If you missed part 1 - check it out here - https://www.wrestlingshouldbefun.com/blog/wrestling-should-be-fun-secret-santa-part-1
Nerd giving: Canadian Correspondent Rich
Nerd receiving: Matt Connolly
Match:Ophidian vs Tom Lawlor - Demand Lucha
Rich: I picked this as it was on one of the first Independent shows I went to. I enjoyed the mix of comedy and MMA fighting, a cocktail for a fun match. Enjoy
Matt:IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!! Well it nearly is as I type this NWW review. The Secret Santa format is fantastic and I have received a match that features two competitors I have never heard of. Ophidian and Tom Lawlor. It's from a promotion I have not heard of either (Demand Lucha). This is what I wanted. A chance to get my eyes on fresh talent. The first link I got sent was a dud but second time lucky and a reminder I am watching something seen by very few as it only has 65 YouTube views. Niche!
This "arena" is great. It looks like a beaten-up old Working Men’s club. The stage is of a primary school standard and the lighting reminds me of some out in the sticks NWA show from the 80's. Basically a lot to love. Ophidian is out first. He is crawling to the ring and has a huge man in massive pants accompanying him. Both are masked. There is a few boo's flying around, so I guess I am cheering for the other guy here. As Ophidian is slithering around the ring, I see that one of the many photographers at ringside has a flash bulb. I hope it pings at every big move ala the attitude era. Oh, we have a commentator. Before he can get stuck in Ophidian has some words to say. He just sends his lump to the back and states he can beat this MMA chump without any help. Guess Lawlor is an MMA dude.
Tom Lawlor comes out and it isn't what I am expecting. He is dressed in ripped jeans and t-shirt and is using New Kids On The Block as his entrance theme. He is even dancing. It's like NWO Matt Riddle. I think I prefer the Lucha snake guy, but I'll cheer for Lawlor. I do love a clash of styles story, so I'm hyped for this one.
Opening is great. Both Men hit a stance befitting of their intro's. Ophidian down on his front slithering about whilst Lawlor on his back encouraging his opponent to attack. MMA vs Lucha is on! OR IS IT! 30 seconds in and this match is already as bananas. Ophidian is forced back into a corner and then hits A BLOODY TRANCE on Lawlor. Jackson 5 rings around the arena and Lawlor is dancing in the centre of the ring. There is even a crappy looking effect on the screen. What beautiful nonsense this is. Ophidian wants to show that he has moves too and the match breaks into a dance off. After some back and forth Ophidian ends the fun with a punt to the groin. What a heel!
It only gets a two count. Next, Lawlor gets his jock strap out and shoves it down Ophidian's throat in an ode to Foley's mandible claw. The two then finally get down to some wrestling and it's just grappling that pretty much plays to Lawlor's strengths. This ends when Ophidian hits a head scissors. I love that it's gone from bonkers to great story telling so seamlessly. Ophidian is more able to adapt to different styles and the only chance Lawlor has is if this breaks down to a shoot style fight. They brawl in the crowd. This consists of Lawlor hitting an aeroplane spin that last ages and then he hammers Ophidian with kicks whilst pounding some beers the crowd give him. His chops are like sledgehammers too. My Kind of Guy!!
The thing I admire most is how this match can go from brutal to comedic in just one move. The return to the ring is a great example. Lawlor hits another aeroplane spin and they both stagger toward the ring, but Ophidian is first to get his bearings and is straight to working Lawlor’s arm and locking in submissions. The match then goes back to both Men utilizing their strengths with Lawlor hitting hard and Ophidian trying Lucha based offence including a neat Meteora.
As we hit the finishing stretch Ophidian gets a chair from the back. After nailing Lawlor with several shots, he gets cocky and is caught with a German Suplex, Shining Wizard and Powerbomb. Each move a notch up in brutality. Lawlor has the match won with a sleeper, but Ophidian's boy returns from exile and distracts the ref whilst Ophidian is tapping. Dirty Snake Heels! Ophidian gets back into the match and sets the chair up for a tornado DDT, but Lawlor catches him and hit a TOMESTONE PILEDRIVER THROUGH THE CHAIR!! It's nasty man! That's all she wrote. Really fun well put together match this. It was equally crackers and vicious. It manages to keep a really good story thread whilst veering off into fun tangents. Big thumbs up. Thanks for the pick anonymous!
Prediction:I presume this was picked by Rich haha. Unless someone else threw a curveball
Nerd giving: Dan ‘Watford’ Wildash
Nerd receiving: Luke
Match:Jordan Devlin vs Will Ospreay - Progress Chapter 72
Dan:I picked this match due to it being the first progress I attended and this blew me away. Probably one of the best matches I've seen live
Luke:Christmas greetings to all, I hope you are well. Santa popped by this morning and gave me a demand progress log in so I can unwrap the gift I received. Oh no, that was Aussie Dom. North Pole, Australia – one and the same. Anyhow that match was Jordan Devlin vs. Will Ospreay from Chapter 72 in June 2018. I’ve only watched and attended two Progress shows, one in Manchester and one in London. The one in London was the one with that match between WALTER and Timothy Thatcher so not bad going really. So yeah, I’m a r Progress noob and am excited for this match. I hear it’s a banger. Let’s get into it…
Ospreay is putting his hands in his pockets and pulling out a middle finger. Classic. Fans seem divided from people who despise him and those who love him. Will ‘The Last Jedi’ Ospreay. First five minutes fly by with both battling for the upper hand and Ospreay ends up lying on the middle rope like your da after Christmas Dinner. He’s playing to the crowd and they’re playing right back. Devlin is getting in some tasty offence including a delightful tiger suplex. I can’t say I can recall a match of his I’ve seen but enjoyed his work on the Bud, Sweat and Beers album.
Ospreay just hit a moonsault over the top rope to the outside and strutted across 4 fans legs at ringside. Just noticed Roberts is ref, legend. Ospreay does a pretty ridiculous matrix spot where he runs up Devlin’s body and does a back flip, mental. It doesn’t stop getting more mental as both men go to the top rope, a Spanish fly is attempted and they both land on their feet and exchange smiles. The commentator shouts holy shit and then some kind of Canadian, Irish Destroyer is done. “it’s moments like this that reminds me why pro wrestling is fucking brilliant” the commentator powers out. Sounds like JCH anytime he sees Matt Riddle kick off his flip flops.
Another mad flippy destroyer thing is hit and Ospreay kicks out at 2. Devlin smells blood though and goes for the package piledriver. Willy boy isn’t having it and reverses it in to ‘Jimmy Havoc’s move’ and The Irishman (not the 7-hour film) kicks out. Ospreay hits a delightful Rainmaker, arrogantly pins and is again met with another kick out, unbelievable scenes. Devlin gets a reversal and both men exchange in a very difficult to explain mad fuckery which ends in JD hitting a ‘poisonrana?’ I am not good with move names and the commentator screams in a high pitch way that I cannot hear clearly.
Trying to finish the match Devlin goes for a risky off the middle rope Lionsault kind of thing to the standing Ospreay who picks him out from the sky, flips him round and hits a Stormbreaker. One, Two, Three. “Will Ospreay wins an absolute worldie” Hard to disagree. Delightfully crafted match that never really stops to have a breather. While I watch Ospreay flip off the crowd I am thinking of a real life present I can compare it to… this match was like being given a high-quality microwave. Thanks secret Santa!
Prediction:My guess is Peter…I don’t know why, and I have no reason for it, but it’s just soooooo bloody Peter.
Another 2 satisfied nerds. This is working really well, how can it go wrong….
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