opening Taonga needed though and after a flurry of offence, she hit an Avalanche Brainbuster than had both women down.

They traded forearms and near falls in the aftermath. Hudson couldn’t believe she hadn’t won following a knee to the back of the neck and let out an ear-piercing scream of frustration.

Taonga would hit an Unprettier but couldn’t get across to make the pin. Harley Hudson hit a running knee and pinned Taonga but she managed to get her foot on the rope which Greenwood spotted.

Hudson transitioned into a submission move but Taonga powered out of it and rolled up Hudson for the three count, to retain.

Two of the best, could have gone either way, lets run that again please.

Briac Strong vs Aiton Steen

Aiton Steen gives up a lot of mass here is made to pay for it as he’s knocked about by Strong. Steen attempts a suicide dive to the floor but Strong catches him, bounces him off the post and slams him on the apron.

A Bubba Cutter and a sleeper hold has Strong close to ending this one quickly. Steen finally gets an opportunity to fight back though by using his superior speed, he hits a focused drop kick to Strong’s leg which send him rolling to the outside.

Steen follows up with a Superman Punch off the apron, rolls him back in and hits a frog splash. Momentum would switch back when Steen missed a knee drop off the top, Strong hits a Death Valley driver but Steen kicks out.

He slaps his opponent, an act that seems to do nothing but infuriate Strong. He grabs Steen, hoists him into a torture rack and then powerbombs him for the win.

Lance Revera vs Tony Wright

Having contributed to his loss earlier, Wright is out for revenge here and starts on the offence, punching Revera to the floor and starts to chop him on the outside. Back in the ring, a codebreaker puts Revera in control, and he hits a strong dropkick that nearly ends the match.

He tells us all that the match is over, but his cocky pin following a suplex doesn’t get it done. He gets another near fall with a running knee and transitions the kick out into a crossface.

A clothesline takes both men to the floor. Wright recovers to the apron and after weighing up the pros and cons, shrugs and hits a Cactus Style Elbow drop to Revere on the floor.

He rolls him back in and attempts a Senton off the top, but misses. Lance Revera steps back and hits a huge thrusting superkick and holds Wright down for the win.

He may not have won either encounter tonight but if this is him with just one year of experience, the future looks bright for Tony Wright.

Dynamite Lee Dawson vs JJ Webb - Futureshock Adrenaline Championship

Again, Danny Proper is not here to be in the corner of his tag partner Webb. It doesn’t initially look like it’s going to be an issue though as Webb gets the upper hand. He slams him into the turnbuckles, sternum first, on the inside and into the ring post on the floor.

He stomps body parts of his prone opponent when given the chance too, but his particular focus is the back of Dawson’s neck. Lee Dawson would hit a Superplex that had both men down.

This led into a string of offence for Dawson, he dropkicked Webb to the floor and then followed that up with a suicide dive. In an act of pure desperation, with both men on the top turnbuckle, Webb hits a cutter and crawls over to pin Dawson, who kicks out at two.

Webb now goes to get his belt, he brings it into the ring but Ref LK takes it from him. With her back turned, he runs to the other corner, picks up the loaded bag he brought with him and levels Dawson with it.

He covers just as LK turns around, but Dawson kicks out at one! Dawson counters Webb’s offence and hits his top rope assisted cutter to win the title from a forlorn Webb.

How different it might have been had Proper been there to help. Dawson comes into the seating to celebrate his new title with his proud mum.

Sam Bailey vs Chris Ridgeway

The rubber match between the two, as the have met twice this year with each getting a win. Ridgeway, so adept at dismantling his opponents, picks Bailey’s leg as his next target.

After a focused dropkick he repeated ties up his leg, both with his own and around the bottom rope. Bailey though adopts a similar strategy, but his target is more obvious. Ridgeway came to the ring with tape around his waist and Bailey targets his back.

After a failed superplex, Bailey drops Ridgeway onto the top turnbuckle and then hits a back breaker. A Michonoku Driver would get Sam a close two count.

As if sensing he might be in more trouble than usual, Ridgeway attempts moves that you don’t see him try. He hits a stomp off the top rope and a brainbuster for a two count. Then, with Bailey lying outside the ring, Ridgeway climbs to the top again and splashes his opponent on the hard wooden floor.

As they struggle back to the ring, Bailey this time does the spectacular, hitting a driver from the apron to the floor. Ridgeway only just makes it back into the ring to beat the ten count.

Sam gets some scissors from under the ring and cuts the tape from around Ridgeways waist. He continues to stomp on his back. Ridgeway attempts a German Suplex, but his back gives out, he tries a piledriver but again, his back won’t let him execute that move either.

Bailey hits another brainbuster and drapes his arm over, but it’s only a two. He hits three Superkicks but again only two.

He hits a package piledriver and a brainbuster but again, Ridgeway kicks out. Bailey grabs both of Ridgeways hands and pulls them back around his neck and then, with his opponent defenseless, drives his knee into Ridgeways back one last time.

This time the pinfall is successful. The crowd stands to applaud, and the pair shake hands, respect between them seems to have been earned this time.

Big Guns Joe vs Ashton Smith vs Keinen Krishna vs Soner Durson - Futureshock Trophy

The crowd can’t lose here as four favourites line up contest for the trophy. To be clear, it’s not elimination, it’s first fall wins. Too much happens in a match like this for me to try and tell you the story of it, instead I’ll tell you the notable moments.

They started early, with Son Durson switching a Monkey Flip into a Hurricanrana. Ashton Smith caught Big Guns Joe off the top and lifted him onto the ring apron. Joe putting both Durson and Krishna in the same Boston Crab and later the same German Suplex.

Son hits a Spanish Fly off the top with Joe and then pins him, this would have had the match won had Keinan not grabbed Greenwood’s hand before it could hit the mat.

That proved to be the beginning of the end of the match. Furious that Keinan had stopped the count, Son fetched a folding chair from under the ring and started battering Krishna with it.

There was no disqualification in the match, but the pair had to be repeatedly separated by Futureshock officials before brawling into the concessions area and out of view. This left Smith and Joe back in the ring.

Though Ashton Smith must have though he’s had it won, after he hit a Torture Rack Clothesline, Joe kicked out. As in the first match of the afternoon, Joe powers up again, knocking Smith to the floor and putting on a Boston Crab which Smith has no choice but to tap too.

Another standing ovation for Joe, who is presented with the trophy – with the title shot to follow.

The afternoon show was, truth be told, a little affected by the number of families and young kids in the audience who might have been expecting a slightly different style of show than what they saw.

Not that they saw anything inappropriate, just that it wasn’t as personality driven as they might have wanted. The evening show, with an audience with a much higher average age was wonderful though, with two or three true match of the year candidates.

Even if I didn’t come to it until later in the year, the Futureshock shows I’ve seen have been really good and I can’t wait to see what 2023 holds for them.

REVIEW: FutureShock Pro Wrestling 190 & 191

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