Pro Wrestling Ohio is setting the table for Wrestlelution 3. Please groan after that one.

Johnny Gargano was yelling at some random people telling them it needed to happen tonight. He wanted Matt Cross because of what he’s done to his name the last six months. Cross drove up and stopped (Why?) and Gargano pounded on his car and told him to get out. Cross drove away.

Analysis: It would have been a bit better if the people were identifiable such as friends of Gargano’s in the locker room. The whole piece was a little too set up since the parking area looked so empty and there was no arena, ring or production trucks in the background to make it seem like they were near the venue. It got across Gargano’s rage though. Score: 0.

Shima Xion took on “Omega” Aaron Draven in the opening contest. Joe Dombrowski informed us that since “Amazing” N8 Mattson can’t get a rematch with Draven, “The Big Bear” Benjamin Boone will be taking on Draven at Wrestlelution 3 for the TV Title. Aaron Maguire said that Draven is going to fake an injury to get out of the match just like he has in the past. They started with a nice exchange of moves. Draven took over with some arm drags and arm bar.  Maguire complimented Matt Cross on his creativity in getting to Gargano. Xion got in some basic offense. and posing. Xion turned Draven inside out with a clothesline when Draven was going for a 619. Xion went for a belly to back suplex but Draven flipped out of it and executed a rocker dropper. Draven got a two count after a top rope cross body. Xion jaw jacked Draven. Xion missed a charge into the corner. Draven drop kicked Xion off the top rope. Xion hit “The Hostile Makeover” but only got a two count. Xion went to the top rope when Michael “The Bomber” Facade showed up wearing an eye patch. Xion and Facade started arguing. Draven hit the Flux Capacitor off the top rope for the win. Xion attacked Draven while he was celebrating. Facade came out for the save. Draven held back Xion while Facade sprayed him with the hair spray.

Analysis: They did a good job of hyping Draven and Xion’s matches at Wrestlelution. They also didn’t make Xion look too weak since he was distracted before Draven hit his finisher. The match was pretty good but a bit short. Score: +1.

Brian Bender thinks the stuff with Earnie Ballz is getting out of hand. He set up a match between Ballz and his two cronies (Corey Winters & Eric Ryan) and Bender & the Puerto Rican Wrecking Crew. He reminded everyone that the Crew killed Team Clash by injuring Ballz and costing them the tag team titles. Bender said he’s going to prove he was the leader of Team Clash. Bender said he’s going to show a young man the path to winning tonight against Sex Appeal.

Analysis: Nice low key approach to a promo. It sets up another undercard match for Wrestlelution. I’m still a bit confused by this story line but they’re moving it in a logical direction by adding the Puerto Rican Wrecking Crew to the mix. Score: +1.

They had a Wrestlelution rewind from the first one. It was a tag team ladder match.

Gargano was still pacing outside with “Staff” trying to convince him to calm down. Gregory Iron came out and said he didn’t need to do this right now. Iron said he was sorry that he jumped the gun. Iron said he’s welcome back in the locker room and offered him his hand. Gargano said he’s going to handle things his way. Gargano turned towards the camera and said he knew Cross would hear this (What, you mean the wrestlers can watch their own program? Isn’t that illegal in wrestling?) and said he can’t wait to get his hands on him. Gargano said if Cross meets him face to face by the end of the night, he’ll give Cross his long awaited match at Wrestlelution.

Analysis: Couldn’t have asked for more out of Iron or Gargano. Score: +1.

Benjamin Boone came to the ring with Ben Fruth to take on Corey Winters with Earnie Ballz in tow. Dombrowski noted that Mattson has been suspended by PWO management for personal misconduct after losing the TV title the previous week. Winters charged at Boone who shoulder blocked him down. Boone continued to use his size advantage to beat down Winters. Boone gave Winters a short arm clothesline followed by a splash that only got a two count. Boone missed a charge in the corner. Winters gave Boone a running double knee charge. Ballz told Winters to go to the top rope when Winters had other ideas. Boone caught him coming off the ropes and gave Winters the Bear Trap DDT.

Analysis: Just reinforced the going storylines again. Score: +1.

Krimson said that Hentai had the audacity to challenge him at Wrestlelution. He said Hentai has never face anyone like him. Analysis: A little too short and not sweet at all. Score: 0.

Vic Travgliante went over the prices for tickets to Wrestleltuion and also did an overview of the matches in the PWO Control Center which looked like a Sports Center type studio.

Sex Appeal, Bobby Shields, Nicky Valentino & Bobby Beverly, said that they proved to Gregory Iron & Hobo Joe that they’re the greatest tag team in the PWO. Shields said that they outsmarted Iron & Joe and they don’t deserve another Tag Team Title shot. Beverly said that they’re so dominant that PWO management needed to invent a team for them to take on tonight. He finished by saying they’ll prove they’re great tonight and that they’re where all the money is.

Analysis: Valentino looked like a tool with his dyed blonde hair. The promo didn’t have quite enough swagger in it. The words were right but the tone was off. Score: 0.

Brian Bender & Corey James came to the ring to take on Sex Appeal, who used Bobby Beverly and Bobby Shields in the match. Dombrowski noted that it was a non-title affair. They noted that Sex Appeal has been outsmarting people since they lost Dawn Decadence. Shields posed, Bender slapped him then posed himself. Dombrowski said he did need to apologize to Gargano for jumping to conclusions. Maguire said he did no such thing. Earnie Ballz came out to distract Bender who was taking it to Beverly. Bender tagged in James. Sex Appeal hit some double team moves on James concluding with drop kicks to his knees. Valentino got in some cheap shots while the ref was distracted. They kicked James in the corner. James turned around an Irish whip then ducked under a double clothesline to make the tag to Bender who cleaned house. Bender splashed Shields in the corner. Bender started yapping at Ballz. Shields rolled up Bender for the victory. Bender went after Ballz and they came to blows. Gregory Iron & Hobo Joe came to the ring. Joe said that they wanted a rematch. Sex Appeal told them they had their chance. Joe said that Beverly & Joe may not have been a good tag team but we know who the weak link was and it was Beverly. Iron reminded Beverly that he knocked his teeth down his throat last year at Wrestlelution. Iron suggested that they have a two on two street fight rules match at Wrestlelution. Beverly told them they were on.

Analysis: The match was there. It was a sort of squash that reinforced the losing ways of Bender which makes that match all the more unappealing at Wrestlelution. Joe & Iron did a good job of suckering Sex Appeal into a new match but considering it’s street fight rules, what’s too keep Valentino from causing problems? Score: +1.

Johnny Gargano was walking out of the parking lot when he spotted Cross’ car. Cross came up from behind him and bicycle kicked him onto the hood of the car. Cross said this may not be the first time he went through Gargano’s bag but this time he’s taking what is his, which was the PWO Heavyweight Title. Cross concluded by saying if Gargano wanted it back, he was going to have to earn it.

Analysis: Good close. That’s the way to do short and sweet. Score: +1.

Final Score: 6/9. Final Analysis: Lots of set up for Wrestlelution 3. Gargano had a number of segments that were necessary but short so he didn’t overstay his welcome. They spent the right amount of time setting up the undercard tag team matches that will allow all of their wrestlers to fit onto the Wrestlelution card. Maguire sounded funny, less gravely than normal. Just an odd observation that I wasn’t sure where to put.