SEASON 1 / EPISODE 11

Hello and welcome wrestling fans! Let’s take a look at episode 11 of “Lucha Xtreme.”  This episode was packed full of action with 4 great matches featuring our fearless Lucha Xtreme Wrestling Entertainment wrestlers.  The first match featured “Raging Bull” Manny Fernandez battling the “Submission Machine” Bobby Hart.  Bobby Hart had been running his mouth last week about how he was going to break Manny’s arm and leg.  Let me give you a little background on “Raging Bull.”  He was APW Universal Heavyweight Champion, NWA World Tag Team Champion, SCW Southwest Brass Knuckles Champion, SCW Southwest Heavyweight Champion, SCW Southwest Tag Team Champion (2 times), SCW World Tag Team Championship (and many more) and has worked with legends like Rick Rude and Dusty Rhodes and trained superstars like R-Truth and Booker T.  Does Bobby Hart really think he could intimidate “Raging Bull” Manny Fernandez?  The match starts out with both wrestlers testing the other’s technical skill with Hart having a size and speed advantage, but Fernandez having the advantage of experience.  Both wrestlers showed off their shoot wrestling skills trying to get the upper hand in the match.  Bobby also showed of some of his power with a serious shoulder tackle and a big power elbow.   The wrestlers almost knocked each other out when they collided in the center of the ring.  After stumbling to their feet, each began to pummel their opponent with big right hands to the head.  The referee, Brad Stimson, tried to break it up when the “Submission Machine” Bobby Hart started using closed fists.  It was then that Hart pushed the ref, causing himself to be disqualified.  Even after the bell rang, these warriors still rained blows on each other until Manny floored Hart with a huge clothesline.  Manny collects another win in his legendary career.

The next matchup was between Jeckles the Jester and high-flying D-Torch.  Jeckles was full of smiles and waved to the “Lucha Xtreme” audience, being friendly and creepy at the same time.  D-Torched looked confident despite giving up a huge size differential.  The match started with a genuine handshake as a show of mutual admiration.  D-Torch took flight with 3 consecutive dropkicks and a springboard cross body-block, trying to gain advantage with his speed.  Switching gears, he begins to work on Jeckles’ left knee and leg like a surgeon, weakening it with chops, elbows, and submission holds.  I have never seen D-Torch more methodical.  Jeckles was different also, he wasn’t trying to pull off his usual wrestling pranks, and he seemed more focused on the win.  He shook up D-Torch with a serious gutbuster but his own knee bothered him throughout the match due to the damage D-Torch inflicted.  Torch tried to launch off of the top ropes, but Jeckles the Jester caught him mid-air and devastated him with a back breaker and finished him off with his signature “Joke Slam.”

The 3rd match had Sheik Khan Abadi versus the newcomer Steven Stamp, who immediately started a “USA” chant to get the audience behind him.  Against the crafty Sheik, he’s going to need all the help he can get.  The match starts off at a fast pace, and without his financial advisor, Mr. Franks in his corner, the Sheik had to rely on his quick wits and his speed.  Stamp gets lucky and nails Sheik Kahn Abadi with a couple of nice atomic drops, slowing him down for a bit and only a bit, because Sheik bounces back and almost gets a submission on a bridging chin lock.  After almost getting a submission and a pin (2 count), the Sheik takes his curled boots to the hands of Stamp, grinding them into the canvas and kicking Stamp on the ground and delivering a big roundhouse kick to the head.  Steven Stamp managed to get off a DDT variation from second ropes in the corner and a big neckbreaker, but only delayed the inevitable.  That’s right, Sheik Khan Abadi easily collected a win from the young newbie from Texas, devastating him with his signature ASAI DDT and getting the pinfall.  Sheik Khan Abadi proved he is the top baddy in Lucha Xtreme Wrestling Entertainment with the win over Stamp, and he did it without help from his Sheik’s Army.  After several losses in his stable, the Sheik is back on top, and one only wonders if Mr. Franks’ return will only make him stronger.
 
Saturday’s main event showcased the wrestling of “Pizza Man” Vinnie Massaro and the “INS Enforcer” JR Kratos.  Before the match started, “Pizza Man” cut a promo saying he was a proud immigrant from Sicily, Italy and if Kratos had a problem with it, they should settle it in the ring.  Entering the arena first was JR Kratos, and the dude is big.  He is billed at 280 lbs. and it is all muscle.  He shouted at the crowd to “Shut your mouth!” as they booed.  Contrast that to the cheers “Pizza Man” Vinnie Massaro got as he entered the ring with his pizza box full of candy.  JR Kratos takes charge of the match early on using his power to push the smaller “Pizza Man” around.  Vinnie then caught Kratos over the top rope and gave him a painful ride pulling the ropes into JR’s groin.  Kratos responded with a powerbomb and a cover.  But Kratos revisits past mistakes by not getting the three-count; instead, he pulled Vinnie up before the three-count, toying with the “Pizza Man” as if they were in a sadistic game of cat and mouse.  That’s how you know the “INS Enforcer” is truly bad, he relishes giving pain more than winning.  He then administered a couple snug bearhugs, and like announcer Big Tony said, he squeezed so hard some sausage and pepperoni almost popped out of Vinnie Massaro.  Vinnie, being the veteran that he is, escaped and delivered a superb flying clothesline, knocking Kratos to the canvas and getting a two-count.     Vinnie trumpeted out “AYE!” and rocked JR with some hard blows in the corner. That’s when Kratos picked up the “Pizza Man” and dropped him throat-first onto the top rope of the ring.  Drawing inner strength, Vinnie Massaro moves out of the corner just in the nick of time, allowing Kratos to slam into the turnbuckles violently.  Vinnie then runs corner to corner, laying into JR with his “rear bumper” to the dome.  Vinnie goes for an unbelievable top-rope moonsault, but JR Kratos rolled out of the way before Vinnie hit it.  I gotta give “Pizza Man” Vinnie Massaro credit for that move.  I had never seen a man in his “shape” perform such an acrobatic move before. Bravo “Pizza Man,” I salute you.  Nevertheless, it left him wide open for a laser-like spear from the “INS Enforcer,” who again refused to pin his opponent and pulled him up at the two-count.  He then threw Vinnie out of the ring and onto the hard concrete of Lucha Xtreme Studios and continued to punish him out there by slamming him into the posts.  Then chaos erupted when “Raging Bull” Manny Fernandez burst into the ring, causing the timekeeper to ring the bell.  “INS Enforcer” JR Kratos turned tail and fled, not wishing to face “Raging Bull” Manny Fernandez and “Pizza Man” Vinnie Massaro.  I wonder how this will play out in future “Lucha Xtreme” episodes.
 
Thanks for visiting this blog, and be sure to visit www.LuchaXtreme.com for past episodes and ticket information for Lucha Xtreme Wrestling Entertainment’s next big show, exploding into the Kings Fair in Hanford, CA on July 5.  Also, like Lucha Xtreme Wrestling Entertainment on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LuchaXtreme) follow us on twitter @luchaxtreme and watch the weekly “LX POST SHOW.”  Until next week, “Blog ya later!”